Escape to serenity in Bedugul
I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Bedugul, Bali
The fog descends slowly, engulfing the peak of the hill. Sometimes you still can see Pucak Padang Dawa temple, majestically situated on the top of the hill.
The fog, the hill, the ancient temple and the darkness that formed slowly around the Bedugul area created a distinct sense of serenity and temptation to lie back and enjoy the scenery -- two of the main things that make Bedugul a favorite holiday destination in Bali.
Located some 1,100 meters above sea level in Tabanan regency, some 60 kilometers and just one and a half hours by car from Denpasar, Bedugul is the right place to escape to from the scorching heat of southern Bali tourist destinations, such as Kuta or Nusa Dua.
Bedugul boasts several tourist attractions, from the tranquil deep-blue Beratan Lake, where visitors can enjoy various types of water sports and activities or immerse themselves in the concept of religious peaceful coexistence beautifully manifested in a Buddhist stupa at Ulun Danu Temple, to the wide green of the 18- hole Bali Handara Kosaido Country Club, one of the island's finest.
There is also the 120-hectare Bedugul Botanical Gardens, which not only give visitors plenty of space to connect with Mother Nature, but also a chance to learn about the gardens' around 1,130 species of plants.
And for those who like to bring something from the places they visit, Candikuning market is full of numerous interesting things, from locally produced fruits, vegetables, spices and plants to wooden handicrafts and garments from various areas on the island.
A few kilometers due north of Bedugul, a beautiful 40-meter- high waterfall is ready to be explored in the Gitgit area.
Various treks are available for the adventurous who want to know the real Bedugul, up close and personal.
The tragic World Trade Center attack apparently has had little impact on this area. The manager of a hotel in Pacung, some five kilometers south of Bedugul, says occupancy rates are normal.
"November is still low season, and our occupancy rate is normal for the low season," the manager said. "We do not target any specific market, or country. Perhaps that's the reason we do not feel the impact of the decrease in American tourist arrivals.
An officer of the local Traffic and Transportation Office, Nyoman Sukisna, revealed that over the past several days there had been an increase in domestic tourist arrivals."I counted 60 buses full of domestic tourists entering Bedugul yesterday," he said last Monday.
Being well endowed with nature has its dark side too, in that everyone wants a piece of it. Development has spun out of control with many big contractors building luxurious villas, residences and apartments. Unfortunately, conservation is not considered an important priority.