BALI - Be the Sunshine

Here are some of my favorite photos from our honeymoon

in Bali, Indonesia from 2017.

UJUNG WATER PALACE

The Water Palace is definitely worth a visit if you are in eastern Bali. It was offered as a free morning excursion from our hotel: Bali Palms Resort. It was 50’000 IDR, (about $5) but both David and I agreed it was worth well more then that!

We spent quite a while there exploring this charming palace. Touring the grounds you will see large pools, statues, beautiful bridges and stunning flowers. If you hike up to Balai Kapal you have magnificent views of the sea, mountains, and the entire grounds. The palace was built in 1919 for the last King of Karangasem, and almost entirely destroyed by Mt. Agung in 1963.

Goa Gojah

When I was researching Bali, the Goa Gojah was the temple that kept popping up! This was actually my first impression of Bali. Just like the picture, it was a cool attraction– but the surrounding grounds were one of the most beautiful, sacred places I have ever been!!

Don’t forget your Sarong when going to the Goa Gojah temple. Give yourself a long while to spend exploring and soaking in the green beautiful grounds.

Also, right next door you can tour and try Luwak coffee, as well as sample multiple flavors of tea and chocolates.

The Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud

We could easily spend all day getting immersed in the greenery of the sacred monkey forest. You aren’t suppose to touch the monkeys, but they do come right up to you– one even jumped on Dave’s backpack. I even saw a someone get bit! They will take off with your water-bottles or anything shiny– so hold on tight to your valuables!

Such a stunning little attraction, but if you take the wrong turn you could walk into aggressive beggars on the street.

A local lily pad in Candidasa

Bali Safari & Marine Park

This was a super fun day spent with all the animals. Dave was chosen from the audience to participate in the bird show. There was a lot of opportunities to touch or feed the animals which was neat. There was a petting zoo area that you could feed goats, bunnies, guinea pigs and iguanas. Dave even pet a bearcat! I got to feed a baby elephant! We rode an elephant here–which I still feel a lot of guilt for. When we come back, we want to find an animal sanctuary where we could feed or bath elephants and learn more about them.

Gunung Lebah Temple, and Pura Taman Saraswati Temple

The sacred temples around Bali were very beautiful. It is so fun to see their offerings everywhere you go. I had no idea Balinese people were so religious, it impacts so much of their daily life. It was both fascinating and humbling to learn so much about their culture and traditions. We had a stellar driver we happened upon one day, and used him the rest of the trip. He taught us so much about his people and their way of life.

Rice Fields

Pura Goa Lawah or the Balinese “Bat Cave Temple”

This temple was a very popular attraction, with a lot of people trying trying to sell you stuff right outside the grounds.

It was really neat to see so many bats in one place, the sound was unreal.

Tenganan Village Bali

This is an ancient traditional village in Bali, loaded with culture. Our tour guide Wyan taught us all about the life and culture of his people, and explained their offerings throughout the day.