Mr Gede is a Balinese tour guide of about 50. He was previously working at a hotel. The 2002 Bali Bombing ruined the tourism industry and locals like Gede left to seek employment elsewhere. Many ended up in Malaysia and Singapore. Gede's destination was Brunei. When the tourism industry recovered, many like Gede returned. To serve in the tourism industry, tour guides had to get a degree in tourism and be fluent in English. Some hotels offered English courses to their employees. Mr Gede spoke good English although his elaborate rolling of the tongue to pronounce the "R"s amused us.
The infrastructure in Bali left much to be desired. The roads (apart from those at the city center) were mostly narrow and windy. Motorists sound their horns to alert others when they overtake.
By and by, we arrived at the parking booth of Tanah Lot where we paid for the parking ticket and entrance fee. The parking area was large and many tour buses could be seen. A large open-air pavilion near the entrance became the resting area for drivers and tour guides waiting for their passenger to walk the compound leading towards the lone temple in the sea called Tanah Lot.
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