Below and definitely needing its own spot is what the Balinese call the mother temple—Besakih. This temple is the biggest and oldest in Bali.  It’s actually more a cluster of many different temples dedicated to different gods. The actual place itself was rather magical and since we were there on a misty day, the weather lent it even more of a mystical sense.

It was also one of the few places in Bali that I  was disappointed.  As we entered the compound we were asked to donate money and then told how much to give. We, (actually Barb), politely and firmly told them how much we would donate and we just kept going.  This happened to us only one other time, in India. I must be really naïve because both times I felt so stunned at the audacity of supposedly spiritual people dictating to you how much to give as a donation.  This is not the time to get into a discussion about religion and money…although there is much to say about what happens when the two of them get together.  Suffice to say that I didn’t let the experience ruin my appreciation for the actual place.

I could not decide which of these to leave out…here you have it…most of the pictures I took that day. Enjoy!

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