We pass through gates guarded by dragons. They dressed in chequered scarves – not sure why chequered – perhaps because it symbolises light/dark/good/evil?
Tag Archives: travel
The God’s Must Be… – Part 1
I’m returning once again to Bali to view another temple. This one is quite different from the last. It’s not beside a lake but under a volcano…
Pura Besakih (Besakih Temple) sits under Gunung Agung (Mt Agung) – Bali’s highest peak (3,142m – almost 1km taller than Mt Kozzie) and also an active volcano! The volcano last erupted in 1963, and still belches smoke.
So why have they built this mega temple underneath a volcano? Because…
The Balinese believe that Mount Agung is a replica of Mount Meru, the central axis of the universe. One legend holds that the mountain is a fragment of Meru brought to Bali by the first Hindus
– From Wiki
The temple is built on the side of the hill in terraces. This photo was taken at the bottom. Being Bali’s most important temple, it holds up to seventy festivals a year. The locals were in the midst of preparing for a new moon festival when I visited.
Wild, Wild World – Part 12
It was a big day, wasn’t it? And what a way to end it with a superb sunset at Ahipara.
Wild, Wild World – Part 11
Almost back to Ahipara now, but we have one more place to stop at – a little inlet on the east side (whose name unfortunately escapes me). It is the best little holiday and fishing spot.
Wild, Wild World – Part 10
I didn’t see many flowers on the west side, but we found these babies thriving in sand on the east side – a sign that this coast line was far more sheltered.
Wild, Wild World – Part 9
After viewing the cape, we made our way back along the east coast (as opposed to the wild west coast). Things on this side was much calmer. It might have been a very sunny day, but the sea was still a touch too cold for me to swim in.
Wild, Wild World – Part 8
Cape Reinga isn’t just the northern most point of New Zealand, it also holds a lot of significance for the Maori people. They believe that the point is a leaping point for souls into the underworld.
Wild, Wild World – Part 7
We arrive at Cape Reinga. It’s where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. You can see the exact line the opposing currents meet by the way the water changes colour. The lighter coloured water is the Tasman, the darker the Pacific. Cape Reinga also has a lighthouse – a good idea when there are so many treacherous rocks about.
Wild, Wild World – Part 6
Eventually even the dunes peter out, to be replaced by a rocky coastline that is Cape Reinga – the top of New Zealand.
Wild, Wild World – Part 5
You might appreciate that with such a massive beach it would be supported by an extensive sand dune. Travelling 1km inland, we came to the place where the sand dunes met the bush. It provided a startling contrast.
Of course, where there are sand dunes, there’s adventure sports. No camels here, but plenty of punters sand boarding down the steep slopes.
Static and Silence 