Have another serving of Travel Pangs!
With over 90% of Balinese being Hindus, Hindus still form a minority in Indonesia. That, of course is understandble since the archipelago with approximately 17,508 islands has over 238 million people while Bali's present population probably has not even surpassed 5 million. In 2010, the census recorded its population at just 3,891,000. Understandable too, there are many Hindu temples in Bali and these temples, often called Pura are unlike the common towering indoor Indian Hindu Temple. In Bali, the temple is an open air worship place within enclosed walls. Often, to reach its compounds one would have to pass a series of intricately decorated gates.
One of the must visit temples in Bali is of course, the Tirtha Empul Temple. When we arrived at the temple, it was rather crowded with locals and there was a mix of festive and picnic-like atmosphere ...
Would you like to join the crowd at Tirtha Empul Temple?
Traveling Tip: Visit Temples!
Just the other day, an Indian man who had visited Angkor Wat in Cambodia showed me pictures which he had taken there. He said there were many lesser known old Hindu temples around Angkor Wat and he specificallly pointed out to a Lingam in one of the temples.The Lingam or Linga, I have heard is a symbol of the phallus and is often represented with Yoni which is a represntation of the female reprodcutive organ. It has been said too that the Lingam represents the Hindu deity Shiva while the Yoni represents the goddess Shakti. Whatever it represents, the Lingam is definitely very Indian and as in Cambodia, there are many signs of Indian influences in Bali. Pura Goa Gajah, as you have known, is a Hindu temple. The walls are in ruins and you'd not as much as take a look at the remains of the candi walls but the northern part of Pura Goa Gajah is quite interesting. There is a T-shaped cave-like structure there and besides a statue of the Hindu God, Ganesha, you can find inside, a lingam. Everyone loves a lingam!
You'd have to look for your lingam!
Traveling Tip: You have to search!
Pura Goa Gajah, in the little village of Bedulu in the Blahbatuh district boasts of ancient fountains from which one could get free flow of holy water. Some tourists may not be so interested in the holiness of the shrine or the water but the ancient structures deserve some scrutiny. One perhaps would be reminded and marvel at how religion could inspire some men to create such wonderful piece of art...
Marvel at the ancient structures in Pura Goa Gajah...
Traveling Tip: It is not all about belief!
When in Bali, don't forget to try Babi Guling, that is if your religion allows you pork. Babi is of course, the local word for pig while Guling means roll. Babi Guling is actually a roasted suckling pig. In this Balinese delicacy, a whole pig is rubbed down and stuffed with bumbu bali , a mixture of chopped Balinese spices including shallots, garlic, ginger, turmeric, galangal, pepper coriander, candlenuts, chilies, and lemon grass. Perhaps, the pig gets its name, Babi Guling because it is continuously turned slowly over the fire to ensure even cooking and to ensure that its meat is tender and juicy. One could probably find Babi Guling in Kuta or anywhere else in Bali but words had it that the best would be at Ibu Oka in Ubud. A fellow Malaysian whom we met at Sukawati sweared though they had the best in a market in Kuta...
Which do you think is Babi Guling?
Traveling Tip: Try some local delicacy!
Travelling east to Ubud, make a stop in the Gianyar Regency in Central Bali, more specifically in the town of Sukawati. There is this place called Pasar Seni in the centre of the town, a two storey building with many, many stalls, said to be the best place to shop in Bali. Almost all the souvenirs you'd have seen or bought elsewhere in Kuta, Tuban, Legian or Seminyak originate here and expect to find paintings, woodcarvings, clothes, puppets, wind chimes, jewelleries and many other things here at bargain prices. Celuk village which is the center of goldsmiths & silversmiths in Bali is located nearby and you'd expect to buy products of gold and silver here too but touch wood - some of these products, I heard may not be genuine...
Shop at Sukawati!
Traveling Tip: There is a place to shop!
You should be forgiven if you think Mario is just a character from a video game. Long before there were angry birds, Shigeru Miyamoto, a Japanese video game designer had Mario, the Italian-American plumber appeared in the Mushroom Kingdom in over 200 video games trying to prevent turtle-like villain Bowser from kidnapping Princess Peach and taking over the kingdom. The Mario (inset) in question now of course is a famous Balinese dancer. Bali, by the way, is most famous for its performing arts. There are many famous Balinese dances such as the pendet, legong and of course, kecak, the monkey dance performed mainly by men which is said to have originated in the 1930s. Known also as the Ramayana Monkey Chant, the dance is often performed by a circle of 150 or more performers who wear checked cloth around their waists and chant cak cak as they throw up their arms to depict a battle from the Ramayana where the monkey-like Vanara helped Prince Rama fight the evil King Ravana. Not a single musical instrument is used for this dance; music being provided by the cak, cak chant from the performers. German painter and musician Walter Spies, supposedly worked with Wayan Limbak to make the dance world-reknown. Today, Kecak's influence could be seen in such notable songs like I Never Promised You a Rose Garden and Manhattan Transfer's Soldier of Fortune. Grab the opportunity to experience the first hand experience of a kecak dance while in Bali!
Cak! Cak! It's the Kecak dance!
Traveling Tip: Watch the locals dance!
Bali is considered one of the best places in the world to see sunsets. It is not surprising then that some people come here just to see sunsets and some even pay to have sunset weddings. There are many venues where one can see the sun sets in Bali - in Kuta, Jimbaran, Tanah Lot,and most definitely in Uluwatu. We were in Uluwatu long enough to see the sun set but then, it was almost six and it was time to watch some traditional Balinese dance...
Traveling Tip: Watch the sun sets!
Our guide was quite a talkative guy, telling us stories about not just Bali but also about his family and his experiences as a tourist guide. About Bali, he told of the Hindu priest who came from Java building a number of key Hindu temples all over Bali. In Uluwatu, on the edge of a plateau 250 feet above the Indian Ocean, there is this temple dedicated to the spirits of the sea called Pura Luhur Temple, said to be Bali's most spectacular. There is a pagoda here, near which is a limestone statue of a Brahman priest, said to be that of a priest, Dhang Hyang Dwijendra. Another shrine within the complex represents the boat on which Dwijendra traveled from Java. Legend had it that he arrived at Pura Peti Tenget, north of Kuta. Dwijendra however, was not the only priest associated with the temple. There were other priests from different eras like Empu Kuturan who lived in the 10th century and Niratha who lived in the 17th century. Some people are of the opinion that the temple is an architectural wonder but maybe, you'd think it is rather a small temple, quaint perhaps but not as wonderful as Java's Borobudur or Cambodia's Angkor Wat. In any case, you'd like the serenity and the scenery here, not to mention the monkeys that may jump out from nowhere to snatch your spectacles. These monkey, according to our guide, were trained to do that and you could get back your belongings back for a small sum of money. Don't say you have not been warned!
Watch out for the monkeys!
Traveling Tip: Watch your belongings!
