Tanah Lot is west of where we are staying, so we got to drive through some rural area on the way. Its quiet amazing the areas they farm essentially by hand. The only machines that I have seen are a garden sized rotary hoe.
The sea temple Tanah Lot is part of a chain of temples built in the sea, each visible from the next, built by the priest Nirartha, and is a very significant place for the Balinese. When you arrive you pass through a wonderful archway with lovely carvings
You then need to pass through the gauntlet of hawkers and market stalls, which are not very nice,
The temples were bulit to honour the sea gods, and non Balinese caannot go inside. To show respect we had to cover our shoulders and knees, hence the long pants and tshirts on a very hot day.
It is a very beautiful spot, and once inside very calm, with lots of Balinese families picnicing.
Kate was particularly unimpressed by the lack of any hand rails or guards, so out time on the sea bridge was limited!!
After all this spirituality I decided on quiet afternoon reading and swimming, while Tom and Kate visited Kuta.
We finished the day with a short stroll to the beach, and a fabulous dinner at Sate Bali, a well know cooking school and restaurant. This was our dessert!
I had my annual alcoholic drink ( i had skipped it at xmas), a Margarita, which was delicious.
The kids were particularly impressed with the live featuring Cold Chisel covers.. must be all the born again backpackers!!
We wandered home to be greated with the usual lovely offering at our villa door
Tanah Lot, one of my absolute favourite places in the world. :) Realise the growth of stalls & hawkers significantly changes the feel now. Imagine it when you merely walked to the inlet through trees & across grass & then there was Purah Tanah Lot ! :)
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