Tanah Lot Temple

Tanah Lot Temple is located in coastal side of Beraban countryside, Kediri sub district and Tabanan Regency . It is situated in 30Km in west side of Denpasar town and about 11 Km in south side of Tabanan town. The temple is built on the rock with 3 acre size and reachable in a few minute by walk, because it is just 20 meters from the coastal lip. This temple is very famous among touri

Tanah Lot, tanah means earth and lot means ocean, consists of a couple of shrines built on an outcropping of rock on the ocean. The temple symbolizes the balance between male and female; inner and outer world. One of Bali's cosmic temples"Sad Kahyangan" which was built the great saint of Bali Danghyang Nirartha, in 16th century. Its popular because its sunset view, just like postcard. Next to Tanah Lot temple is located the complex of Bali Nirwana Resort.

No historical record is found so far to construct the history of the temple. Scripture of Dang Hyang Nirarta mentions that the priest Dang Hyang Nirarta had visited the temple and asked the people around the area to build shrine. While the priest also educate the fishermen there in making fish trap.

The temple as a whole is dedicated to the god of the sea. Fishermen pray to get fish and prosperity. A story mentions that one of the shrine at Batukaru temple was lost, and was found here standing at Tanah Lot temple complex. It was very probable that the temple was built by Mengwi kingdom as the sea temple. A kingdom in Bali normally had 3 main temples, one located near the sea, one in the city or near the palace, and one on the mountain or near the mountain. This concept of 3 temples has also influenced the smaller unit of Balinese settlement in the level called " Banjar ". Every Banjar in Bali has also 3 main temples dedicated to different way of worshipping the gods and ancestor's spirits.

Now only 3 villages that responsible for the temple those are all nearby villages of Braban, Kelating, and Tibu Biyu, and still as the temple for Mengwi palace. The ceremony is performed every 6 month, based on Hindu-Java calendar which is already printed out during November every year.

For tourists, it is not only the traditional magic of the temple is interested, but the location in the natural setting, especially during the sunset, the temple changes into silhouette against the sunsets above Indonesian ocean

Bali Guling: Balinese suckling pig ( Bali's traditional food )

Babi guling is Bali’s most fmaous dish. Ask a Balinese person what their favourite food is and there is a good chance they’ll say “Bali guling”. Indonesia is a Muslim country, so pork isn’t celebrated as it is here in Bali. The Balinese however often keep pigs at home behind the house, feeding on food scraps, for that important time when they will be killed and eaten. The young suckling pig is used because of its tenderness, spit-roasted to perfection. Finding Bali Guling is a bit hard in tourist areas as it takes a while to prepare and is not really a dish most foreigners will ask for. As soon as you get away from the tourist scene in Kuta / Seminyak and head to Kerobokan, Mengwi, Ubud, or any other local place, the babi guling stands pop up.



Here are the ingredients used in preparing babi guling.

Ingredients:
•1 suckling pig, weighing about 6-8 kg (13-17 lb)
•1 1/2 tablespoon salt
•10 shallots, peeled and sliced
•6 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
•5 cm (2 in) ginger, peeled and chopped
•15 candlenuts, chopped
•10 cm (4 in) fresh turmeric, peeled and chopped
•2 tablespoons coriander seeds, crushed
•5 cm (2 in) laosfinely chopped
•25-30 bird’s-eye chillies
•10 stalks lemon grass, sliced
•1 tablespoon black peppercorns, crushed
•1 teaspoon dried shrimp paste, roasted
•5 fragrant lime leaves, finely shredded
•2 salamleaves
•2 1/2 tablespoons oil
•4 tablespoons turmeric water

Here are the instructions in case you have the urge to cook a babi guling at home.

Ensure the inside of the suckling pig is completely cleaned out. Season inside and outside with salt. Combine all other ingredients, except turmeric water, and mix thoroughly. Fill the inside of the suckling pig with this mixture, close the belly with string or thin satay skewers. Rub the outside of the pig with turmeric water until the skin is shiny yellow. Bake on a spit over a charcoal fire or in a moderately hot oven for 2.1/2 hours. Test if the meat is done by inserting a skewer into the thickest part. If the liquid runs clear the piglet is cooked. Baste with oil during cooking. Serve slices of pork with white rice and a hot tomato and chili sambal. If preparing a larger pig, increase the amounts of ingredients accordingly and allow extra cooking time. Alternatively place the suckling pig on a roasting rack and roast in hot oven (220°C/425°F) for approximately one hour. Rest for 10 minutes in warm place before serving.

Serving babi guling
When serving, first remove the crisp skin with a strong carving knife, then loosen meat from the bones and cut into even dice or slices. Place a heaped tablespoon of stuffing on each serving plate, then top with meat and skin. Traditionally this dish is eaten with Jukut Nangka Mekuah and steamed rice.

