Bali

Pura Luhur at Uluwatu is one of the twelve temples overlooking the water that protect the island from sea spirits. It is a famous tourist spot and it is hard to get shots that aren't teeming with tourists. You have to be careful with glasses and camera equipment here, as the monkeys will grab anything not nailed down.

This was in the same area as the other sunset paddy shot, near our hotel on the outskirts of Ubud. Great sky and a lovely reflection in the flooded paddy.

The first hotel we stayed at on the outskirts of Ubud is surrounded by rice paddies. I was out shooting most mornings and evenings we were there. This is one of the better shots of those paddies.

While on a hike outside of Ubud, we passed many rice paddies. This particular one had what I assume are weeds with a nice complimentary color to the green, as well has the earthen berm and the blue sky reflection.

One of the highlights (literally) of the trip was a very early morning climb to the top of Mt. Batur, a semi-active volcano, to see the sunrise. The actual sunrise was shrouded in fog, but when the sun did break through, around 7AM, it was worth waiting for. This was an offering box at the gathering area at the top, where we were offered tea and eggs cooked in the steam vents.

I was waiting for my wife outside a store in Ubud, and noticed the most perfect holder for a cigarette. Clearly, by its position, the cigarette is for someone else.

As modern life creeps into Bali, everyone doesn't have the time or the materials to make their offerings. So enterprising women make the offerings to sell at the markets. These were at Sanur, a lovely little local market where I spent a few hours shooting.

Everywhere you look in Bali, there are offerings, on the street, in homes, restaurants, cars, and even on motorscooters. I took several shots of the offering on motorbikes and scooters. This was my favorite.

As I said, there are offerings everywhere. This was at a temple in Ubud. I love the careful placement on a particular toe.

We were in Bali at the time of the royal cremation in August of 2008. As this was a propitious time for the royal cremation, so it was for other cremations. All over the island there were mass cremations, mostly of effigies, but nonetheless, spiritually significant. We visited the preparations for a mass cremation at Peliatan, a village adjacent to Ubud. This man's wife had died the previous year and he was arranging the offerings in the little shrine, one of many, that had been set up in preparation for the cremation.

The gardens at Tirta Ganga are quite beuatiful. I found this unusual plant there. A wonderful pattern.

The water palace lived up to its reputation with fountains, pools and ponds. These pads were in one of the many pools. In addition to being unusual, they are quite beautiful.

Pura Kehen is a bit up the side of Mt. Agung and gets a lot of rain. There is moss everywhere. This was one of many interesting patches of plants, moss and lichens decorating the walls.

Pura Luhur at Uluwatu, is one of the famous sea temples in Bali. The monkeys are everywhere. This fellow was obviously in his element, and very well fed. You can't see them here, but he has huge canine teeth, quite a surprise.

This is the same monkey from the previous picture. Not happy!

This woman agreed to pause and pose for me while gathering coconut husks to be used as fuel.

I was constantly amazed at how friendly and approachable almost everyone in Bali is. This gentle man was waiting in the street outside the Sanur market and graciously posed for several shots.

We were fortunate enough to catch one of the services related to the royal cremation when we visited Danu (lake) Bratan. The high priest of the island conducted the ceremeny and their were many intesting worshippers. This was one of the more interesting men. I shot this standing outside the wall, shooting over the wall with a long lens. Most of the shots came out pretty well. I liked this one best.

Gamalan musicians all appear to be playing without any obvious attention to their surroundings, as if they are in a trance.

Gamalan musicians all appear to be playing without any obvious attention to their surroundings, as if they are in a trance.

The bodies are placed in elaborate paper mache bulls before they are cremated.

The bodies are placed in elaborate paper mache bulls before they are cremated.

The bodies are placed in elaborate paper mache bulls before they are cremated.

The bodies are placed in elaborate paper mache bulls before they are cremated.