Woke up quite early today, but looks like we have beaten by the kids our friends who have woken up much more earlier. We saw that they have taken over the swimming pool, it’s always nice hearing kids having fun in the pool. While watching them swim, we had our breakfast next to them.
Took a shower afterwards and packed, we checked out from the hotel at around 11 am, then went straight to Ubud market, it’s quite fun watching the things they sell, I always have to keep myself thingking, “do I need the stuff? If it’s really that nice, where am I to put it?” The thinking was almost a success, I passed most of the vendors, up until I can’t help myself from touching this big brown bamboo woven bag, and in the end I bought it for Rp 35K (around US$4) loving it and have no regret up until now J
Finished with our little window shopping, we went for lunch at the famous suckling pig mixed rice by Ibu Oka, I liked it especially the skin it;s really crunchy and almost has no fat in it.
Ok... one tip I can give at this place, once you are inside the restaurant at lunch time, don’t join them as we did!!! Coz they are ordering to take away, go straight inside, just look for a place to sit in, then make a choice from the big menu on the wall, and call the waitress to make your order J
Now is the time to start travelling again, we decided to make our first stop at Tirta Empul and Tampak Siring. Once we went down from the car, vendors start coming towards us selling bananas and such, remembered what our friend told us, though not at the area he specified, I didn’t dare touched what they sell. But once we are inside the area there were no more vendors.
The first sight which greeted us was this pool with lots of gold fish in it, one of the restaurant beside it sold packages of fish food for Rp 1K,- per package, we had a good time watching the fishes rumbling for the fish food, I guess it made a great photo too and it attracted other people to look at the fishes (even the locals were looking, which we found a bit weird).
Then we went inside the pura part where at that time, some people were giving their offerings. One side of the pura wall is adjescent to this pool of spring water, since it’s not deep, you can see the bottom of the pool really clear, but make sure you obey the sign for not throwing coins inside it as we used to at water fountains. It is said that there is this a big fish living in it, but hiding, so it is said that if you can see the it you are a lucky person. If our friend didn’t say he saw the fish himself, I would n’t have believed it since you just can’t seem to find a spot where a big fish could hide there.
Now for the most important part of Tirta Empul is this pool where you can take a dip in, but make sure with traditional clothes on please. The pool is divided in 3 parts, each is for it’s own use, the first one is the ones we, common people could use, the second is for the king and the third one are for the dead ones.
The pool which are for the common people is divided in 2, by this bridge of stone, it is also said that there is a big fish living under the bridge, besides the small fishes which you can see clearly and it will come out if you give it an offering of egg.
It is said that if you take a dip in or wash your face with the water you will always look young, well.. I guess there is nothing wrong with washing my face there, if I’m lucky I’ll always look young, but for the most of it I certainly do feel refreshed after washing my face.
Tampak Siring is the President’s palace in Bali, it is build since our first president, it’s located above Tirta Empul, so I guess it’ll have a good view of the people dipping there :P
Too bad we were there on Sunday, which is the time it closes for public, so we can only see it from the outside. But seeing the structure itself from the outside is stunning enough, it looks like the house is divided in 2 parts, each on 1 hill, connected by a bridge. There is this steep steps that connects Tampak Siring to Tirta Empul.
There is this really big old tree nearby the exit which almost as if trying to bid you farewell from your trip to Tirta Empul. Passing the exit gate or the bridge brings you back to the parking lot, you will be made to walk in the souvenir market lane of the place. The people selling at that place really amazes us, as they would offer you their goods in so many languages, which they would thought where you came from, it’s really something.
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