Bali is magical. As probably the most famous island in Indonesia, Bali blends spectacular mountain scenery and beautiful beaches with warm and friendly people, a vibrant culture and out of this world resorts.
Travel & Leisure Magazine has
awarded Bali the World’s Best Island in 2009, while the Lonely Planet’s
Best of Travel 2010 ranked Bali second place among the world’s Top
Regions.
Also known as the Land of the Gods, Bali
appeals through its sheer natural beauty of looming volcanoes and lush
terraced rice fields that exude peace and serenity. Bali enchants with
its dramatic dances and colourful ceremonies, its arts and crafts, to
its luxurious beach resorts and exciting night life. For this exotic
island has much to offer, from inspirational spirituality to fine dining
and meeting experiences, from world class surfing and diving to
exhilarating treks in the wild. And everywhere you will find intricately
carved temples.
For, the Balinese, who embrace the Hindu
religion, are a most devout people where a large part of their lives is
dedicated to rites and ceremonies aimed at maintaining harmony in this
world. Indeed, this relatively small island holds many surprises.
This is a miraculous island indeed, for
after decades of popularity, Bali continues to amaze both local and
international visitors alike. Here gather a variety of visitors from
around the globe: from those who come to surf the waves of Kuta, Uluwatu
and Dreamland, to others who love the panoramic beauty of mountains and
lakes at Batur, Kintamani, or Lake Beratan at Bedugul, to those who
merely love shopping or spend endless days on the beach.
Bali’s white beaches are favourite for
family holidays. There are a variety of water sports available, such as
banana boats, parasailing or jet skiing, swimming or plain sunbathing.
Cruises to the surrounding islands can be taken from here as well as
submarine dives to watch the tropical underwater life from within safe
compartments.
Most well known among Bali’s beaches is
Kuta beach, the best spot to watch dramatic sunsets. Further back along
this stretch are an array of hotels, - from five stars to simple home
stay - restaurants and shops and cafes, while in the evenings the area
throbs to the beat of disco music.
Or for a quieter evening enjoy the beach
at Jimbaran, a popular spot to eat fresh barbecued seafood in the
evenings, while watching from a distance the lights of planes landing
and taking off from Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport. Located here are some of
Bali’s best hotels like the Four Seasons and the Bali Intercontinental
hotel. Jimbaran is also renowned for the Barong trance dance.
Further west of Kuta are Legian and
Seminyak. On the other side of the peninsula is the more sedate Sanur
Beach, which is also dotted with hotels and restaurants, or visit Nusa
Dua, where more private beaches front super de-luxe hotels.
- Surfing and Diving in Bali
-
- A good start for surfers is Kuta beach. But the best waves in Bali are at Uluwatu, at the southern tip of Bali, which is the site for international competitions. Here are the long, and perfectly formed hollow-barreled reef-breaks at 3 unique lefts, while at Nusa Dua and Sanur 3 complementary rights can be found. The time to surf is during April through September when winds are predominantly east-southeast. .
Surfers also love the waves at Nusa
Lembongan near Nusa Penida, sister islands due south east of Bali facing
the Indian Ocean. These islands are a 45 minutes boat trip from Nusa
Dua or from Sanur. Here the waves are known as Playground Surf Break,
Shipwreck Surf Break, Ceningan Reef Surf Break to Lacerating Surf Break.
For thrilling dives Bali offers
excellent underwater challenges, with a range of options to suit
beginners, while others should only be attempted by advanced divers.
At Nusa Penida, there are strong
currents as this strait separates Bali from Lombok. At Nusa Penida’s
south western coast are the Manta Point and the Malibu point where
divers can swim with Travally, big rays and even sharks. At Blue Corner
find Moia Moia fish.
At Bali‘s most eastern end is Padang Bay
and Cemeluk, better known as Amed Beach for great dives, where you can
find cardinal fish, black snappers and damsel fish.
While
along Bali’s north-western coast in the Bali Barat National Park, the
best dive spots are at Menjangan with its reef flat, anchor wreck, eel
garden and caves to explore. Nearby and still in the Bali Barat Park is
Pemutaran island.
For more detailed information on diving sites in Bali, you can click this link. (Caution: the link leads to another site in Indonesian.) For a more global information on diving in Indonesia, you can check other diving destinations.
- Rafting, Cycling and Eco-tours
Bali offers first class adrenaline
pumping white water rafting down the spectacular Ayung River by Ubud.
Here you can also go bungy-jumping from a cliff down to almost touch the
river.
If you enjoy cycling, Ubud and its
surrounding is a wonderful town to bike around, as found by Elizabeth
Gilbert, written in her bestselling novel “Eat, Pray, Love”. There are
also good cycling paths at Uluwatu in the south.
Mountain climbers may want to climb up
Gunung Agung. Begin your ascent from behind the temple or through the
village of Sebudi. However, make sure to ask permission first from the
temple authorities, as Balinese religion prescribes that no one may
stand higher than the sacred temple especially when ceremonies are being
held. The tough climb takes 6 to 8 hours, and
you are recommended to start out early in the morning, and be led by an experienced guide.
- Bali Barat National Park
For serious trekking, head for the Bali
Barat National Park at the western part of the island. This is a large
park covering 76,312 hectares in the districts of Jembrana and Buleleng.
Entrance at the Jembrana side is at Melaya off the Denpasar-Gilimanuk
highway. The Park offers pristine tropical nature, and is the last home
of the most endangered Bali starling with only some one hundred
remaining. These are very pretty white birds, with black wing tips and a
brilliant blue streak around their eyes. Here is also the endangered
wild Javan buffalo or banteng, with only 30 to 40 left living deep in
the forest. Other animals are the rusa deer, the mouse deer, leopards,
civets, macaques and a number of species of monkeys.
