Bali remains kind of a mystery to me. That is because culturally it remains distinct from most everywhere else I have traveled. It welcomes visitors from far and wide, yet retains its own identity and sense of self. Undisturbed by most of what goes on around it. Happy just to be Bali. 
Black sand beaches are much more common than the white sand beaches.
On a holiday, each family brings sacrifices to the temple
Each town has it’s own parade, music and temple ceremonies.
Tegallalang (chant that word a few times to yourself, it feels good doesn’t it?) is a small village and some rice fields, about 20 minutes north of Ubud. I don’t think that the rice terraces are at their best in early June. I’ve seen pictures where they are just bursting with green. Still, any photographer worth their salt would have to drive up, and try to get a good picture or two.
On my way back from trying to shoot a sunset at the rice terraces, I came across a city-wide celebration. This kind of thing is always happening in Bali. I was the only tourist there.
(above) I thought the modest little place here looked like a great place to spend a week with the family… You can rent it HERE. OK, so that might be kind of an expensive week.
- I came across your blog while searching Tegallalang. Beautiful pictures and I really enjoy looking at your pics from Bali trip.June 17, 2013 - 12:04 pm
Tampaksiring is known as one of the most magnificent and ancient temple sights in Bali. Truth be told, I found it worth a visit, but it in no way blew me away.
The holy spring in the Tirta Empul temple complex is believed to have magical and/or cleansing powers. Everyone would say a prayer and dip their heads in one of the streams of water, moving down the line through every jet.
- Great work man! Really enjoyed these pictures.April 11, 2015 - 2:10 am
Goa Gajah or Elephant Cave is a good place to visit first thing in the morning. Driving my rented scooter here, something in my helmet kept itching my ear. Though the persistent tickling drove me crazy, I rationalized that it must be an errant hair or perhaps a small feather, the kind that leak out of down pillows. Upon arriving at the empty parking lot, with the sun just coming up, I tore off my helmet. I didn’t see anything that would cause such pronounced ear-tickling, so I started taking the padding out of the helmet, only to quickly discover a feisty medium-sized cockroach. SMASH! Domestic violence educators will tell you it is our very hands that are truly the most deadly weapons in the world.
Pleasant spot to take a few pictures, just before Starbucks opens in the morning. I don’t buy as many Starbucks City mugs as I used to, but I admit that a Bali one did come home with me.
Right in the center of Ubud is an old market. Early in the morning, it’s packed with locals grabbing fruits, vegetables, fish and meat for the day. By about 9am, it completely switches over to a tourist market that sells the regular flotsam and jetsam of the tourist trail. I went at about 6:00, but I’ve heard that it’s even going at 4:00, which would also be cool to see.
- Hey Great pics. I'm off to ubud in August. How did you get the shots from above, is there a walk way or something? Thanks MattJuly 5, 2014 - 7:13 am
- Going there next week. Will be setting my alarm at 5 am. Thanks for the info and even more so for the incredible photos. Just drooling all over my smartphone.March 27, 2018 - 5:39 am
I wish that I could say that we were visiting a remote village in Bali and randomly came across an only-performed-once-every-ten-years fire dance. Instead, we attended the monthly full moon dance at the Arma Museum. There is a scene from the movie Baraka, which features a version of this dance – Here. It’s definitely worth a few minutes of your time.
- I think these are outstanding!!! Can we go there when I visit?August 13, 2012 - 6:48 am
by P-Lo
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