Belayu and the Pura Taman Ayu
Today we had our transfer to Belayu, a village in the middle of rice fields. Here we could still experience the traditional Balinese day-to-day life. The location was perfect for some cultural visits as well as the rice terraces of Jatiluwih. On our way to the hotel, our driver Erwin (a real Balinese name :-)) stopped at one of the most beautiful and important temples in Bali, the Pura Taman Ayu.
The temple was constructed to honour the ancestors of past monarchs of the Mengwi empire. The site in itself was very photogenic, so it should definitely be on your to-visit list! We were very lucky because there were not too many visitors especially since it seemed to be a very popular destination.
As usual, the dress code prescribed that knees had to be fully covered before entering the temple grounds. But no panic, at the entrance it was possible to borrow a sarong. Very pleased with this intermezzo, we continued to our accommodation, Villa Taman di Blayu, for the next 2 nights.
It was an original stay, not as luxurious as the previous hotel, but very cozy. After lunch, we wanted to relax at the pool and in the late afternoon we went for a short walk in the vicinity of the hotel.
Tanah Lot
The day after, we had booked Erwin for the entire day. We slept a bit longer than normal and at 10 am we left for Tanah Lot, an ancient Hindu shrine, known as the temple in the sea. It was a popular tourist destination, especially around sunset. A photographer’s dream !
We wanted to avoid the big crowds and therefore visited the temple before noon. But surprise surprise, there were already many visitors when we arrived. So taking pictures without too many tourists in them was a real challenge. Another surprise where the many shops that visitors had to pass before reaching the temple site. We had expected some but the number was incredible.
The Rice Terraces of Jatiluwih
Then we set course for a visit of the rice terraces of Jatiluwih, which means ‘really beautiful’ and this was certainly true ! We first stopped for lunch in a local warung that I had discovered while reading many blogs and trip reports on the internet. It was just located outside the area. Our driver had never heard of it, but luckily the persons at the starting point for the ‘walk’ pointed us in the right direction. It was a little place with a spectacular view and the food was simple but delicious.
After having filled our stomachs, we finally started the walk among the rice fields. Even if it was not the time of the year with the most beautiful views of the terraces, it was still spectacular. The harvest was at its end and the planting could start again. It was really hard and dirty work in a heat that should not be underestimated. After the walk we decided to cool down at Billy’s Terrace Café. From there we had a great view of the rice fields.
Very satisfied with the beautiful excursions that we did today, we returned to our hotel for a last swim and dinner.
