by Barrie | August 18th, 2011 Tweet 
The temples of Bali are a significant part of Balinese culture and life. To visit a temple during a festive period is a magical experience for the traveller. There are temples, big and small, scattered all across the island but I have always found the mountain temples to be the most beautiful and fascinating. Although temple settings vary from one to another, they are intriguing in their structure and component.
To the Balinese, mountain temples are highly sacred and as a traveller visiting one of these magnificent structures you can well understand their significance. The mountainous areas of Bali are quite simply, beautiful and stunning. The cool air and freshness of the surrounding flora only enhance any visit to a mountain temple in Bali. It is always important to observe entry requirements and naturally, be respectful and discreet when taking photographs especially during a festive period.
Pura Besakih: The most important temple in Bali. Known as the Mother Temple, Besakih sits on the western slop of Gunung Agung, the most holy place for Balinese Hindus. The temple is actually a complex made up of twenty-two temples that sit on parallel ridges. It has stepped terraces and flights of stairs which ascend to a number of courtyards and brick gateways that lead up to the main spire Meru structure, which is called Pura Penataran Agung. All this is aligned along a single axis and designed to lead the spiritual upward and closer to the mountain which is considered sacred.
Besakih is not just one temple, but a large complex of temples extending up the mountain, over a distance of 3km. The official opening hours are daily 8am-5pm. In respect to the culture wear a sarong and sash, available outside from the many vendors. Besakih temple’s history dates back to megalithic times, with the most ancient section Pura Batu Madeg (temple of the Standing Stone) built around a central rock.
Pura Ulun Danau Batur: Located next to the main road about 1km north of the village of Batur sits one of the most important temples in Bali. Pura Ulun Danu Batur is a kayangan jagat, or directional temple, and protects Bali from evil spirits from the north. Pura Ulun Danau Batur is dedicated to the Goddess Ida Betawi Dewi Ulun Danau, who provides water for the eastern part of Bali.
The temple is large in area and was originally located inside the crater. An eruption in 1924 forced the temple to be moved brick by brick and rebuilt on the crater rim. Along the northern edge is the multi-tiered meru and from here spectacular views are afforded of both Gunung Batur and Danau Batur. The temple is pre-Majapahit, meaning it was built before the arrival of the Majapahit Empire in Bali. In 1343 Bali was conquered by Gaja Mada who was the prime minister of the Majapahit Empire in East Java. Entrance to the temple is by donation and it is compulsory to wear a temple sash and sarong.
Pura Luhur Batakau: My favourite temple in the mountains. Beautiful to explore andheading inside the outer courtyard, you pass through a candi bentar (split gate). Balinese temples usually have either 2 or 3 courtyards (outer, middle, inner). The jaba (outer courtyard) is the realm of the people, where public dances will take place, the jaba tengah (middle courtyard), is a transition area between the realm of people and the realm of the Gods. Offerings are prepared here and sacred temple gear is stored here. The jeroan (inner courtyard) is the realm of the Gods is the focus of all ritual ceremonies.
All shrines are here including the padmasana in the far right corner. The padmasana is the raised throne where the supreme deity, Sanghyang Widi Wasa, sits, his back towards the most sacred mountain, Gunung Agung. The padmasana is supported on the back of a cosmic turtle, the Bedawang, which carries the universe on its back.Temple layouts are slightly different, due to the unique sites that each occupy. Puru Luhur Batukaru has a section off to the right towards a watergarden.
Pura Luhur Lempuyang: Located at the summit of Mount Bisbis, Pura Luhur Lempuyang is a magnificent temple and dedicated to Hyang Iswara. Strangely, there dated record when Pura Lempuyang was exactly was founded. There are numerous theories but it is assumed Pura Lempuyang existed from the 10th century AD during the reign of King Marakata in Bali.
The temple is frequented by many pilgrims as this is a place where sacred holy water is obtained. Be warned though, to reach the temple you will have to scale 1,700 steps and is not recommended in the rainy season due to the steps being slippy and dangerous. However, once at the temple you will find it worth the effort.
Pura Ulun Danau Bratan: Located 2 hours north of Kuta on the shores of Lake Bratan. The temple is one of Bali’s kayangan jagat or directional temples and protects Bali from evil spirits but for the visiting tourist or traveller, it is a surreal and pleasant place.
Pura Ulun Danau Bratan was built in 1633 by the raja of Mengwi on the western shore of Lake Bratan. Dewi Danu, who is the Goddess of water and fertility, is the honoured deity. The temple itself sits in well manicured gardens and attracts local and foreign visitors. The two obvious part of the temple are the structures set on land and the ones set on a point, extending into the lake.
