Indonesia 2008

Bali

	Back to the airport.. signs with curse words and names familiar from the Viet Nam war.  We're now off to Bali.. Welcome to Indonesia ! Entry to our Nusa Dua hotel.  'Candi Bentar', or split gates  typically signify access to holy sites and represent the two halves of the mythical Mount Meru, which was split by Siwa (Shiva) to become Mounts Agung and Batur.  Impeccable landscaping and lighting at Nusa Dua were awe-inspiring at night.  Here's the candi bentar entry to our hotel at night.     Our beautiful open-air lobby at the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel Garden architecture in Bali typically involves mythical beings.  On grounds of our Nusa Dua Hotel.        A walk across the pond leads to scrumptious food - Nusa Dua Beauty in every nook and cranny.. Going to famous Barong Dance, depicting the fight between good and evil.  The dance is the classic example of the Balinese way of acting out mythology, where myth and history blend together   Gamelan is a Balinese orchestra which plays for holy occasions, including the Barong Dance.  Gamelan instruments include hammered metallophones, gongs, flutes, and stringed instruments.   CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO Enter 'Barong', the epitome of Good and Hero. CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO Barong mask.  The masks of both Barong and Rangda are considered sacred items, and before they are brought out, they must be blessed by a priest and sprinkled with holy water from Mount Agung.   Beautifully-adorned Dancer (Rangda's Servant) at the Barong & Kris Dance. click here to play video Beautiful dancer at the Kris (or Keris - knife) dance.   Beautiful Barong Silver craftsman in Celuk, 'silver capitol' of Bali. From silver beads, rings and bracelets, to statues (Garuda, right), Celuk craftsman make it all by hand.     Rainy, but beautiful grounds at the Pura Desa-Puseh Temple in Bali.  Agung advises Pat about the history and important details of this very large and ornate temple.   Temple Gate Wall Lynn sporting the requisite 'temple sarong' (and Nikon) at the Pura Desa-Puseh Temple in Bali. Elaborate design details of a beautiful fountain.  See a face?  Serenity   Woodcarving is a family affair - everyone finds their niche (type of wood, style of carving) and turns out beautiful works of art.  Inspecting her progress.. Display of various types of wood for carving (mahogany, alligator, sandalwood, teak, etc) The family's rice paddy which they tend to when they don't feel 'inspired' to carve      .       From this...   ... to these    (now in Phoenix    :)     Overlooking Bali's panoramic..   Rice Terraces... Rice paddy vendor   Pat and Agung sharing stories (whilst photographer friend was running around the paddies)   Tanah Lot ('Land in the Middle of the sea' in Balinese) Temple is perched on an offshore rock.  It is believed to be the work of the 15th century priest Niratha to worship the Balinese sea gods.   Tanah Lot temple is one of seven sea temples around the Balinese coast. a closer view  We roll up our pant legs and start to cross the water.  One of the priests comes out to safely escort us (so we don't slip in the sea, drop the camera, and curse - that was to come later) Making it safely across the sea, Lynn receives blessings from the priests, plumeria flower, and a tika (mark at the 3rd eye).  Photo by one of the priests to whom she entrusted the Nikon - nice job! Pat sports her newly-acquired plumeria and tika.. What an experience !       Everyone left the cave temple to rest after we left.  I think we wore them out.. Interesting faces greeted us everywhere.. 'Penjor' (long, over-hanging bamboo poles decorated with elaborate woven creations) adorn the  walkway.  Thatched roof temple tops - just about everywhere Another endearing mythical being - at least I think it's only mythical Some of the many, many, many steps in the jungle at Tjampuhan Hotel - Ubud Bali Beautiful restaurant at Tjampuhan in Ubud.   Barong provides an ornate entry - Tjampuhan in Ubud The cave spa 'hot tub' at Tjampuhan Hotel - beautiful at night More steps at Tjampuhan - these lead to another, small temple   Elvis, one of a billion singing tree frogs in the jungle around Ubud, is on the Tjampuhan entertainment committee.   This is Elvis sitting on our thatched roof late one night.   A rice farmer tending to his crop   A rainy day walk in the countryside

	Tropical Bird of Paradise The revered White Lotus Orchids thrive in the lush climate Colorful Lotus flowers Don't know the name of this one, but it's pretty.. Ditto..  pretty, nameless flower    . Hibiscus sheltering itself from the rain    .    .