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The road less traveled is the road to adventure, and what every great adventure has in common is someone with a passion to discover something new in this vast a beautiful world we share.
These articles are your personal guide to a whole new bucket list of exploration and a lifetime of new adventures.
CultureLocale

The local Sea Gypsies of Panglong Village

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Ever heard stories about the community of sea gypsies and wished to meet them in real life? Then a visit to Panglong village on Bintan Island, Indonesia would surely be a treat for you during your Bintan vacation!

Panglong, a small nomadic village towards the north of the Bintan island, is the residence of some of the world’s most unique villagers, also known as Sea Gypsies or Orang Laut.

This remote village, which is just an hour’s ride from the Bandar Bentan Telani port, is one of the most popular Bintan tourist attractions. When you enter the village, you may not find anything different from the other fishing villages. However, a long list of surprises awaits as soon as you enter the village.

An interesting fact about the Panglong village is that it is left so untouched that it has remained in the most pristine form, even in the 21st century. They live in houses made of red bricks, almost resembling the houses of the Eskimos. The villagers call these houses “Dapur Arang”. Your local guide from Locaguide can tell you more about their lifestyle, legends, and folktales about mermaids and mermen as you walk through the village.

Dapur Arang of sea gypsies
“Dapur Arang”

The Sea Gypsies

The village is a unique tourist site in itself, but the villagers are even more special — they’re quite aptly called the sea gypsies. They have lived as nomads all their lives in very simple houseboats just off the coasts of Indonesia. They are experts in detecting the areas with a lot of fish just by listening to the reverberation of the seawater clashing with rocks at the shore. All they have to do is, keep their ears close to the floor of the boat!

At the Panglong village, you can be sure to enjoy your evenings by watching these elusive but real-life sea gypsies doing their daily chores as the sun sets — an experience you can cherish forever! Don’t forget to ask your local guide to help you plan a day trip to this unique place on Bintan island.

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CultureLocale

Buddhist spiritualism at the 500 Lohan Temple

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There’s nothing as spiritually satisfying as a travel that accompanies meditation. If you’re longing for such a spiritual expedition, Indonesia has a lot to offer. The 500 Lohan Temple is one such amazing destination where you can immerse yourself in Buddhist spirituality.

The 500 Lohan temple, also known as Vihara Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, is one of the very few monasteries that is dedicated to the Buddhist saint, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

Where is it located ?

Located in Tanjung Pinang City of the Bintan Island, this surreal Buddhist monastery is featured as one of the key attractions in Bintan Island. From the outside, the 500 Lohan Temple looks like any other Buddhist monastery. But, pass through the grand stone archway made in the Chinese architectural design guarded by the statues of General Ha and General Heng, and be ready to be fascinated by the incredible sculpture park. A local guide from Locaguide could be a great choice as he can give you more insights into the meanings of the sculptures and inscriptions as well as describe some of the legends and history behind this temple.

500 Lohan Temple
500 Lohan Temple

The Golden Arhats

With 500 golden statues of arhats or Buddhist saints all lined up in perfect order and harmony, this place is truly a spiritual extravaganza. The peculiarity of these lifelike statues is that all of the arhats are sculpted with a different posture and facial features, depicting their characters in its true sense. Each statue also displays the name of the saint at its base.

500 Lohan Temple
500 golden statues of arhats

The incredible Tibetan Buddhist artwork and symbols adorn the surrounding walls of the temple. The Thai style sculptures of the Buddhas along the pavilion. You can see the sculpture of the Baby Buddha, as you walk facing the pavilion.

The 500 Lohan Temple is indeed a photographer’s wonderland. It is best to explore this place along with the other tourist destinations in Bintan Island, such as the mangrove forest near the Sungei Sebung river or the quaint Senggarang village so ask your local guide to plan your day accordingly.

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Locale

Banyuwangi’s G-Land – A Surfer’s Paradise

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Pristine waters, white sands and waves that are six meters tall – welcome to G-Land or as it globally called ‘Indonesia’s Surfer’s Paradise’. Located to the south of Banyuwangi city, G-Land derives its name from Grajagan, the bay that attracts tourists from all over the world. The waves here at Plengkung Beach are a huge draw for professional surfers given that one gets to experience seven huge rolls of waves that are nothing less than six meters in height.

Nicknamed the ‘Seven Giant Waves Wonder’, there is much to do at this tropical heaven. Whether you are a professional surfer looking to ride the gigantic waves of G-Land or a laid-back tourist looking to soak in the sun or simply enjoy nature at its best, Plengkung Beach never disappoints.

The waves at G-Land are second best in the world for surfing, Moreover they ranked above Australia and South Africa. Furthermore G-Land has also hosted international surfing championships and is best visited from the month of April through to August. To make the most of the locale, a Banyuwangi tour guide would be greatly helpful to experience the best of this region.

