This is one of the nicest place in Bali and I would recommend it if you like to look at the sunset of Bali. You will walk pass a flea market that sells all sorts of stuffs, but after 2 days in Bali, I feel that most of the things are about the same. If you miss anything in the previous tourist spots, don’t be bothered about it as you will likely to find something similar elsewhere, if you don’t mind about the price. Just try to bargain for it if you are willing to buy.

The Common Stuffs You See Everywhere in Bali

I was wondering if I should get this set of drum, but no, I didn’t get it.

It was a crowded place but we didn’t stop for shopping. I just managed to glimpse at the stalls and snapped a few photos as we were rushing for the sunset. BTW, I almost stepped on the offerings of their local praying ceremony. Just have to be watchful especially if you walk really near the stalls. Luckily I managed to “skip” over it.:P

A lady was preparing for praying

The beach was nice and there is a garden where you can have a nice evening stroll. The tour guide asked if we would like to walk over to the temple, but we didn’t want to. The guys were very adventurous and they took some photos at the cliffs. I am afraid of height and I stayed back watching my kids.

The temple in Tanah Lot

Another family photo!

Waiting for sunset…

It’s nice to stay for a little longer to see the sun set completely, but we were rushing off to Kuta again. If you would like a relaxing moment to forget about your work or that corporate performance management stuffs you are working on, come to Tanah Lot. Of course, please visit the place in the evening.

There are indeed a lot of monkeys there. My kids were excited but we did have a walk around the temple. We were not allow to enter the temple, just like the rests of the temples we went.

A monkey sunbathing

Take photo of the monkey with a handphone, but please be careful.

Sometimes the monkeys will snatch away your caps, phones, cameras, Ulysse Nardin watches, and etc. You can feed the monkeys if you want to, but I would prefer not to do that.

Someone’s feeding, let’s go!

The view from the restaurant

After lunch, we went over to the bank of the lake. There were some beggars but the rule of thumb is don’t give any money to anyone of them, if not you will be very busy entertaining lots of beggars later. But this man kept insisting that I hold the bat, I thought it was free. But sorry, he charged a few dollars for holding his bat. Frankly, I was not interested and I think I might get a headache later after holding it! It’s quite errr…. “interesting”. Did I mention that it will lick your arm? Yikes! I definitely need my headache treatment later if I held it!

Pay to hold a bat

The lake

You can enjoy some boat ride if you want to. We didn’t want to take it since they don’t supply life jackets and I have little kids, so I think it’s too dangerous.

The pricing of the boats

Ok, take a look at how sexy I was despite of the cold weather. I was shivering, but I still managed to smile prettily for the shot. D*mn, all of us should have put on the jackets!

Cold leh…faster snap loh…

I love this place a lot. It gave me a sense of calmness and security as I entered the royal garden. It’s so relaxing and not to mention, simply beautiful. We spent some time walking in the garden while enjoying the nice view under the sun. I didn’t mind about it as I wanted to get a tan anyway, but my kids were protected with sunblock and hats. However, you will be mesmerized by the garden than worrying about the hot sun!

My family

Here’s the history and brief intro about Pura Taman Ayun from All Bali Tourism Information:

In the town of Mengwi is the great royal temple of Pura Taman Ayun. The temple served as the family temple of the Mengwi dynasty, whose kingdom survived until the late 1800s. The temple was built by I Gusti Agung Anom, a founder of the Mengwi kingdom in 1634, and were skilfully and renovated in later years, giving its present appearance which tourists find so attractive and interesting. The temple is famous for its exquisite wooden merus, or pagoda-like shrines. The name itself means beautiful garden. It is built on a high tableland which is surrounded by ponds. This gives the effect from afar that the temple is floating on water. In the central grounds is a building called the ‘bale pelik’ with beautiful carvings with interesting reliefs and statues of the nine gods, Dewa Nawa Sanga.

The temple area, but we were prohibited from entering.

I love the water lilies surrounding the temples

By the way, please respect their rules. Ladies, if you are having menstruation, you are not allow to enter this garden. So, you will have to wait outside. But it’s a temple, so you have to be understanding.

