Bali- Uluwatu

Taking in Pura Luhur Uluwatu, a well-known Hindu temple believed to be one of Bali's spiritual pillars. It sits 250 feet above the waves of the Indian Ocean and the Balinese Hindus believe that the three divine powers of Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva become one here. The temple is surrounded by a thick forest in which many monkeys dwell. They are believed to be guardians of the temple but they are better known as thieves, stealing food, hats and sunglasses right off of you. I timed my tour so that I could watch the nightly ritual dance, performed at sunset, called The Kecak which is a beautiful dance that depicts the story of Rama, Sita and her daring rescue by Hanuman (who was hilarious by the way.) As I sat in the outdoor theater I looked around and took in the myriad of different cultures, different religions and different colors. My gratitude for being part of the whole was never finer than in that moment.