The towering Balinese gate framed by jungle-covered mountains.
Handara Gate is a towering traditional Balinese split gate - a candi bentar - standing at the entrance of a highland golf resort. There's no temple behind it; the draw is purely the shot, with the two stone halves framing the path through. It's become one of Bali's most recognisable images, and it's just as striking in person.
What makes the frame work is the setting: the gate stands against a wall of jungle-covered mountains in the cool northern highlands around Bedugul. On a clear highland morning the green peaks rise crisp behind the stone, and the air is fresh and cool. When the cloud sits low it turns moody instead - either way, it photographs beautifully.
This is a quick photo stop, and timing is everything - the gate is popular and a queue forms fast. We aim for a window when it's quieter so you get your shot without a long wait, then move on. A short but worthwhile pause on the way through the highlands, best folded into the morning before the crowds build.