Short insight into Balinese Culture- Temples and Dances

Me in front of the Tanah Lot
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On several days during our trip in Bali we rented a car with a local driver and guide to take us around the island to see some of the many fascinating landmarks, temples and monuments. This mode of travelling is a convenient opportunity to get around the island comparably cheap when you come from a western background. Expect anything from USD 30 - 45 for a car including driver and gasoline for up to ten hours. You tell the driver where you want to go or ask for a suggested itenerary. We were really lucky and always had knowledgeable drivers/guides who added valuable information whenever possible.

Pura Tanah Lot
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We were really surprised by the number of monuments, temples and sights that can be found alongside the road. Most parts of the Indonesian archipelago are mainly muslim while Bali is the largest Hindu outpost in the world outside of India. There are just an immense number of places of interest where one can actually stop. Altogether there are believed to be more than 10.000 temples and places to worship spread all over Bali excluding smaller editions and shrines at people's homes.

Monkeys at Pura Luhur Ulu Watu
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During our day trips we paused at the following Pura (temple in Balinese) and got a short introduction into fascinating Balinese history, faith and ceremony:

• Pura Tanah Lot is probably Bali's single most famous temple and receives thousands of domestic and international visitors each day.It is located at the village of Beraban near the township of Canggu on Bali's south-western coast. Due to the proximity to the tourism regions thousands of excursionists arrive here daily in buses. The appropriate translation of Tanah Lot means Temple of the Earth and Sea. It is beautifully located on a rock islet off the coast and at low tide one can actually walk across. It was build in the beginning of the 16th century and is one of the main temples in the worship of Balinese gods. When we were at the temple in the early morning there were hundreds of Indonesian school groups from Jakkarta visiting as well.   

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• Pura Ulun Danau Bratan is a beautiful 17th-century temple located in the highlands of central Bali next to Danau Bratan lake. It sits over 1,200 meters above sea level and is devoted to Dewi Danu, the goddess of the waters. The temple rises from the lakeshore promontory and is silhouetted from the picturesque mountain backdrop. We stopped here on our way back from Bali's northern coast. This place is truly fascinating and almost appears surreal. The temple is surrounded by landscaped gardens that could be out of a fairytale. There is a possibility of undertaking boat trips on the lake. Unfortunately we did not have the time to do so.

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• Pura Luhur Ulu Watu is located rather beautiful on a cliff top near some of the famous surf breaks on the south-west coast of the Bukit peninsula. The temple has a meaning for all Balinese as it is a directional temple, which protects from evil spirits. We arrived there right on time to walk around for a couple of minutes before we continued to watch a traditional Kecak Dance, which is performed at the temple every night at six.  The dance was performed on the grounds of the temple with a beautiful ocean view and a sundowner and tells a tale from one of the great Hindu holy books. The temple is home to hundreds of quite aggressive monkeys, who frequently grab visitors belongings, while searching for food.

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• Pura Puseh is located in Batubalan, which is only a short drive away from Bali's capital Denpasar. The temple is well known for its' unusual decorations. Numerous woodwork and craft shops are located close to the temple. The area is also the getaway for the cultural centre of the island Ubud, as well as the Gold and silver smith village of Celuk and the woodcarving village Mas.