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Bali, Indonesia (March 2011)

Bali, Indonesia is a tropical island located in the Indonesian archipelago. It is known for its friendly and hospitable people, beautiful beaches, volcanoes, rice paddies, tea and coffee plantations, tropical jungles and exotic temples. Bali’s Hindu culture, temples and artifacts are well preserved, even thought it is primarily an Islamic country. It is home to most of Indonesia's small Hindu minority. Bali is also the Indonesia’s largest tourist destination, renowned for its highly developed arts and culture. It is a great place to enjoy its ambiance and beauty of a tropical paradise while forgetting life’s troubles.
Bali Indonesia cover page.
Bali Indonesia cover page.		 Map of Indonesia with the star indicating Bali.
Map of Indonesia with the star indicating Bali.		 Elaborate Bali statue at the Krishna shopping center that I went to.
Elaborate Bali statue at the Krishna shopping center that I went to.		 A colorful statue in the garden outside of Krishna.
A colorful statue in the garden outside of Krishna.
Traditional Balinese statue with religious offering of flowers (on its shoulder).
Traditional Balinese statue with religious offering of flowers (on its shoulder).		 Guesthouse in Bali where I stayed with attractive pool, palms and bamboo trees.
Guesthouse in Bali where I stayed with attractive pool, palms and bamboo trees.		 Poolside view with with tropical rain drops splashing in the water.
Poolside view with with tropical rain drops splashing in the water.		 Dusk at the guesthouse with lanterns glowing.
Dusk at the guesthouse with lanterns glowing.
Early morning Bali motorbike traffic at rush hour.
Early morning Bali motorbike traffic at rush hour.		 Entrance gate to Tanah Lot Temple, located in Tabanan, about 20 km from Denpasar.
Entrance gate to Tanah Lot Temple, located in Tabanan, about 20 km from Denpasar.		 Details of the entrance gate.
Details of the entrance gate.		 View of Tanah Lot Hindu temple, meaning in the sea in the Balinese language.
View of Tanah Lot Hindu temple, meaning "in the sea" in the Balinese language.
The temple is one of seven sea temples around the Balinese coast.
The temple is one of seven sea temples around the Balinese coast.		 The 15th century temple sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide.
The 15th century temple sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide.		 Holy men in front of the holy spring at Tanah Lot temple.
Holy men in front of the "holy spring" at Tanah Lot temple.		 Holy men or Balinese mafia?
Holy men or Balinese mafia?
One of the holy men talked me into sipping from the holy spring.
One of the holy men talked me into sipping from the holy spring.		 Flow from the holy stream. Sipping it was a big mistake! It gave me the worst case of the runs of my life!
Flow from the holy stream. Sipping it was a big mistake! It gave me the worst case of the runs of my life!		 The temple was built by the 15th century priest Nirartha. Poisonous snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits.
The temple was built by the 15th century priest Nirartha. Poisonous snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits.		 Unfortunately, The upper part of the temple was blocked off.
Unfortunately, The upper part of the temple was blocked off.
Another Balinese holy man at the Tanah Lot temple.
Another Balinese holy man at the Tanah Lot temple.		 An elaborate Hindu statue near the temple.
An elaborate Hindu statue near the temple.		 Indian Ocean surf nearby.
Indian Ocean surf nearby.		 The (Hindu) Pura Batu Balong temple is adjacent to Tanah Lot temple.
The (Hindu) Pura Batu Balong temple is adjacent to Tanah Lot temple.
Pura Batu Balong temple view with hibiscus flowers in the foreground.
Pura Batu Balong temple view with hibiscus flowers in the foreground.		 The temple is at end of this dramatic rock formation.
The temple is at end of this dramatic rock formation.		 Close-up of the opening in the rock formation.
Close-up of the opening in the rock formation.		 Another Balinese statue near the Pura Batu Balong temple.
Another Balinese statue near the Pura Batu Balong temple.
Statues with the Indian Ocean surf below.
Statues with the Indian Ocean surf below.		 Façade of the Pura Batu Balong temple. Unfortunately, the gate was locked.
Façade of the Pura Batu Balong temple. Unfortunately, the gate was locked.		 View of Tanah Lot temple from Pura Batu Balong temple.
View of Tanah Lot temple from Pura Batu Balong temple.		 Another fabulous statue near Pura Batu Balong temple.
Another fabulous statue near Pura Batu Balong temple.
Bridge leading to the ornamental candid bentar gate, leading to the outer courtyard (jaba) of the Taman Ayun temple.
Bridge leading to the ornamental "candid bentar" gate, leading to the outer courtyard (jaba) of the Taman Ayun temple.		 Statue at the entrance gate of temple. Taman Ayun translates as beautiful garden.
