Extra Days: Besakih mother temple, Goa Gajah and Klungkung Kertagosa

Besakih is the mother temple of the Balinese and is the oldest (first mentioned in 15th century scripts). It is situated some 900meters into the 3,000m Gunung Agung volcano, the highest peak of Bali which last erupted in 1964. Incredible though that the temple complex still stands.

Besakih, Karengasem, Bali, Indonesia

Goa Gajah in Ubud literally means Elephant Cave. It is an unusual 14th century temple which has holy fountains where Buddhist and Hindus meditated in the past.

Goa Gajah, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Klungkung Kertagosa courthouse; stop by at the town center where they have quaint antiques. The best/cheapest buys of Balinese cloths and sarungs are in the local textile market here.

Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia

Denpasar

A visit to the Museum of Bali in the capital city of Denpasar is a ready way to learn culture and life in Bali. Located in Jl Mayor Wisnu, the museum boasts of large collections of Balinese artifacts from prehistoric times to the early 20^th century, showcased in four buildings featuring traditional temple and palace architecture.

Denpasar wood panels

In Denpasar, heavily carved pierce and cut wood panels are cheap, probably around $5-8 but the teak ones are twice as expensive.

Mainly a city for business and commerce, Denpasar is typical of a bustling capital albeit with less tourists. Unlike popular destinations like Kuta or Nusa Dua, Denpasar is dominated by locals so shopping can be cheaper, especially in local markets like the Pasar Badung and the numerous artisan shops selling gold jewelry, handicrafts, textiles and the famous intricate wood carvings.