GATES OF HEAVEN IN BALI

Three hours. That was the time I spent falling in line with hundred other visitors from around the world who vied for an instagrammable pose at Pura Lempuyang Temple a.k.a. Gates of Heaven in Bali, Indonesia. This is situated at the highest Peak of Mt. Lempuyang in Karangasem in East Bali.   

 

 No tourist would dare leave Bali without paying a visit to this very popular Hindu Temple or else his trip to one of the world's most famous destinations is never complete. 

 

This site is open from 7AM to 5PM. The best time to visit is early morning where the beautiful Mt. Agung makes a stunning backdrop.  

 

The heavenly shot a guest would bring home and proudly post on social media is a product of both naturally beautiful scenery and a simple camera trick. Here's to disclose the trick. The Reflection Effect is not really because of water in a pool or pond. This is a result of positioning a clear glass just below your phone's lens. Thus, a simple photo becomes artistic and so dramatic. Somehow for me, this makes sense and a long wait is truly worth it.       

Here's what you actually see.

 

Here's what you get.

And here are the culprits

  

After hours of waiting and a minute of posing, a guest has to exit outright to give way to other tourists.

The posing site is actually a stair leading down to exit gate.

 

Entrance fee (donation) to Pura Lempuyang is very minimal. Everyone must wear a sarong when entering a Hindu temple. Varied designs are available for rent.