MELANCONG KE "PANTAI PASIR PUTIH" - PERASI, KARANGASEM

Ada satu penyakit yang kadang-kadang muncul saat liburan tiba, yaitu penyakit “bingung menentukan kegiatan yang PAS! dilakukan untuk mengisi liburan”. Jika penyakit ini sampai ke stadium akut, maka dapat dipastikan anda hanya akan terbaring lemah, menghabiskan liburan anda dengan tidur dan makan -pengalaman pribadi – hahahaha…

Memasuki bulan Maret, menjelang liburan Paskah tepatnya  tanggal 29,30,31 kemarin (long weekend), me and the gang -cece,ica,seno,aven,chipext,esty -mulai mengalami syndrome “penyakit” ini, gejala ditandai dengan munculnya pertanyaan  “kemana kita akan jalan-jalan di liburan Paskah ini”? Pertanyaan yang membuat kami semua terdiam dan menatap satu sama lain dengan senyum secuil di bibir,mencoba mencari jawaban secepat mungkin, tapi tak mampu.

Namun kami harus bersyukur karena “penyakit” tersebut tidak sampai ke stadium “akut”, hingga liburan yang dimaksud (hari H) akhirnya tiba. Sadar dengan bahaya penyakit ini, maka tidak main-main, kurang lebih tiga minggu kami habiskan untuk mencari referensi atau saling bertukar ide tentang tempat-tempat yang enak dikunjungi/berlibur nantinya –lebay dikit-. 

Dari percakapan dan masukan-masukan dari teman se-geng, sangat tersirat bahwa pemilihan tempat berlibur harus  memenuhi salah satu kriteria yang utama dan terutama yaitu –sederhana saja- “belum pernah dikunjungi sebelumnya”. 

Setelah ide untuk berkunjung ke Taman Nasiona Bali Barat, LEWAT! ide yang untuk saat ini tidak bisa terealisasi karena membutuhkan waktu dan biaya yang diatas rata-rata, atau setelah ide untuk menginap di Bedugul di Villa Atas Awan juga LEWAT, karena harga sewa yang tiba-tiba meroket dan tidak ada kejelasan, maka diakhir diskusi kami akhirnya memutuskan, dengan segenap jiwa dan raga serta kebulatan tekad #hallah….. 30 Mar trip ke Karangasem untuk melihat-lihat pantai ter-cantik yang orang lokal sebut “VIRGIN BEACH”atau “PANTAI PASIR PUTIH”. 

29 Mar 2013, setelah ibadah Paskah jam 0900 pagi di GKI Denpasar, kami mempermantab rencana untuk perjalanan esok hari (30 Mar 2013) termasuk menghubungi car rental dan memesan 1 unit APV untuk disewa sehari. Beressssssss!!

Singkat cerita, tanggal 30 Mar 2013 pkl 1030,sebuah mobil APV merah tua melaju dengan kecepatan 60km/jam melintasi Bypass Ida Bagus Mantra menuju Karangasem, berisi 3 pria tertampan dan 4 gadis tercantik se-geng- #gubrakk. Perjalanan dimulai….

VIRGIN BEACH - LOCATION

Pantai Pasir Putih, itulah nama pantai yang lebih populer dikalangan penduduk lokal ini, terletak sekitar kurang lebih 15 menit dari Candidasa, di desa Perasi, Karangasem.  Untuk sampai kesana tidak terlalu rumit, sebab anda dapat melihat petunjuk arahnya disalah satu titik di Jalan Raya Perasi, cukup memasang mata baik-baik ketika anda melintas.

Hey, bagi yang membaca artikel ini…Congratulations! Anda akan mendapat tambahan referensi  tempat berwisata pantai di Bali selain –THE MOST COMMON BEACHES!!- pantai Kuta, pantai Dreamland,pantai Seminyak,pantai Nusa Dua dan pantai-pantai lainnya. Karena setelah saya ubek-ubek semua buku yang ada di tokoh buku terdekat, belum ada satu buku pun –yang saya temukan – membahas tentang pantai ini, atau setelah mengutak-atik google map, pantai ini benar-benar tidak terdeteksi… oleh sebab itu sekali lagi SELAMATTT!!! #apa sih???

