We made our way through the morning traffic in Denpasar, the capital of Bali, in our Jeep. The number of mopeds and their driving behavior reminded us strongly of Hanoi. But we found our way around quite quickly. With Google Maps saved on our iPhone and a GPS signal, navigating the island is possible even without a local driver. The cost of a private tour is only worthwhile if you want an English- or German-speaking guide.
Bali – Pura Taman Ayun
Our first destination of the day was the Pura Taman Ayun temple complex north of the town of Mengwi. This temple is one of the largest and most important in Bali.
The expansive complex is located on an island, which we reached via a footbridge. The most impressive feature of Bali's temple complexes are the multi-level shrines. They consist of varying numbers of roofs stacked one on top of the other. What also struck us were the boundary walls, often only waist-high, and the various gates. Basically, all temple complexes in Bali are open at the top. For the Balinese, this allows contact between them and the gods. People can thus invoke the gods to whom the temple is dedicated through specific rituals and at specific times. Prayers to guest gods of other temples are also possible.
Bali – Pura Luhur Batukaru
We then drove into the mountainous region of Bali. We approached the 2,276-meter-high volcano Gunung Batukaru, the island's second-highest mountain.
In a clearing in the middle of the jungle, above the village of Wongaya Gede, lies the Pura Luhur Batukaru. We entered the temple, dedicated to the god of Mount Batukaru, through a split, typically Balinese gate. Just a few meters to the right of the temple is a small pond framed by moss-covered stone figures and water-spouting statues from which holy water bubbles. Here, in this picturesque idyll, we treated ourselves to a short rest and watched some ducks and squirrels.
Bali – rice fields near Jatiluwih
On our way ever further north, we crossed the rice fields around the town of Jatiluwih. Here, at the foot of Gunung Batukaru, the rice farmers have created a small geological masterpiece. The lush green fields are arranged like staircases and extend several hundred meters.
Bali – Pura Luhur Ulun Danu Brata
Directly along the main road from Denpasar to Singaraja lies the Pura Luhur Ulun Danu Brata temple, right on Lake Danau Beratan. This Hindu temple is much smaller than the two previous ones. However, it was here that we were approached for the second time during our trip by Asian teenagers, asking if we would take a photo with them. It's a bit odd to be standing next to a broadly grinning young woman smiling at her camera with a peace sign. But maybe we're something special to her!
Bali – Monkeys on the road to Singaraja
Along the road to Singaraja, we encountered a large group of monkeys. Travel guides often warn about them because they can be very aggressive. There have reportedly been cases of tourists being bitten while feeding them. For this reason, we proceeded with some caution. We had already bought a bunch of bananas when we left Denpasar. The skins were still so green and hard that we could barely open them. The monkeys were a bit more adept at this. Since they were probably well fed by the people driving by, they were also quite peaceful.
Bali – Git Git Waterfalls
In the late afternoon, we reached Git Git Waterfall. This is Bali's most famous and, at 35 meters, also the highest waterfall. From the parking lot, a well-maintained footpath takes you to the viewing point in 10 minutes. The view is definitely worth the walk.
