Tanah Lot & Uluwatu Temples

Tanah Lot

Wonderfully ancient rock formation where, centuries ago, they started building a Pura (temple). It's one of the 7 sea temples surrounding Bali. I was reading that the Japanese provided funds for it's restoration a coupe decades ago and I am sure that money was well used since it's pretty much impossible to tell that the rocks are not 100% genuine. This temple is a huge part of the Balinese mythology and the Hinduism influence is tangible. They make you wash your face and then they put, I guess, a sacred water with some rice in it on your forehead and they put a nice little flower by your ears before showing you to proceed on the stairs of the temple. I believe it is still very religious despite the continuing flux of tourist since you can't go up on the temple, only pilgrimage groups seems to be allowed to access the actual temple.

With my friends, we escaped the Chinese - and others- tourists to navigate through those balinese merchants and then reach the top of the cliff. We sat at a restaurant, had a fresh juice, a meal and a Bintang. We were waiting for the sun to set behind the temple with our eyes wide open and our cameras at hand reach. Needless to say, it was beautiful... and magic! The light was fading, revealing the outlines of the temple sitting on this big rock. Priceless. I could only think, how I wish I was born before... back in the days where there would be no restaurants, no thousands of tourists, no millions of camera clicks and flashes... Just a cliff and me sitting on it's edge, taking the real measure of the moment.

Uluwatu

Cliffs... oh Cliffs... Majestic & breathtaking. Guarded by monkeys, this 11th century temple is alongside the very edge of a very high cliff. You can walk pretty much all over it exception made of a few smaller zone that are reserved. Beware! The monkeys are smart; they will snitch your belongings and then to have it back, they will want to trade for a fruit. It happened to a few people while I was there. It's bad because, of course, it encourages them to steal more... they want fruits all the time!!!

I bought 1 banana and I held it above my head and then I stopped walking by a smaller monkey and he climbed up on my head to grab the banana! The Monkey Forest, in Ubud, and the Uluwatu temple are now 2 bright highlights of my Bali trip... I love those monkeys!!! I have lots a video on my Go Pro camera but I can't load them on my iPad. Those will be so many awesome memories when I will go back home... I know it'll be fun to assemble all the pieces and make a representative video out of it!

There's also amazing semi-caves and a lovely little beach. The way down is quite scary... it's so SO steep! But, it's so SO SO worth it!!! You can see the cliffs from down below, the gin-clear waters and some surfers going far away to catch a wave. Magical.