Suggestion:
If you have a large barbecue with a rotisserie or constantly turning spit, you can cook the pig over charcoal for an authentic Balinese flavour. You don’t want to burn it, but slow cook it, so patience is necessary.

Goa Lawah Temple

Gua Lawah or Bat Cave is one of favorite places of interest in Bali and it is located near of hilly bank so it is called reef of Middle hill. This cave is located in Pasinggahan countryside, Dawan sub district, Klungkung Regency, east part of Bali and about 1,5 hours from Denpasar Town. There is a nature cave dwelt by thousands of tail bat located at north side from Jeroan/center of Gua Lawah Temple . Meanwhile the main road from Klungkung to Amlapura is just in front of the temple. This cave is apposite to the beautiful beach with black sand along the coastal area.

Goa Lawah means ‘bat cave‘ in Balinese, and in Bali, Goa lawah is a famous tourist attraction, as well as a place of religious importance to the Balinese people. The temple was founded in 1007, by Empu Kuteran. Though the temple is small, it is considered very auspicious and is one of the 9 kayangan jagat (directional temples)
that protect Bali from evil spirits. The temple at Goa Lawah protects Bali from the SE.

Balinese people often stop when driving along thius part of the coast, to give offerings. This is the case all over the island. On special days, raod side shrines may attract a large crowd of Balinese, dressed in ceremonial gear, stopping on their way to a major temple, to give offerings and pray. The parking area and souvenir sellers are in front of the temple, which itself is quite small. There is a 11 tier meru inside, donating its importance, but the actuall temple is quite small. It is possible to visit Goa Lawah during ceremonies, and I managed to get inside to watch people giving offerings and praying. The cave itself is in the rear of the temple, up against the cliff. Inside are hundreds of fruit bats and legend has it that the cave extends all the way underground Pura Goa, at Besakih temple 30 kms away. The cave is the dwelling of Balinese naga, Basuki. Bearing in mind the people at Tirtaganga believe the waters of the Ganges (in India) flow through there, I’d take that with a pinch of salt.

•Function of Goa Lawah Temple :


- Based on Papyrus of Kusuma Dewa, it is Giha Lawah, a palace from Basuki god
- Based on Papyrus of Padma Bhuwana is explaining that in accordance to holy letter title Pentameter Aksara
- The structure of Gua Lawah Temple building is based on the temple building from Ista Dewata in particular of Padmasana which is located in front of Siwa Cave as power of entire universe potency
- Based on Lontar Babad Dalem is implying that Gua Lawah Temple as a good place to execute the Tirtha Yatra or Nyegara Gunung (meditation), because in this place there are nature potency of solidarity that is mount, the sea, goad an watu or petrify

•Location of Goa Lawah:
Goa Lawah is located on the main road between Kusamba and the turn off for Padangbai. Its on the mountain side of the coastal road and you will notice a parking area, souvenir vendors and tourists milling around.

•Getting to Goa Lawah:
From Kuta take the Bypass to Sanur, lookout for the sweeping turnoff to the right, just north of Sanur, that heads along the coast to Kusamba. The driving time will be 1.5 -2 hours, depending on how the traffic is in the Kuta area. At the end of the ever-extending coastal highway, you’ll turon off towards Klungkung, before swinging back towards the coastal road that goes to Candi Dasa.

•Opening hours:
Goa Lawah is open to the public daily, from 7am-6pm. The price 3,000rp. There is a parkirman taking payment for parking, 500rp. Sarongs can be rented for around 1,500rp.

•What is there to do at Goa Lawah?:
One can take photos of the temple, wander insdie, if you are appropriately dressed in sarong and sash, and buy souvenirs. I have in the past, at Besakih temple, received blessings with a group of Balinese people. This is probably also possible, but don’t charging in there by yourself. Across the street, next to the beach is a garden / picnic area, with views of the islands (Nusa Penida etc.).












•Where to stay at Goa Lawah:
Your reasons for being on the raod that passes Goa Lawah in the first place are; getting to East Bali and returning from East Bali. People usually don’t look to stay at Goa Lawah and keep going another 7kms to padangbai, or 17kms to Candi Dasa, where you’ll find plenty of choice in places to stay.

•What to wear at Goa Lawah:
Sarong and sash. Best to pick up a cheap one in Kuta art market, then you can visit temples on your trip around Bali. Rental is cheap too.

•Where to eat at Goa Lawah:
Vendors sell drinks and the usual snacks outside including grilled corn. There’s no warungs or McDonalds handy though, so your best best is to head to Padangbai, if that is your final destination, or carry on to Candi Dasa, if you are going further east.

•When to come to Goa Lawah:
The best time to visit Goa Lawah is during the odalan, the temple birthday, or any major Balinese festival, when the temple will be busy due to its importance. Balinese temples are often shabby and bare looking. Its only during a ceremony, that a temple comes to lifes with sounds, singing, offerings, and dancing.