Goa Gajah, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Source - Wikipedia and photos were taken by my husband during our recent trip to Bali

Goa Gajah, or Elephant Cave, is located on the island of Bali near Ubud, in Indonesia. Built in the 9th century, it served as a sanctuary.

At the façade of the cave is a relief of various menacing creatures and demons carved right into the rock at the cave entrance. The primary figure was once thought to be an elephant, hence the nickname Elephant Cave. The site is mentioned in the Javanese poem Desawarnana written in 1365. An extensive bathing place on the site was not excavated until the 1950s.These appear to have been built to ward off evil spirits.

This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on October 19, 1995, in the Cultural category.

Tirta Empul, Bali, Indonesia

Source - Wikipedia  & Bali Tourism and photos were taken by my husband

Tirta Empul temple (Indonesian: Pura Tirta Empul) is a Hindu Balinese water temple located near the town of Tampaksiring, Bali, Indonesia. The temple compound consists of a petirtaan or bathing structure, famous for its holy spring water, where Balinese Hindus go to for ritual purification. The temple pond has a spring which gives out fresh water regularly, which Balinese Hindus consider to be holy or amritha ..Tirta Empul means Holy Spring in Balinese.

Tirta Empul Temple was founded around a large water spring in 962 A.D. during the Warmadewa dynasty (10th-14th centuries). The name of the temple comes from the ground water source named "Tirta Empul". The spring is the source of the Pakerisan river.The temple is divided into three sections: Jaba Pura (front yard), Jaba Tengah (central yard) and Jeroan (inner yard). Jaba Tengah contains 2 pools with 30 showers which are named accordingly: Pengelukatan, Pebersihan and Sudamala dan Pancuran Cetik (poison).

The temple is dedicated to Vishnu, another Hindu god name for the supreme consciousness Narayana.

Another spectacular pond is a carved stone basin with crystal clear water, where koi fish swim. From all over the island they come here to immerse themselves in this holy water. Sometimes they take bottles of water home. Also tourists can free immerse themselves in one of the three clean, public pools.

The sacred spring has according to the Balinese healing powers. Thus The Balinese people go once every year to Tirta Empul here to bathe. According to legend the source is created by the god Indra. When his forces were poisoned by Mayadanawa he drilled a hole in the ground to make, which then would arouse his forces. This hole with water is the fountain of "immortality" with healing powers.

The people cleanse themselves in the holy waters of Tirta Empul temple to their health and happiness. The crystal clear water flows into another lake, which is protected by a wall. According to tradition, that pool is the Balinese fountain of eternal youth.

Anyone who wants to enter the pool must wear a sarong. These can be obtained from the entrance of the temple. You are welcome to cleanse you. Women need a T-shirt and a sarong. Take a towel, if you're interested and if you want to take a bath, because there is no dressing room. There is a dress code, and people who do not adhere, will be refused.

Water is very important in Bali and is used in almost all ceremonies and rituals. The waters of Tirta Empul is considered very sacred because of the magical, healing powers, which would the water contains. The geyser was created by the god Indra. All the water that is used in cremations in Bali comes from here.

Mount Batur in Kintamani, Bali, Indonesia

Source - Wikipedia and photos were taken by my husband 

Mount Batur  in Kintamani (Gunung Batur) is an active volcano 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 first historically documented eruption of Batur was in 1804, and it has been frequently active since then. The substantial lava field from the 1968 eruption is visible today when viewed from Kintamani, a town that stradles the southwest ridge of the greater caldera.

The lake, Danau Batur, is the largest crater lake on the island of Bali and is a good source of fish.

A climb to the summit of Mount Batur - 1,700 metres and still an active volcano - to watch the sunrise is a great experience for more energetic travellers. This is an easy climb of about 2 hours, and local guides abound. You do not need to be in peak physical shape to complete this trek. Which parts of the mountain are safely accessible change according to local volcanic activity.

Cappuccino @ Tropical View Cafe, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Tropical View Cafe,
Monkey Forest Road,
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Rice Terrace in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Source - Wikitravel and photos were taken by my husband

Ubud, a town in central Bali, is far removed from the beach party scene in Kuta, and is regarded as the cultural centre of Bali. It is famous as an arts and crafts hub, and much of the town and nearby villages seems to consist of artists' workshops and galleries. There are some remarkable architectural and other sights to be found, and a general feeling of well being to be enjoyed, all thanks to the spirit, surroundings, and climate of the place. Popular rice terrace in Ubud are  Jaliluwih and Tegallalang.


There are natural photos. No photoshop / editing and color enhancement !!!!

The area around Ubud is characterised by gently rolling rice paddies, and these create an impression of greenness which can be quite startlingly beautiful. This is especially true to the south and southeast of the town. Any visitor approaching from the south will appreciate this and it is worth a stop just to absorb the gentle beauty of it all.