AN ANCIENT bath house

Tucked away in one of the small alleyways in Tejakula, a small town on the Norther coastline of Bali, is a traditional Balinese bath house with an intriguing story. Before motorbikes and cars became the main mode of transport and life was dependent on horse drawn carts, this exact bath house used to be a space where the horses could rest and drink. Fed by a spring that originates in the volcanic mountains above, the crystal clear water makes its way down to the tropical, lush lowlands, filtering through layers of volcanic rock.

When the horses weren’t needed anymore like they used to, the space was remodeled and now serves as a traditional Balinese bath house, where people of all ages come to wash, do their laundry or just socialise under the cool, ever running stream of fresh spring water.

In the hills above, wild monkies still roam and the view over the town all the way to the Coastline is simply beautiful. A traditional Balinese temple proudly sits half way up the mountain.

When asked if I could have a wash at the bath house one day, the Ibu present smiles and says: ‘Sure, why not?!’ Maybe I will take her up on the offer one day and escape the heat to indulge in the fresh, cool water myself.