Ubud - the heart of the island of Bali

Waking up in the morning we went to the holy springs of Titra Empul. Driving through Ubud, you see a lot of shops where they sell the results of local crafts: wood, glass, stone, famous Bali batik and much more. It's hard to find places for buying similar souvenirs in Bali than Ubud, it is here that the so-called creative elite is concentrated island.

An hour later we are already there. At the entrance to the temple, we saw dozens of local residents in white robes with offerings of "chanang" in their hands, together with them we went to the sources themselves. At the entrance, all visitors are fastened with sarongs covering their legs. Sources Titra Empul is a whole complex consisting of a pool where geysers are located directly, you can see with your own eyes how small geysers erupt from under the earth, the water from which flows into pools where sacred ablutions take place, there are only three pools, one of which is open only on special ceremonial days, from the temple itself, from the pool with a lot of huge carp: golden, rainbow, orange, snow-white, they can be fed, food is sold in a cafe near the pool, so we did, we sailed about Kolo hundreds of colorful rub, the picture is fascinating.

So, in one of the swimming pools with springs, we decided to bathe with the Balinese. A lot of local families stood with us in line to the springs right in the pool, in which floated and fish and flowers from baskets with gifts. After awaiting our turn we washed in 11 fountains out of 13, we do not need to wash ourselves in everything, each means something: health, wealth, healing from childlessness, healing from poisoning, from evil eye, blessing of the house, there is a fountain for washing the dead before the ritual of cremation, to drive out demons, we repeated the local before us in line, so as not to be mistaken with the choice of the fountain. Ablution is a whole ritual, before each source you have to take a flower from the basket with offerings, put it behind your ear, then take the petal into your hand, then wash your face three times and then wash yourself completely. The water in the pools is clean, pleasant, but cold especially for young children, who come with their parents a lot.

This place is considered one of the most sacred places in Bali, the water element is especially revered among the Balinese, water from the springs is considered healing, possessing "purifying force".

Not far from the sources in this wonderful holy place is the residence, built with the participation of the Dutch at the time of colonization, which is now used by the current ruler.

Saturated spiritually and physically, having dined at a local restaurant, we followed the Bali Zoo Zoo. On the way, the elephant cave of Goa Gaja waited for us, we were greeted by the entrance to the cave in the form of a two-meter open mouth of the deity, next to which images of animals and people running away from him were carved. At the entrance are also the holy springs, which at first glance are inactive, but the clergymen regularly bathe in them. Around the cave there are jungles, a temple is nearby.

The foundation of this temple is referred to the X-XI century. ad. The age of the temple complex is about 1,000 years. We were lit by an old woman working in the temple with the help of sacred water, put her rice on her forehead and neck.

Walking through the complex, we continued our journey to the zoo. Zoo in Bali is private, very well maintained, but the cost of visiting $ 30 is a trouble walking on elephants and other activities, if you take all sorts of activities, the price goes up to $ 100.

Exotic animals in good conditions, a huge number of monkeys, tigers, lions, elephants, kangaroos, bears, birds, reptiles, we made representations with birds and monkeys, we even managed to participate in several rooms with the participation of animals. I even managed to feed mango elephants.

After returning, we decided to end the day with a dance performance with national Indonesian dances.

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