Exotis Lempuyang Temple, Karangasem, Bali.

Exotis Gate at Lempuyang temple, Karangasem, Bali.

Lempuyang Temple Bali is also called ‘The Temple of Thousand Steps’.
The Temple is located at the summit of Belibis Hill (Mount Lempuyang), northeast of Mount Agung, Abang District, Karangasem Regency , Bali , Indonesia.

The Temple of Thousand Steps

Pura Luhur Lempuyang in Karangasem, Bali  is one of the nine directional temples in Bali. It is also known as the "Temple of thousand steps", it is called Temple of thousand steps because to reach the main temple area, visitors must climb about 1700 steps. 

 

Pura Luhur lempuyang

The word Lempuyang is derived from 2 words "Lampu" which means light and "Hyang" which means God therefore the meaning of Lempuyang is Light of God. Pura Luhur lempuyang is located in the northeast of mount Agung, Abang District, Karangasem Regency, approximately 2.5 hours from Denpasar City. 

Exotis Lempuyang Temple

The temple is situated 1.058 meters above sea level and the atmosphere could be cool and humid according to the season. It is not sure when the temple was built, according to the history, when the earth was only 70 years old, Bali was often hit by disasters. 

Exotis View From Gate of Lempuyang Temple

The God Pacupati who resides in Mount Sumeru saw the bad condition and sent his 3 children Hyang Gni Jaya, Hyang Putra Jaya and Dewi Danu to stabilize the island of Bali. Each of them were commanded to reside in different places, Hyang Gni Jaya was told to reside Lempuyang Luhur temple. 

Lempuyang Temple is a sacred temple and many Balinese Hindu come to this temple to pray and worship God and Its manifest. People make a pilgrimage at this temple is to obtain the sacred holy water by cutting a yellow bamboo plant which grows in the shrub in the inner courtyard of the temple.

In Bali's have 9 key directional temples are:

- Purah Besakih (Mother Temple), 

- Pura Lempuyang (Lempuyang Temple), 

- Pura Luhur Batukaru (Batukaru Temple), 

- Pura Luhur Uluwatu (Uluwatu Temple), 

- Pura Ulun Danu Batur (Batur Temple),
- Pura Goa Lawah (Bat Cave Temple),
- Pura Andakasa (Andakasa Temple),
- Pura Puncak Mangu (Puncak Mangu Temple),
- Pura Pusering Jagat (Pusering Jagat Temple),

Reference:
http://www.bali-indonesia.com/magazine/bali-must-see-temples.htm
http://www.travellingbali.com/bali/things-to-do-and-see-in-bali-sightseeing-bali/bali-lempuyang-temple-bali-pura-luhur-lempuyang-bali-temples-things-to-do-and-see-in-bali
http://parsiyani.blogspot.co.id/2016/08/lempuyang-temple-karangasem-bali.html

Wonderful Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan.

Wonderful Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan.

Beautiful Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan.,  Picture source: FB Wonderful Indonesia.

How to get Derawan Islands? 
Via Land: 
By road can be done, though in some places the road is still broken. 
The route: Palangkaraya -> Banjarmasin -> Balikpapan -> Samarinda -> Cape Redeb -> Tanjung Batu -> Derawan. 
Cost breakdown:Banjarmasin-Samarinda (Bus) = Rp. 120000-150000Samarinda 
- Cape Redeb (sort Travel Avanza) = Rp. 275000-300000Cape Redeb 
- Tanjung Batu (sort Travel Avanza) = Rp. 100,000 Tanjung Batu 
- Derawan Island (speedboat) = Rp. 100,000

Via Air: 
There are plenty of flights to Balikpapan, there are two ways, namely through the Tarakan Berau or passing.If through Tarakan excess is cheaper and more choices than through Berau.Namun flight from tarakan further the sea lanes to get to the island Derawan and no regular speedboat or to the public, so it must hire themselves.Through Tarakan easier for departing convoy.While the Berau easier for that because of the many public car travel to Tanjung Batu and public speedboat to the island Derawan. 

Airlines that serve low-Balikpapan to Berau and Balikpapan: Sriwijya Air, Wings Air, Kalstar, Garuda Indonesia.

Wonderful Derawan Islands

To stay at Derawan Islands there are many options available, from the level of accommodation, homestay until Resort are all available, tegantung your available budget.
The most complete on the island Derawan, the cheapest is lodging (Rp. 100,000), for a Homestay in house a population of around Rp. 250,000.

There are also cottages that were built above the sea (about Rp. 300,000) as well as the Resort at prices above five Hundred Thousand millions. Another alternative is in Maratua, can stay in homestay population, but charge a little more expensive than on the island Derawan.

Try also stay at Maratua Paradise Resort with permalam rate of Rp. 990.000, - per person for a Water Villa, and Rp. 660,000, - per person for Beach Villa. Two other islands namely Nabucco and Charitable Island's only one fruit that bayarnya resort wear dollars.

The main attractions  in Derawan Islands is related to water and underwater travel. Activity is usually done on the beach sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, diving, as well as see turtles. There is plenty of snorkeling equipment rental at a rate of about Derawan Island and Rp. 50,000 per day. Meanwhile, for those of you who like to dive the divers are also provided several Dive Centre with a complete tool.

Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan.

There are several islands that can be visited in the maritime Derawan, namely Maratua Island, Kakaban Island, Charitable Island, Nabucco Island, Bakungan Island, and Derawan Island.

Maratua Paradise Resort

Maratua Paradise Resort