Fri 8th ...........
All the while we have been in Bali the weather has been wonderfully hot 32c, had a little rain but nothing to worry about and now it seems to be getting warmer.
We went to Sukawati market today, had been before but it's a great one to wander around. There are two large double storey buildings full to capacity with everything that you expect to find, very narrow walk ways(as has been mentioned on BTF before such a disaster if fire broke out) plus the many streets surrounding with all sorts of shops. Some wonderful wood carvings can be bought here such a selection. It always seems so busy there and people very friendly(yes I know they want to make a sale)beyond just selling.I bought lovely white ceremonial shirt for Rp45000 didn't haggle much as price asked was not high anyway. And we bought some more jaggery (solid palm sugar which is set in coconut shells to form shape, wonderful molasses type flavour, used a lot in cooking) alamost run out at home.
After some more looking there we went on up to Tampaksiring to the Tirta Empul Holy Springs. We drove via Gianyar/Bangli and at Manuk took the smaller road through Susut and Lumbuhan to Tigakawan, while passing through these villages all the schools were coming out to go home, loads of children waving and shouting hello at us, they all look so smart in their uniforms I think many schools in other countries should see how they look. We then turned south before Kayuambua dropping down through Seribatu and Temen before we reached Terta Empul. As we drove along these roads there was so much to see, people,fruit sellers,warungs,cattle,coconut trees, jackfruit trees,all sorts of other vegetation,wonderful displays of many flowers,and the different aromas that you drove through,such a good way to see everyday Bali with of course one or two dogs around !!.
Pura Tirta Empul is one of Bali's most important temples and it has within it the Holy Springs. You are allowed to walk around the temple, wearing the correct clothing, it's in good condition as it is used a lot. You climb up a few steps through those wondeful carved entrances and then down into a courtyard area where all the relevent bales/statues are they are decorated as usual.
But the high point of going there is to see the Holy Springs, the area is surrounded by a wall which you can see over into the water, this area is around the size of 1/8th of a football pitch(that's the best I can size it) the water is so clear ,through the bottom which is covered in yellow sand you can see the springs rising, as they do they are in the form of spiralling black sand which amazingly does not spread any where else but stays in the spiral. There are some clumps of water plants too, they say that the sand is very deep. You feel as though there is a calmness all around you. There is also a public bathing area where you can bath in the waters to take in the purifying benefits of the waters. Again the water is very clear with koi swimming around, in another two pools there are more koi all around , hard to measure but some looked 1/2 a metre long, ranging through a dull brown up to the wonderful multicolored. All in all a very peaceful place.
But bizarrely way up above looking down on you sits Soekarnos Palace 'Istana Negara'.It's plain modern single storey building is on a grassy hill with immaculate mowed sides, it looks so out of place,they say that he used to spy on the girls bathing in the pools below!.When we left we drove across the road into the street that leads to the entrance of the Palace, it is surrounded by metal fencing with very imposing gates,a typical Balinese stone carved frontage as you see in the front of temples(we were told it was put there to stop any storming of the palace) is set back from the road side, the whole ares is tarmac.
We went back to Santi Mandala , driving through Pujungklod,Putulu, Ubud to Sukawati, this had been a very good day. We had time to soak in the pool to refresh our selves before relaxing on the verandah with the sounds of the frogs the occasional splash from the koi and the ghostly flying antics of the bats before we went to eat in.
Tomorrow it's my cooking class, really looking forward to that, till then .................