Warriors of the mountain
Not far from Pura Kehen, the Sasana Budaya Art Center is one of
the largest in Bali. Exhibitions and kecak or wayang performances
are held there. In the Bangli area, various types of ritual baris
dances have developed that are typical of mountain regions, such
as the baris Jojor (eight men in a line with spears), baris presi
or tamiang (eight men in a circle with leather shields) and baris
dadap (men in pairs with bat shaped curled shields made from holy
dadap wood), They are performed especially at odalans. One of
the biggest gamelan orchestras in Bali can also be found in the
Bangli region. It was captured from the Klungkung dynasty by the
Dutch, who gave it to Bangli.
The natural scenery around Bangli is worth admiring. Cool air
and quiet paths lead to breathtaking panoramas. About one km west
of the town on the road toward Tampaksiring is a huge ravine with
springs and a number of bathing pools and irrigation works sponsored
by the former mayor of Bangli. Bathers and visitors must descend
a long flight of steps to reach the springs, but the beauty of
the spot warrants the effort. This is a favorite meeting spot
for flirtatious young locals.
Bukit Demulih, literally the "hill of no return," is
located farther west, about an hour's walk from Bangli on the
southern side of the road. A small temple stands atop the hill,
offering a magnificent vista to the west. On the way, in a landscape
of bamboo clusters and farmland, there is a holy waterfall.
To the east of Bangli, there is another lovely road meandering
through spectacular rice terraces and across deep ravines. It
emerges finally on the main road to Besakih, just near Rendang.
This road runs just south of the transitional zone between wet-rice
and dry-rice cultivation, which form the two main ecological specializations
in Bangli
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