Mar 17 - Today is the day we will look at temples. Would not have planned it that way, but because of the traffic I decided to keep our wandering to the west and north of the city. Nearly everything there is to look at in the Denpasar area is not actually in town.
North of where we are staying, and just north of the bus station we were dropped at yesterday (Mengwi Bus Terminal) is Taman Ayun Temple. Of the several classifications of temples in Bali, this type is called an Ancestral Temple. It was built by King of Mengwi, I Gusti Agung Putu, in Saka 1556 (1634 CE), to worship his ancestors. Now, a ceremony (piodalan) is held here once every year, to seek the safety and fertility of the island.
The moat that surrounds the temple complex.
The temple is composed of three parts. This is the innermost part, where the annual rituals take place. Otherwise, like today, it is closed to the public.
The outermost part of the temple is open year around, and historically was used for many things. This building was for cock fights.
A guardian to the innermost temple.
This costume, which is shaped sort of like a horse, is used in certain festivals.
The decoration is made from mostly rice, corn, and beans.
Some small shrines attached to the innermost temple block.
One of the ceremonial costumes, out on display.
An Ogoh-ogoh statue, made from styrofoam with paint. This statue will be used in a procession the day before Hari Maya Nyepi. Each neighborhood makes one of these, they are all different to some degree, and they are meant to be creative and compete with each other. They are a manifestation of the negative elements in a person’s life.
From here, continue north up the side of a volcano to Mt. Bratan. In this crater there are several lakes. One of those lakes hosts the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple. This is a huge tourist attraction, with swarms of buses in the parking lot. The setting is beautiful, at the edge of the crater lake with the crater rim stretching around. When we get there it gets very cloudy, threatening rain.
From the pier at the temple, a look back toward the town.
This temple is one of the most important ‘water temples’ in Bali. It sits at the edge of the Bratan Lake, which is critical for irrigation water. The temple is dedicated to Vishnu and Dewi Danu (the lake goddess). Offerings are left for these gods here.
A pond with many koi, receiving holy offerings from Odette.
Another Ogoh-ogoh statue, with an aquatic theme.
They had a few animals here in the petting zoo, including owls, rabbits, and a palm civet (shown above).
A Eurasian eagle-owl, waiting to be petted by visitors.
One of the stupas.
It started raining heavily, so we take shelter for a bit then go back to the taxi. Coming back down the volcano, we deviate to the west to visit one of the Water Temples of Bali, called Tanah Lot.
The entrance to Tanah Lot, with the standard split gate entrance called a Candi Bentar. We’ve been looking at these structures since Surabaya, but in Bali they really get ornate.
One of the inner temple areas, bordering the ocean surf.
Another temple, located on an island, only accessible at low tide.
There was a cave at the beach with the sign ‘Holy Snake’. Here they were, all coiled up. They are banded sea snakes. Supposedly they come out of the water and visit the cave every day.
A nearby headland with an arch, and yes, another temple at the end.
The place is closing so we head back to our hotel, crawling along with the expected Denpasar traffic. We arrive after dark, and find some basic food on the street again.
Today’s route: (A/E) Denpasar, (B) Taman Ayun Temple, (C) Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, and (D) Tanah Lot.
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