Your Bali Photos of the Day ~ Lake Reflection of Temple in Bali ~ Balifornian Villas and Tours

Sangeh village, about 20 km north of Denpasar, houses the Pura Bukit Sari Temple built around the 17th century. A shrine or plankiran reflects in the lake of Bukit Sari Temple located in Sangeh, Bali.  Inside The Bali Sangeh Monkey Forest in southwestern Bali grow enormous nutmeg trees over 40m high. The trees are a mystery as they grow nowhere else in Bali and are believed to be sacred.  The monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) of the forest are also believed to be sacred and they interact with those paying their respects at the beautiful temple.

The Temple in The Sangeh Village Monkey Forest in Southwestern Bali. Balifornian Villas and Tours 2011.Balifornian Villas and Tours wishes you the most joyous and prosperous Holiday Season and safe and exciting journeys in the New Year.

Photo of the Day ~ Why Indonesian's are so healthy ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog

This image, taken in Singaraja in the north of Bali, depicts a kind older gentleman preparing for The Galungan Holiday Celebration.  Demanding physical work and a healthy diet free from preservatives and pesticides make for strong long lives.  Scenes like this are not uncommon in Bali and the rest of Indonesia and are a testament to clean good living.

Copyright © 2011 Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog ~ Michael Doliveck

Galungan is Bali's most important festival. It includes a feast and festival, which is held throughout the entire island and occurs every 210 days according to the Balinese calendar. The holiday lasts for ten days culminating with Kuningan.  It is said that during this ten day period The Balinese gods and the ancestors will descend unto earth for the festivities. Thus the Gods and ancestors must be entertained.    The entire island is decorated with panjor along the roads, houses and temples. Panjor are made from Huge bamboo poles and woven batan of coconut fronds and other leaves.  Huge amounts of traditional lawar is made from sacrificed pigs and Barongs Dance from temple to temple and village to village in celebration of Galungan with the gods. Galungan translates to "When the Dharma is winning". Galungan to the Balinese is the most important holiday period as it symbolizes the victory of Dharma, or virtue, upon Adharma, or all that is evil.

Photo of the Day ~ Borobudur ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog

Lovely Putu and Dina at Candi Borobudur.

Borobudur is the largest and widely hailed as one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world.  The colossal temple, composed of 55,000 square meters of lava-rock is erected on a hill  in Muntilan, Magelang, and is about 42 km from Yogyakarta city in Central Java, Indonesia.
This massive structure was built between AD 700 and  AD 850, (over 300 years prior to Cambodia's Angkor Wat, and more than 400 years before any of the great European cathedrals).  The monument comprises of a stepped-pyramid of six rectangular stories topped by three circular terraces, and a central stupa crowning this incredible architectural achievement on par with the great pyramids of Egypt.  The entire structure is in the form of a lotus, the sacred flower of The Buddha.
The Temple is adorned with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha sculptures.  A huge main dome, located at the very center of the top most platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupas.  Each of these Buddhas are performing a mudra or hand gesture indicating one of the five directions.  East, with the mudra of calling the earth to witness.  South, with the hand position of blessing.  West, with the gesture of meditation and north, the mudra of fearlessness.  And finally, the centre with the teaching gesture.  The name Borobudur is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit words 'vihara', 'Buddha' and  'uhr', which loosely translates as 'the Buddhist monastery on the hill'.
Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction and  is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  But fear not as Balifornian Tours can get you there at times when you will not be inundated with tourists.  This is a "no miss" site on any Indonesian tour and we can help you get there with the least hassle possible and get you to all the secret spots while explaining this heroic achievement of human vision that others might miss.

Copyright © 2010 Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog ~ Michael Doliveck

Our Photo Safaris ~ Are you a photographer or just like to take pictures?  Contact us to find out about our special tours for photographers.  Take a look at the images in the gallery as they are good examples of the types of images you will be able to create on our tours.  The tours are led by Michael, a professor of art and photography as well as some very special guest teachers and pro photographers.  Contact us at photo@balifornian.com today for more information.

Do you have some great images from your Indonesian travels you would like to share? Want to submit your photo for the Balifornian Tour and Travel Blog Photo of the Day?  Please send your JPEG, location and description to photo@balifornian.com  Files must be under 500 kb.

Happy travels!

Michael and Maryam Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog ~ The best Bali website.

Photo of the Day ~ Candi Prambanan- Sunrise ~ Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog

Today we have another view of Prambanan Temple.  We arrived at sunrise to capture this ancient feat of architecture in all its splendid beauty.  Here I opted for a shot without crisp focus to capture the morning aura at first light.

Candi Prambanan in Yogjakarta is considered by many to be the most beautiful Hindu Temple in the world.  Prambanan temple is located in Yogjakarta, Java.  This masterpiece was constructed in the tenth century during the reigns of two powerful kings; Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Balitung. At its tallest, the temple climbs up 48 meters (almost 160 feet, even taller than Borobudur temple).  This photo was taken on our Eco-Adventure Tour while in Yogjakarta, Java.

Prambanan temple has three main temples all facing to the East.  One for Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva.  temples.  Each of the three also has accompanying temple that faces to the west. The grounds are beautiful, complete with gardens, fountains and 224 more temples!

Copyright © 2010 Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog ~ Michael Doliveck

Are you a photographer or just like to take pictures?  Contact us to find out about our special tours for photographers.  Take a look at the images in the gallery as they are good examples of the types of images you will be able to create on our tours.  The tours are led by Michael, a professor of art and photography as well as some very special guest teachers and pro photographers.  Contact us at photo@balifornian.com today for more information.

Have great images from your Indonesian travels you would like to share? Want to submit your photo for the Balifornian Tour and Travel Blog Photo of the Day?  Please send your JPEG, location and description to photo@balifornian.com  Files must be under 500 kb.

Happy travels!

Michael and Maryam