Statue at the entrance gate of temple. Taman Ayun translates as "beautiful garden."		 This imposing complex stands on an island in a river. The inner temple is surrounded by a moat.
This imposing complex stands on an island in a river. The inner temple is surrounded by a moat.		 River that surrounds Taman Ayun temple, forming an island.
River that surrounds Taman Ayun temple, forming an island.
Tower at the Taman Ayun temple. It is is one of the six (according to an unofficial count) royal temples on Bali.
Tower at the Taman Ayun temple. It is is one of the six (according to an unofficial count) royal temples on Bali.		 Inner wall of temple. It was built in 1634 by the Raja of Mengwi. It is family temple where his deified ancestors are honored.
Inner wall of temple. It was built in 1634 by the Raja of Mengwi. It is family temple where his deified ancestors are honored.		 Moat surrounding the inner temple complex at Taman Ayun.
Moat surrounding the inner temple complex at Taman Ayun.		 Eleven-tiered meru temple structures. There are laws of traditional Balinese architecture that specify how they must be built.
Eleven-tiered meru temple structures. There are laws of traditional Balinese architecture that specify how they must be built.
Laws dictate the dimension of a meru, the way it is constructed, the types of wood used and the dedication ceremonies involved.
Laws dictate the dimension of a meru, the way it is constructed, the types of wood used and the dedication ceremonies involved.		 Failure to follow the rules results in a calamity to the meru's builder. An elaborate forgiveness offering is needed to stop it.
Failure to follow the rules results in a calamity to the meru's builder. An elaborate forgiveness offering is needed to stop it.		 Art shop at Taman Ayun temple. I was really queasy from drinking from the holy spring at Tanah Lot temple earlier that morning!
Art shop at Taman Ayun temple. I was really queasy from drinking from the holy spring at Tanah Lot temple earlier that morning!		 Elaborate Balinese masks and paintings at the art shop.
Elaborate Balinese masks and paintings at the art shop.
Next, I went to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary located in Ubud, Bali.
Next, I went to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary located in Ubud, Bali.		 A proud mother monkey and her babies.
A proud mother monkey and her babies.		 Balinese masks for sale at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary.
Balinese masks for sale at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary.		 Terraced tea plantation in Bali.
Terraced tea plantation in Bali.
Huts at the tea plantation.
Huts at the tea plantation.		 Next, I went to a coffee plantation where this man was roasting coffee beans.
Next, I went to a coffee plantation where this man was roasting coffee beans.		 Kopi Luwak Coffee beans are ingested by an animal called luwaks. The coffee is made from their bean droppings (TMI)!
Kopi Luwak Coffee beans are ingested by an animal called luwaks. The coffee is made from their bean droppings (TMI)!		 Entrance gate to the Pura Tirta Empul temple in Bali.
Entrance gate to the Pura Tirta Empul temple in Bali.
Hindu statue at the Pura Tirta Empul temple.
Hindu statue at the Pura Tirta Empul temple.		 Balinese are drawn to the temple and its sacred spring which is said to have curative properties.
Balinese are drawn to the temple and its sacred spring which is said to have curative properties.		 Balinese family feeding some of the large carp in the water.
Balinese family feeding some of the large carp in the water.		 Impressive gateway and door at the temple. Legend has it that the sacred spring was created by the god Indra.
Impressive gateway and door at the temple. Legend has it that the sacred spring was created by the god Indra.
Indra's forces had been poisoned by Mayadanawa, so he pierced the earth to create a fountain of immortality to revive them.
Indra's forces had been poisoned by Mayadanawa, so he pierced the earth to create a fountain of immortality to revive them.		 Steps and bougainvilleas at the temple.
Steps and bougainvilleas at the temple.		 Within Pura Tirta Empul temple are shrines to Shiva, Vishnu, Braham, Mt. Batur, and Indra.
Within Pura Tirta Empul temple are shrines to Shiva, Vishnu, Braham, Mt. Batur, and Indra.		 Elaborate shrine with dragons.
Elaborate shrine with dragons.
Close-up of the dragons.
Close-up of the dragons.		 The temple's main attraction is a long rectangular pool carved of stone, fed by the sacred spring via 12 fountains.
The temple's main attraction is a long rectangular pool carved of stone, fed by the sacred spring via 12 fountains.		 Worshippers first make an offering at the temple, then climb into the main pool to bathe and pray.
Worshippers first make an offering at the temple, then climb into the main pool to bathe and pray.		 My guide suggested that I bathe in the holy spring. I was still dealing with the runs from the holy spring at Tanah Lot temple!
My guide suggested that I bathe in the holy spring. I was still dealing with the runs from the holy spring at Tanah Lot temple!

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