CINDY TJAHJADI: April 2018

Hi, blogs!

Still on my last vacation trip!

Continuing my previous post which we were still in Tampaksiring complex at Bali, we moved to the other destination to continue our 'praying' journey, Gunung Kawi. Located near Tirta Empul Temple, we took about 10 minutes by the car to go there. We didn't have a plan to go there before. Hmmm... Just because, we still had a lot of time until we got lunch, we thought we should have the other place where is the nearest location that we could visit at that time. Then, our driver suggested and recommended Gunung Kawi as a historical cultural temple that we should visit. Not only brings the history but also a beautiful landscape inside!

Yes! As you may know, Gunung Kawi means Mount Kawi in English. Not just a 'mount' but there are a temple and the royal family's funeral monuments of Udayana dynasty too. So interested after were hearing that, so we thought... Why not? :))

The Rice Fields

This is just the beginning, guys! This is just the beginning! Can I say this is just the front elevation? The beautiful front elevation of Gunung Kawi. The complex area of Gunung Kawi is big. Besides of funerary complex and temple, there's also a big area of the rice fields where the local people do the plant-harvest activities actively. That's why I could see this scene. A woman who's carrying the coconuts above her head.

Before we entered the sacred area, following Hindu Balinese tradition, we should wear Sarong in that area. Sarong is necessary. If we forgot to bring it, there's a Sarong rental which is free. But... It's better if you bring your own Sarong, guys! :))

Be prepared for long climbs, guys! I forgot how many steps that I've already climbed down and back again, but I swear there was a lot! Remembered the typology of the area is terraced, I guessed it's a lot! Lol! And... I'm so curious about the steps so I search it through the internet. They said it's over than 300 steps, guys! No wonder I was sweating so much back then, 600 steps that I've been through! Hahahaha. I'm wondering how if I was at Lempunyang Temple, they said it had 1200 steps? 2400 steps in two ways? I guess it's challenging! Lol!

Start The Day with Pray

The Stone Stairway

My thought at that time was, "How could that Grandma seem strong and doesn't have any complaints and exhausted expression on her face." Look at her gesture! So persistent! I couldn't agree more If I was defeated by the Grandma. If she could, why can't I? So, Let's go climb down more!

Main Entrance

If I think in architectural ways (my architect soul comes suddenly. Lol), there are 2 possibilities in this civilization. The first one, there were 2 big stones which uncoincidentally form this passage, then the people hardened the passage with the stones. The second one, they broke the stone and made the passage. Remembered the stones are huge and there's a river alongside too. Referring to that, How do you think?

The Ambiance of Gunung Kawi

I didn't expect this! It's so beautiful and It's like I was coming into the past, guys! The history said the dynasty was in the 11th century. So, it seemed I came back to around that time. No electricity (thanks to the sun), No gadget (thanks to the green), and No pollution (thanks to the energy). And... I think I've seen this scene on my local channel television (Ind**iar) when I was 6 years old. Seen the dragon, the village, and everything about Indonesia in ancient times. I didn't expect this! :))

The Funeral Monuments

The Funeral Monuments (2)

Talking about the civilization. These funeral monuments were made in the 11th-century in Udayana Dynasty to be a memorial to a Balinese royalty. The five monuments on the eastern bank dedicated to King Udayana, Queen Mahendradatta and their sons Airlangga, Anak Wungsu, and Marakata. And... Legends relate that the whole group of memorials was carved out of the rock face in one hard-working night by the might fingernails of Kebo Iwa. (source: lonely planet) How could him?? Wow!

The Craving Shrines

The Puras (temple)

The Pura's Gate

When I took some pictures here, I coincidentally heard the explanation from the local guide about this Pura's gate (I eavesdropped. Lol). So, the local guide said there's the meaning of this Pura's gate. Every time we want to enter the sacred area, there always has 2 gates, the left one, and the right one. The left one means bad karma and the right one means good karma. It's all about the balancing. When you enter the sacred, let the bad karma be replaced with the good one. Nice!

Yes! I overheard this group! Lol. Thank you! :))

Such as an interesting quick tour of the ancient shrines for me! Besides of the amazing shrines and strong ambiance, the beautiful and fresh landscape made this trip was so awesome! Even over 600 hundreds of big step stones is ahead and made me exhausted, Gunung Kawi is worthy to visit! Even I didn't realize that I've climbed down that much, because I enjoyed it. I just realized that I was exhausted when I found a small shop near the entrance area, bought the cold water and drank it in one shot! No wonder! Hahaha. And... At that time, the sun was scorching too! No kidding!

