A monkey enjoying the view from the cliffs at Uluwatu temple.
It seems like Bali is on everyone's bucket list, and it should be. It has so much to offer: tropical beaches, ancient temples, rainforests, rice fields, and an incredibly vibrant and welcoming culture. So why is it that so few people venture here? It's probably the cost of the flight and the fact that it's halfway around hte world. But here's a little food for thought: once you get to Bali, everything is so cheap, that even with the flight you will end up spending less than if you went to Hawaii.
There are many things I love about Bali, but in this post I'll focus on the one thing that really makes this place magical...
Hindu Culture
Although it is in Indonesia, a predominantly Islamic country, the people of Bali are mostly Hindu. This means that there are colorful cermonies and wonderfully ornate temples everywhere in Bali. As you drive down the street you pass temple after temple. Some are ancient and quirky, like Pura Goa Lawah, which includes a cave filled with bats, some are dramatic, like Uluwatu which is perched on a cliff, but most are delightful neighborhood temples. In fact, every house has a temple. And all of them, big and small, include ornate stone carvings of their gods.
Outside the Bat temple (Goa Lawah)
Inside the Bat temple
Temple on cliff (Uluwatu)
Temple in the jungle (Gunung Kawi)
Temple on a lake (check out the man on the cell phone)
Temple at someone's house (every home has one). Where the ashes of loved ones are kept.
And everywhere in the temples there are ornate carvings of the Hindu gods and spirits.
Okay, so the temples are fun to look at, but what makes it so great is how much they mean to the people who live on the island. It seems like every few minutes you see a group of people in colorful robes, carrying offerings on their heads on their way to a nearby temple - often with musical accompaniment.
Typical street scene (seriously)
You have to be careful in Bali, because everywhere you step you have to look out for canang sari, little banana leaf baskets with rice, flowers, incense, and leftovers, that everybody places on doorsteps, streets, and shrines several times a day. Our driver described Balinese Hinduism as "an expensive and very busy religion."
Watch your step, these things are EVERYWHERE!
I mean it.
Another thing that's wonderful about the temples is that you know when a wedding is happening, because the groom's friends will decorate the temple entrance for the newlyweds. So as you drive down the street, you can always tell when there is a wedding.
Wedding decorations. Check out the details - including the rooster.
For my part, I have never been to place where the people were so devoted to their religion. We asked several people, and they all said that they don't mind tourists watching them practice their faith. I felt very honored to be able to watch a beautiful people taking part in so many rituals (although we didn't get to see a cremation, and everyone says they are awesome spectacles).
Large statues are found at many roundabouts in the towns.
Most of the bridges have guardian statues.
