Places to visit in Bali and best time to visit Bali to enjoy Bali tours
Places to visit in Bali and best time to visit Bali to enjoy Bali tours
Bali, the famed Island of the Gods, with its varied landscape of hills and mountains, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, lush rice terraces and barren volcanic hillsides all providing a picturesque backdrop to its colourful, deeply spiritual and unique culture, stakes a serious claim to be paradise on earth. With world-class surfing and diving, a large number of cultural, historical and archaeological attractions, and an enormous range of accommodations, this is one of the world's most popular island destinations and one which consistently wins travel awards. Bali has something to offer a very broad market of visitors from young back-packers right through to the super-rich.
The word "paradise" is used a lot in Bali and not without reason. The combination of friendly, hospitable people, a magnificently visual culture infused with spirituality and (not least) spectacular beaches with great surfing and diving have made Bali Indonesia's unrivaled number one tourist attraction. Eighty percent of international visitors to Indonesia visit Bali and Bali alone.
A consideration is the tourist season and Bali can get very crowded in August and September and again at Christmas and New Year. Australians also visit during school holidays in early April, late June and late September, while domestic tourists from elsewhere in Indonesia visit during national holidays. Outside these peak seasons, Bali can be surprisingly quiet and good discounts on accommodation are often available.
Daytime temperatures are pleasant, varying between 20-33⁰ C (68-93⁰ F) year-round. From December to March, the west monsoon can bring heavy showers and high humidity, but days are still often sunny with the rains starting in the late afternoon or evening and passing quickly. From June to September, the humidity is low and it can be quite cool in the evenings. At this time of the year there is hardly any rain in the lowland coastal areas.
Regions of Bali
South Bali (Kuta, Bukit Peninsula, Canggu, Denpasar, Jimbaran, Legian, Nusa Dua, Sanur, Seminyak, Tanah Lot) The most visited part of the island by far, with Kuta Beach and chic Seminyak.
Central Bali (Ubud, Bedugul, Tabanan) The cultural heart of Bali and the central mountain range.
West Bali (Negara, Gilimanuk, Medewi Beach, Pemuteran, West Bali National Park) Ferries to Java and the West Bali National Park.
North Bali (Lovina, Singaraja)Quiet black sand beaches and the old capital city.
East Bali (Amed, Besakih, Candidasa, Kintamani, Klungkung, Mount Agung, Padang Bai, Tirta Gangga) Laid back coastal villages, an active volcano and the mighty Mount Agung.
Southeastern Islands (Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan) Quiet offshore islands in the southeast, popular for diving activities.
Cities ans Destinations around Bali
Denpasar: a bustling city, the administrative centre and transport hub of the island but not a major tourist destination
Candidasa: a quiet coastal town, the Bali Aga and gateway to the east coast
Kuta: surfer central, by far the most heavily developed area in Bali. Lots of shopping and night-life and the centre of lower-end party culture on Bali
Jimbaran: sea-side resorts, a nice sheltered beach and seafood restaurants south of Kuta
Legian: located between Kuta and Seminyak; also the name of Kuta´s main street
Lovina: beautiful black volcanic sand beaches and coral reefs
Padang Bai: a relaxed traditional fishing village with some touristic options. Great place to enjoy the beach, snorkelling, diving and eating fish.
Sanur: sea-side resorts and beaches popular with older families
Seminyak: quieter, more upscale beachside resorts and villas just to the north of Legian, with some fashionable upscale restaurants and trendy designer bars and dance clubs
Ubud: the centre of art and dance in the foothills, with several museums, the monkey forest and lots of arts and crafts shops
Amed: an area of peaceful, traditional fishing villages featuring black sand beaches, coral reefs, and excellent freediving or scuba diving
Bedugul: nice lakes in the mountains, a golf course, the botanical gardens, and the famous Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
Bukit Peninsula: the southernmost tip of Bali, with world class surfing, great beaches, and the can't-miss cliff-hanging Uluwatu Temple
Kintamani: active volcano Mount Batur, great mountain scenery, largest Lake in Bali, cooler temperatures vegetable and fruit growing
Mount Agung: highest mountain in Bali and the mother temple of Besakih
Nusa Dua: an enclave of high-end resorts and a long, golden sand beach
Nusa Lembongan: good diving, snorkeling and surfing and a great place to relax
Nusa Penida: wild, rugged and untamed and as off-the-beaten-path as you will get in Bali
West Bali National Park: trekking, bird watching and diving in Bali's only substantial natural protected area
Wandering Bali
Bali's best-known attractions are its countless Hindu temples. Each village is required by adat (customary law) to construct and maintain at least three temples: the pura puseh (temple of origin) located at the kaja (pure) side of the village, the pura desa (village temple) at the centre for everyday community activities and the pura dalem (temple of the dead) at the kelod (unclean) end. Wealthy villages may well have more than these three obligatory temples, and additionally all family compounds have a temple of some nature.
