On an early March Bali morning, I descended water buried steps into the purification pool of the ancient Hindu temple Pura Tirta Empul (or holy water spring). Scattered rounded stones covered the floor, the natural spring and koi stirred the water lifting and billowing the sarong about my legs. Water crept up my white t-shirt and soaked my swimsuit underneath.
I waited in a short line of people for my turn at the wall of cleansing fountain spouts. As directed by a local guide, I tottered to the third spout. There I clasped my hands in front of my forehead in prayer. Next, in a triplicate sequence, I splashed my forehead, upon my eyelids, across my mouth, and then dunked beneath. I repeated this at each spout moving West to East and then climbed into the adjacent pool. I completed the ritual two more times.
After exiting the pools, I changed into a clean t-shirt and wrapped and knotted a finer sarong and ceremonial sash around my waist. Dressed for the next inner courtyard, I placed my canang sari temple offering onto the rock wall near the outdoor altar. The offering had a flagpole incense stick jutting from the moss that crowned the coconut leaf woven basket filled white, red, yellow, and purple flower petals. Using my flipflops to cushion my bottom, I sat cross-legged on the ground. Similar to a Christian baptism sacrament, a white clothing clad priest recited a litany and then dripped blessed water on my head. Traveling to different cultures and countries, and diverging from the average itinerary, satisfies an internal deep curiosity and allows me to receive rich experiences I can relish later and share with others.
*Sarongs drying in the outer yard.
