Here is a picture that shows more of the valley between the restaurant and the ridge. You can almost see the river at the bottom, but we could certainly hear it. Just so you don't think that we were dining at the fanciest places...this was a typical restaurant...prices right around 6 or 7 dollars a meal. It was incredible to me that shops and restaurants lined the street, and right behind them was THIS!
Again looking down into the valley. Obviously there was another floor to this restaurant, but Gede always managed to get us the best tables!
The doves here in this Jackfruit tree kept us musically entertained while we watched some trekkers on the ridge. And just so you know, not only was the view incredible, the prices reasonable (cheap!!) and the ambiance spectacular, the food was really great as well! We were commenting just the other day, that we didn't have a mediocre or bad meal the entire time we were in Bali.
Okay, after we left the restaurant and were heading back to our hotel, we finally got a shot of this very interesting stone statue in yet another round-about. It is purported to be a smiling Buddah, but everyone calls it the "baby statue". What do you think? A Buddah or a baby?
Last one for today. I wish I could show you the detail on this remarkable piece. but hopefully I can show you enough to persuade you to see for yourself. Just magnificent.
See you tomorrow!
Yokwe,
Shari
Great pics Shari!!! Can't wait to see more!!
Beautiful! The wood carving is just incredible. I loved it. Thanks for posting these, I'm enthralled.
Thank you for these minutes of bliss.
I loved the columnar sculpture depicting dolphins and waves. Had I been there, that one would have found its way to my home quickly.
I can quite easily remove the traffic light from the statue in the roundabout. Just let me know if you are interested. I'll give you my email address where you can send the camera's original file. A bit of PhotoShop work is little to pay for the pleasure this thread brought me. Don't be shy.
That second statue in a roundabout definitely looks like Buddah to me. But again, I could be wrong.
Take care, all.
Sylvain.
Oh thank you Sylvain! I will let you know. My DD has been threatening to teach me Photo Shop...she says that the way I love to post pics, I really need to learn it, so maybe I will give it a try. But I may want to send you the original just so I have a back-up! Yes, that piece was one of my favorites too! But we had a weight limitation, and shipping is HORRIBLE. I am looking into a work-around, and I will let you know what I find out.
Glad you found these Pepper! Been missing your goofy 'LOL"...ha ha.
Buenos dias extranjera!
Well folks, I think I can finally wrap things up today. Depending on the computer spirits of course. So let's get started. Todays excursions will be taking us to two temple areas on the sea, and a bonsai garden. We are starting at Pura Tanah Lot (JB says "no...but I burn well"), from which we will look across to Pura Batu, and vice versa.
As you can see, the setting here is quite magical...and it is an exceptionally revered temple.
The walkway to the rather unimpressive building is very narrow...with eroding cliffs on each side. Suprisingly enough, accidents are extremely rare.
As you can see, it is very old. It was closed off, apparently being opened only for temple ceremonies.
From Pura Batu, we look across and see Pura Tanah Lot. Actually what you see here is the busy tourist village surrounding the approach to the temple. Because of the dramatic sunset views of this temple, busloads of day-trippers are brought from resorts and hotels all over Bali. The mushrooming vendor stalls now sell everything from sarongs to Gucci bags and tattoos.
Along the temple approach, you can see that even though commerce is on their minds, the Balinese people still take the time each day to prepare their offerings which can be seen on the street in front of each stall. There are also many of the bamboo poles - indicating that the vendors in these stalls are probably from a mountain area originally.
People come up with the strangest things to lure you into their shop! This guy had a bat in front of his shop and offered "snake viewing" inside! Funny, I had always thought of bats as being black, but this one was definately a reddish brown.
And he was big! That's my arm next to him...wouldn't want to run into him in the dead of night!
Finally we get out to the area where the temple can be seen. Sitting just off the southwest coast, dramatically marooned on a craggy wave-battered rock, the Pura Tanah Lot shines as one of the unofficial symbols of Bali.
