Thursday morning began with photos of some of the flowers outside my room ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010073 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010074 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010075 before I made my way to monkey forest where the monkeys were just hanging out in the street ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010076 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010077 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010078 as the scooters came by ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010079 and the monkeys enjoyed their morning. ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010080 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010081 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010082 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010083 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010084 I then walked to the center of town capturing head carriers ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010085 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010086 and a street sign ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010087 with another head carrier ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010088 and the parking authority ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010089 along with merchants selling all manner of items ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010090 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010091 many of whom brought their items on the back of their trucks ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010092 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010093 as another carrier went by ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010094 and I focused on what was on truck bodies ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010095 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010096 and this lady selling flower pedals for offerings ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010097 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010098 as others also sold their wares ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010099 not to mention mangoes and papaya ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010100 and things made of bamboo ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010101 cantaloupes ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010102 and another head carrier ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010103 before I came across this statue of a family ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010104 and a reminder that I had gone to the monkey forest earlier ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010105 until I returned home and took this photo of today's offering ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010106 to the elephant. ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010107

I met up with Michael Walsh at breakfast and together we connected to Wayan Tabeng for our guided tour of the day. Our first stop was Gunung Kawi, a temple that had been there for over a thousand years. The temple was placed in a remarkable setting, clearly being a shrine to the nature that was there. ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010108 we were greeted by a sign giving the prohibitions (here you needed a sarong as well as a scarf around the waist) ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010109 and then made our way into the environment (which meant walking down 300 steps) ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010110 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010111 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010112 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010113 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010114 with many shop keepers trying to sell us their wares ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010115 as we went on ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010116 and arrived at the place where we needed to sprinkle the holy water ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010117 as Michael did ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010118 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010119 and saw the structures in the distance ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010120 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010121 in their environment ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010122 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010123 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010124 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010125 as we went past a shrine ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010126 and saw the jungle-like stream ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010127 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010128 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010129 before we reached another entry ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010130 where offerings had been assembled ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010131 and we came across a series of spouts which we would understand better at the next temple ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010132 as we found our way ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010133 to these structures built into the rocks ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010134 and many banners of yellow since there are 3 deities -- Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva-- each of whom has their own color. ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010135 There were many interesting structures ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010136 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010137 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010138 before we came to the place where shoes had to be removed ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010139 and we went through this area ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010140 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010141 to see into shrines ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010142 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010143 and pass others ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010144 looking at structures near and far in the forest setting ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010145 and near us ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010146 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010147 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010148 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010149 and this structure with statues ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010150 as we came away from the major structure in the rock ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010151 which Michael was recording ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010152 and the flowers by the canal ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010153 not to mention the holy water warning ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010154 where we didn't go ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010155 as we made our way through the flora ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010156 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010157 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010158 and saw these tourists across the way looking towards us ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010159 before we headed to the structure where they were ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010160 taking one last shot of where we were ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010161 and walked through the flora ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010162 across the stream ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010163 and through the jungle like vegetation ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010164 away from where we had been ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010165 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010166 as I admired this croton ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010167 even as I saw the jungle growth ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010168 and we made our way to the other side ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010169 which we explored ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010170 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010171 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010172 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010173 following the rules ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010174 and we then looked across at the tourist girls on the opposite side ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010175 as we still enjoyed the jungle growth ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010176 and the layered rice fields ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010177 until we were in the shops area. ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010178

Next, we went to Tirta Empul, another remarkable temple. At this one, there were ceremonies taking place wherein the locals were going through various stages of ceremony. ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010179 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010180 Here was the major statue of the locale ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010181 in its setting ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010182 as we came upon the banana ladies ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010183 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010184 and recorded the cultural importance of the place (the Subak System as a manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy where we were visiting the Supreme Water Temple Pura Ulun Danu Batur) ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010185 and so we made our way through ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010186 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010187 and entered into these pools ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010188 where a ceremony was taking place to our left ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010189 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010190 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010191 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010192 with the pools lying ahead of us ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010193 attracting the occasional dunker ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010194 as the ceremony continued ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010195 with materials being moved ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010196 and fish being in a different pool ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010197 as we saw the prohibitions for entering the inner sanctum ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010198 and watched as participants made through way across the different spouts each of which brought a different kind of power ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010199 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010200 and watched as others ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010201 brought offerings ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010202 and a group assembled to pray ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010203 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010204 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010205 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010206 having brought offerings ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010207 and we saw the warning about not interacting with them (which made sense) ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010208 and so we admired what we saw ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010209 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010210 as they prayed ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010211 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010212 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010213 and we saw remarkable buildings ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010214 before we made our way ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010215 through people carrying things on their heads ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010216 and recorded the scene ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010217 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010219 music and all ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010218.MOV ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali// before departing through the gift shop area ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010220 to the parking lot where I recorded a police car. ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010221 On our way to the next stop, we came across a number of women parading to the temple to have their fruit blessed ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010222 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010223 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010224 and we ended up at the coffee plantation where we saw some beans on the tree ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010225 and this beautiful flower ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010226 in its setting ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010227 and this fruit ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010228 which was a mangosteen ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010229 and a cinnamon tree ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010230 with these bananas hanging from a tree ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010231 and pineapples ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010232 along with the beautiful flowers ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010233 before we had a snakeskin fruit ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010234 with this interior ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010235 and then these fruits ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010236 of the lyche family ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010237 with the rooster making his presence known ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010238 as I tasted this non-citrus tasting citrus-like fruit ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010239 as we were given samples of 10 teas and coffees ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010240 and I tasted the ever famous luwak coffee that is processed in the most unique of ways (thank you Mr. Luwak animal for taking care of mine). ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010241

As we left for the volcano, we saw a parade heading towards the temple (this was a continuation of the women with fruits on their heads). ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010242 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010243 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010244

Next we went to the volcano which was completely remarkable ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010245 but the vastness made it difficult to capture the enormity of the scene but still we had a good lunch with these remarkable views in all directions. It was here that I heard about the locals who do not bury their dead but rather leave them in the forest where the climate preserves them and the animals eat them. ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010246 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010247 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010248 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010249 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010250

Next we went to the rice fields ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010251 which had been made famous by Eat Pray Love. ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010252 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010253 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010254 As Wayan explained, there is a special system for controlling the water flow so that things are shared ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010255 and so we took in the many views ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010256 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010257 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010258 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010259 before taking a three musketeers photo. ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010260 Michael and I explored a bit and ran into this gentleman who was happy to have his photo but then asked to be paid. Oldest con in the world and I fell into it. ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010261

We ended the day at the Discovery Kartika Plaza hotel where this was the room ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010262 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010263 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010264 and the view. ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010265

After a break, I went out to see the sun set over the Indian Ocean ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010266 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010267 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010268 and also looked back at the town ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010269 with the sun setting ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010270 and the lights under the palm providing foreground to the sunset background ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010271 as I took more sunset photos ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010272 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010273 and more photos the other way. ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010274 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010275 ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010276

By and by, I reconnected with Michael and we noticed that we had each been given two certificates for free local beers and so we dug into Bali Hai ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010277 before proceeding to dinner which was accompanied by this pitcher of Bali Hai ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010278 which looked much better in the light ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010279 and went well with my pina colada ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010280 as breads ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010281 and dips were brought ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010282 before our caprese salads arrived. ../../../Sabbat/2012/10.23-11.02.12SingaporeAndBali//P1010283