Balinese directions

The Balinese use a system of directions which is based on their ancient animist culture. They believe the God live in the mountians, the demons live in the ocean and the people live in between. All Balinese temples are aligned with this in mind. Towards the ocean is kelod, towards the mountians is kaja. You will often see this on maps, ‘Legian Kaja’ etc.

Living in the south of the island you can think of a rough equivalent to the tradition, north, south, east, west compass points. In other parts of the island its all backwards. In Basa Bali (Balinese) there is a kasar (rough ) version and a alus (high ) version.

In Kuta you can say that the following words match:

North – kaja (kasar), kaler (alus)
South – kelod (kasar), kidul (alus)
East – kangin (kasar), wetan (alus)
West – kauh (kasar), kulon (alus).

Balinese temples are usually oriented with the kulkul (wooden bell tower) in the kelod-kangin corner of the temple.