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2nd Bali Travel News Fun Bike performed Sunday (28/11) took place in a fun atmosphere linked to the 6th Bali Travel News Anniversary and saw more than 200 public competitors and 30 member tourism police involved. Taking the distance of about 10 km, competitors were obliged to get through the route starting at Jl. Ir. Juanda - Jl. Dr. Mawardi - Jl. Raya Puputan - Jl. Hangtuah - Jl. Bypass I Gusti Ngurah Rai - Jl. WR Supratman - Jl. Kamboja - Jl. Kapten Japa - Jl. Cok Tresna and finish at Jl. Ir. Juanda. At the finish line officials allotted hundreds of door-prizes and the Grand Prize of cash Rp 1.000.000

BTN Fun Bike 2004 was followed also by hotel employees and old-bicycle groups. Police Commissary A.A. Adi Antara said as tourism police his corps feel it’s important to join this fun bike event. Besides to participate an easy going sport, it is also an effort of introducing the Tourism Police to wide society. “On the run, tourism police comprising of the Chief of Bali Provincial police in 1999 started with 30 members. Last year, we also conscripted our corps,” he sharpness his words. BBC Group (Beraban Bicycle Club) conscripted its 25 members. The group located at Jl. Pulau Yapen No. 11 Denpasar invited its members because they consist of travel officers, doctors and other private sector officers were all keen to enter. According to BBC leader Wayan Mekanik, besides following BTN Fun Bike, the club since 1961 often performs outside town tours with bicycles. This event is conducted once a week with 20 to 60 club members. They pedal the bicycle on towards Tanah Lot, Kintamani, Jatiluwih, and other towns in Bali. Not only touring Bali, BBC often holds tours to Trawas, Malang (Jatim) riding old bicycles. “Besides being a fun bike group, we often are engaged as an old bicycle club builder in Bali, especially for tourists who are lodging in Nusa Dua area, Kuta, Tanah Lot and Sanur,” he said.
While Ir. Nyoman Sueta, a member of Sebudi old bicycle group has a different story. Bali Travel News Fun Bike represents a very interesting event. Besides sport, biking can also create a free pollution and clean environment. It explained, if this event is always well coordinated, entire members will possibly join. “Now, our attended membership is only 29 from hundreds of Sebudi Old Bicycle Groups,” Sueta said. It asserted, Sebudi Old Bicycle Group performed easy going events once in two days. It is usually conducted while praying or doing a devote work at the closest place which can be reached with the bicycle. Biking besides makes our body healthy, it also returns our childhood memories. “For getting to and from school, a bicycle is a cheap and special transportation appliance,” he stated.
This event was sponsored by Melia Bali Villas & Spa Resort, BTDC Nusa Dua, Matahari Beach Resort & Spa, Abian Srama, Inna Grand Bali Beach, Bali Boy’s, Bali Tropic Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa, Kuta Paradiso Hotel, Hardy’s Sanur, The Patra of Bali Resort & Villas, Parigata Resort and Spa, Bali of Dynasty Resort, Le Meridien of Golf Nirvana & Spa Resort, Grand Hyatt Bali, Toyobo Istana Elektronik, Bali Zoo Park and The OASIS.
(BTN/015)
photo and text by budarsana

Visiting the Temple While Trekking

Pucak Mangu Temple is often called Pucak Tinggan. It is named pucak or puncak (peak) meaning a temple located on the hilltop. Therefore, it is called Mangu Hill. Meanwhile, it is named Pucak Tinggan Temple because this temple situated in the territory of Tinggan hamlet, Pelaga village, Petang, Badung.

As matter of fact, Pucak Mangu temple and Pucak Tinggan temple are at different locations, but they have a close and historical relationship, namely single predecessor, Sanghyang Nirarta or more known as Ida Pedanda Sakti Wawu Rawuh. Its disparity, Pucak Mangu temple is located on the hilltop, and to reach the temple devotees should walk by passing through the path that goes steadily upward at the height of 1,300 meters above sea level. Averagely, this path could be covered in an hour starting from the hamlet hall of Tinggan.
The location is a bit hard with cool temperatures. When arriving at the top, you’ll see a shrine in the form of five and three-tiered merus along with some other sacred buildings. We can also see the splendor of Lake Beratan from the hilltop.
From Denpasar to the temple takes an hour’s drive by bus (45 km). Hindu devotees frequently take advantage this journey to the temple as a trekking bustle. Recently, many government, private officials and students from Denpasar of Hindu followers performed devotional clean-up services on the streets around the temple prior to paying homage.

(BTN/Yan Beryas)