How to get there

Getting to Plengkung Beach is easy. You can opt for either of these routes. The first route is by land and is longer than the second option. The mode of transportation is by car and you will have to cover 86 km. Your journey will begin at Banyuwangi and take you via Kalipahit-Pasaranyar-Trianggulasi-Pancur to your destination at Plengkung. The second option is a land-water trip and you will have to cover around 53 km. This route begins at Banyuwangi and takes you to Grajagan via Benculuk then or the final leg of the journey, take a speedboat from Grajagan Beach and head to Plengkung Beach. To have a hassle free experience, just talk to your tour guide from Locaguide and seek his help in planning a visit to G-land.

Surfers Paradise
G-Land

If an escape from your routine life is what you desire, G-Land is the best place to holiday in Banyuwangi. With no phone reception, you’re sure to relax and rejuvenate, far from hustle and bustle of life in the city. 

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Locale

Explore Bali’s Hidden Canyon at Sukawati

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Snuggled away among the quiet villages of Sukawati is a little gem that though hidden, is no secret— the Beji Guwang Hidden Canyon. It boasts remarkable rock formations and is a haven for those who want to enjoy some peace and solitude.

An excursion to this little paradise will excite the adventurous at heart with a 2-to-3-hour trek, involving rock climbing and wading through knee-deep water.

Bali’s Hidden Canyon at Sukawati
Beji Guwang Hidden Canyon

Beji Guwang’s deep and rugged ravine was formed with thousands of years of erosion from the Oos River. This eventually left it looking like the masterpiece it is today. The excursion will follow the Oos river and will take you through a set of three canyons, where you will navigate slippery rocks and varying water levels. You will trek for as long as you can enjoy the sunlight. If hiking isn’t really your forte, you can enjoy serene spots within the canyon that are perfect for yoga or meditation.  The raw beauty of the chasm is bound to enchant you. There are several sections hidden by a canopy of plants and trees that entwine themselves on the craggy surface of the rocks. So, it is always safer to call your guide in advance before you head out.

While you may like to venture out on your own, the slippery steep rocks can be risky to navigate, unless you have an experienced guide alongside. Locaguide can help you find a local tour guide who can not only help you navigate these canyons safely but will give you the chance to discover the lesser traveled parts of the gorge. You will need to do a considerable bit of climbing, jumping, balancing and pulling yourself up rocks, but they will seem much less daunting if there’s someone to guide you. 

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CultureLocale

Shop At Sukawati Art Market in Bali

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The moment you land in Bali, you’ll notice the rich cultural tradition of this fascinating destination. The influence of the traditional art is quite evident in everything you find here, The Sukawati Art Market is a must visit location. 

As any experienced tourist would tell you, if you wish to keep a souvenir of the distinctive Balinese art and culture, one of the best places you can check out is Sukawati Art Market or ‘Pasar Seni Sukawati’ as the locals would call it.

This sprawling traditional market, located in Jalan Raya, Gianyar, is well-known for its amazing artwork, sculptures, and hand-crafted items. Unlike many tourist shopping streets, everything in Sukawati Art Market is sold for a song!

What to expect

Sukawati Art Market is indeed a paradise for souvenir-collectors. The crowded market has everything, from handcrafted jewellery, bags, and accessories to wooden sculptures, traditional kites, framed paintings and ceremonial items at dirt-cheap prices. On the ground floors, you’ll mostly find colourful clothing stalls that sell all types of dresses and fabric. There is also an aromatherapeutic section towards the backside of the market, where you can buy aromatic candles, incenses, and fragrance oils.

Sukawati Art Market
Sukawati Art Market

The market at Sukawati is open on all days. You can find most stalls open even before the clock strikes 8 in the morning, and the pedlars awaiting their first visitors. The crowd would often start pouring in as early as 10 am. However, the best time to practice your bargaining skills would be in the late afternoon hours and evenings, until all the shops close at around 7 pm. Having said that, if bargaining is not your forte, having a trustworthy local guide with you in Bali will ensure that you’re not paying higher prices. A personalized guided tour with Locaguide will give you a unique experience of this traditional market.

So if you’re planning to visit Bali, don’t forget to pay a visit to this bustling local market where you’ll be looking at an entire collection of paintings, jewellery, handicrafts, and accessories made by the Balinese craftsmen. But even if you don’t end up purchasing anything, just a stroll through the market is bound to make your day come alive!

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Locale

Secluded Beaches of Bali

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Bali without a doubt has some of the best beaches in the world. Many of them are commercialized and crowded all year round. But there are some hidden beaches in Bali that are no less than gems. These pristine beaches are peaceful, away from all the noise and perfect to spend some private time.

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Culture

5 Unusual Things To Do In Bali

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Its the scenic beauty of lush green paddy fields, equatorial rainforests, volcanic mountains, pristine white sand beaches and the ancient temple architecture that draws one to the south-eastern paradise Bali; but there’s more in Bali for everyone. How about experiencing some unusual and unique activities in Bali, that you generally don’t hear out there? Here is a list of some of the fun things to do in Bali to make your trip an awesome one!

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