Starlight Whispers
Google
Very disappointing experience at this Temple. The 50k entrance fee to enter includes a sarong that they provide you along with a cloth piece to secure it. This can very well be tied by oneself or perhaps with help from the people whom you’ve travelled with.
However, the ‘guide’ and his assistant try to tie it for you before you can do it yourself and they do it extremely tightly which felt pervasive. The assistant was especially shady as he quickly grabbed the cloth piece tied over my sarong when I was about to remove it myself and hand it back (this was under my poncho as it was raining so it would be challenging for someone other than myself to actually reach this cloth to remove it). It felt like a set-up because the ‘guide’ is elderly and takes a long time to climb down the steps and walk back towards his post at the car park gantry. So, in the meantime, this assistant can handle the sarong situation because no one is currently next to us to tell us how to end our visit. It was a clear attempt at crossing physical boundaries that bordered on harassment.
As for the Temple itself, the architecture was pleasing and a lot of history can be garnered from it. The main sanctum was closed so deities could not be viewed which leaves one to wander about outside where some trees and structures are located. Nothing out of the ordinary from other buildings found in the vicinity.
Also, the ‘guide’ mentioned above keeps following you and he does not explain or storytell in any way. So what exactly is his role I wonder? Why are visitors not allowed to take in the place on their own without a presence following them, much less one who seems to have no information about the place which would have greatly enhanced one’s experience.
The place is almost fully open air with only a few sheltered platforms but I am unsure if visitors are allowed to take shelter ( certainly no invitation was extended to us despite the ‘guide’ chilling away in the sheltered area to protect himself from the rain).
The beach is a stone’s throw away and perhaps a much better place to visit. Take note though there is construction going on so it may be a challenge actually getting to the shore.