Badung
The Center of Tourism
Dukuh Giri Kusuma Blahkiuh
Camping While Exploring Rice Fields &
Rivers
Bored with beach
sunbathing? or feel noisy by urban ambience?
Why not feel the comfort of unspoilt rural
atmospheres. Try to explore the Dukuh
Giri Kusuma Blahkiuh. There, you can release
all handcuffs of weary that enclose your
corporeal body. At least, you can clean
up your respiratory tract, as its air
is cool and pollution-free. Intimacy of
local peoples at all times invites us
to stay longer there.
This
Dukuh is located at Blahkiuh Village,
Abiansemal—Badung. From downtown
Denpasar, it’s only 18 km and it
takes you 20 minutes. Similarly, this
Dukuh is close to nature of Sangeh tourist
object (some 3 km) and the Taman Ayun
(6 km). On the passage from Denpasar,
you will pass by the Denpasar-Plaga route
until you reach the traditional market
of Blahkiuh. Turn right to take rural
street. Some 400 metres, you will arrive
at Dukuh Giri Kusuma Blahkiuh.
Dukuh Giri Kusuma is the right place to
camp. In the evening, you can make bonfire.
Morning and afternoon time is good for
footprint-tracing games and exploring
the surrounding area. These activities
are made possible because this location
has lovely view. In the north occurs the
spreading extensive rice field, while
in the west lays Alit River with small
streams and you can cross the river to
reach Ayunan Village. In the south is
estate of local inhabitants and in the
east is the Blahkiuh kampong of which
inhabitants are so friendly.
If would like to hold an art event, it
can be staged at Wantilan hall. Wantilan
that founded at 20 May 1999 is assistance
of Werda Sejahtera Bali Foundation of
Badung Chapter. Other than Wantilan, any
happening can also be held at the estate
lawn so it can set up intimate milieu.
Dukuh Giri Kusuma is also located near
Blahkiuh Market that provides a variety
of consumer goods. So, do not worry that
you will starve there.
Though the location is on highland area,
Dukuh is really rich in water springs.
Some 100 metres in the south occurs Wasi
Fountain having 10 showers. In the east
that constitutes the entrance gate to
the campsite lays a public bathing place
with 20 showers. This bathing place is
a heritage of ancestor of Blahkiuh Palace
that has ever been renovated in 1931.
Its water is remarkably cool and rich
in minerals.
According to Mrs. Agung, an attendant
of Dukuh Giri Kusuma, this location has
become favourite campsite for students
existing in Badung, Gianyar, Tabanan and
Denpasar. They are commonly of elementary
to senior high school students. “They
camp here for 2-3 days. Prior to 1990,
they many times do camping up to a week,”
she said while adding that this campsite
was also once selected as location of
Bali Regional Jamboree by local boy scouts.
Observed, students that join the camping
activities should obey the prevailing
norms. Everyday, they put offerings named
pejati at Anteb Sari Temple that is close
to the campsite. For this purpose, every
student is charged the clean-up service
fee amounting to IDR 1,000 per person.
In the meantime, Gung Mayun, the elder
of Blahkiuh Palace as the owner of the
land added that the location was indeed
planned for campsite. The intention has
been initiated since he was a teacher
at the village. His aspiration came true
in 1970 after he occupied the position
as Secretary of Boy Scout Quarter of Badung
Regency. “I asked for the assistance
of Chief of National Quarter, Major General
Masudi to establish bungalows. That’s
why there are now six bungalows that are
not for rent,” he added.
More than that, he also set up the Tirta
Arum swimming pool. It was founded in
1998 after receiving financial assistance
from Alit Putra, Regent of Badung at that
time. This was carried out because he
would like to deliver swimming skill to
school students of Badung region, particularly
that of Blahkiuh Village.
According to confession of a pool attendant
of Tirta Arum, everyday, it’s visited
by flock of people, moreover on school
holidays. Other than by local villagers,
this pool is too taken advantage by swimming
athletes of Bali as training arena. “By
the time of sport competition, this pool
is thronged by myriads of swimming athletes
of Bali,” he said.
Likewise, troops that are performing military
training took advantage this pool. “There
are also foreign tourists who swim here.
They generally stay in Ubud,” he
said while adding that its entrance fee
costs IDR 3,000 for adult and IDR 1,500
for children. (BTN/015)