Visitors to Bali Barat must first obtain
a permit available free of charge at Cekik, at Labuhan Lalang or at the
Forestry Ministry office at Renon, Denpasar. Although shelters are
available, trekkers must bring their own bedding, mosquito protection,
food, water and utensils. There are simple hotels at Labuhan Lalang or
at Gilimanuk and Negara.
- Benoa Mangrove Tour
Another interesting eco-tour is a trip through the Mangrove forests via elevated wooden boardwalks. The forests are located near Benoa Harbour at Suwung Kau, some 21 km. south of Denpasar.
The Mangrove Information Center, opened
in 2003, is dedicated to the study and preservation of the region's
coastal mangroves. Covering an area of about 200 hectares there are
nursery plots occupying 7,700 square-meters, wooden boardwalk trails for
observation and exploration huts for resting and meditation and
floating decks.
Mangroves play a central role in the ocean’s life cycle and food chain since they serve as key breeding areas for an entire range of sea creatures that are fundamental to the Ocean's food chain. And in case of a tsunami, mangroves serve as life-saving buffers.
These mangrove forests are best visited in the early morning or in the afternoon, the best times to watch the many species of birds that make the mangroves their habitat.
Mangroves play a central role in the ocean’s life cycle and food chain since they serve as key breeding areas for an entire range of sea creatures that are fundamental to the Ocean's food chain. And in case of a tsunami, mangroves serve as life-saving buffers.
These mangrove forests are best visited in the early morning or in the afternoon, the best times to watch the many species of birds that make the mangroves their habitat.
- Cultural Performances
In Bali, dance and dramas are an
inseparable part of daily temple devotion and celebrations, and many are
held sacred. Each village has a different date of festivities, and a
visitor may therefore, accidentally watch dance performances that are
not staged for tourists.
However, Bali villages do offer cultural
performances catering to tourists. The Barong dance is staged mornings
in the village of Batubulan. This is the eternal story of the fight
between good and evil.
The Kecak dance is staged most
dramatically in the open air by Pura Tanah Lot with as backdrop, the sun
slowly lowering in the sea over the horizon beyond this beautiful
temple. The Kecak dance tells the story of Ramayana wherein prince
Rama’s wife, Sita, is abducted by the ogre Rahwana. In the forest Rama
sees a golden deer and he chases it, but not before drawing a circle
around Sita, warning her not to step out of it to stay safe. Rahwana
lures Sita out of the circle and she is abducte
To save her, prince Rama is helped by
the white monkey god Hanoman. For its rhythm and music the kecak dance
relies entirely on the human chorus of a hundred men representing
Hanoman’s monkey army sitting around in a circle forming the dance
arena. As the sun goes down and darkness sets in, the arena is
dramatically lit by flickering bamboo torches.
The village of Peliatan is famed for its
graceful Legong Keraton – the palace court dance - and superb flowing
gamelan orchestral music.
Other fascinating dances are the Baris –
the dance of the warriors, and the Mask Dance – this is a one man
performance expressing different dramatic characters and human emotions.
- Shopping
Bali is an island that produces great
artists and artisans, where creativity exudes from every village.
Painters, woodcarvers and dancers are experts, with artistic traditions
handed down from generation to generation.
Your best buy in Bali, therefore, will
be paintings. For best paintings visit at leisure the galleries at Ubud,
and admire artists at work, before you decide which painting you like
best. Most Balinese paintings go best with a Bali carved wooden frame.
For fine woodcarvings, go to the village of Mas, where are the master
woodcarvers. If you are looking for gold or silver jewelry, head to the
village of Celuk.
But if you are thinking of bringing home
souvenirs for friends and relatives, your best bet is the souvenir
market at Sukowati, where you may be overwhelmed by choice.
For casual and chic summer wear the
place to browse is Kuta, which has a large variety of boutiques and
shops, selling everything from bright T-shirts, surf- wear, flip-flops
to creative trinkets.
If you wish to buy dried food stuffs, Bali coffee is most aromatic. You may also want to buy aromatherapy essential oils to sprinkle your bath with.
If you wish to buy dried food stuffs, Bali coffee is most aromatic. You may also want to buy aromatherapy essential oils to sprinkle your bath with.
- Spa and Wellness
Bali today has become the leader of Spas
in South East Asia. Almost all de-luxe hotels offer unique top class
Spa facilities where guests enjoy luxurious treatment and pampering, for
which Indonesia is so justly famous.
Here you will be spoilt with
aromatherapy massages, herbal wraps and scrubs with essential oils, foot
reflexology, detoxification, from highly respected traditional
treatments once only enjoyed by princesses in the ancient courts, to
modern technology methods. Two spa resorts in Bali offer
thalassotherapy, based on the restorative powers of the sea rich in
miner and oligo elements that are massaged in and absorbed into the
bloodstream to restore the balance in the body. A number of spas are set amidst breathtaking views of green hillsides and winding rivers or jut out to sea where the lapping of the waves of the Indian Ocean provides peace and rest. Each spa has its own unique feature. Most incorporate salon treatment for facials, cream bath, manicures and pedicures, everything to make you feel refreshed and come out feeling completely different person.
A weekend at Bagus Jati provides the opportunity to enjoy delicious, healthy food, lots of activities and pampering in a tropical forest. Here the Indonesian herbal treatment or “Jamu” restores the body, mind and spirit, cleansing the body from all toxins. Regular Yoga exercises complete the course.
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