The highlight of my Bali trip was definitely visiting the Tirta Empul Temple for a sacred and spiritual experience. This is the crew meditating before bathing in the holy water spring and asking for what we wish for in life. I wished for the opportunity to share my passion with the world, through Nourish & Inspire Me, music, photography, and health cooking, for the opportunity to explore my talents and be the best i can be to leave a positive mark on this world, to achieve success and be able to help my loved ones, for travel and wonderful experiences with my lovely man, for health and happiness of my family and friends, for security and freedom in this world and for the courage to overcome my fears.
Tirta Empul Temple Bali
This amazing temple is more than 1000 years old. The Temple is Hindu and the balinese believe that the Holy water cleanses your body of bad or evil spirits, brings you prosperity and cleanses your body, mind and soul. The temple manager said to us, “it will get rid of your bad dreams!”. I was pleased to hear this as i’m a very vivid dreamer.
The water comes from a spring and legend has it that the god Indra who’s warriors were poisoned by King Mayadanawa were brought back to life with this water and so it’s now thought to have blessed curative properties.
There are several fountains that are specific to your prayers, some for prosperity, some for health etc and you can pray at each fountain or there is one main fountain that covers all of your prayers. We prayed at all 9 fountains, because well, when in Rome! First you say “om” three times and pray to god, then you pray to your ancestors and finally you pray to the blessed holy water. You then wash your face with the holy water 3 times, drink the water 3 times and submerge your head under the fountain for as long as you can. It was really beautiful. When i got out of the water the temple manager looked at me and he said,”WOW! You look better already! Your face is glowing and you look happy!”. And i felt it too! I highly recommend you visit this temple and experience the holy water, even if you don’t consider yourself spiritual or religious. It’s really beautiful to see all the smiling faces of everyone bathing in the water, meditating, praying and connecting with something higher.
I never grew up in a religious family, we never went to church or anything like that, so travelling to bali where the people are so spiritual and pray each morning and give offerings to god with there little bamboo baskets filled with insence, food, flowers or money, i began to see how important it is to acknowledge the spiritual side of life each day with gratitude and faith that there is a force out there that loves you and is looking after your every wish. In the western culture the only thing we do for sure each morning is check our instagram! It’s not quite right…
It poured down with rain when we were at the temple but it was really beautiful and felt really cleansing. I try to see the good in rain. When it rains, my grandmas always says, “What a miserable day”, but i don’t see it that way, rain is just as beautiful as sunshine and if it’s warm enough walking in the rain is actually really purifying. Of course in bali it’s so warm, the rain is actually kind of inviting and relieving, so it’s easier to appreciate i guess.
My gorgeous friend Sodany praying in the holy water
Perry washing his face with holy water
Me about to get my prayer on!
Rice Terraces:
The rice terraces are also a must visit! Such breathtaking views and again, while we were there is poured down rain but i loved every second of it!
This cute little man asked for a photo with me and he kept saying, “cheese”. He gave me one of his hats so i tipped him and then all the other tourists did the same!
The crew getting drenched, wandering through the rice terraces.
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