Jembrana, Bull Racing Center

Behind the Beauty of a Coconut Tree

Twenty five days before Galungan – the biggest holiday, the Balinese celebrate the life of flora through a ceremony with special offerings on a special day called Tumpek Pengatag on Saturday, October 4, 2006. Philosophically, the Balinese are very thankful to the God for creating the universe – the flora itself. But among all kinds of flora, the trees having fruit are the prior such as manggosteen, mango, jack fruit and coconut. The last mentioned is the number one. In the afternoon, one of the coconut trees at the back yard or special plantation is decorated with a bamboo-made temporary altar, completed with a small penjor-pole. Here, the ceremony is held by the owner or the temple priest. Some families, depending on how rich they are, make sure that the offering is added with boiled chicken or duck, in few cases they offer suckling pig – babi guling. After the ceremony, the family is very happy organize a little party at the rice granary. For tourists who are having a great interest in viewing Bali, it the best time for visiting Bali families. Tourist could enjoy the beauty of nature and the unique culture.
In Bali the largest and vastest area for coconut plantations is the regency of Jembrana in west Bali. That is the reason why the regency planned to do international research for coconuts. In 1917, the plantation, which is dominated with coconut trees, was founded by a German company with an area of 1.300 hectares. In the plantation, the visitor could meet other vegetations such as coffee, vanilla, clove, cocoa and rubber. The tracking route, cycling, walking and camping grounds are available at Pulukan Plantation. Under the swaying coconut trees, the visitors are welcomed by squirrels, wild birds, butterflies and dragonflies. The young coconut is served as a welcome drink. One day, your contributor of Bali Travel News was invited to Pulukan Plantation for the trekking program. At the end of the program there was a lunch party with local food: the vegetables made of fern and young coconut which is the specialty of Jembrana regency known locally as Lawar Kelengah. The fern is taken from the area of coconut plantation two. After the meal, hot Balinese coffee is served to the guests. The coffee is taken from the seed produced with the local trees in the plantation. Tuak – palm wine is also served to the guests.
The coconut trees are planted along the road sides, on the beach, hotel garden and river bank. They adorn the landscape of Jembrana. From mountain to the sea, the visitors are welcomed with swaying coconut trees. They are the icon of this tropical area. If you stay at a hotel at Pengeragoan, Pekutatan, Medewi, Perancak, Delodberawah, Rening, Candi Kusuma, Gilimanuk and Palasari, your garden, verandah and swimming pool are shadowed with yellow or green coconut trees. How beautiful they are. In the village, the visitors could enjoy the other nuances. The cattle for both cows and buffalos are fastened at the coconut trees in their own plantation. When the rainy season starts, the cattle moves to the hut. The sound of wooden bells can be clearly heard. In Balinese, the coconut has multi functions. The trees are used for building materials, handicraft, and furniture. In the village of Palasari there is a company producing furniture of coconut wood. The leaf is used as as material for roof and wall of huts, Balinese offering and decoration. The bone of the leaf is used as handicraft in the form of plate locally known as "ingka". This home industry could be found at some village namely Brambang, Wanasari, Banyubiru, Kaliakah and Baluk. Coconut oil is made from the copra. The palm wine is the source for making palm sugar and arak. (BTN/Lanus Sumatra)