With our jeep we fought our way through the morning traffic of Denpasar, the capital of Bali. The number of mopeds and their traffic behavior reminded us strongly of Hanoi. But we found our way around quite quickly. With cached Google Maps maps on the iPhone and a GPS signal, navigating the island is possible even without a local driver. The cost of a private tour is therefore only worthwhile if you would like to have an English or German-speaking guide with you.
Bali – Pura Taman Ayun
Our first destination for the day was the temple complex Pura Taman Ayun north of the city of Mengwi. This temple is one of the largest and most important in Bali.
The large complex is located on an island, which we reached via a footbridge. The most impressive thing about Bali's temple complexes are the multi-tiered shrines. They consist of different numbers of roofs stacked on top of each other. What we also noticed were the often waist-high boundary walls and the various gates. Basically, all temples in Bali are open to the top. For the Balinese, this makes contact between them and the gods possible. In this way, man can invoke the gods to whom the temple is dedicated with certain rituals and at certain times. It is also possible to pray to guest gods of other temples.
Bali – Pura Luhur Batukaru
Afterwards we drove to the mountainous region of Bali. We approached the 2276 meter high volcano Gunung Batukaru, the second highest mountain on the island.
In a clearing in the middle of the jungle, above the village of Wongaya Gede, is the Pura Luhur Batukaru. We entered the temple, which is dedicated to the god of Mount Batukaru, through a split, typical Balinese gate. Just a few meters to the right of the temple is a small pond framed by mossy stone figures and water-spouting figures from which holy water gushes forth. Here in the picturesque idyll we allowed ourselves a little rest and watched some ducks and squirrels.
Bali – Rice Fields at Jatiluwih
On our way further and further north, we crossed the rice fields around the city of Jatiluwih. Here, at the foot of Gunung Batukaru, the rice farmers have built a small geological masterpiece. The lush green fields are laid out like stairs and are several hundred meters long.
Bali – Pura Luhur Ulun Danu Brata
Just along the main road from Denpasar to Singaraja, Pura Luhur Ulun Danu Brata Temple is located right on Danau Beratan Lake. This Hindu temple is much smaller than the previous two. But here we were approached for the second time during our trip by Asian teenagers if we would take a photo with them. It's strange to stand next to a broadly grinning young woman who smiles into her camera with peace signs. But maybe we're special to them!
Bali – Monkeys on the road to Singaraja
Along the road to Singaraja we came across a larger group of monkeys. Travel guides very often warn against them because they can become very aggressive. It is said that it has often happened that tourists have been bitten by them while feeding. For this reason, we proceeded somewhat cautiously. When we left Denpasar, we had already bought a bunch of bananas. But the shell was still so green and hard that we could hardly open it. The monkeys were a little more skillful. Since they were probably very well fed by the passing people, they were also quite peaceful.
Bali – Git Git Waterfalls
In the late afternoon we reached the Git Git waterfall. This is Bali's most famous and at the same time highest waterfall with 35 meters. From the car park, you can reach the viewpoint within 10 minutes on a well-maintained footpath. It's definitely worth the walk.
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