Spiritual & Free mindedness - Seminyak Day 4 Part 3

After some “hard work” at Tanah Lot temple, it was time for lunch and our food palate immediately brought us to Hog Wild Restaurant at Jalan Batu Beliq, No.41, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara. You instantly would fall in love with this place as you arrived at the restaurant. The décor is simply awesome and it just heightened up your saliva glands as you would see slabs of ribs on the grille at the shop front and the amusing pig decors. Playful, sultry and most definitely worthwhile to make a stop here for some porkiliciousness goodness! What a riot we had here! We did not hold ourselves back but ordered what we need to smoothen the clogged arteries of ours that had been stuffed with vegetable goodness and healthy living food! 

We somehow needed the infusion of some good old fat pig goodness in our veins, man! This is the place for the great infusion of oily goodness back to our heart and veins! Yes, come to papa, you lovely little ribs! Succulent, tasty and fall off the bone delight certainly live up to its expectations. I could have sworn that there was utter silence as the succulent ribs meat landed in our mouth, down the throat and into our awaiting and gleeful stomachs!   Pork ribs, Soto ayam, fried noodles, satay babi, chapcai, fried potatoes and Bintang beer fulfilled our appetite that afternoon. I could have sworn that the pigs gave a good fight and they fought gallantly till the very last hour. It was such a dramatic scene that could only signaled the battle of best, my friends. As always, the only thing that will shock your living system and give every organic pats of your body a damn good jolt will be …….the bill! But, I must say, it was really worth it as we are filled to the brim. 

The gang.... waiting for their food....

The ribs master at work....

You are so welcomed......

Come to papa & mama.......

Our next destination was Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park or GWK. There has been a lot of hype over this place and I must say this is really a very expensive tourist attraction or trap! At Rph 125,000 entrance fee each, I would rather have gone to other places of interest and fuel the Bali economy, actually. I must say that this place is really an uncompleted artisan park.

The park area....

The centre area.....

Until and unless there are many more additions of other attractions in the park, I would strongly advise the people to spend their monies elsewhere. I guess, curiosity does kill the cat for us this time and this time only! The park is located in Ungasan, Badung, Bali. It is devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu, and his mount, Garuda, the mythical bird who became his companion. Planned to be established as a landmark or mascot of Bali, construction of the giant statue of Vishnu riding his mount Garuda, as high as 120 metres was completed in August 2018.

Garuda Plaza

The park has a land area of about 60 hectares and is located at an altitude 263 metres above sea level. In the area there is also a statue of Garuda which is directly behind the Plaza Wisnu. Garuda Plaza is where the Garuda statue as high as 18 meters is placed temporarily. Garuda Plaza is the focal point of a large corridor of carved limestone pillars covering over 4000 square meters of open space i.e. Lotus Pond. With a space capacity capable of accommodating up to 7,000 people, Lotus Pond has earned a reputation as a venue for holding major events and international events. There is also a statue of Vishnu's hand which is part of the statue of Lord Vishnu. Designed to be the Indonesia’s tallest statue, Garuda Wisnu Kencana was inspired by Hindu mythology about the search for Amerta (the elixir of life). According to this myth, Garuda agreed to be ridden by Lord Vishnu in return for the right to use the elixir to liberate his enslaved mother.

Bonding....

Vishnu Plaza

The 75-m tall, 65-m wide statue was designed by Nyoman Nuarta. It sits atop Bukit Peninsula and one of the most iconic landmark in Bali. The statue sits atop a pedestal to bring the total height of the monument to 121 m (397 ft), which is nearly 30 m (98 ft) taller than the Statue of Liberty in the United States.

Vishnu on the Garuda.....the iconic landmark of Bali...

Vishnu on the Garuda......

The completed monument is about as tall as a 21-storey building. It weighs 4000 tonnes, making it the heaviest statue in the country. The statue is made of copper and brass sheeting, with a stainless steel frame and skeleton, as well as a steel and concrete core column. The outer covering measures 22000 m2 in area. The crown of Vishnu is covered with golden mosaics and the statue has a dedicated lighting arrangement. The 600 steps uphill climb to the statue of Lord Vishnu riding the Garuda can be a heart stopper for someone like me but I took it all in good stride and made it there …ALIVE!  Yes, it is a work of art and truly one iconic piece together with the Vishnu’s Hand and Garuda Plaza but it’s only 3 structures,man! There has got to be more to this, right?

