Spirit of Belimbing
Along the way, you will observe many beautiful sculpted-terrace rice paddies. When you arrive at the start point of the tour, you will be served refreshing tea or coffee plus tasty cookies before starting the 7km trek around the coffee and chocolate plantations. The trek is not arduous but will take you up and down the rice-paddy terraces (*). As you walk, your guide will identify fruits and vegetables and explain how local people grow and harvest their crops.
The trek terminates at the secluded Benben Waterfall, considered sacred by the Belimbing inhabitants. Bring your bathing costume and take a few minutes to bathe in the waters and thus cleanse away bad spirits and if you are young and in love, ensure good fortune for you and your partner in the future! A Balinese Hindu priest is on hand to assist you. From Benben Waterfall, you will be transferred by road back to your hotel for lunch followed by some relaxation time to reflect on the morning’s cultural and spiritual experiences.
Later, around 4pm, you will be attired in suitable Balinese national dress and taken to one of Belimbing’s ancient Hindu temples located in the jungle. There you will encounter the sacred monkeys that live in the temple. A temple priest will enact a Hindu offering-to-the-gods ceremony involving bantens (ornate creations of meals cooked with meat and vegetables and decorated with flowers) followed by the drinking and spraying of holy water, an essential element of Balinese Hinduism. After the ceremony, you will be transferred back to your hotel in time for dinner and with yet more spiritual experiences to reflect upon.