Silhouettes of temples on Bali

Bali, its landscape and its old sovereign culture

Normally I avoid traveling in tourist groups because every bodies interests are so much different that there always are heavy differences of opinions between the participators. Not so with Thai groups as they are educated to give more tolerance.

In May 2001 we booked and arranged a 4 day journey to Bali with a Thai tour organization and we were very satisfied with the company. But on the island …  (read more)
Silhouettes of temples on Bali

Silhouettes of temples on Bali

14 Apr 2011 1 979
Bali is an island of temples. The Department of Religion has cataloged at least eleven thousand temples - small and large, local and regional. The Balinese call a shrine palinggih, which simply means "place" or "seat" and refers to any sort of temporary or permanent place toward which devotions and offerings are made. In no case is the shrine itself considered sacred; the shrine exists or is built as a residence for sacred, or holy, spirits - either ancestors or Hindu deities. Balinese temples are not closed buildings, but rectangular courtyards open to the sky, with rows of shrines and altars dedicated to various gods and deities. The gods are not thought to be present in the temples except on the dates of the temple's festivals, and therefore the temples are usually left empty. On festival days the congregation of each temple assembles to pray to and entertain the visiting deities.
Silhouette of Balinese tempel

Silhouette of Balinese tempel

19 Jun 2009 702
Tanah Lot Temple

Tanah Lot Temple

18 Jun 2009 764
Tanah Lot, one of the most popular places of interest in Bali, is located on the coast of West Bali, at the village of Beraban in the Tabanan Regency. It is also called Tanah Let which means ancient land and also Tanah Lod, which means the land to the south. The temple Pura Tanah Lot, simple in its construction, is dramatic in its ocean-front location and is one of the main temples in the worship of Balinese gods.
Tanah Lot Temple

Tanah Lot Temple

18 Jun 2009 621
Tanah Lot has a long history in the world of tourism. The temple itself is built on a small promontory which is only accessible at low tide. During high water the rock takes on the appearance of a large boat at sea, such is its shape. Poisonous snakes live in the nearby caves to 'guard' the temple and contribute to the temple's dangerous reputation. It is advisable to avoid the tourist crush here as it can be severe.
Toya Bungkah and Lake Batur

Toya Bungkah and Lake Batur

19 Jun 2009 1964
My starting point for the walk to the peak of the Batur volcano (three - four hours).
Batur Volcano Bali Indonesia

Batur Volcano Bali Indonesia

24 Jan 2007 1 1 1721
The historically active Mount Batur (Gunung Batur) is located at the center of two concentric calderas north west of Mount Agung, Bali, Indonesia. The south east side of the larger 10×13 km caldera contains a caldera lake. The inner 7.5-kilometer-wide caldera, which was formed during emplacement of the Bali (or Ubud) ignimbrite, has been dated at about 23,670 and 28,500 years ago. The SE wall of the inner caldera lies beneath Lake Batur; Batur cone has been constructed within the inner caldera to a height above the outer caldera rim. The Batur stratovolcano has produced vents over much of the inner caldera, but a NE-SW fissure system has localized the Batur I, II, and III craters along the summit ridge. Historical eruptions have been characterized by mild-to-moderate explosive activity sometimes accompanied by lava emission. Basaltic lava flows from both summit and flank vents have reached the caldera floor and the shores of Lake Batur in historical time. The caldera contains an active, 700-metre-tall stratovolcano rising above the surface of Lake Batur. The first historically documented eruption of Batur was in 1804, and it has been frequently active since then.
Balinese Hindu temple in the Lake Batur

Balinese Hindu temple in the Lake Batur

11 Jan 1980 494
Lake Batur and Mount Abang (2151m)

Lake Batur and Mount Abang (2151m)

19 Jun 2009 1 1 863
Mount Abang is an old 2,151 meter high volcano ('Red Mountain'), on the eastern side of the crater southeast of Penelokan, is the highest point on Batur's outer crater.
The way up to the Batur peak

The way up to the Batur peak

19 Jun 2009 514
Its advised to wear good shoes and warm clothes when you'll climb up to the peak. Once you've done it you'll have an unforgettable experience.
At the seaside of the Lake Batur

At the seaside of the Lake Batur

19 Jun 2009 569
Capture with the self timer (myself Wolfgang, I Made and my wife Salama)
Pura Ulun Danu Temple in Bedugul

Pura Ulun Danu Temple in Bedugul

18 Jun 2009 1 803
Bedugul, 18 km north of Denpasar and 1400 meters above sea level, is known for its excellent golf course. The three lakes of the area provide the water for the fields, rivers and springs on the plains below. Lush pine forests make for clean air. The area renowned for its fruit and vegetables. A beautiful sight is the "Ulun Danu" temple which seems to rise out of the lake.
Pura Ulun Danu Temple on Lake Bratan

Pura Ulun Danu Temple on Lake Bratan

18 Jun 2009 708
Located besides Lake Bratan, it is surrounded forested hills. A beautiful sight is the “Ulun Danu” temple which sems to out of the lake.
Paddy field

Paddy field

18 Jun 2009 604
Rice is the staple food for Balinese people and planted in every corner all over the island.
Balinese paddy terraces

Balinese paddy terraces

19 Jun 2009 1 708
The fertile volcanic soil of much of the Indonesian archipelago - and particularly the island Bali - has made rice a central dietary staple. Steep terrain on Bali resulted in intricate cooperation systems, locally called subak, to manage water storage and drainage for rice terraces.
Country house of our "home stay"

Country house of our "home stay"

17 Nov 2007 1 603
"Home stay!, the most beautiful way to spend your holidays
View beside the highway

View beside the highway

19 Jun 2009 763
Discovering the island Bali by bike or moped is one of the nice attractions you can do. Bali offers his amazing landscape around every corner.
Balinese Hindu temple

Balinese Hindu temple

18 Jun 2009 1 591
It is not surprising that Bali is called the island of the thousand temples. Everywhere you see a temple. There are so many temples that the Government does not bother to count them. There are small temples, very small temples with only a very few shrines; there are large temples, very large temples with more than 50 shrines, such as the Temple of Besakih , the mother temple of Bali. There are even lonely shrines on the oddest places where one does not expect them at all. Every family, every compound, every clan or society has a temple; you mention a society or organization and has a temple. In the compound where the family lives there is the family temple.
Balinese temple premises

Balinese temple premises

19 Jun 2009 428
Bali is sometimes called the "Island of 10.000 Temples" (or "Island of the Gods") and this is not exaggerated.
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