From the Mountains to the Sea

Today was marvelous! The sun was shining, no threatening rain clouds,  and once again I’m treated to a wonderful morning meal of tree ripened papaya and pineapple with my banana pancake and cup of Bali Kopi.

Wayan making his famous pancakes

papaya and pineabpple

 Ever Grateful to Wayan and Karya who’ve wanted to show me Bali’s most important sites ~ not tourist driven necessarily ~ but simply because they’re beautiful and meaningful to the Balinese.

Karya and Wayan

on the road to Jatilwuth

JATILWUTH

High on my list was a tiny mountain village, Jatilwuth, meaning extraordinary, tucked into the base of Gunung Batukau, known for it’s magnificent landscaped rice terraces of Padi Bali, the indigenous Balinese rice.  It is said that you’re lucky and blessed if you visit Jatilwuth when terraces are newly planted and flooded with mountain water.  Though the season was much further along in the growth cycle, fortunate for the company, the timing and the spectacular panorama.  These rice terraces stretch all the way to Southern Bali.

The air was fresh, the water crisp and clear, free from pollutants being so close to the source.  Villagers gathered to bathe and this fellow found a place of his own. 

how refreshing!

On the other side of the valley, the views were

 even more majestic!

The long graceful stalks produce a yellow grain at harvest.

We made our way through the tiny village, winding narrow roads partly eroded from rains, and the villagers working the fields with sickle in hand.

What are these women carrying?

Since Jatilwuth was a request fulfilled, the rest of the day was a welcome surprise at each stop.

BALI  BUTTERFLY PARK

Working our way towards the sea, tiny Bali Butterfly Park was surprisingly fun.  During my daily swim at Frog Song I’d watch the parade of butterflies fluttering about from plant to plant, but not have my camera readily accessible to catch them so it was fitting to stop into a park. 

guess what these are called?

Do you know what these are?  The Dutch woman was graciously enough to allow me to photograph her while she said to the park attendant “ oh, you’re making me so beautiful!” 

PURA TANAH LOT

Pura Tanah Lot is located on a rocky islet offshore in southeast Bali.   High priest Danghyyang Nirartha founded the temple in the 16^th century having fled Java in an uproar of changing religious focus.  Tanah Lot simply means – Temple of the Land in the Sea.

The tide was low enough to walk out to higher rocks, though the waves can easily catch one off guard especially at full moon, high tide.  Several vantage points offer even greater views.  This is a tourist haven in the evenings, glad to visit before the droves.

PURA TAMAN AYUN

My escorts had one more stop in mind before heading home.   Pura Taman Ayun in Mengwi is an 18^th century marvel built by King Mengwi as a royal family temple.  Unique to others temples, the vast sanctuary grounds are surrounded by a moat and soaring meru or pagodas were erected. 

The darker-topped structures were designated for royal family, the lighter topped for worshippers.

A park attendant escorted me around the property giving me a brief history lesson, of the venerated gods, and the intent of the temple grounds ~ to pray, to meditate, to fish. He also pointed out their giant spiders!