Jika anda sedang melintasi Jalan Raya Perasi, anda harus menemukan petunjuk arah yang bertuliskan “White Sand Beach” dengan tanda panah yang menunjuk ke sebuah jalan kecil di seberang jalan. Segera belokkan mobil atau motor anda ke jalan kecil tersebut. Dari titik ini, anda masih harus menempuh sekitar sekilo lebih untuk sampai ke pantai. Tapi jangan khawatir , you are  on the right track!!

Tapi nasib kami termasuk “malang” karena kami melewati penunjuk jalan ini,padahal salah satu personil geng –si seno - sempat memberitahu bahwa kami telah off the track. Never mind, there is always a way back. Namun pelajaran yang dapat dipetik  kali ini adalah : Jika anda sedang berkunjung ke kota Amlapura dan ingin mencari tempat  makan, maka berfikirlah dua kali….gak bakal nemu cynnnn!!!

Setelah sampai di pos tiket, siapkan entrance fee sebesar Rp. 3,000 per orang. Kami membayar Rp. 23,000 untuk 7 orang dan 1 mobil. Untuk mobil hanya bayar sekitar Rp 2,000 untuk parkir saja. Masih terbilang murah, bukan?

Jalan menuju ke pesisir pantai sedikit terjal, berkerikil dan belum diaspalt. Namun bukan berarti parkiran di pantai ini sepi. Kami sedikit kaget ketika melihat ada banyak mobil parkir sekitar 100 meter dari bibir pantai. What the…! Tau gini kan ,APV nya bisa diparkir disini juga. APV kami parkir sekitar setengah kilo dari pantai dan masih harus berjalan kaki 3 menitan. Tak apalah..hitung-hitung exercise sebelum renang….

Voila…pertama menginjakkan kaki di pantai pasir putih ini,hanya satu pertanyaan yang muncul dikepalaku “kenapa orang menyebut pantai ini virgin beach”? Di mindset ku, virgin itu artinya “perawan atau belum terjamah” -jadi saya sempat membayangkan jika pantai ini akan benar-benar sepi, tidak banyak orang dan toh kalau ada orang ,pasti hanya penduduk lokal/nelayan saja yang lalu-lalang. 

Namun setelah melihat langsung, khayalan indah ku tentang pantai ini buyar, dan apa yang saya fikirkan tentang pantai ini tidak sepenuhnya benar. The only fact is: it’s a beach, dude! #ya ealah……

WHITE SAND BEACH - PERASI

Terlepas dari semua khayalan yang muluk-muluk tadi, hanya satu yang pasti – swimming here  is the real pleasure. That’s the point. Dari semua pantai di Bali yang pernah saya “renangi”, sejauh ini pantai Pasir Putih ini yang “PALING ENAK”. Pasirnya memang tidak terlalu putih, namun “swimming zone”nya lumayan dangkal sedada orang dewasa dan berombak, sehingga berenang disini dapat memberikan sensasi lain daripada yang lain. Tinggi dan kuat ombaknya hampir mirip-mirip di  Dreamland beach. 

THE GANG

Disini, anda cukup membayar Rp.10,000 untuk sewa sunlounger yang anda bisa duduki dan “tiduri” sepuasnya,sampai pantai sepi, murah bukan? Anda juga dapat bersantai sambil menikmati makan siang di warung-warung yang ada disepanjang pantai, ataukah sekedar memesan minuman- mulai dari airputih, es klapa muda, berbagai jus sampai bir- Semua ada dengan harga yang relative standar/terjangkau. What a real nice beach to hang out!