Spiritual & free mindedness - Seminyak Day 4 Part 2

As we trudged along the endless narrow and harrowing road of twists and bends, we finally arrived at Pura Tanah Lot. Located on a rock jutting out of the ocean, with massive waves battering its base, Pura Tanah Lot is one of the most unique temples you can lay your eyes on. Needless to say, it certainly merits a visit on your Bali trip. Pura Tanah Lot is probably the most popular and photographed temple on the island which located in coastal side of Beraban countryside, Kediri sub district and Tabanan Regency.

Tanah Lot Temple stands for earth (Tanah) and sea (Lot), quite appropriate considering its spectacular setting on top of an impressive rock overlooking the sea. Tanah Lot is claimed to be the work of the 16th-century Dhang Hyang Nirartha ( also known as Dhang Hyang Dwijendra ) During his travels along the south coast he saw the rock-island's beautiful setting and decided to rest there. Some fishermen saw him, and bought him gifts. Nirartha then spent the night on the little island. Later he spoke to the fishermen and told them to build a shrine on the rock, for he felt it to be a holy place to worship the Balinese sea gods. 

The main deity of the temple is Dewa Baruna or Bhatara Segara, who is the sea god or sea power and these days, Nirartha is also worshipped here. At the base of the rocky island, venomous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. The temple is purportedly protected by a giant snake, which was created from Nirartha's selendang (a type of sash) when he established the island. As far as I know, that is the historical facts of the temple. This is a really beautiful temple perched on an approximately 3 acres piece of jutted rock formation. 

The scenic location makes it a beautiful place for photography. The high tide and the beating waves bringing excitement even to the faintest of hearts. You could see why people are jostling for positions to take the best photographs of their lives at this place. For me, it simply shows the majesty of the temple and such natural architecture too. I managed to break away from the usual crowds and left for higher ledges on the other side of the beach. I enjoyed the tranquil of watching the waves, both gentle and savage ones, beating against the temple rock formation sending white pearls of water high and gleaming over the backdrop of the sun. I had my satisfaction of seeing the rock formation and the lovely sea. It brings so much calmness to me rather than getting irritated with the jostling and pushy China tourists. ( a real nuisance no matter where they are in the world! ) Guess, you can’t blame them as everyone just wanted to have a good photograph to show off back home, right? The good part is that they did not do any embarrassing stunts like peeing in the sea or at the rock formation probably scared stiff after being warned that their birdies or black hole of Calcutta could be swollen or even their birdies could suddenly fall off dead! Hahahahahahaaaaaaaaa………hmmmmmmnnnnnn….who knows, right?    

Anyway, the first thing I noticed while at Pura Tanah Lot was the abundance of canang sari.  Canang sari is one of the daily offerings made by Balinese Hindus to thank the Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa in praise and prayer. Canang sari will be seen in the Balinese temples (pura), on small shrines in houses, and on the ground or as a part of a larger offering.

The phrase canang sari is derived from the Balinese words sari (essence) and canang (a small palm-leaf basket as the tray). Canang  itself consists of two syllables from the Kawi language: ca (beautiful) and nang (purpose). Canang sari has some parts; there are peporosan, ceper, raka-raka, and sampian urasari.  Peporosan or the core material is made from betel leaf, lime, gambier,prestige, tobacco and betelnuts. Material of peporosan symbolizes the Trimurti, the three major Hindu Gods. Shiva is symbolized by lime, Vishnu is symbolized by betel nut, and Brahma is symbolized by gambier. Canang sari are covered by ceper (a tray made from palm leaf) as a symbol of Ardha Candra. Raka-raka is topped with sampian urasari, which are in turn overlaid by flowers placed in a specific direction. 

Each direction symbolizes a Hindu God (deva): White-colored flowers that point to the east as a symbol of Iswara, Red-colored flowers that point to the south as a symbol of Brahma , Yellow-colored flowers that point to the west as a symbol of Mahadeva, Blue or green colored flowers that point to the north as a symbol of Vishnu. A canang sari is completed by placing on top of the canang an amount of kepeng (the coin money) or paper money, which is said to make up the essence (the "sari") of the offering. 

