Waiting for Sunset in Tanah Lot Temple, Bali

Tanah Lot Temple is located about 20 kilometers west of Denpasar, the capital city of Bali. It’s one of the most popular tourist spots in Bali, drawing a few hundred visitors during sunset. I visited this spot one evening at the beginning of this month, November, marking the official start of Bali’s rainy season.

I was with a group of visitors from Poland who had come to explore Bali. Toward the end of the year, it’s common to see more Polish tourists here. I only know one phrase in Polish, "Dzień Dobry," which means hello. Thankfully, the group’s tour leader spoke English, so I explained things in English, and he interpreted for the others in Polish.

The weather at Tanah Lot was gloomy, but that didn’t stop us from admiring the beautiful view of the temple, perched on a rocky island along the beach. Many people were strolling around the black, sandy, and rocky beach near the rock on which Tanah Lot Temple is built.

A few tourists reached the island, walking through the shallow water to receive a blessing from a local Balinese priest. Some of them tried to see the “holy snake” at one corner of the beach, while others simply enjoyed the view of the ocean and sky. With the weather as it was, it was clear there wouldn’t be a sunset that evening.

We ended our visit with dinner at a restaurant overlooking the ocean called De Jukung. The tables were set up in the garden, but my clients preferred to dine inside, perhaps anticipating rain.

And that sums up my experience at Tanah Lot Temple.