Bali Trip Day 5

The kick-off of the 5th day was yet another satisfying breakfast by the villa's balcony. We knew this relaxing breakfast, birdie singing, warm sunshine and cool morning breeze are something we'll miss dearly bout Bali. We were really excited this day as we'll visit the most renown tourist spot in Bali... Tanah Lot!

Tanah Lot, located on the coast of West Bali, at the village of Beraban in the Tabanan Regency. It is also called Tanah Let which means ancient land and also Tanah Lod, which means the land to the south. The temple Pura Tanah Lot, simple in its construction, is dramatic in its ocean-front location and is one of the main temples in the worship of Balinese gods. Tanah Lot has a long history in the world of tourism.

After some readings, I got to know that in 1980; the temple’s rock face started to crumble and the area around and inside the temple started to become dangerous. The Japanese government then provided a loan to the Indonesia government of Rp. 800 billion to conserve the historic temple and other beach locations around the island of Bali. As a result, over one third of the rock which can be seen is artificial rock created under the Japanese upgrade works. We didn't realized this at all!

The temple itself is built on a small promontory which is only accessible at low tide. During high water the rock takes on the appearance of a large boat at sea, such is its shape. We arrived in the morning, the tide was still to high for us to walk pass the sea to the temple. So we decided to spend some time around this holy place.

- These ducks were so cute, they drank the sea water! Or rather they were hunting? -

- Took the opportunity to shoot some nice photo here -

- The other side of the temple; should we walk there? -

- We did, it was another small temple at the top of the cliff! -

- Look at the tall waves! -

- Tanah Lot Temple, view from the opposite cliff -

Around noon, when the tide was lowered, it is possible to come to the temple walking in the water in order to receive the ministrations of priests, who stand there, sprinkle people with Holy water and put some rice on the forehead, which means "good thinking". Felt blessed and holy after that :)

We left Tanah Lot after spending the whole morning there. And it was way pass lunch time! We simply drop by a stall at the roadside for a really local dish. Bakso!

- Acceptable taste, much like fish balls -

After lunch, we proceeded to the next destination, Uluwatu! Uluwatu is at the southernmost tip of southern Bali, Indonesia. Officially known as Pura Luhur Uluwatu (yes, that's the real name: "Luhur" means "something of divine origin" while "Uluwatu" can be broken into "ulu" which means "land's end" and "watu" means "rock" in the old language).

To me, this is the most spectacular temple on the island of Bali. The inner sanctum of the pura is perched majestically on the edge of a steep cliff that towers above the legendary surf breaks of southern Bali.

Entrance fee is Rp 3,000. As usual, needed to be properly dressed to enter and sarongs and sashes are provided at the entrance.

The temple is inhabited by large number of monkeys, who are extremely adept at snatching visitors' belonging, including bags, cameras and eyeglasses. I kept my sunglasses and hat in my bag, to avoid monkeys' snatching.

The temple has a very nice sunset view, too bad we were suppose to rush back to Ubud to have our pre-ordered "Bebek" (dirty duck) dinner. So we missed the sunset view. Sigh.

Anyhow the disatisfaction was quickly gone when we saw the dinner dishes served. It was heavenly yummy! The bebek, vegetable mixtures, tuna fish soup, satay, nuts tasted so good! This was the nicest dinner we had for all the days we spent in Bali.

- Bebek Set Dinner @ Hibiscus Villa -

We were all exhausted after dinner and headed straight back to hotel for wash up and rest. It was an interesting and lovely day. Love it very much! The night was so cold, the feeling is still vivid in my mind..

:)