Watching Balinese Offerings at Goa Lawah Temple

People praying at Goa Lawah Temple, Bali

As nothing much to do in Tirta Gangga water garden, we decided to go to the next place, the last one to visit. It's called Pura Goa Lawah (Goa Lawah Temple). After around 50 minute drive we finally reached the place. 

Goa Lawah Temple is a temple located in a cave in which thousands of bats are nesting. The name itself means Cave of Bats. The temple was built in eleventh century by Mpu Kuturan, a Hindu priest.

It's a unique place as we could see the nature, Balinese art and spiritual activities in one place. It's located near to the sea, moreover, the temple was built in front of the cave. A specified area for praying was set in front of the cave mouth. 

We were lucky then as we could see the people praying, from the beginning till done. It was my very first time to see how Hindu Balinese prayed. The people started coming to the temple with ritual offerings in hands or stacked on the head (the ladies usually did it). Then they arranged the offerings nicely at the spot in front of the cave. After all was set, the priest led them pray. It was calm, silent and serene when they started praying. The ritual continued with the priest giving splashing kind of holy water to the members. It ended up with people cleaning the area but leaving the offerings.

Some points we need to notice before entering the temple. First, we need to wear cloth / sarong to cover the lower part of our body. Second, women in period (menstruate) is not allowed to enter the temple. It's a part of keeping the temple clean and to respect the sacred of the place. And third, we have to stay aware of what area we cannot trespass. It also applies to many other places especially temples in the island. 

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Enjoy the Water Garden of Tirta Gangga, Bali

Tirta Gangga water garden, Bali

After spending at least two hours at Lempuyang Temple, we went to the second place, still in the region of Karangasem, which was basically a water garden. It's Tirta Gangga. It's also one of the most Instagram-posted places in Bali. You know a lady sitting on the stone steps on the pond with fish surrounding her? Yup. That's the place.

On the way there we dropped by for a minute to have a rice-field view from the road. Just so you know, it's a winding road in Karangasem. From the uphill road we could see the view down the hill and feel the breeze through the window. It's way colder here than in Denpasar area, as it's at higher altitude. We reached there after 30-minute drive.  

The name of Tirta Gangga means the water of the Ganges. Maybe because both Bali and India has something in common--Hindu--so it means more like the holy water of Ganges. Tirta Gangga used to be a private water garden belonging to the kingdom of Karangasem. The most recognisable spot of this place is that one pond with a distinct fountain at the center in which the visitors can go across the pond by walking on the stone steps. You have to be patiently waiting tho to take some pictures at this spot. We decided to chill at the other pond, feeding the fish with our feet got soaked in the pond.

Otherwise, you can walk around the area seeing the flowers, feeding the fish, or looking at the view from the compound at the upper level and take some pictures. Is that it? Yes 😄 Maybe some of you who has been there can let me know what else to do. 

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Crazy Line Up at Lempuyang Temple Bali

Lempuyang Temple (Gates of Heaven), Bali

When it comes to Bali, there's always something to talk about. Happy hour, sunsets, beaches, exclusive villas, food, cultures, and of course, Balinese temples. That's one of the main attractive icons of the island. 

Lucky I had a chance to visit one of the most Instagram-posted places in Bali. It's Lempuyang Temple, the complete name is Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang. Maybe some of you will ask "which one?". Maybe you once saw some photos of a person/ couple standing or posing yoga and things in front of a Balinese gate with the background of a magnificent mountain. In addition, the mirror-like reflection from the water below them makes it look dramatically beautiful. Even that particular photo spot is called as Gates of Heaven. 

The thing is, it's just too good to look real. And yes, in 2019 it was revealed that those pictures taken were faked. Especially, when it comes to mirror-like reflection as there's no water compound whatsoever. It's edited by the photographer using mirror that was put below the camera lense. Apparently, the tourist who was revealed it got disappointed because they felt they got false information. 

And then?

That's it. People keep coming anyway, including me. So I took a car from Seminyak that morning in July. The air was hot and humid then. I fetched my friend on the way there. We planned to visit three places in one day, with the first one was Lempuyang Temple, the furthest, then it continued with the second place (Tirta Gangga) and third one (Gua Lawa) on the way back. It took around five hours from Seminyak to Lempuyang Temple. It was so crowded that even the driver could barely find a place to park. 

Right after we dropped out of the car, we approached locket to buy the tickets. Just like many other temples in Bali, the visitors were obliged to cover the body with cloth as a respect to the place. It took around 5 minutes from the entrance to the Lempuyang Temple. Once we got there, we were like shocked by the crowd. We finally saw the gate the people were talking about. And we saw visitors posing in front of the gate with a cameraman tapping the screen whatsoever of the camera, while  giving instructions to the photo object. 

video: people lining up for pictures at the gates

There's a pendopo (gazebo-like building) next to the gate where we could see at least one hundred people lining up in zig-zag "S" flow, queueing for their turn to take pictures at the gate. Not to mention, they had to pay for it. We were like "It's crazy, how long will they get to their turn?" Of course, we didn't want to join them as it's gonna take the whole day for it. Just, nah. I asked one of the visitors since when they've been there and they said it's been two hours already. Well...

Anyway, we decided to hang around the area but not joining the line (for sure!). The was cloud covering half of the mountain, and we didn't see it as worth to wait. We still had two more places to visit anyway. However, there's a spot that was beautiful to take some pictures at. It was behind the pendopo and it has stairs up to the main temple. We decided to just chill over there. We couldn't enter the complex as it's sacred place, but it's okay. 

So, is Lempuyang Temple worth to visit? Yes. At least for once in a lifetime. We didn't get disappointed by the fact that the photos tricked or were faked or edited whatsoever. Especially when we know it's posted on Instagram LOL. Maybe some people just want to make some beautiful memories through photographs, and aesthetic is becoming the main elements in most pictures taken nowadays.  Just, enjoy it as long as you can. 

Disclaimer: the trip was taken before COVID-19 pandemic.

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