Bali - Day 3

We checked-in to the hotel quite late last night, so I didn't see much of the place until this morning.







This morning walking along the street, we meet a big local group preparing the parade to the temple. I don’t know what kind of ceremony it is.




A Balinese good-looking one!




Our first place for today is at Goa Gajah Temple where our main interest is for “shopping”. Because one of our team member, Noo Poo does some research and finds out that the price here is cheaper than other places. Very appreciated for her well preparation. Because if I ever visit Bali again, the only place in my itinerary would be “Goa Gajah”. (Just kidding Bali has more than that to offer to tourist.)

GOA GAJAH (ELEPHANT CAVE) TEMPLE

The name of the cave was said that when the cave was first unearthed, its entrance’s upper part was mistakenly believed as an elephant trunk, so did the name stick. Goa Gajah is a temple inside a cave. This temple is believed as the center for yoga and meditation during Hindu-Buddhism era. A ganesha statue reflects a Buddhism side, while its Ciwa statue portrays the Hinduisms counterpart. On the west corner of this cave lays Buddha and Harito statues. Goa Gajah temple is surrounded by green rice fields along the River Petanu.


Paddy rice field along the footpath down to the temple.




Next place is Ganung Kawi Temple recommended by our driver. The temple is situated down in the valley. It is very quiet and tranquil.

Gunung Kawi is a Hindu Temple complex with old omission from the stone era located in Gianyar regency.




Then we visit Tirtra Empul which I have seen a lot of pictures before the trip. One of the must visit places in Bali.

Legend has it that the sacred spring was created by the god Indra. His forces had been poisoned by Mayadanawa, so he pierced the earth to create a fountain of immortality to revive them.

An inscription dates the founding of a temple at the site to 926 AD. Ever since - for more than a thousand years - the Balinese have come to bathe in the sacred waters for healing and spiritual merit.


Devotees are in their prayers.



Spring water !!.


The Kintamani and its crater lake provides the spectacular panoramic scenery. Kintamani or Batur mount is an active volcano.




The last place to visit is at Pura Besakih. Our driver for today starts to complain that it is quite far away and he thinks that we could not be there in time; although we have already told him of our today itinerary since morning. Since Pura Besakih is considered the mother Temple of Hinduism in Bali, we all insist on going there.

And that is the end of today journey, we come back to Ubud quite late in the evening that we can’t watch any Bali dance show.

BESAKIH TEMPLE

Perched on the slope of the island’s highest peak of Mt. Agung, the mother temple of Bali, Besakih, is by size the biggest temple. Historical accounts say the temple was built by Maharesi Markandya in the eleventh century in a quest for god blessing upon a devastating disease striking the majority of Bali, including his faithful students. The word Besakih comes from Basukihan means safety and prosperity. Thousands of Balinese Hindus pay a pilgrimage to this temple thus thanking for their prosperous lives.

Besakih Temple is the largest of the island's 11,000 or so Hindu temples; its 35 shrines and halls. Like most Balinese temples, Besakih is not a closed building but a mostly open-air affair. It is made up of courtyards with altars and shrines devoted to a number of gods.