Think of the movie “South Pacific” and catchy songs like “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair”, “There’s Nothing Like a Dame”, “I’m In Love With a Wonderful Guy” and “Some Enchanted Evening” might come to mind. OR – perhaps you picture a lush tropical island like Bali where you might have an enchanted evening;-) Well – just cross the equator and there you are!
First time crossing the equator!
Bali Island sits toward the east end of the Indonesian Islands and offers a rare mix of cultural heritage, stunning natural beauty and welcoming people – –
A gamelan welcome to Bali – the Island of Gods.
With only a couple of days to explore this island, one must get off and running in a hurry. And then – come to a halt. The traffic in the cities is horrible, quite possibly taking an hour and a half to go the equivalent of 8-10 miles! But, when you get outside to the ‘country’ it is beautiful (you will see shortly)!
To get into the ‘feel’ of Bali explore the production of one of its most well known products – batik. This is a technique where intricate designs are drawn or stamped on cloth followed by delicately placing wax where dye is not to be absorbed then dying and subsequently removing the wax. A long process producing that Bali look.
Exploring a village Batik shop…
…and seeing how batik and woven products are made.
Moving on to quieter, more serene grounds – head north to the Taman Ayun Temple or Mengwi Royal Temple. Established in the 17th century as the primary temple of the kingdom, this site is now a UNESCO cultural heritage site. Its name – Beautiful Garden – truly blends the stunning Balinese architecture with the meticulously landscaped gardens.
Touring the Mengwi Dynasty’s Taman Ayun family temple – beautiful grounds.
The entries to all shrines, and many other portals, are intricately carved gates, which to the Balinese signify the connection of the physical to the spiritual world. If the gates are open and separated, they invite you to enter. But if the gates are closed, they are the entry to the shrine area and admission is restricted to those going for worship.
Please come in;-)
Sorry – this is entry to the worship area.
One can always get a glimpse over the fence.
A female guardian.
Another must see temple in Bali is the Hindu Tanah Lot Temple. Tanah Lot was built in the 15th and 16th centuries on a large coral rock separated from the mainland. It is dedicated to the gods of the seas and appears to be floating in the sea during high tide. This is a beautiful, unforgettable setting at sunset.
Tanah Lot Temple coming out of the sea.
Additional shrines at Tanah Lot.
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If you get tired of driving in all the traffic, head up to Kopi Luwak for a cup of coffee. If you ever watched the movie – “Bucket List” – you might remember the scene where the ‘old men’ stopped for coffee only to be told they were drinking ‘poop’ coffee!! TRUE. It was discovered that a cat-like animal native to this area would eat the coffee beans because they liked the taste of the bean coating. But, they could not digest the bean itself. So, the whole bean came out in their poop;-). Because of the fermentation of the bean while in the animal, it developed a different – quite pleasing – taste for coffee. This is now a BIG product for this area – and G tried it and bought some. So, beware when you come to our house for coffee!!!!
The tasting area at the Luwak Coffee plantation..
Undigested coffee beans found in the poop of a cat-like animal, Paradoxurus.
The beans are then cleaned, roasted and brewed.
Not bad;-)
Now that you are refreshed, brace yourself for one of the most beautiful sights in Bali. It will take your breath away and bring tears to the eyes.
Built in 1633, Ulun Danu Temple sits on the shores of Lake Bratan in the mountains of Bedugul. This iconic temple is one of the most picturesque and revered sites on the island. It is perched on a small island surrounded by the tranquil waters of the lake and often shrouded in fog to give a more mystical impression. The Temple is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of water, fertility and prosperity and is comprised of several shrines and pavilions. When one steps through the gates and sees the shrine sitting on the water it is truly a spiritual experience and pictures can not come close to doing it justice.
Entering the grounds of the Ulun Danu Temple. About to go from the physical to the spiritual world!
No entry here.
Take a breath. The fog cleared just long enough to get the pictures!
A Happy Day;-)
Thank goodness it was a bit of a drive to the Jatiluwih rice fields, as one needs some time to digest the sights of Ulun Danu. The beauty of the surrounding mountains and lake and the tranquil atmosphere of the shrine leave one wanting for words – literally.
But, it was getting on to lunch time and there is this fantastic restaurant overlooking the UNESCO rice terraces where one can relax and take in the greenery of the surrounding fields. The quiet of the farming community is just what one needs after Ulun Danu. This time of year happened to be harvest time. So, there were brown fields that had just been harvested, water soaked fields that were just planted and green/yellow fields ready for harvesting. What a treat.
The largest rice terraces on the island.
Brown fields just harvested.
Flooded fields just planted.
After a beautiful day in the mountains it was time to head for the port;-(. It seems that in every country visited, the scooter was the primary means of transportation. Indonesia was no exception and no wonder given the way the streets were clogged!
A typical scene throughout Asia.
Once out of the city and in to the rural, mountainous regions of Bali it was a dream and exactly what might be imagined of the area. But, as always – the sun sets on our adventures and only memories are left – –
Farewell!
Indonesia has been eye opening, a real experience, serene, crowded, steamy, hot, beachy and mountainous. Diversity was definitely on display in all aspects.
E & G – happy to experience it all!
Elizabeth & Gary's Magic Bus Tour 