Sacred rock (before restoration), a photo from Bali, Nusa Tenggara

Photographer's Note

One day while on Bali in 1976 I decided to go to Tanah Lot, a Hindu temple on an islet that can be reached on foot at low tide. It is one of the most famous sights on Bali and has been a pilgrimage site since the 16th century. I don't know how many Hindu pilgrims go there these days, but Tanah Lot certainly receives a lot of tourists.

For me, going to Tanah Lot from the island capital Denpasar involved three separate rides with local mini busses, 'bemo'. For the last leg of the trip I had to wait at a crossroads for a long time until a bemo turned up. It was already totally packed, but I somehow managed to find a tiny standing room among people, chickens and a giant turtle (alive).

Searching my diary for details about my visit I found that no admission fee was required (there is one now), but visitors were asked to sign a guestbook and to pay a donation for the upkeep of the temple. Seeing the exorbitant sums purportedly donated by some tourists (several times more than any price for a museum ticket) I strongly suspected the staff to have written those figures themselves to convince people to be generous.

My diary doesn't mention any souvenir shops or snack bars (which doesn't mean that there weren't any), but lots of children wanted to sell postcards, homemade bracelets etc.

As you can see in my photo, which I scanned from a Kodachrome slide, there were some other visitors. If you look at the WS, which I borrowed from the internet, you will get an idea of the growth of tourism on Bali between 1976 and recent years.

What struck me when looking at that photo is that the islet has completely changed since my visit. According to Wikipedia the rock had been so eroded by the sea that the Indonesian government in the 1980's hired a Japanese company (paid by a Japanese government loan) to restore the temple and the entire rock. Today more than one third of the rock is artificial, as is clearly seen in the WS photo.

And if you join the yellow Google man at the map coordinates -8.62046 115.08697 you will see more of the development of the tourist industry. Just click at Map: view in the box to the right.

pajaran, Fis2, Royaldevon, jean113, pierrefonds, jhm, ikeharel, PaulVDV, PiotrF, jemaflor, burmaman, adramad, papagolf21, GyurMaster, macjake ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

pajaran (102552) 2020-11-19 0:31

Greeting.
Beautiful photos and memories, a well-shown place and a moment with visitors.
Beautiful architecture on a rock in the sea.
Good work with nice photos in the workshop.
I wish you a nice and successful day, all the best.
Paja.

Fis2 (155547) 2020-11-19 0:34

Witaj Gert, almost a neighbor today;)!
Interesting photos from Your archive.
Wonderful place, view is impressive.
I like building.
Good framing, colors and sharpness.
Well done.
Good morning.
Krzysztof

Silvio1953 (205611) 2020-11-19 0:38

Ciao Gert, fascinating rock with fantastic pagoda, excellent clarity, wonderful colors and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

ChrisJ (159954) 2020-11-19 1:13

Hi Gert

I went in the early to mid 90's several times and was lucky enough to be there at low tide and at sunset. A beautiful spot and the people add scale. Good sharpness too. Tfs!

emka (152108) 2020-11-19 1:39

hello Gert, I have expected that somewhen you will show Tanah Lot, as you wrote that you visited it.
I could show the collage with the view now and then but I have already used Workshops today. But on the page of Tanah Lot my photo is just under yours, so quite easy to compare. The differences are shocking. Indeed, there is more rock now, how did they make it? Now, there is much more vegetation so I do not know if the temple is the same. Probably not. The penjors in my picture were temporary.

As to my visit. I was with a group so no problem with transportation. I have no idea how to move around with public transport. Maybe by motorbike, but I would be afraid. Anyway, I have never travelled with a turtle alive. I would be delighted. I do not remember any entrance fee nor donations. There were not many tourists there. I made walks on both sides of the rock, to the left I was quite alone. On the right, there were some people but not much. Definitely not as in the Internet picture. There were restaurants or stalls but outside the area, in a village. I haven't seen any children selling anything. I have taken many photos, I posted a few, maybe some others will follow.
Best regards Malgo

Royaldevon (75330) 2020-11-19 2:19

Hello Gert,

What an interesting place to visit, and that is recognised by many more people now, than when you were there.
Your photograph doesn't actually focus on the pathway to the island, because that would have obscured the temple, though I can see a couple of figures approaching the steps.
You were lucky to record it like this, when it was possible to appreciate it, as it was intended, a place of religious importance, needing a lot of effort to reach it!
Your w/s makes it seem more like attending a football match! I know you wouldn't have enjoyed it!

