Jembrana, Bull Racing Center

Palasari Tourism Village in West Bali

Nestled above the slopes at the mountains range of Bali’s rain forest, the village Palasari offers beautiful forestry tourism such as bird walk and tracking which could be continued on to West Bali National Park. Formerly, the settlement was also the destiny forest – the jungle, which was opened during the Dutch civilization around 1940.

The village is surrounded with rivers, rice fields, and cacao and coconut plantations. All roads and paths are asphalted and completed with beautiful landscape along the roadsides, green grass and colorful flowers. The site plan of this village is similar to other villages in the island; holy place, cemetery, lawn and public hall with "Kul Kul" or tom – tom tower.
The village is suitable for some sports such as volleyball, football, and biking. On Wednesday 23 July 1989, the former president of Republic Indonesia, Soeharto inaugurated the Palasari dam, considered to be the fifth lake in the island. Although the main goal to build the dam is supplying irrigation for 1.300 hectares of rice field, the dam is very useful for fishery and water sports for tourists.
Its beauty and unique history have been attracting many foreign tourists. Palasari is now a very famous village in the world. Realizing the growth of visitors, the Tourism Authority of Jembrana declared Palasari as tourism village in 1990. Visitors wishing to stay over night in Palasari may ask the local for accommodation at one of the home – stays.
In 2002, the only one accommodation in the forestry atmosphere was constructed and consists of villas restaurant, bar swimming pool and spa. Away from the village, the accommodation is nestled on the lake side and overlooking to the dam. The former minister of Culture and Tourism, I Gede Ardika visited the accommodation in the mid of 2002 and told Bali Travel News contributor that he is proud of this tourism facility. Palasari is 112 km west of Denpasar or 26 km east of Gilimanuk.
Unique X’mas Celebration
The best time to visit Palasari is during Christmas holiday. It may be the only one in the world, a Christian community living with Balinese traditions. The Balinese art form and craft are consumed for religious events, especially X’mas celebration. They perform Balinese dance, drama and the specific art form of Jembrana regency called "Jegog" at the public hall located near the church.
The public hall was built in Balinese architecture, completed with "kulkul" tower. The church and its wall were built wit Balinese architecture. The church looks like triple pagodas – Balinese Meru. Statue, carving, relief and other ornament are in Balinese style too.
During X’mas, the church is adorned with Balinese banners, umbrellas and penjor – the Balinese decorated bamboo poles. Moreover, the penjor is set up in every front of house compound – along the roadsides and looks like Galungan celebration for Hindu Balinese. The Balinese flower offering and flower arrangement are created for the celebration. The hand weaving cloth, sarong and Balinese headdress are their costumes. What else’s? Their meal is also Balinese. Their tongue, the lingua franca for both daily life and religious event are Balinese. Sometimes, the rhythm of Christian song is sung in Balinese melody.
In this community, they still recognize the Balinese caste and Balinese name combined with Christian name, for instance Gerard becomes I Gusti Kompyang Jiwa and I Ketut Riasna Emanuel. Why this acculturation appears in Palasari? Their ancestors are Balinese. The first generation consisted of 18 families from Badung regency than created a new settlement above the area of 200 hectares on 15 September 1940 under guidance of Father Simon Buis, since than they changed their religion.
(BTN/Lanus Sumatra)