AMI SIOUX
ON THE ROAD TO GOA RAJA WATERFALL
Heading east out of Ubud-in tandem on our scooters through the roads…Aiming towards Bias Tugel white sand beach but first to stop on the way at Goa Raja Waterfall.
Riding through the small roads in Ubud filled with scooters passing the myriads of Penjor suspended above the asphalt; the roads pulling deeper into the jungle, the architecture of each temple-an endless repetitive geometry, smells of incense and bamboo burning. Turning through small back houses and neighborhoods, curious eyes reaching towards us as we speed by and then a sharp left turn beside a banyan tree and the parking lot of the waterfall appears.
Climbing down together to the basin of the valley we arrive to the chasm of the waterfall cut deep into the rock and we explore. I climb deeper into the cave to find Dai climbing. The majestic sense of the height of the waterfall plays with one’s eyes-it only becomes apparent when I stand from a distance…and as he climbs, I click.
After we leave, we find the perfect sarong shop, just moments later, on the road onwards.
ON THE ROAD TO KINTAMANI CRATER LAKE
Heading north out of Ubud from Rumah Hujan on our scooters we head towards Kintamani. The roads softening through wide landscapes of flooded rice fields past glimpses of Mount Agung in between small farming villages.
The road starts to steepen as we arrive closer to the volcano. At a point in the road, we pay a toll and turn a sharp right and the road brings us towards the crater lake. Revealing glimpses of the lake between buildings: one established, one in construction, one filled with westerners, one filled with locals…
I desire to head down into the crater near the lake as we have heard of a floating temple…upon arriving we are alone only with one family that has come with the temple leader to pray. I take a photograph and stand back to leave them their space. The area almost feels otherworldly. The temple balanced in the lake aside floating sculptures. There is one world overlooking the lake and then the world aside, small farms lining the lake that hold a community of Balinese families.
ON THE ROAD TO SEBATU WATER TEMPLE
The morning arrives for our adventure to Sebatu. We head out after Siri prepares our delicious Rumah Hujan breakfast - bags packed carefully-and we head out on our scooters follow the roads through Ubud to the Sebatu water temple.
Paying our entry fee we are instructed not to use the sarong provided for the bathing, but to buy a sarang across the street. I take a moment gently to view everyone’s wares and be sure of the one that I wish to bathe in and purchase a few gifts for friends.
Entering the temple we carefully observe others doing the melakut water purification ritual and are shown where we can change our clothes. I do the bathing ritual first. At each fountain, three times washing the face, then one’s back and a prayer of intention. I hope I’m doing it right…it felt powerful and immersive quite literally within the temple. Years I’ve been traveling to temples in Japan but here I feel within the energy of the experience. It’s so hot and the incredibly cold water s endsmy skin tingling. Dai takes the bathing ritual after me and I gently give him distance- a few photographs capturing the moments I see him finding his prayer.
ON THE ROAD TO KERAMAS
We heard of a surf break on the east coast called Keramas and so we head out early after our breakfast on one scooter. The streets of Ubud breaking out into smaller villages and then roads rise and fall like the breath of the jungle. We follow the road east.
The roads are busy and we navigate them together, him driving and I’m on the back navigating and photographing the roads with a surfboard strapped onto the right. Arriving to a black sand beach we find the break and have lunch at a local spot.
Dai heads out and I comb the beach, climbing up onto a landing I find moment to photograph the side of a temple on the beach and looking out I see him sliding across a wave..click.
ON THE ROAD TO BIAS TUGEL WHITE SAND BEACH
We head back out on the road this time heading east to the coast from Ubud through endless villages climbing down to the beach. A vantage point shows us where we are heading looking out over the mountain. Towards a white sand beach-only the day before we were at Keramas which is a black sand beach just south of Tugel and today wondering how it could be so white so close just northern on the same coast. As we arrive to the lot, park our scooters, hang our helmets and down the stone walkway to the beach- walking through a short jungle we arrive…the beach almost feels like a glimpse into a lost time-and the photograph captured almost feels like ektachrome…the beach as white and soft as we could imagine…the humidity and heat softened by two umbrellas and a few beers..the end of our voyage soon..we return to Ubud.