And there you have it, ladies and gentleman , the many abundance of canang sari found in places of worship, homes, food outlets and even at every road junction. They do smell nice and they looked so colourful just like the lives of the Balinese people. I realized too that the people in Bali especially those in Ubud are truly artisans and artistic in many ways. Their works are seen by the countless shops of artistic craftsmanship of either stonery, glass work, wood carving ( I really love their wood carvings ) or even etchings. These are some of the most talented people in the world, I would say.

Spiritual & free mindedness - Seminyak Day 4 Part1

Breakfast....sunny side up, bread, scrambled eggs & coffee

Waking up in a new urban place with superb facilities and amenities can be quite a comforting pampering. Thereby, it was such a pleasure waking up in the morning in Villa Kim ,Seminyak. However, SLing and I together with Hwe Shean woke up early and got our way to the morning market which was about 13 minutes walk from our villa. By the time we arrived at the morning market, there was a small crowd there. It wasn’t a big market. In fact, it was a rather small one. Simple vegetables, fish and poultry were sold there. I had a good look at the simplicity of life in Seminyak and Bali as a whole. I was more into the street food thing and I was surprised by the small offering of food. 

Seminyak morning market....13 minutes walk.

Simple porridge and pulut (glutinous rice) fare were there but nothing fancy. They looked sweet and I’ve gotta keep my sugar in flow slow and steady or else, insulin shots are just around the corner. One point to note is that it was interesting to see them using the traditional weighing scales. Such a delight seeing these apparatus in such prolific usage in the market. Fruits were also scarce while tobacco makes brisk sales. We did not buy anything that morning but I came back richer with the experience really. After cleaning up a bit, we headed out to the kitchen and quickly helped out Richard and Teresa, who were also up early  to fix breakfast for the day. 

Simple breakfast fare....the puluts

It was simply toast bread, croissants and eggs for breakfast accompanied by good ol’ Bintang coffee or Milo, of course! It was such a beautiful morning and we had such a wonderful time of fellowshipping over breakfast and oranges which I have picked up on the way from the rich soiled area of Beratan. After a quick discussion, we were unanimously in agreement that we would try out the food places as suggested by our newfound friend in Ibu Linda of Tamade Restaurtant.

Hungry Bird Coffee Roasters.....coffee...

As usual, our very efficient and sharp cordinator, Hwe Shean had charted out our itinerary for the day and our first stop was to get coffee at Hungry Bird Coffee Roasters,Canggu. Located at Jalan Raya Semat ( Jalan Perancak ),No.86, Tibubeneng, Kuta Utara, this place is the place for the younger people today. Located strategically in a small kampong and fantastically small lane, you could smell the coffee aroma as you stepped off the van. Established in 2013, this award winning team in Canggu, Bali had been servicing and meeting the demands of coffee lovers around the world. 

The barista counter.....

This hip and trendy joint is really quaint and lively with customers and locals alike, the minute you walk into the café. I had the opportunity to speak to Michail Seno Ardabuana or a.k.a Seno who served me his brand of coffee that morning. I had the opportunity to speak to him and he was eager to answer my questions on coffee and so on. Here is an award winning barista and there was just no airs about him while his simplicity was exemplary indeed. I really do like the humbleness in that man. I do see the many awards awarded to this simple café joint and I like the simplicity.  I had an Americano that morning and the coffee is good…..really good. 

After a good handshake with Seno, I could hear him say “Come back soon, yah! Good day,man.“ I answered distinctively, “ Thanks, I will, bro! “ That’s the start you want to kick off your day, right?

Hwe Shean on the counter....

The lovely mural on the wall....look like a tour guide, man.

Ubud & Seminyak - Day 3

The still morning silence was broken with the loud but sweet bird chirp from a pair of unique birds perched on the tree branch at the villa. It also signalled the start of another brand new morning in Ubud. I was sad as we had to leave the villa and check in later in the evening in Seminyak. It was hard to pack as the villa was magnificent and it was a real luxury indeed for the body , mind and soul. I guess, it is never easy to say goodbye to such a lovely place. That morning, we managed to have our breakfast as usual and then made a check to our nearby villa. The Hari Puri Villa. Ubud located nearby was also very beautiful and so relaxing indeed.

