We leave the Tirta Empul at around
11.30 ish and arrive at Kintamani at 12.15 pm. It is not really
that far though but we were stuck by traffic of buses climbing
uphill. The actual trip may took only around 30 mins or less.
We did catch a glimpse of Panorama there but
then the rain started to pick up. The area is around 19-22 degrees
celcius, during the afternoon and around 15 degrees at night.
It is quite cosy with the wind blowing from the crater and the
lake of Batur.
The Kintamani itself is basically an area surround
the mount and lake Batur, Bali's largest lake. An active volcano
gunung (mt) Batur is 1,717 M (5,635 ft) above sea level and considered
to be the female element next to the Mt (gunung) Agung, Bali's
highest volcano. The crater itself is 11 km (7 miles) in diameter
and approximately 150 metres deep.
Penelokan at 1,450 metres (4,800 ft) above sea
level is a spectacular point to take in views of Mt Batur. A steep,
corkscrew road descend to lakeside Kedisan village, where boats
can be hired but does not go around the lake. On the volcano's
flank at Toya Bungkah are hot springs reputed to have medicinal
qualities and said to be the personal fountain of goddess Dewi
Danu (lake Mistress). Travellers climb Mt Batur use Toya Bungkah
as staging point.
Trunyan, , the best knows Bali Aga village across
the lake is inhabited by the original Balinese, who rejected changes
brought by Majapahit invaders in the 14th century. The villagers
have kept their unusual burial customs. The dead are left in open
pits for nature to eliminate, and are covered only by cloth and
a bamboo roof. The name Trunyan comes from the Taru Menyan (fragrant
tree) that grows in the cemetery. Isolated for centuries from
mainstream Bali, Trunyanese keep under the wraps - in a Pagoda
- Bali's largest traditional statue, a 4 metre (13 feet) high
patron guardian they believe is the "God of the World's Centre".
Gunung Batur, intermittenly spews lava, ash and
steam. The last major activity was in 1994, but nothing occured
since 1926. It is the site of Bali's second most important temple
after Besakih - Pura Ulun Danu Batur, one of Bali's two major
subak (irrigation cooperative) temples. Temple rituals here are
linked with the veneration of Danau Batur. |
