Adventures of Bahu Bali Part 3- Tanah Lot and Ulun Danu

Adventures of Bahu Bali Part 3- Tanah Lot and Ulun Danu

The second, Ulun Danu, is a temple on a lake (Beratan lake) dedicated to the Trimurti (Bramha, Vishnu, Mahesh). The drive takes you through many villages, and a Luwak coffee centre is never too far away. The Coffee talk a little later, because the other two will take your breath away, just for their majestic locations. Sights that are hard to beat, anywhere in the world. Don’t believe me? See for yourself, and multiply the Beauty Quotient by ten times..

Wherever you go, the warm and smiling people are a constant, and some Hindu temple ceremonies are always in progress or being readied. The traditional sarong has to be worn in some temples, and we did that too, so as not to miss the tradition! The design of their temples is very different from what we see in India, and you will find an open plan with two arms rising heavenwards in most. The carving is also unique, and statues of Hindu deities abound everywhere but inside the temples. No main idol as in ours. Gods are everywhere..

Tanah Lot in the first pic, and Ulun Danu on the lake Beratan in the lower two.

Tanah Lot again, in its lovely sea-kissed location, again.

Tried competing with this laughing guy! Lol!

Balle Balle in Bali

Templing at Bali. Their temples have gates that are open at the top- so that God has greater access to you and vice-versa.
The word vice has a very odd way of turning up everywhere, from vice-president to Vice Commission, by the way. Vice-chancellor too. Reminds me of an old joke. What is the vice of the vice admiral? The rear of the rear admiral.
Anyway, Bali is a paradise on earth, and I recommend putting it on your bucket list, pronto. Notice the thatched roofs in the second pic. That gives the temples a great unique look. The third is the temple called Tanah Lot.

The Hospitable Hindus of Bali

This is not a religious discourse, but just an element of surprise that fellow Hindus can be so hospitable! Yes, it is a surprise, because I live in a land where tourists are usually taken for a ride, and we are not so hospitable out here. Maybe at one time, but no longer. The Buddhist Thais have beaten us to it by a mile!

The culturally rich Indonesians (judging from Bali)

are certainly more evolved than us, in terms of how they treat their surroundings- they are a lot cleaner, in general. They also revere their mountains, and their offerings at the temples are unique. Even their street decorations for festivals are so attractive yet simple. Best of all, there is no racket and rush to get in to a temple to touch/view the deity, who is inconspicuous. So are the priests. The surrounding courtyards of the temple are maintained beautifully.

A lakeside temple (Ulun danu on lake Beratan in Bedugul) has a spectacular setting, and another temple complex on the sea-shore (Tanah Lot) is breathtaking. See painting in the pic above.

The first sight of the Ngurah Rai airport (named after a young freedom fighter who fought the Dutch colonisers) is lovely, like a postcard. The blue water accompanies you as the plane glides in, running along the airstrip. Boats dotting the water add to the charm. There were flights from Thai, Australian, Chinese and Japanese airliners, but not Indian.