Setelah puas menikmati ombak “Virgin beach” , sekitar pukul 5 sore, kami bergegas meninggalkan pantai untuk kembali ke Denpasar. This beach is RECOMMENDED and definitely, will come back one day, tentu saja untuk berenang! So we were happy ‘coz we could do something and not letting this long weekend just passed by J! HAPPY EASTER

Artikel terkait :

• Tirta Gangga
• Menikmati Sunrise di Gunung Batur 
• Mendaki Gunung Agung
• Pantai Kuta dan sunset yang menawan
• Melancong ke Pantai Pasir Putih (Virgin Beach) Karangasem
• Hotspring Toya Devasha Batur
• Harga Tiket Masuk Waterbom Terbaru 2015
• 5 Akomodasi Murah di Kuta dibawah Rp 300,000

CLIMBING TO Mt AGUNG 3.142m – BALI

Well, just thinking of reposting this story, which I created about a year ago, just wanted to give some edits and trying my best to put them in good English. I am not a good English writer though’…

 Mountain Climbing for some people, especially for people who called themselves “Nature Lovers” or “Adventure-er” ,”Mountaineering” or whatever it is, has been always a “fun” thing to do. It’s what people say a “challenge”…

Well of course, there are many types of climbing. There are Rock Climbing, Ice climbing, Canyoning, etc , which some of them need a special technique and well-preparation before doing it.

Especially for this climbing story of myself and three other friend, I would just call it a “mount climbing” or for myself  I called it a “reckless climbing” -sorry if this is an inappropriate word to express that we were actually not really in a well-prepared condition to climb, at that time –

We climbed on the 5^th of April 2009, it was Sunday and the idea to do a climbing came to us just a few days before the day – the idea came to us, once we knew that there was “a friend of a friend” –how you call that?- who had climbed the mount before, and the good thing was he is a Balinese as well, and he knows well about the area -

I could have been saying “wow this is gonna’ be an impossible, if we are going without local people, we do not know the route and not to mention we are going to climb up the highest mountain in this Island 3.142 m above the sea level –

 Jim and Mat are from Sumatra, 1700 miles away from this Island, and me myself is from South Sulawesi, 500 miles away from this Island-

Long story short, it’s 2pm on the April 4^th, my 2 litters “Norwand” back-pack already full and tight, with 5 bottles (plastic) of 1500 ml mineral water, a thick jacket, a full-of-pocket trouser, and of course some instant foods for dinner, a camera –a must bring thing to capture good views – , a scraft , a skull-cap, a mini-stove to cook dinner , climbing shoes -

 I had been told before that the temperature on the summit can be less than 10 degree, so my anticipation was to bring the thickest jacket I have.

There are two routes to reach the summit –actually there are 3, but the other one is not common -. First, via Besakih Temple  and second, via Pura Pasar Agung .

Here are a few explanations about the 3 routes.

Climbing routes

From Besakih (west). This is a demanding climb starting close to Besakih temple. The ascent will take about 6 to 7 hours and ends at the very highest point of the mountain. The final hour or so is exceptionally demanding often requiring ascent on all fours. A sensible start time is about 11PM, so that you arrive at the top before dawn and wait for the sunrise.

From Pura Pasar Agung (south). A three to four hour climb in which time you ascend about 2,000 metres. Not so stiff as the Besakih route. The route ends about 100 metres below the actual summit, but the views are still excellent in all directions, as well as down into the actual crater. A sensible start time would be about 2:30 AM, again with aim of reaching the peak just before dawn. I and friends took this route, and in fact we were about a hundred metres below the actual summit.

From Duku Bujangga Sakti (north). A seldom used route but one which is most appropriate for less experienced trekkers and the slightly less physically fit. The ascent starts at 300 metres and involves an overnight camp at 1,700 meters, before the final ascent in the pre-dawn hours the following day. This route also allows you to walk around the rim of the crater to the absolute summit of the mountain.

I made my own map, so you guys can -at least- having a slight view of what I am talking about.

CLIMBING ROUTES TO AGUNG

After all has been packed, we then left Sanur “Abian Prasta” our starting point and heading towards North-East of Bali. We previously planned to climb via Besakih Temple but we were forbidden to climb without a guide and they suggested us to use guide at IDR 300,000, – what?no way!!!- we were on a very low-budget, I could not remember my money in pocket was less than Rp. 100,000,-  – turned back and left the place with huge disappointment.

