Ubud and then some.
Prior stepping on Ubud soil, we've done our research on the places that we wanted to go and the temples that we wanted to visit. We also consulted the driver that we hired for the day and asked if the places that we wanted to go to were nice places, since we really have limited time to go around.
After a few debates and discussions, and weighing of objectives, we finally came up with our final list and went on with our adventure.
We first went to the Ubud Palace, which was just a few strides from our hotel. It's a courtyard where they have cultural performances, i think every night. There's also areas for meditation, as i think for all places in Bali.
Anway, just a travel side note: planning your itinerary is the first half of the experience, and conversing with your driver is another. Only 50-70 percent of your itinerary would actualize, most will be amended, thanks you your driver's inputs. So it's important to always consult them, before you proceed to wherever it is you are planning to go to.
In Ubud, you'll notice that almost all places have this area, which i call their "sala" or "palapag". Most of the time they just sit there and hang out, but it's an actually an area where the do the performances, or where they meditate.
After the Ubud Palace, we went to Goa Gajah, which was a temple for the dead (I think!). The distinct feature in this place is the huge demon's mouth that serves as an entry to a temple dungeon.
And then after Goa Gajah, we went to Yeh Pulu, which were rock carvings along rice fields.
Oh, if there was one thing abundant in Ubud, it would be the amount of greens that they have. There's just rice fields and trees everywhere it's amazing! It helps that their land is fertile, thanks to all the volcanoes that they have.
Ubud's spectacular greens and expansive views of the rice fields make you forget the pungent smell of Carabao dung. (I actually wrote this statement when i was there, walking along the ricefields.. I was tweet deprived).
After another temple, we went to this Burial Complex called Gunung Kawi.
Before reaching the grounds, you have to walk about 100 flights of steps down. It was tiring, but when you have views like these to look at, tiring is nothing.
Once you reach the temple entrance, you'll be greeted by these huge walls.
there's actually a ritual by the entrance door. there are two bowls of water on both sides, and you have to dab your head with the water from those bowls to cleanse before entering.
And oh, just a trivia, women who have menstruation cannot enter the temples! You're also required to wrap a sarong around you waist when you enter the temples, but not all of them do. But most of them. So it's a plus for you to bring your own, so you won't have to rent out sarongs, when you go from one to another.
When we got in, we were so lucky to actually witness a ceremony!
The ceremony happens once every six months, and we were so blessed to have witnessed one.
This ceremony doesn't involve the whole of Bali. It depends on the actual temple, but Gunung Kawi's just involved people who lived around the area, several towns around it.
The different towns are dressed in different costumes, and offer different things. Celebrations would usually take three days or more, depending on which temple/how old it is.
And just when I thought it was a very serious and religious ceremony, to my surprise, I saw a couple of people texting and lighting up their cigarettes while walking and holding these basket of fruits on their heads! Amazing!
And if you're amazed seeing these girls balance these fruits on their head? Wait till you see them in action in night clubs! They balance pitchers of alcohol in their heads!! I loved eat!!!!! As in! We were so happy observing them dance in the night club! It was hilarious!
So Gunung Kawi was definitely a memorable site that we visited. From the expansive greens,
to the cultural tradition, it was an experience we would never forget.
So after all those temples in the morning, we then headed to lunch in a place that was never really part of our itinerary. A place that our driver just suggested. And i was glad he did..
to the