At about 8.30am, our driver Kartika arrived at the villa and we were off for another great day in Ubud. Our first destination was Pura Ulun Banu Bratan. This is a Balinese temple located 45km north west of Ubud and located at Jalan Denpasar-Singaraja, village of Candikuning which is part of highlands of Bedugul. Yes, this was a real surprise for all of us. It is unimaginable to see a beautifully built temple on a highlands and there was a lake in the mountains. It is simply an awesome sight. Built in 1633, this temple is used for offerings ceremony to the Balinese water, lake and river goddess Dewi Danu. 

This temple is also known as "The Lake of Holy Mountain"and located 1200m above sea level hence, the cool and cold weather conditions. That day, the winds were blowing and the mist were there too but I love it! I truly enjoy the cool and cold weather conditions. I must admit that we did not expect that there is a temple atop a mountain. No one told us about this temple and no one mentioned that the temple is at a mountain top. What a beautiful sight! the temple is so picturesque while the surrounding park was truly serene and well manicured. Everything was picture perfect and such a joy.  

The stunningly clear lake is calm and almost perfectly still, save for the soft breeze that occasionally sweeps across , creating tiny and pertinent ripples upon its surface. A thin mist rises from the lake and hangs in the air, surrounding the temple, giving it a surreal appearance and mysticism feel.

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan complex consists of four sacred buildings devoted to Hindu gods  namely Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.Entering the temple gates, instantly noticeable are the typical Balinese architectural features and the tiered shrines. Inside the complex, the three main shrines are dedicated to the worship of god Vishnu which boasts 11 tiers, god Brahma with seven 7 tiers and Shiva with three tiers. There is manicured gardens of the complex, bayan trees, Hindu complex and a Buddhist stupa. The most photographed part of the temple, the 11-tiered and three-tiered meru atop a small island reflected in the lake, can be seen as you pass the candi bentar (split gate) to the lake’s edge. We really had a good time here as the place was just beautiful and relaxing. 

As usual, tourist and devotees throng the temple for prayers and the scenery. We were fortunate to see a large group of school children offering their prayers at the temple that morning. Such devotion, dedication and piousness. I had the opportunity to take a few photographs with the school children and they were innocent, open and responsive. Honestly, I did not want to leave this place as it was so serene and calm here. Truly a good start to the morning. As we reluctantly exit the temple, souvenir sellers and souvenir shop assistants were everywhere trying to peddle their souvenir wares. I guess, we held out as we wanted to see the places rather than the souvenirs. 

Along the way up, we stopped at Bali Handara Gold Club entrance which was supposedly to be iconic. Honestly, I would not pay any money for any shot at the club iconic entrance and all of us agreed to it that we would not part our money for this place. We told our driver that we are not paying money for an entrance scene that can be found anywhere in Bali. I took a far shot of the entrance and the more I looked at it , I must say that tourist and locals alike should not be duped into parting their hard-earned money for this place. 

Handara Bali Golf Club entrance

Not wanting to spoil our day further, we then headed out to Kintamani overview area to get a view of Mount Batur and Mount Agung from an observation deck. Roughly a 15 minutes drive from Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, we arrived at the parking area. Our driver, Kartika had informed us to be careful with the souvenirs sellers there as they can be quite aggressive. I must admit that all of us heed our driver's advice and we want no trouble at the Kintamani overview area. I must admit that the weather and the view is absolutely fantastic. Yes, the sellers were truly aggressive and I do find it annoying when they continued to press us into buying something from them. 

Luckily, we all stood firm and good - trying not to offend anybody on this matter. We did not spend much time at the overview but we wished we could have stay longer there. I noted the burnt area at Mount Batur and it encompass a rather huge area. It was quite a relief when we were in our van and we headed down the mountain. 

