Bali has tens of thousands of temples and they come in all sizes. Often the larger temples, or pura, feel like a tourist trap with tour buses and drink stalls lined up or hundreds of meters outside the main gate. One of my favourite temples in Pura Luhur Batukaru in Tabanan. This temple is located on the southern slope of the second highest volcano in Bali and sits in a forested area. The tranquility of Pura Luhur Batukaru combined with the forest gives me a peaceful feeling. Known as the Garden Temple it is located approximately 40 kms NW of Denpasar.
2 comments
Today I noticed many Balinese people in traditional dress and found out it is Purnama, full moon. Last night Ika nd I heard a solo female voice wafting over the wall from the banjar pavillion across from Pura Desa Seminyak (the village temple), and there will be more worshiping tonight.
No Comments
We’ve all heard about animism as a part of Balinese Hinduism. Some people might consider this primitive, the worshipping of mountains, the fight between good and evil and ancestor worship. Nevertheless, animist beliefs have been melded with Hinduism to form Agama Hindu, the local verson of the religion.
1 comment
Tumpek is one of the most interesting of the coincidence dates. Tumpek occurs six times in every Pawukon and each of these dates is separately important.
No Comments
North of Tampaksaring on the road to Kintamani you will see the turnoff to Tirta Empul. It is to here that the Balinese come from all over the island on pilgrimages to bathe in the holy springs and thus cleanse themselves spiritually.
1 comment
Today is a national holiday in Indonesia. The occasion is the Ascension to heaven of Prophet Mohammed. Wasn’t there some other dude who ascended to heaven?
No Comments
Visiting a temple is something many people like to do during a visit to Bali. The largest temple in Bali is Pura Besakih, in east Bali. Problem with it is that unless you go with locals, you’ll get some harassment from touts. In my opinion the next best mountain temple, for sheer size, is Pura Ulun Danau Batur, perched on the main road overlooking Lake Batur.
No Comments
Anyone who has spent time in Indonesia will be aware of the superstitions locals have. Whether you call it culture, religion, tradition or superstition, a lot of the customs here amount to the same thing, an attempt to influence future events, by small, seemingly unrelated actions.
No Comments
In an article I posted yesterday about the holy springs of Tirta Empul in Tampaksaring, I mentioned a ceremony called Melutak - the cleansing of one's body and soul.
4 comments
In Java there are a multitude of myths and legends. The Sudanese in particular have some fascinating legends and none more fascinating that of Dewi Sri.
No Comments
