Barong Dance, Crafts, Temple and Volcano at Kintamani, Arts and Monkey Forest at Ubud

This is a very versatile, extremely memorable tour. You will observe art, dance, culture and nature. We start at the Barong Dance a famous Hindu story. We visit craftsmen, and painters at work. We see the spectacle of nature. It is a perfect example of the wonderful different aspects of the world’s favorite island holiday destination, Bali.

Full Day Approx. 9 Hours

Rate at US$ 36.00 / person.
Inclusive: Lunch, Admission fee, English speaking driver, Barong Dance Ticket, Sarong for visiting temple

You will start your day in the village of Batubulan, known for its soft stone carvings of demons, garden temples, statues, Buddhas and ornamental plaques of Balinese scenes.

You will attend the famous Barong Dance. One of the most famous of the Balinese dances. It is a drama/comedy featuring a witch, a monster, a princess and her servants, laughter, suspense and a rousing, dramatic, climactic ending.

The Barong is probably the most well known dance of Bali. It is a dance which is based on the fight between good and evil. This is an example of the Balinese arts acting out mythology to mimic reality. Rangda, the mother of Erlangga, the King of Bali in the tenth century, practiced black magic. She summons the evil spirits and demons of the jungle, to attack her son Erlangga. Fighting ensues and Erlangga asks the spirit Barong for help. The Barong joins with Erlangga's soldiers. Rangda casts a spell that makes Erlangga soldiers attempt to kill themselves with their poison tipped keris into their chests. Barong casts a spell that repels the sharp keris. In the end the Barong wins and Rangda escapes. There are servants for comedy, a princess for romance and a witch for danger.

Then observe the hand weaving and dyeing of the well known Batik and Ikat in Tohpati. Observe how the craft grew from a cottage, village craft to a textile art form. You will see clothing, art, linens, and observe the Batik process.

Kintamani is a village on the rim of a collapsed volcano. The lake that has accumulated in the cone is Lake Batur and the new formation rising up from the floor of the crater is Mt. Batur. It is still active with smoke and occasional rock, ash venting on the Northwest side. Here we will take an hour to eat, or shop, or just relax.
You will then see an ancient temple and garden. The Holy Springs at Tampak Siring is surrounded by a pool of water that is sanctified by the Hindu society in Bali and is believed to have the power to heal various diseases, injuries and ailments. Every day it is visited by many Hindu people to perform rituals and purify them selves. It is a favorite destination for tourists and local Balinese alike.

Then it’s time to observe the ancient craft of silver jewelry making in Celuk. Many traditional pieces of simple earrings, bracelets, and necklaces are showcased. Then there are filigreed pieces with work so delicate they are reminiscent of silk lace or spider webs. Recently some of the younger silversmiths have created some striking modernistic designs that are sure to catch the eye. It’s a beautiful blend of traditional skill combined with neo-artistic vision.

To fully appreciate the wood carvings seen in shops and stalls all over Bali one must visit Mas. Here you se the true scope of the craft of woodcarving. You will see life size woodcarvings of fishermen with nets full of fish, deer, dolphin, monkeys, horses, and many sizes and styles of masks. You will be amazed by the three dimensional scenic carvings of village life, ceremonies, and wildlife. These carvings much too large and intricate for normal shops and have to be seen here.

Then we will see some of the paintings, sculptures, and modern art of Bali in world famous artists colony of Ubud. In the 8th century a Javanese priest named Rsi Markendya founded the Gunung Lebah Temple at the meeting of two rivers, a very auspicious place for Hindus, in Campuan, Ubud.
The town was originally a source of medicinal herbs and plants. Ubud gets it name from the Balinese word ubad or medicine.

In the late nineteenth century, Ubud became the seat Gianyar, at one time the most powerful of Bali's southern states. Ubud is the village where the traditional Balinese painters of Batubulan and Ubud, studied with visiting European artists in the 1930’s and 1940’s. They created a style of painting new to both art worlds. There are traditional village and forest scenes as well as paintings reflecting surfers, cars, buses, as well as modern villas and buildings in the present.

A new burst of creative energy came in the 1960's with new styles and energies as well as a revival of the old style. There are many museums spread all over Ubud that highlight all of the styles and eras, including the Museum Rudana.

While the Bali tourist boom since the late 1960s has created a lot of modern development, it remains a center of artistic creativity.

In Ubud you will see Puri Saren Agung, a large palace located at the intersection of Monkey Forest and Raya Ubud roads. Dance performances are held in its courtyard.

We end our day at The Ubud Monkey Forest, a small nature reserve and nutmeg tree forest located in southern Ubud. It houses a temple and 200 long-tailed macaque monkeys. The family of monkeys is considered holy by the temple staff and the local Balinese. They are semi tame and great care must be taken when you are around them!

Be sure and plan your tour. Bring shoes with arch support. Light sandals are not designed for walking on uneven ground. You may have slight hills or uneven steps to deal with. Some of the markets and villages are built on slopped land and good arch and ankle support will be very, very beneficial. Be sure and wear socks.

Be sure and bring sunscreen or a hat and don’t forget your sunglasses. In many of the mountain villages temples and attractions, you will be in the shade, so a light sweater or sweatshirt may come in handy.

Many spots that you find yourself will have snacks and beverages, but a bottle of water and a small candy bar or dried fruit might come in handy.

Have the correct film or memory chip for your cameras.