Thank you for sharing this,
Bev :-)

jean113 (21991) 2020-11-19 4:08

Hello Gert, I do enjoy seeing pictures of places from the past, and with the workshop picture we can make a a good comparison.
I do wonder how they managed to stabilise the island, but it was obviously necessary.
Did you have to wait for low tide before crossing to the island?
I like the presence of the people as they animate the scene and give a guide as to scale.
Excellent commentary, I always enjoy reading your notes.
Kind regards, Jean

pierrefonds (103465) 2020-11-19 4:52

Hi Gert,

The presence of the persons has an effect of scale. The point of view is showing the details of the Sacred rock. The light is giving good colors output. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jhm (202915) 2020-11-19 5:15

Hello Geert,

What a lovely picture with nice Hindu temple above on the rock
Incredible panorama image with a lovely sea in background.
This makes your picture very great
Fantastic picture, very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

ikeharel (105867) 2020-11-19 5:18

Hello Gert,
I think this spot is the most famous location in Bali. An attractive rocks formation, black texture from volcanic residue, and stetchs out to sea.
Both pictures superbly scanned and nicely presented from same POV.
Good afternoon,
Ike

PaulVDV (54809) 2020-11-19 9:34

Hello Gert,
Well, it wasn't that crowded when I was there in 1990. I suppose that was a happy coincidence.
Going there did indeed meant changing bemo a few times. But that went smoothly.
I've seen books with donations of incredible amounts in several places in the world. I wonder if anyone believes that.
You have composed this photo very nicely.
The attractive colours and the brightness make it very pretty.
Best regards, Paul

lousat (129891) 2020-11-19 9:38

Hi Gert,in fact many things have changed, I see a nice comfortable staircase to climb and above all an impressive number of tourists. I have never been here but the name of the temple is not new to me, you were right to post something popular today. A great idea is the technique of not charging the ticket on the minibus but leaving an offer, certainly a way to get more money, the ticket itself would have cost very little compared to the economic potential of tourists. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

jmdias (102822) 2020-11-19 10:56

gert

this rock should be a volcanic mix of ashes as I saw in santorini, not so much hard and probably easy to be eroded by foot and by waters.. nice view, I guess I had seen this place in malgo archive..

take care

jorge

dta (98518) 2020-11-19 11:13

Hello Gert ,
This is a most interesting picture , especially combinated with the WS . Stunning that the one in WS looks more old than the main post . Japaneses have done a good work.
Regards

Tue (82164) 2020-11-19 11:14

Hej Gert,
Sikke en forskel mellem nu (eller for ikke så lang tid siden, for i øjeblikket er det vist også langte mindre overfyldt med turister igen) og for 44 år siden. Du var heldig at du stadig kunne se templet da det var stille og roligt derovre. De sorte klipper og templet står meget godt frem fra det blå hav og lyset var også meget klart og fint.
Lars

kasianowak (15796) 2020-11-19 14:15

SLIGHTLY more crowded... Wow. This was once an enchanting place and a few people give the image context and a sense of scale. The crowd in the other photo makes me want to run away. The number of tourists at the cremation - I wonder what it would be now.
Have a nice Friday (I may be able to find a suitable quiz to celebrate that most wonderful day of the week)
Kasia

PiotrF (52330) 2020-11-19 16:19

Hello Gert
Beautiful picure from Bali, impressive rock formation.
Definitely more tourists in the photo in the workshop. Interesting note, great presentation from your archive.
Regards
Piotr

jemaflor (135344) 2020-11-19 23:37

Hi Gert,
Well photographed this famous temple, so photogenic, well done, good sunlight and colors with the blue sea, a good remember this place for me, tfs

burmaman (902) 2020-11-20 2:36

Hello Gert!
Thanks for the very informative note.It is nice to compare both photos.I did not know that it looked like this so many years ago.This scan is perfect and shows the erosion very well.
Regards,Ronny

CMJC (4757) 2020-11-20 4:25 [Comment]

Show Comment

adramad (66964) 2020-11-20 5:16

Hi Gert.
A great composition of this marvel of a temple, located on the rock in the sea, I visited it less years ago and it is quite changed, I went at sunset and there were people to give as gifts.
Point of view, sharpness, lightness, color and the chosen composition are excellent.
A very beautiful photo. I like.
You have a good day.
Best regards.
Luis.

papagolf21 (152599) 2020-11-22 7:35

Bonjour, cher Gert,
Edifier un Temple sur un îlot, eh bien, il ne faut pas manquer de courage pour apporter les matériaux, les hommes, le matériel, surtout à cette époque, etc.
Aussi, cela reste un joyau à contempler devant un tel monument au milieu des flots.
La date de prise de vue rend compte de la qualité de l'appareil photo.
Amitiés.
Philippe

GyurMaster (21317) 2020-11-22 9:56

Dear Gert,

I read your notes with interest, and compared the two photographs. Well, a lot of changed and this old version fits my taste better. Mainly because of how the lighter peak evolves from the dark surroundings. The human presence is a nice addition as always.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

macjake (96157) 2020-11-23 22:17

Hi Gert
very interesting read. Perhaps one day in the future it will by 80 or 90% fake, it's only a matter of time I suppose until its all washed away by erosion. Similar to the famous Arch in Malta - which is now in the Sea. I was lucky to have walked across that famous arch only 1 or 2 years before it collapsed. In the end Mother Nature will always be victorious. as you probably imagine, I prefer the main view much more. the WS really completes the TE post, excellent work. cheers
Craig