Bali Kintamani Area Guide
Saving the Elephants
Indonesia currently has 16 or more species on the verge of extinction. A further 30 are classified as endangered. On the critically endangered and endangered lists are the Sumatran tiger, the Bali starling, the Javanese wild dog, the orangutans of Kalimantan and Sumatra, the Sumatran gibbon and the Sumatran elephant. Some claim the number of Sumatran elephants remaining in the wild is around 1,500, while the more conservative believe 1,000 is more likely. A further 900 or so are found in Sumatra’s elephant camps; once known as elephant training centers, the camps are now called elephant conservation centers and are designed to save the species. However, these camps have become death camps for far too many elephants, according to elephant conservationist Nigel Mason of the Elephant Safari Park in Taro, Bali.
Date: May 9th, 2008 |
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Day trip to Batur Crater Bali
Exploring the Batur crater area of Bali can be rewarding for those with a little time on their hands. Coming from the Kuta area you have a choice of routes to get to NE Bali, 5 main ones to be exact accessing the rim of Gunung Batur via Catur, Tegallalang, Tampaksiring, Bangli and Klungkung. The route chosen will itself afford a different view of Bali. The coastal route out of Kuta, via Sanur and Klungkung is fast and will offer you seas views, succeeded by stunning forest scenery as you approach the southern side of the Batur crater.
Date: December 18th, 2007 |
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Map of Toya Bungkah
Here is a map of Toya Bungkah detailing the accommodation options.
Date: May 28th, 2007 |
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Map of Gunung Batur & Danau Batur
Here is a map of Gunung Batur & Danau Batur detailing temples, points of interest and accommodation options.
Date: May 28th, 2007 |
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Travelling the North-East Road – Part 1
There are literally hundreds of day trips you could embark upon on your visit to Bali, but I have always found it best to get off the main tourist routes and do some exploring. Recently I spent a few days in the north-east of the island. It is a beautiful area of Bali and less frequented by tourists but no doubt in due time, this will change. Of the three main roads heading up to Kintamani we started off my using the road direct to the village of Kertabuana and by doing so avoiding the road tax payable on the main tourist route coming out at the T-Junction near Kintamani and, all the associated hassles. That in itself is a rip-off and should be banned, but, that is my personal opinion. If you wanted to enjoy a few nights around Gunung Batur then a trip down to the base of the crater lake is one that I would recommend. (Nick and I did this a few years back and stayed in Pekalongan. From here you can get over to Trunyan [for what it’s worth, at the moment] or just chill-out and relax, hiking.)
Date: May 1st, 2008 |
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Accommodation in Toya Bungkah: Batur Bali
For those contemplating hiking Gunung Batur, the best place to stay is Toya Bungkah, which has a good selection of budget accommodation. Best thing is to check out a couple of places and compare value.
Date: May 28th, 2007 |
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Gunung Batur: The crater rim
Bali’s mountain lakes are sacred to the Balinese, who worship the Goddess Ida Batara Dewi Ulun Danau (Goddess of the lakes). The lakes trap rainwater and feed Bali’s rivers year round, allowing for constant food production, a factor that has been central to the strength of the Balinese society. Danau Batur is the largest mountain lake and sits inside a caldera (blown out crater), that was created 30,000 years ago. The present day crater is 13km long and also contains Gunung Batur, the fierce looking volcano.
Date: May 28th, 2007 |
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Climbing Gunung Abang in the highlands of Bali
Gunung Abang is located across Lake Batur from Gunung Batur in the highlands of Bali. At 2153m it is over 400m higher, but way less visited. Gunung Abang is known as Red Mountain and the climb is very different. While is rather barren and affords sweeping views of the surrounding landscape, Gunung Abang is forested like Gunung Catur. Some people may find this more enjoyable as climbing during daylight hours you will get shade from the searing sunlight.
Date: December 9th, 2006 |
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