By this time, our lunch hour is up and the growl in our stomachs are not to be denied further. At the recommendation of our driver, Kartika, we stopped at Rumah Makan Saras, along Jalan Bedugul, Tabanan. We had our usual nasi goreng, kangkong, soto ayam ( soupy chicken broth and noodles ) , BBQ chicken and fried banana fritters for dessert. Again, the food wasn't the issue but the prices could be improved , actually. 

I really do not understand the need for such prices because ultimately , it will affect the tourists and they will just walk away when things get expensive especially food prices. I am all for fair food prices and the need to make a profit but not at an inflated rate. I guess, I explained to SLing that day why I kept consuming fried rice wherever I went in my travels and she finally understood what I meant. I have nothing against anyone making a buck or two over food but make it affordable not exorbitant.

After filling up our stomachs, we left for Pura Taman Ayun located in Mengwi, sub-district of Bandung Regency, Bali. Accordingly, this temple was built in the 17th century starting in 1632 and completed in 1634. It was built by the 1st King Tjokerda Sakti Blambangan. 

The temple's name translates to " Garden Temple in the Water".  Immediately upon arrival, you are immediately greeted by the iconic Balinese gate way and the perfectly kept garden lawns. Prior to the entrance, Balinese statutes surround the compound area and they added the historical feel to the temple. As we moved from within the temple grounds , I could not help to notice that the temple was surrounded by a steady flow of water around the inner temple court yard which was inaccessible to tourists like us. Pura Taman Ayun complex comprises four different divisions, one ranking higher than the other. The first is referred to as the ‘Jaba’ or outer division, accessible only through a single entrance and walkway over the ponds.

Inside, near the entrance is a small guardian shrine and on the right is a large ‘wantilan’ hall where the communal gatherings take place. A tall fountain with spouts jutting up and out to the cardinal directions can be seen in this area. Onto the next court, a small temple compound by the name of Pura Luhuring Purnama can be seen. The second and third terraces are slightly higher than the first.To enter, visitors must go through a second gate where a shelter called Bale Pengubengan greets them with ornamental features that depict the nine Hindu gods that guard the nine points of the compass, referred to as Dewata Nawa Sanga.East of this court is a small temple called Pura Dalem Bekak, while in its western corner is an eight metre-high wooden bell tower known to locals as ‘Bale Kulkul’. A climb up will reveal two hanging rectangular wooden bells, plus a high and spectacular view of the whole complex.

The fourth and last court is considered the most sacred, thus ranks the highest. It is referred to as the Utama Mandala. The intricately ornate central gate is open only during ceremonies, as the entryway for consecrated heirlooms and other ceremonial paraphernalia. Another gate at its east is for daily access. Several tiers of different outlines and sizes rise up into the temple’s skyline.The temple’s three grounds denote the three cosmological levels known to Balinese Hinduism, namely the world of man, the realm of gods and deities, and the topmost divine level. As recounted in the ancient texts of the ‘Adhiparwa’, the whole complex of the Taman Ayun Temple represents Mount Mahameru in the so-called ‘churning of the sea of milk’ or the cosmic formation of the world. Some description, huh? Well, at least, we get some iconic photographs of the place. 

Then it's off to our second accommodation in Villa Kim , Jalan Drupadi, Seminyak, Kuta, Bali which will be our home for the next two days. I must admit that Villa Kim is comfortable and nice too. It was a real surprise to get there as the road is once again narrow and dark at night. 

Tamade restaurant with Ibu Linda & Pak Budi

Upon arrival, we were greeted by Ketut, our contact person for the villa.. I must admit that the villa is really private, nice, cosy and accommodative. The facilities are equally good, spacious and up to date. The pool and the patio were good too. I like this place very much too. Good choice made by Hwe Shean once again. Kudos to her for a really good choice. The villa is near to lots of restaurants and mini markets. That evening, Richard and I left for the nearby Coco mini market to get some food stuff for breakfast. We got ourselves eggs, bread, jam , croissants , Bintang beers and bananas.  After freshening up, we headed out to a nearby restaurant, Tamade Restaurant for our dinner. Once again, we ordered the usual fried rice and  fried noodles for our dinner fare. I opted for the pork noodles instead and the food turned out really well. We took the opportunity to chat up with the proprietors, Ibu Linda and Pak Budi. the local couple who runs the restaurant. Tamade Restaurant is run by the local husband and wife team and they served up Indonesian food. I must admit that the portion is better and the price is truly acceptable despite being in Seminyak, Kuta - known for pricey food prices. This time, I was happy with the prices as the portion was quite good. 