We are now standing on the cliffs that can be seen on the left side of the previous picture. It was high-tide, so we were unable to go over to the Temple itself, but I understand that during ceremonies the lines are nearly a mile long to get there. No tourists at that time...only "praying peoples", as the signs say. The sound of the waves crashing against this 16th century marvel, and the eerie sounds coming from the caves lead a bit of credence to the mythology of its birth. Supposedly a wandering Hindu priest saw a beam of light shining on a sacred spring within the rock at the base of this cliff. He meditated so hard that he caused the rock to break off from the cliff and move out into the water where he built his temple.
We posed for required picture to send home to the kids...
While Gede climbed down to catch some spray from the holy waters.
We managed to get a shot of the cave of the Holy Snake, but he wouldn't come out to say Howdy. Guess he didn't like high tide either.
This wasn't the Holy Snake, but he was an 80 lb python that just fascinated JB. I'm not sure who was hypnotizing whom here, but later JB told me it was a battle of muscles, and he lost. He was trying to get the snake to turn its head...didn't work. Instead it just looks like they are staring into each other's eyes.
Looks like he's having fun, huh? I mean JB...not the snake.
This place really lived up to its name!
Well, I never promised you a rose garden, but I did promise a bonsai garden. So here ya go. This place had hundreds of bonsai, created from some of the most unorthodox plants for the art!
Okay...looks like the computer spirits decided to play some games...those last two pics got reversed...at least that's what it looks like at this point...I may have to make an offering or two...
Anyway, this cafe was really a showplace. I think he built the cafe to support his habit for bonsai!
Sorry...I'm out of words!
We spent a little time watching them create one of these, then had a delicious meal and set off for our next adventure.
On our way to Uluwatu, we passed this grove of crocodile trees. I had been curious ever since the carvers had told me about it, so Gede stopped and I wandered around. You can see how it got its name...I am going to do some further research after I finish posting these pics.
When I was going through the pictures, I decided that these magnificent vistas taken from the Pura Luhur Ululwatu would be the ones I would leave you with. For those of you in land-locked areas, if these pictures don't move your hearts, nothing will. For those of you in the islands...these pictures of the Indian Ocean and the verdant cliffs of Bali will be a different image to reinforce your decisions to live by the sea...Enjoy:
Along with the breathtaking beauty of this scene, you can see the arena on the left where many of the traditional dances are perfomed. The ideal Bali experience would be to arrive here in Uluwatu about an hour before sunset, wander around and visit with the resident macaques for a while, watch the sunset and thank the gods for eyes to behold such wonders, then make your candlelit way up to the arena to watch the Fire Dance in this sublime setting.
A closer view of the arena:
The temple itself is not imposing, yet it reaches into your mind with a dignity and grace that defy logic. Originally built in the 10th century, and rebuilt in the 16th, by two of the Hindu religions most holy men, you can't help but whisper in the presence of these ancient coral blocks.
Pura Luhur Uluwatu is now sanctified as one of Bali's sacred directional temples. It is the guardian of the southwest and is dedicated to the spirits of the sea.
Surrounded by this otherworldly view...is it any wonder that this place is special to the Bali people, as well as to visitors?
I hope you have enjoyed my windows into Bali. If I have encouraged any of you to visit this tiny jewel of Indonesia, I am overjoyed. I would be happy to share any info you may need.
Om santi, santi, santi, om...
I'm booked well ahead for my treks and holidays (well ahead of my wallet as well) but I've lots of friends who are going within the next several months. Will have to slot it in sometime. Thanks for the pictorial visit and the very informative story.
Shari, it's just beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us, I bet your smiling eyes captured even more beauty. It's an unbelievable place, and I just wish you could have stayed longer, so our e-trip would last longer too! Magical, breathtaking, fantastic!
Thanks for sharing Shari!! And tell JB that he is waaaaaay braver than me cause you won't catch me getting that close to a snake!! They avoid me and I avoid them and everyone is happy. LOL
