After the cave, we took off for a drive through the rice paddies (sawah) on our way to the temple of Gunung Kawi. Hidden in a lush, steep valley of stepped rice paddies, this temple is quiet and very peaceful. Carved into the cliffs surrounding it are 9 huge,,, eh,, shrines dating again to the 8th century- and supposedly chiseled with bamboo,,, in honor of 9 wealthy patrons who sought a favorable re-incarnation.

This temple was very simple, and still has caves carved out of the rock cliffs for meditation. From the outside it looks a little like a walled fortress. Inside, this ancient temple has a few recent additions (where the statues are). The stream, just below, fills the air here with that sound of running water.