Lombok Day Trip - Pura Batu Balong (Temple)
Jackamy
Paul & Derry Harper
Thu 28 Oct 2010 05:09
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Thursday 28th October
As we began our way back we finally managed
to take a picture of a bike loaded up. We'd passed lots and lots of scooters
with huge cages and cookers on the back for example, but because of the volume
of traffic we were unable to take pictures and then we came across this
gentleman! It really is comical to see how much they fit on to one scooter. The
largest number of people we've seen was 2 adults and 3 children! When we asked
Harry how old you had to be to drive his reply was as follows, "you start to
drive a scooter around 6 and you don't need a license. You can drive a car from
around the age of 12 but you do have to get a license". It's amazing, the police
just don't seem to do anything or bat an eyelid here! And as if to prove a point
we then saw numerous children riding scooters in their
school uniforms!
   Rice fields everywhere!
  As well as cars and vans loaded up with
people!
 Our final destination was another Hindu
temple, Pura Batu Balong set at the edge of the sea, a very pretty setting.
Altogether there are 14 altars and pagodas that tumble down a
rocky volcanic outcrop. The rock beneath the temple has a natural hole,
hence the name (batu balong literally means 'rock with hole'). An interesting
fact is that here, when someone dies they lie the bodies in a canoe,
set it on fire and push it out to sea.
      I have to admit we do find it strange how
they dress the statues. They look so untidy and odd!
Following the coast road all the way back we
could see the three low lying Gilli Islands just off the shore.
  Gilli Trawangan, Gilli Meno and Gilli
Aer.................Gilli Aer
  You can just about see our boats at anchor
on Gilli Aer....................Final group photo with Harry
What a spectacular day out! They say Lombok
is how Bali used to be and I could believe it, it's yet to be spoilt by tourism,
I hope it never is! Harry probably partly made the trip for us as he was such a
happy chappy. He spent the whole day singing and making up songs apart from the
half an hour when he fell asleep. He soon got back into it though when he was
awoken by Wayan's phone!
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