But as I said, it is always an advantageous to go with a local, my friend Gilang found the plan B- going via Pura pasar Agung. He claim himself “NatureLover”,he is Balinese and we counted  much on him as our leader….

 Leaving Besakih, rode to the East to Tukad Panglan, Pura Pasar Agung (see map) and we got there about 6 or 7pm, I could not remember. There is a large parking lot there at the temple. It is closer to the top and took about only 4 hours to climb (normally) compare to Besakih which needs at least 7-8 hours climbing.

6PM AT THE BASE BEFORE CLIMBING

Long story short, we entered the dark forest at about 7.30pm after praying at the Temple.

– Praying at the temple, is a must- to-do before ascending the mount, for your info Mt.Agung is considered holy by Hindu people  where the kingdom of gods (Bali protectors) settled, so we must show respect – it is also forbidden to hike when it is full-moon – Also do not ever bring any food contains beef –

With each of us, using a head-lamp, we begun to step our feet on rocky, slippery and grassy path leading to the top of the mount where the excitement is waitingJ. We took an un-countable stops and rest along the way of course, not only because the path is taugh, but the bag was heavy!

On the height of about 1,000 m we begun to see an absolutely stunning view, but it was only over-seeing the town with millions of lamps.

Half way, it was 10.30pm, we need to cook dinner, and we need to find a flat-surface to settle a tent but what a bad luck!  There was no flat-surface, only rocks around! But because we were starved, cooking food was the top priority.

Our plan: it’s 11pm, to sleep and wake up at 3am to continue to the summit which now only take 4 hours ,and catch sunrise in the morning at 6 or 7 am. And………………………..

 -NOBODY WOKE-UP until 7am-

In fact, I already yelled 3 or more times, everybody slept like having drunk an alcoholic drink last night. So planning was kind of ruined but the main aim was to reach the summit and get down before 12pm.

In the end, we made it to the summit at 10am and returned at 11.30am. Here are some photos :

HALF WAY

BREAKFAST TIME

ROCKY PATH

 Mount Agung The great crater ! 200 m wide and about 8 – 20 m deep ! last eruption 1963 killed approx 1500 people!

I AM ON THE TOP OF THE WORLD

WHEREEVER YOU GO, ALWAYS SHOW SOME LOVE TO YOUR COUNTRY :)

“Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb.”— Greg Child.

“Climbing is as close as we can come to flying.” — Margaret Young, aviator and alpinist.

  

END

TIRTA GANGGA - KARANGASEM BALI 25 DEC 2009

On the Dec 25^th , I and friends did a trip to the Eastern Part of Bali, our destination was Amlapura town, the capital of Karangasem Regency. Karangasem is about 62 kms from Denpasar, and it takes about at maximum 1 hours to get there by motorbike or private car. The road is well paved road, straight but thou at some part there are holes here and there.

We visited a famous tourist destination there called “ Tirta Gangga” or in English can be translated as “ Water of Gangga”. As there is a pool at this site which has a spring coming out from the ground, and local people there believed that this water is coming from Gangga Water in India (River Gangga). A spring in balinese called “embukan”,spring is considered holy for Balinese (holywater). According to some sources, this site is used to be a palace built by the last king of Karangasem  Anak Agung Anglurah Ketut karangasem in 1984, and this was used as the resting place for king. However due to the eruption of Mt.Agung in the 1963 caused a very serious damage, and this palace was once abandoned.

Tirta Gangga Palace or can also be called Tirta Gangga Water Garden is located about another 6 kms from Amlapura town to the north-east,in Ababi village the district of Abang. The place with cool surrounding and also available a pool if somebody wants to swim or bathing.This 1,2 hectares of Water Garden consist of 3 complex. The first near the entrance gate is pool for fishes and fountain, the second is swimming pool and the third is a “bale” a place for king relaxing.

The entrance fee : ADULT (domestic tourist and foreigner) is IDR Rp.6.000/pax – CHILDREN IDR Rp.3.500 –Parking Fee 1000 (bike) 2000(car).

Sources : tirtagangga.nl & karangasemtouris.com