Bali - Ubud - Elephant Caves

View of a typical rice paddy field.

2009-02-16T11:19:10Z

athanur
View of a typical rice paddy field.

Nice scene.

2009-02-16T11:21:16Z

athanur
Nice scene.

My rickety mountain bike that I hired. I only wish I had my own bike there!

2009-02-16T11:20:40Z

athanur
My rickety mountain bike that I hired. I only wish I had my own bike there!

A curious name mixing up English (swan), Dewi (Bahasa) and Bali. This is a typical artist's place outside of Ubud.

2009-02-16T11:22:14Z

athanur
A curious name mixing up English (swan), Dewi (Bahasa) and Bali. This is a typical artist's place outside of Ubud.

One more artist's place near the Elephant Cave.

2009-02-16T11:23:19Z

athanur
One more artist's place near the Elephant Cave.

Announcement to visitors. I suppose bikinis, thong underwear and swimming trunks are out of question.

2009-02-16T11:21:32Z

athanur
Announcement to visitors. I suppose bikinis, thong underwear and swimming trunks are out of question.

View of entrance to Elephant Cave.

2009-02-16T11:21:30Z

athanur
View of entrance to Elephant Cave.

You can vaguely recognize what these stones must have looked like.

2009-02-16T11:23:15Z

athanur
You can vaguely recognize what these stones must have looked like.

Drinking the water from the fountain for eternal youth.

2009-02-16T11:23:01Z

athanur
Drinking the water from the fountain for eternal youth.

Now can I get back to being 25 years old?

2009-02-16T11:21:52Z

athanur
Now can I get back to being 25 years old?

The entrance to the cave. Note the huge "Barong" behind one of the umbrellas.

2009-02-16T11:23:24Z

athanur
The entrance to the cave. Note the huge "Barong" behind one of the umbrellas.

Example of a statue inside the Elephant Cave. Unlike Indian Hinduism, many deities in Bali lack intricate carvings/paintings.

2009-02-16T11:22:04Z

athanur
Example of a statue inside the Elephant Cave. Unlike Indian Hinduism, many deities in Bali lack intricate carvings/paintings.

The offerings you see in front of the stone deity is typical of Bali. Every house has a little sachet of flowers, incense sticks and some fruit.

2009-02-16T11:19:47Z

athanur
The offerings you see in front of the stone deity is typical of Bali. Every house has a little sachet of flowers, incense sticks and some fruit.

The 3 lingams (yoni) depicting Shiva.

2009-02-16T11:22:22Z

athanur
The 3 lingams (yoni) depicting Shiva.

Entrance to the Elephant Cave. The carving is of Barong.

2009-02-16T11:20:31Z

athanur
Entrance to the Elephant Cave. The carving is of Barong.

This carving of a dragon is entirely made of sugar. Wonder how they did that.

2009-02-16T11:21:58Z

athanur
This carving of a dragon is entirely made of sugar. Wonder how they did that.

Another snapshot of the dragon made entirely of sugar.

2009-02-16T11:20:14Z

athanur
Another snapshot of the dragon made entirely of sugar.

This one is made of dough -- similar to cookie dough. Hindu cultures have always used food to anoint the gods and appease them, hoping it will bring more food and prosperity in the future.

2009-02-16T11:22:25Z

athanur
This one is made of dough -- similar to cookie dough. Hindu cultures have always used food to anoint the gods and appease them, hoping it will bring more food and prosperity in the future.

This collection is the Hindu trinity or the so-called trimurti, Brahma, Wisnu and Siwa (Balinese spellings). What's interesting is that the iconography is not ornate, but rather symbolic.

2009-02-16T11:22:41Z

athanur
This collection is the Hindu trinity or the so-called trimurti, Brahma, Wisnu and Siwa (Balinese spellings). What's interesting is that the iconography is not ornate, but rather symbolic.

Some random tree I found interesting.

2009-02-16T11:22:27Z

athanur
Some random tree I found interesting.

These are the heads of statues that fell many years ago and they haven't been moved.

2009-02-16T11:21:35Z

athanur
These are the heads of statues that fell many years ago and they haven't been moved.

A closeup view of the head (I think it's a monkey god).

2009-02-16T11:22:35Z

athanur
A closeup view of the head (I think it's a monkey god).

In the foreground are the fallen heads of statues; a waterfall in the background.

2009-02-16T11:22:32Z

athanur
In the foreground are the fallen heads of statues; a waterfall in the background.

athanur's photo

2009-02-16T11:22:33Z

athanur

Another view of the fallen head.

2009-02-16T11:19:02Z

athanur
Another view of the fallen head.

Typical god figures and the food offerings to god.

2009-02-16T11:22:14Z

athanur
Typical god figures and the food offerings to god.

This figures were discovered many years ago during an excavation.

2009-02-16T11:19:49Z

athanur
This figures were discovered many years ago during an excavation.

Some more examples of excavated figures.

2009-02-16T11:19:34Z

athanur
Some more examples of excavated figures.

Some random cave entrance.

2009-02-16T11:22:05Z

athanur
Some random cave entrance.

Another view of the cave entrance.

2009-02-16T11:18:37Z

athanur
Another view of the cave entrance.

Some fruit; I forgot the name.

2009-02-16T11:21:49Z

athanur
Some fruit; I forgot the name.

Another fruit. God knows what this name is.

2009-02-16T11:22:37Z

athanur
Another fruit. God knows what this name is.

Dense thickets around the temple.

2009-02-16T11:20:35Z

athanur
Dense thickets around the temple.

Pineapple.

2009-02-16T11:19:56Z

athanur
Pineapple.

Dense thickets again; in the distance you can see a building.

2009-02-16T11:21:46Z

athanur
Dense thickets again; in the distance you can see a building.

More examples of cave excavations.

2009-02-16T11:22:08Z

athanur
More examples of cave excavations.

My guide (and priest) during my visit to the temple. He lives and works here.

2009-02-16T11:20:52Z

athanur
My guide (and priest) during my visit to the temple. He lives and works here.

Lovely shot of spider with an intact web.

2009-02-16T11:22:27Z

athanur
Lovely shot of spider with an intact web.

Some local flower.

2009-02-16T11:22:02Z

athanur
Some local flower.

Another view of the flower.

2009-02-16T11:22:27Z

athanur
Another view of the flower.

This picture was taken on the way back to Ubud. The road leads to a resort.

2009-02-16T11:22:19Z

athanur
This picture was taken on the way back to Ubud. The road leads to a resort.