So many ways to make money in tourist spots! The first four photos are from the Tegenungan waterfall in Kemenuh, Bali. Notice the cute frames on two of the photos? They are meant for someone to sit in them, and then deposit 10,000 rupiahs into a small locked box for doing so (about 70 cents). There are many frames and signs like this around the most popular attractions. Some people actually hiked all the way to the bottom to walk in the pool and climb aside the waterfall, but it was too long a trek for us, as we had several other places we wanted to see.
The following three photos are of the Tegalalang Rice Terraces. Once again, you can climb all the way down the mountain and walk among them, but guess what? The only way back is to climb back UP the mountain, and just like with the waterfall, we had other places to go! If you look at the sign that says, I ♥️ Bali, there is a yellow collection box on the left side of the platform, requesting 5,000 rupiahs….only 35 cents to take a photo! It is all on an honor system, of course, but each box was filled with donations.
After that….here comes the Elephant Cave! Known as Goa Gajah, the cave complex was built in the 11th century and contains Hindu and Buddhist imagery, but it was only rediscovered by Dutch archaeologists in 1923. The fountains and bathing pool weren’t unearthed until 1954, and contain statues of seven women holding water jugs with water flowing from them (one was destroyed in an earthquake), which depict the seven holy rivers of India. We both had to don sarongs around our waists to enter, down a long series of steps. As you can see, of the two figures on either side of the actual entrance to the cave, only one survived more or less intact from the 11th century. Inside were some small altars, like the one shown. There was a whole class of children touring the site, and once I asked if I could take their picture, they became quite animated, broke into smiles, and waved at the camera.
The last photo is….special. We wonder how many times per year it is actually used! It was adjacent to restrooms that advertised, “Toilet….2,000 rupiah” (14 cents). BUT then we saw signs that said, “GOOD Toilet…20,000 rupiah,” or $1.40 US. We did not check them out to compare the differences. But, quite pricey, for what it is! Tourism certainly commands hefty tariffs on those essential services….
