Bali High.....(Pura) Tanah Lot

This is Tanah Lot. Tanah Lot is a famous rock formation two hundred meters off the shore. Pura Tanah Lot (the temple) is built on the sacred lava rocks of Tanah Lot. The temple was built on the 16th century. Tanah Lot is considered sacred, yet it's also very famous. To some people the sacred temple is a place for pilgrimage. Pilgrims visit the place and a lot of tourists visit it as well. Pura Tanah Lot is also known as the Sunset Temple because of its spectacular, magical, orgasmic, colorful, dream-like, almost haunted, yet very very exquisite sunset.

When we were in Bali, we mad a point to visit (Pura) Tanah Lot. I was enchanted by the place and it's natural beauty. What a moment! I could hear the surf hitting the volcanic rocks which was very calming and soothing not only to my senses, but to the core of my (soul) humanity as well. I saw the waves dancing its way towards the shore. I noticed the vast sea in the background and the picture-perfect sunset. The rocks have a very commanding presence, almost over powering! The wind felt chilly, smelled fresh and was very refreshing. Even the people/tourists are part of the temple's enchantment!

The mighty, vast and mysterious sea seemed to over-power the sacred and ancient temple or maybe, it simply serves as the magnificent background (of the sacred temple) that it already is for hundreds of years. Now, that I think about it, I'd say that the rock formation, the sacred temple, the mystic sunset, the sea and its surf are all equally powerful! The sacred rock formation where the temple was built, the temple itself, the magical and dramatic sunset, the vast sea, the clouds amids the wonderful blue sky and everything that is part of the temple in one way or another is almost like a religion - a religion on it's own!

I was standing at a certain spot when a big wave hit the rocks and sputtered water on me. I jumped, screamed and then, laugh when it happened, but it was a fun and an awesome experience non-the-less. I felt small standing on the grounds of a sacred temple over-looking the enormous sea. I felt small as I gazed at the ecstatic sky that seemed so endless. I felt powerless as I stood and watched the sunset. It was a humbling experience for me!

This is a part of Pura Tanah Lot and the picture below captured the entire temple. Do you ever wonder how these simple and natural things could possess such power and command attention from the Balinese People and the tourist alike? I think, that there is power in simplicity and nature. And I think that the sea, the sacred rocks, the temple, the sunset - all these combined, helped to make (Pura) Tanah Lot become the captivating and astounding place it is today.

**The last picture in this post is a photograph done by J.E.R. I borrowed the picture hoping to make this post interesting and to add extra feel. The rest of the pictures were taken by yours truly.