Karangasem - Besakih Mother Temple

We began our day with a short run to Sekolah Dasi Negeri.

A charming school in the Karangasem Region of Bali.

The students performed a welcome dance which is always exquisite.

They then shared with us a few of their traditional games.

The girls scouts then showed us their synchronized marching. They were excellent.

The boy scout followed with a similar performance accompanied by a very humorous rhyme.

Headmaster Pak Nyoman Umum led the teachers in a lap of the school yard.

The school provided sweet potatoes and water for the team.

Our next stop was the Besakih Temple, commonly referred to as the "Mother Temple". It is a complex of temples located in the village of Besakih on the slopes of Mount Agung which you can see in the background of this image.

It is the most important, the largest and holiest temple of Hindu religion in Bali. Perched nearly 1000 meters up the side of Gunung Agung. The temple is built on six levels, terraced up the slope. The entrance is marked by a candi bentar (split gateway).

We were blessed by one of the priests in attendance.

Nyoman and Sudika hold the torch.