A reminder for ladies

After a series of posting about Bali, I haven’t completed updating about my trip yet. But what are you waiting for? Get your Samsonite luggage and fly to Bali ASAP. It’s too nice to be missed and make sure you come to Pura Taman Ayun to enjoy its serenity. I hope that you will like this place too.

Hotel view from the pool

The kids pool

The beach side restaurant

The other side of the winding swimming pool

Another thing I love about this hotel is you can hear the sound of the gongs in most parts of the hotels. The musicians were playing the music at the lobby, somewhere near the reception desks but you can hear the music all over the hotel! It’s very relaxing so I love it.

This is one of the most famous tourist spots in Bali. Goa Gajah is located in Beduli village, Blahbatuh Subdistrict of Gianyar Regency, about 26 km from Denpasar. The first impression you will have in this place is, you have to put on a sarong to enter the holy area! Unless you are wearing longer skirt or pants, if not you have to put on the sarong. They will wrap it up for you, and it’s free.

Besides that, you have to walk down lots of steps to get to the temple, and you better leave all your luggage sets behind in the car, if not you will be panting like hell!

Some remaining of the temple after an earth quake

The tour guide told us to wash our face with the water from the public bath area as they believe that it will bring good luck.

Part of the two deep, stone bathing pools, filled with water from spouts held by six female figures.

These are what you will see inside the temple.

The Statue of Hindu Gods

Too bad my battery was flat and I didn’t get the photo of the Buddha by the side of the river. Gee…But I got a nice shot of all of us who went to Bali together.

Group photo

The Coffee Fruit

My kids loved the place. They had fun walking around and enjoying the fresh air. They have got used to playing with dirt, and no doubt they that they were happy to have a nice walk and getting themselves dirty.

The kids walking with daddy

Not all the kids enjoyed the walk though,

Zi Wei was complaining that it’s smelly. O.o

*sigh* City kid mah, not like my kampung kids

The lady roasting the coffee beans

Coffee Beans

Coffee tasting

Cheers, with coffee though

I lost something every important here. Take a look at my left wrist? I was wearing a titanium bracelet. But it’s gone after the visit at the plantation. I must have dropped it somewhere when we were there. Luckily, it’s not one of my expensive gold bracelets!

Bye bye bracelet

My gal was the happiest of all. She’s very busy running around and exploring

Do you know what keeps her busy?

Ducks! She kept chasing the ducks.

Batur Mount, the volcano

No doubt, the view was nice. I thought that it would be very cold, but it’s only windy. As long as you have a cardigan, it should be ok. One the way to the restaurant, I took some photos of the temple and the stalls by the street.

A Temple

A close up

Some stalls

One our van arrived, we were crowded by some hawkers asking us to buy all sorts of things. Now, my advice is, if you have no intention to buy, just walk into the restaurant ASAP. Not dilly telly with them!

I was disappointed with the buffet food served. If you really don’t want to take the food, tell the tour guide in advance. Even if he earns from the commission, tell him that you will still be paying him that money, but ask him to bring you somewhere else.

The buffet food

But we couldn’t care much as the kids were hungry. So, everyone ate.

We are hungry, mommy

But I got food poisoning after taking the tuna satay. I do not need a colon cleanse to clear my tummy that night!

Tummy ache after this!

Nonetheless, the view is breathe taking. You can even see Lake Batur from afar.

Lake Batur

But you have to take extra precaution if you are there with kids. See what I mean?

No fencing! There’s where they placed the tables, at the balcony.

Everyone knows what’s the consequences if my kids fall off the bench.

The artists are very talented. You can see how the artwork is done on the spot.

An artist at work

Some of the artwork in progress

If you are willing to buy, just pick the masterpiece from the wall and bargain for a price. Someone told me that you can actually ask for 50% discount, but we didn’t try. We didn’t have the intention to buy, but just browsing around.

Some paintings

My kids’ favorite Barong

Then we were brought to a shop that sells some crafts. It was situated in Celuk too. My kids bought some gongs and a xylophone. The house is so noisy since they have the musical instrument! But actually, they wanted daddy to get this…

Buy the horse daddy!

Lots of crafts and…

Batik and T-shirts

Another photo shot before we left…

My family and Zi Wei