I took the opportunity to chat up with Linda who then inform us of some local places to go for our makan. It was really nice chatting up with her and I soon realised that the interiors were truly works of art.We finally took a picture with Ibu Linda and Pak Budi and had some more conversation about places to eat before heading home. We were excited about the prospect of eating at the places recommended by Ibu Linda. I certainly was looking forward to it.

When we arrived at our villa, we freshened up and then planned our itinerary for the next day. We were pumped up and excited for what holds for us the next day. Over a cuppa of coffee, Milo and tea, we talked, laughed and fellowship. Richard was always the livewire with his humour and fun ways. So was Hwe Shean with her easy and humorous way too. As the day unwind down, we decided to hit the sack and pray for a good and better day ahead. 

What a day! Lovely weather , lovely people and lovely villa......what more can one asks for in their holidays, right?

Fun begins in Ubud-Day 2

Waking up in the morning was the hardest thing to do as you tend to laze , roll and find every excuse available to not wake up against the comfort of soft pillows and a nice lovely bed that cushioned the very abuse of your body. Somehow, I've gotta tell myself that I have a full day of fun ahead of me and I should embraced that finally I lumbered off the bed, stumbled into the tub ( Yeah, they have a tub in the toilet area! ) and freshened up. 

By the time, we arrived at hall, our breakfast was ready and it was a good breakfast for me though I realised that the portion is quite small. I guess, these are Balinese standard size. I do love my breakfast to be hearty and in big portions but I guess, I'll have to respect what is being served to me. My consolation was that there was a fruit platter of pineapples, papaya, watermelon and dragon fruit at the end of the meal. That's absolutely fantastic, really. As usual, I had my local nasi goreng fare and I do like very much. After breakfast, we were off to our first place of interest - Alas Harum.

Alas Harum is a popular agrotourism park located at Jalan Lunga Tegalallang around 20 minutes ride from Central Ubud. This place offers luwak coffee ( the coffee seeds that comes out from the behind of the civet cat, yunno! ), ziplines, swings, picture perfect scenery , birdnest structures, terraced coffee house, dancing bridge, big curve of a gorilla face and pekak brayut. Lovely place to take nice photographs and to enjoy the morning walk. Climbing the stairs in an undulating terrain can be quite a challenge but the RC staircase makes it easier, actually. 

The cool early morning air was a welcome change,actually. It is just so cool and breathtakingly lovely view. SYuen was game enough ti do the extreme swing and so, I decided to let her have her day by trying out the extreme swing ( Rph 200,000 ride ! ) But I must say, it was worth it. She enjoyed it so much as I snapped photographs of her. I must thanked the Royal Rangers commanders for instilling that confidence and bravery in her when she was young. It most certainly paid off and she took to the flights of the swing expertly without fear or nervousness!  It was such a joy for me as a father as I saw her braving the swing ride with confidence and grace too. 

Then it was off to the birdnest and what an ingenious work of art, actually. Suspended over 4 to 5 feet off the ground, these birdnest creation against the terraced greenery background of the park gives it a lovely photography effect. These birdnest are generally safe and really works of art. I really salute the artist who thought of these birdnest. Entwined twigs, rattan and magnificently hidden strong cables and holders made it all so authentic and real. Even the shape and construction of it was rather precise of a birdnest. We had a gala time of posing and model like photography sessions. The rich experience of the terraced terrain helped make it a wonderful morning work out for the lungs and heart! Absolutely a brilliant park. I must admit that I do love coffee but not luwak coffee as they can be an expensive experience and this place is no different. I also must admit that there is far too many luwak coffee shop attractions at the Tegalallang area. If the purpose of luwak coffee is to popularise it then the prices should be attractive too and definitely not at exhorbitant prices. Anyway,  Bintang coffee , 434 coffee or even Sing Sing coffee tasted just as good as far as I am concerned. I guess, Bali coffee is equally nice as I had it in my villa just that morning. So, nothing to shout about, really. 

