Today 5th August 2009, sky is partly cloudly, makes me a little worry will ruins my plan to pray to some temples here in Bali. Everything was ready for the pray and set to go.

First stop before going to Uluwatu Temple was Pura Dalem Tanah Kilap in Suwung near “Simpang Siur”. There are two temples here, and we have to pray in both places. As I predict before, this place was already full of people queuing to pray. We spent around one hour, and feel really happy after received splash of holy water from “pemangku”.

The next temple now is Uluwatu, 15 km away from Tanah Kilap, a really exotic temple for its sunset view. The place is also for Kecak Dance performance right on the other cliff toward to Uluwatu Temple cliff. And I was right, there was rain along the way to Uluwatu, I feel lucky I was not hit the rain. On the enter front of the temple, we saw many “still” tourist visiting one of Bali’s most visited places in Bali. Tourist still able to enter only the front temple, but not allowed to enter more to the top part of the temple. Still not many worshipper visit the temple, may be because still early, I predict there will be more people in the evening. After pray session, me and my wife decided to take some pictures, so we can share to everyone who wants to visit Bali.

A good news to everyone who will visit Bali this March, because there will be two big Bali’s holiday will occur, first to come on 18th March is the Galungan Day, as you all know, this is one of the biggest ceremony in Bali, where everybody will take place at their home to pray and celebrate the day where the Good are the winner against evil one.

You will soon find out the feel of the Galungan Day before, the Hindu people in Bali will put the “penjor” before the day as a sign for a big event to come. Penjors will decorate all the road in Bali, more specific is in the front of every houses compounds.

And second big holiday is the “Nyepi” Day or litteraly mean “Quite Day” or “Day of Silence” occure on 26th March just 2 days before the Kuningan Day, usually there will be a “Ogoh-Ogoh” parade on Nyepi’s eve, but this year, Bali’s government decided not to, as it the same time with the General Election in Indonesia.

To my fellow brothers and sisters out there, embrace your self for Galungan & Nyepi day!

Penjor’s, Bali at the Galungan day
Originally uploaded by J.E.S..

At 29 of November, we, the Balinese was celebrating Galungan day, it occur every 210 days on Balinese calendar system. Galungan mean “the day of the winning of Dharma (the Good) agains the evil.

I went to my hometown at the west side of Bali to celebrate that important day with my family. A day or two before the celebration, Balinese will start to make preparation of offering including penjor, the best part of the Galungan day is to prepare for original Balinese salad called Lawar, Lawar is differ by location, in Negare (that’s the name of my little town in west Bali) Lawar made from young coconut, very delicious.　Well I am sure now I’ve already gaining weight . In the celebration day, it’s the time for us and all the villager to visit the Puseh Temple where located in every village in Bali. Actually there are three temple where every man must visit, the Merajan (house shrine), Pura Dalem, and Pura Puseh. The last visit was Jagatnatha in the centre of Town. The most important thing of all is the moment with my family, and friends at the village, priceless.

I am sorry I have no picture of this moment, I have to concentrate on my pray, and so lazy to go back again. The weather was so hot at that time.

After 10 days after Galungan, the Kuningan day will follow, but as usual I just pray in Denpasar used to be in Sakenan Temple, I will make sure I will have my camera with me to show you the Sakenan temple looks like.