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    Balinese Architecture Discover Indonesia

    Bruce Granquist

    Balinese Architecture is a step-by-step guide to the intricacies of Balinese architecture.Traditional Balinese don't live in houses in the conventional sense of the word. Instead, they divide their daily activities between a number a different pavilions which are situated within a family compound that is secluded from the outside world b a high wall Although these living arrangements may seem at first to be a fairly haphazard affair, they are actually grounded in a complex metaphysical system which provides a cosmological framework for maintaining harmonious relations between man and the rest of the universe.This Balinese guide takes a detailed look at this fascinating architectural tradition with watercolor illustrations, designs and extensive commentary.

    Mysteries of Borobudur Discover Indonesia

    John Miksic

    With vivid photography and insightful commentary, this travel pictorial shines a light on the Buddhist art and architecture of Borobudur. The glorious ninth–century Buddhist stupa of Borobudur—the largest Buddhist monument in the world—stands in the midst of the lush Kedu Plain of Central Java in Indonesia, where it is visited annually by over a million people. Borobudur contains more than a thousand exquisitely carved relief panels extending along its many terraces for a total distance of more than a kilometer. These are arranged so as to take the visitor on a spiritual journey to enlightenment, and one ascends the monument past scenes depicting the world of desire, the life story of Buddha, and the heroic deeds of other enlightened beings—finally arriving at the great circular terraces at the top of the structure that symbolize the formless world of pure knowledge and perfection.

    Balinese Temples

    Bruce Granquist

    The rich religious tradition and architecture of Bali are on display in this informative guidebook.Bali is an island with literally tens of thousands of temples, a proliferation of religious architecture probably not equaled anywhere else in the world. Each temple is like a model of the universe in miniature, reflecting Balinese assumptions about the nature of the universe and man's place in relation to the gods, the ancestors, and the rest of creation.This book is intended as a general introduction to the architectural symbolism of the typical Balinese temple and the cosmological significance of its layout. The informative text is complemented by dozens of watercolor illustrations and will provide a useful guide to many of the temples that the reader is likely to visit during a stay on the island.

    Balinese Flora & Fauna Discover Indonesia

    Bruce Granquist

    This book provides a general introduction to the natural history of Bali, looking at each of the major ecosystems in turn and highlighting their most salient and interesting features. Watercolor panoramas and illustrations of typical or otherwise significant plants and animals from each type of habitat complement the text and provide the reader with a visual reference for some of the sights he or she is most likely to see during a visit to the island.