I am not trying to be a wet blanket when it comes to coffee because there is so much you can do with the coffee beans. A very good barista and a great coffee beans proprietor once told me that if you treat the coffee beans right ( roasting, temperate, treat and take care of details ) , the right flavour will come out and you will get the full body taste of it. I am sticking to the ideals that good coffee comes from the expert hands of the roasters, the farmer and the barista. However, it is good to have a different view, right?

We then managed to get a quick bite at D'Alas Warong near Tegalallang area. Filled with orange trees, this warong serves Indonesian meals but we opted for coconut drinks, crepes and banana fritters. Lovely delights and I realised that there is so much creativity when it comes to the bananas in Bali.

Pura Tirta Empul was our next destination. Tirta Empul means Holy Spring in the Balinese language. Located in the village of Manukaya in the town of Tampaksiring, the temple is one of the busiest Hindu Balinese temple 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. Tirta Empul temple was founded in 926 AD during the Warmadewa Dynasty ( 10th -14 th century ). 

Ever since, for more than a thousand years, the Balinese people and people from all over the world have come to bathe in the sacred waters for healing and spiritual merit. The temple is divided into three sections namely Jaba Pura ( front yard ) , Jaba Tengah ( central yard ) and Jeroan (inner yard) . Jaba Tengah consists of 2 pools and 30 showers which are named accordingly : Pengelukatan, Pebersihan, Sudarmala and Pancuran Cetik. It is relaxing and calm as one sits or moved around the temple. 

The sight of seeing men and women lining up for a piece of blessing as one takes a dip or takes a handful of water to be douse over the head  is humbling sight indeed. It is quite humbling too to see many men, women and children devotees who offers nice small coconut leave baskets filled with flowers and incense to their gods. Our driver, Kartika informed us later when we were in the van that Balinese people prays three times a day. Such piety to their beliefs and culture. As you exit the temple, the koi pond greets you. Big, fat and colourful koi fish swims lazily around the pond and would not hesitate to take food pellets offered by the tourist and locals alike. 

As the stomach calls for refilling of food, we decided to get to Babi Guling Ibu Oka in Peliatan , Ubud for our lunch. I must say, it wasn't a good experience at all. As always, you win some and you lose some. The food wasn't as what was expected while the prices are really deafening indeed. It wasn't good and all the hype was just hearsay, I guess. Yeah, I was expecting like some "siew yok" stuff but instead there wasn't any of it while the hard pieces are really hard. The crunchies were really teeth breakers, actually. I shudder at the thought of swallowing a piece of my own chipped tooth! 

Tegenungan Waterfall is located at Tegenungan Kemenuh village in Gianyar,  This is a beautiful waterfall. This is an isolated waterfall that had since become a popular tourist attraction. The view of the waterfall is spectacular. From the entrance area, tourist and local take easily 600 - 1,000 steps to reach the bottom section of the waterfall. Loud music, ladies in bikinis, jam session, buffy guys and party goers await those who venture right at the bottom area of the waterfall. To me, I am safe and well enough to be at the top section to take photographs. Again, the birdnest structure attractions make it such a wonderful place for photography session. What a day! I guess, the pictures says it all very eloquently on the beauty of such places.

After a disastrous lunch, we decided to pack some dinner back to our villa. We felt it would be more meaningful to fellowship and eat at the same time. We stopped at Bebek Joni at Jalan Raya Goa Gajah in Peliatan , Ubud to wet of bebek appetite ( by the way, "bebek" means duck ) and got ourselves some bebek treats and gado-gado ( a platter of boiled long beans, sliced carrots, sliced cucumber, beans sprouts, fried tempe and drizzled with peanut sauce - lovely ! ) while we stopped at a nearby shop to get some fried  mahi-mahi fish cuts, BBQ tuna ( ikan tongkol ) , BBQ chicken,  BBQ mackerel ( ikan kembong ). what a feast we had that night! Topped up with the clanker of Bintang beer, locally produced beer, it was a satisfying dinner indeed. That night, we slept like babies and we were all looking forward to the next days program and many sweet dreams of Ubud...................