PADANGLAWAS
Some
of the TOP Hotels in Bali
Bali's
most famous and crowded resort is Kuta beach, a six-kilometre
sweep of golden sand, with plenty of accommodation,
shops and nightlife. Nearby Sanur is much quieter, but
most backpackers prefer the beaches of peaceful east-coast
Candi Dasa and traveller-oriented Lovina on the north
coast. The island's other major destination is the cultural
centre of Ubud , a still charming but undeniably commercialized
overgrown village, where traditional dances are staged
every night of the week and the streets are full of
arts-and-crafts galleries.
Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa : The Nusa Dua
Beach Hotel & Spa is a luxury property strategically
located only 15 kilometers away from the... Nusa Dua
Aston Bali Resort & Spa : The Aston
Bali Resort and Spa is a luxury hotel located on the
waterfront facing golden sandy beaches... Tanjung Benoa
Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel : Sanur
Paradise Plaza Hotel is situated in the coastal village
of Sanur, an ideal location from which to explore...
Sanur
Sanur Paradise Plaza Suites : The Sanur
Paradise Plaza Suites is located in Sanur Village just
two kilometers from the Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel....Grand
Bali Beach Hotel also is a nice hotel in Sanur.
Swiss Belhotel Bali Aga : The Swiss
Belhotel Bali Aga is a deluxe property strategically
located only 20 kilometers northeast from the Ngurah
Rai... Nusa Dua
Grand Hyatt Bali Hotels located in
Nusa Dua and The Oberoi Bali located
in Seminyak, Maya Ubud located in Ubud,
The Alilia Ubud, Chedi, Hard
Rock Hotel Bali located in Kuta beach, Melia
Bali located in Nusa Dua and Padma
Bali located in Kuta
A
collection of ruined 11th and 12th Century monuments
virtually unknown to the outside world. This archaeologist's
dream is found in South Tapanuli in the neighborhood
of Gunungtua near the little village of Portibi, a small
barren plain which was once covered in forests. Because
of the area's isolation in the middle of the jungles
of Sumatra, this site is very seldom visited. Out of
at least 16 temple ruins there are 4 broken down but
beautiful Hindu temples still standing: Bahal I, II,
III, and Sipamutung. Of the other temple sites all that
remain are mounds and piles of bricks. In addition,
there are untold scattered and broken Hindu statues,
carvings and ancient artifacts lying around by the dozens.
The statuary (but not the bricks) are thought to have
come from India, transported to this site on barges
all the way by river from the east coast of Sumatra.
These remains are connected with East Java architecturally,
though a distinct type of Buddhism was practiced by
these ancient Batak peoples, a tantric cult full of
wierd magic. The main vaults of the temples are left,
the walls decorated with dancing raksasas swinging swords
and clubs, lions, many warriors and guardians. Temple
Bahal I is 13 m tall and has the strangest iconography:
demonic Tibetan tyrannical anger and revenge scenes
with thunderbolts and skulls and hideous laughter. getting
there : From either Bukittinggi or Padang get a bus
first to Padangsidempuan. This small town is known as
Kota Se/ak because of the abundance of the fruit, salak,
Rp200 for a whole basketful. From Padangsidempuan there
are buses only once or twice a day, Rp300, out to Portibi'
village. Buses operate more frequently from Padangsidempuan
to Gunungtua, Rp250, then it's easy enough to get the
only 8 km from Gunungtua down to Portibi. If you want
to make more than a day of it, stay with the villagers
in Portibi.
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