So, that's it, guys! My little touring in Gunung Kawi. Hope you enjoy this article! Once again, let my photography talks and brings the perspective! Leave the comment below if you want to ask something about Gunung Kawi or discussing this place! Thanks for reading, see you on the next journey! I'll visit one of the trending restaurants in Bali which is offering the uniqueness of its place! See yaa!!

Love from the author

Love from Bali

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Hi, blogs!

Still on my last vacation in Bali! In this article, I'm going to share my experience when I had my first day of 2018 in Bali Temple. My friends and I had planned to start the first day of the year with a pray. We thought that it would be good if we were starting something new with the grateful and joyful feeling, remembered how great was our God who let us had this new year! :))

In our first plan, We planned to visit Lempuyang Temple which is located at Karangasem area, East Bali. But, due to the volcanic issue at Mount Agung, we must cancel our plan. It was still in the warning status which the government didn't allow us to enter that area. So, we changed the plan and decided to visit Tirta Empul instead. Set off at 7 a.m., we visited Tirta Empul from our hotel at Kuta area by our rental car.

Tirta Empul is a Hindu Balinese water temple which is located in the upper course of Pakerisan River, Manukaya Village, Tampaksiring Sub-District, Gianyar Regency. Tirta Empul is a bathing place with abundant water sources where Balinese Hindus go for ritual purification. The temple pond has a spring which gives out fresh water regularly, which they consider to be holy. And... Tirta Empul means Holy Spring in Balinese.
(source: Wikipedia and Usana Bali )

Jaba Pura

Have you prayed today?

We didn't expect this. I didn't expect this. I didn't expect if it would be a lot of people on this day. I didn't know if they would do ritual purification and pray on this day. Remembered, I didn't expect if I would visit here too. So excited that I could learn and experience something new, the unique cultural activities that Indonesia has! And... Luckily, even there was the ritual purification and pray, they still allowed us too to enter the temple with some conditions. First, we should wear the polite dress or wear scarves or sarong. Second, Women in the state of menstruation is forbidden to enter the temple. Lastly, we should respect the others who were praying by kept the silence. Thank you!

Jaba Tengah

The history of Tirta Empul can be found as written in the inscription kept in Sakenan Temple, Manukaya Village which using ancient Balinese letter dated to 960 AD where it is stated: "The King Indrajayasingha Warmadewa gave commandment to the people to repair or rebuild the existing water line in Tirta Empul Temple." (Soekarto Atmojo K.Et.al, 1977:14)

To the Holy Spring

The Holy Spring

They were queueing to get the holy water, bathing, and praying for the ritual purification.

The water of Tirta Empul is closely related to Usana Bali where in ancient times It was told that the army troop of God Indra was poisoned by Maya Denawa. It was then the Gods/God Indra created Yeh Empul as an antidote so it was told that all the armies of God Indra could return to live and continue the battle against Maya Denawa. (source: Usana Bali)

The Koi Pool
There were a lot of big Koi fishes besides of the holy spring.

The scene was just so fine!

Jaba Tengah

Jeroan

The temple was so peaceful. And... I felt this was something good to visit a temple on the first day of the year. I don't know why... I felt the positive energy went into my soul and reminded me too to do something good in this year for God, for the universe, and for the people. And... I think I should keep repeating this activity every year. I think It will become a good habit. Don't you agree?

Hindu is one of the religions that Indonesia embraced, besides of Islam, Christian, Catholic, and Buddhist. The diversity that makes Indonesia wonderful. Because of that diversity, now I'm learning one more of the beautiful culture. The beautiful culture how they prepare the ritual to pray for their Gods, how they pray together in unity, how they bowed the head to God, and how they respect each other. An unusual thing to see and experience. So interesting!

Jeroan

As you see in the photos that I upload above, it has many different area and Puras in it. Yasss! Tirta Empul Temple has a big area which has many Puras that have their own zoning space. 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. And... The temple is dedicated to Vishnu. (source: Wikipedia)

The modern building which is behind of the Pura is one of the palaces for our president in Indonesia. They said this palace was built in 1954 for our first president, Soekarno. But now, the government palace is now used as a place for visiting dignitaries and important guests.

Humanity. Sister-ity

Girl in Frame

"The magical feeling in the morning."

Okay, that's it guys the experiences that I had when I visit Tirta Empul Temple. Have you enjoyed Tirta Empul's article? Have you enjoyed my photography? Have you enjoyed my perspective? Let me know by giving a comment on the comment box below! :)) Thanks before!

However... I enjoyed it too! I enjoyed when I shot the moments. The moments where there were the unique human activities and the architecture involved! So satisfied! Hope I can have this moment again in the other different experience!

And... For you who will visit Bali, you should visit here! Recommended temple! The entrance fee is for 15k rupiahs, so worthy! Beautiful temple must have a good maintenance for us to coming back and enjoy. Am I right? :))