The temple on the shore, Pura Teratai Bang has its own 7-tier meru dedicated to Brahma, the Creator. You will often see Balinese worshipers inside this temple, taking blessings and praying. Being such a sacred place, you are asked to stay outside the inner courtyard, but it is possible to look over the wall and get good photos.
There is also a traditional market place in the carpark selling the norm but, there is a plethora of fresh fruit on sale as well that is the best to buy whenever you visit this place.
The Balinese people rely on their rice harvest and the Goddess of water and fertility, Dewi Danu, who is the deity honoured here. The temple itself sits in well manicured gardens. The two obvious part of the temple are the structures set on land and the ones set on a point, extending into the lake. The temples grounds have an assortment of structures including the multi-tiered meru.
There are people who swear by 
by Barrie | August 25th, 2011 
One thing I enjoy when travelling is attending festivals, carnivals or fairs. Not only are they a great way to experience the local culture and customs but there is always good food available! Besides, it’s a good way to meet people and interact with the residents. Bali, being tourism generated, has a lot of festivals throughout the year. A majority of these festivals are excellent for families on holiday in Bali and most are a definite must-see mainly because of what they have to offer.
Bali is a scuba divers paradise and being one of the most beautiful islands in the world, it’s only natural that it attracts divers from around the globe. As an island for diving, Bali is never disappointing in what it has to offer the lover of the depth. It [Bali] has a rich and stunning marine biogeographic zone and underwater ecosystems with a colourful and diverse marine life.
I once spent a whole month on the road in Bali. When I finally returned to Kuta, my natural ‘high’ dissipated fast. Anyone who visits Bali and never ventures out of the tourist strip is not experiencing all that Bali has to offer. It doesn’t matter whether you hire a driver or get a form of transport of your own, or even do a hotel tour with a group of people, when you venture out on the open road then you can truly say ‘Yes, I have seen Bali’.
If you like flying, internationally and domestically, and have an urge for a vocation change and like the idea of being a flight attendant then make sure you don’t have more tattoos than Amy Winehouse or your breasts have been modified to enhance their appeal, then applying for a job with Garuda Indonesia Airlines might not be the way to go.
Bali naturally lends itself to photographers. Stunning panoramas at every turn, mountains and seascapes, the happiness of the Balinese people, colourful festivals and even the heady tourist areas all are perfect subjects for the budding or professional photographer. It makes no difference if you use a cheap compact camera or tote around a $5,000 DSLR with all the gear, the photographic opportunities on your visit to Bali are endless.
The most popular place for tourists on Bali is, without a doubt, the Sangeh Monkey Forest. The forest at Sangeh has a mischievous clan of monkeys and now it will cost you a Rp20,000 entrance fee to be part of the thrill of being crawled over by simians. The monkeys here are friendly, to a point, downright thieves and can be aggressive especially if there is a baby monkey in the vicinity. It’s a cool place to go but has more to offer than just monkeys. Inside is a temple.
One of the latest additions to the Seminyak hotel family just happens to be opulent to the extreme. The 
If you travel throughout the archipelago of Indonesia you will find that in the major cities there are often street marches. These come with the bands, finery and all the razzamatazz associated with a good parade. Locals flock to the side of the roads to see the various groups parade past in all their colour and pageantry. 
Believe it or not but, a lot of people who travel to Bali seldom get out of the touristy areas and travel up country to see and admire the beauty and culture that Bali has to offer. Choosing a day trip or half-day trip depends mainly on your likes and dislikes and what you want to see. Some people loathe the idea of trekking from temple to temple. Bali is more than temples.
When I first started travelling to Bali in the 70’s, tourism was a low number factor but, as the years passed the increase in tourism and people numbers rose dramatically. As we all know, Bali is only a small island and the constant draw of water to be used in the many hotels eventually would have its impact on the water table. I remember an article written in the Jakarta Post by a professor at Udayana University in Bali where he stated Bali would run out of drinking water by 2010.
As most of you know I have visited just about every temple on the island of Bali and during my recent visit to Lombok, I was interested to note the comparison between the temples of Bali and that of Lombok. The one temple I found fascinating was Pura Batu Bolong, located just south of Senggigi Beach in West Lombok.
One of my favourite paces to spend a morning is located in the small village of Candikuning not far from Danau Bratan. The awesome Bali Botanical Gardens known as Kebun Raya Eka Karya Bali. It is easy to find and is only a short walk from the nearby Bukit Mungsu Markets. You really cannot miss the entrance as you will see a giant corn-on-the-cob statue marking the way.