The nine directional temples (kayangan jagat) are the largest and most prominent. These are located at strategic points across Bali and are designed to protect the island and its inhabitants from dark forces. Pura Luhur Uluwatu (Uluwatu Temple), at the southern tip of Bali, is easily accessed and hence very popular, as is Tanah Lot. For the Balinese, the "mother temple" of Besakih on the slopes of Mount Agung is the most important of all and sits above the nine. The other seven directional temples are Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, Pura Ulun Danu Batur, Pura Pasar Agung, Pura Lempuyang Luhur, Goa Lawah, Pura Masceti and Pura Luhur Batukaru. All of these are located on either rugged high ground or at the water's edge, and this is a clear indication of the likely source of dark forces as far as the Balinese are concerned.
Balinese temple design is an involved subject and one which baffles many visitors. Local geography has a fundamental effect on design, and two temples are rarely the same. Everything you see, be it decorative or structural, has a specific, well-considered function which may be of an earthly or spiritual nature. There are, though, general elements which are common to the vast majority of temples, which are always split into three courtyards: jaba (outer courtyard) , jaba tengah (middle courtyard) and jeroan (inner courtyard). Each of these courtyards contains various structures and/or shrines of differing levels of importance.
Most of the coastline of Bali is fringed by beaches of some type, with the exceptions being some important areas of mangrove forest in the southeast, and certain parts of the Bukit Peninsula where high cliffs drop straight to the crashing waves of the Indian Ocean.
Unsurprisingly, given the volcanic nature of the island, black sand is the norm, but there are also some beaches in the south which have fine-grained white sand. Beaches that are especially safe for swimming include Jimbaran Bay and virtually all of the north coast. At all times though, visitors should be aware of and obey local swimming safety markers—far too many visitors to Bali drown each year after ignoring these. Bali's popular southern beaches are sometimes not the cleanest you will find. This is particularly true during the height of the wet season (December to January), when the heavy rains cause extensive agricultural run-off and garbage to be washed onto the beaches.
Away from the coast, Bali is largely lush, green and fertile, and rice paddies are the dominant agricultural feature of the island. In some areas, paddies take the form of dramatic sculpted terraces which efficiently utilise every available acre of land for cultivation. Especially beautiful examples of terraced paddies can be found in the centre of the island north of Ubud and in east Bali around Tirta Gangga. Elsewhere, gently rolling rice fields make for very pleasing rural scenery.
All of Bali's mountains are volcanoes, some long dormant and some still active. At 3,142 metres (10,308 ft), magnificent Mount Agung dominates the landscape of East Bali and has not erupted since 1963. Much more active is Mount Batur, which permanently smolders and periodically produces a large bang and plumes of ashy smoke as pressure is released from within. Taking only two hours to climb, Batur is one of the most accessible active volcanoes in the whole of Indonesia.
Art, both traditional and modern, is everywhere in Bali and impossible to miss. Ubud is the artistic capital of the island with several museums and a variety of informal workshops and retail outlets. Ubud's museums showcase the works of local artists, both living and dead, as well as works by many foreign artists, who either have a strong affinity to Bali or have made the island their permanent home.
Bali's Hindu culture and history is both extraordinary and unique. Many visitors get so wrapped up in shopping, partying and beach life to miss the opportunity to understand and absorb at least some of this. You cannot fail to see temples, come across ceremonies and witness daily offerings, and those who take the time and effort to understand what is going on around them will find their visit very rewarding.
There are several hot springs to be discovered in Bali. One of them, on the north coast of the island near Lovina, is Air Banjar, where stone mouth carvings allow hot water to pass between the pools, which are set in lush gardens. Another good choice is at Toya Bungkah on the shores of Lake Batur, high in the north eastern mountains.
Balinese massage is usually done with oil and involves long, Swedish-style strokes. In steep contrast to exorbitant western massage fees, Balinese massage is an incredible value, and visitors should definitely avail themselves of this luxury. In local salons, a one-hour full body massage will cost between Rp 70,000 and 100,000, and the 2 hr mandi lulur, which incorporates a body scrub and hydrating yogurt body mask in addition to the massage, will cost about Rp 150,000. The curiously named creambath is a relaxing scalp and shoulder massage, usually lasting 45 min, in which a thick conditioning cream is worked through the hair and into the scalp. A creambath typically costs about Rp 60,000. Note that these same services in an upscale hotel will cost many times more.
Bali is host to some of the finest yoga and well-being centres and retreats in the world. You can find an abundance of amazing yoga classes to suit all levels in most of the tourist areas. Look for the best yoga centres in Ubud and Seminyak. Bali is also now home to a number of renowned yoga teacher training centres.
Weddings in Bali have become very popular in recent years. Many couples who are already legally married choose Bali as the place to renew their vows. Full wedding-organising services are widely available: ceremony arrangements, photography, videography, flowers, musicians, dancers and catering.
There are many interesting scuba diving sites around Bali. Particularly popular are the wreck of USAT Liberty at Tulamben in the east, the chilled out coral bommies in Padang Bai, the serene reefs around Menjangan Island in the northwest, and dramatic drift diving off Nusa Penida in the south. Bali is a major teaching centre, and there are numerous reputable dive centres around the island affiliated with PADI and SSI.
Food in Bali
Bali has a huge variety of cafes and restaurants, serving both Indonesian and international food. You could also find American fast-food chains here, although almost exclusively confined to the southern tourist areas. You can enjoy KFC, McDonald's, Pizza Hut and Starbucks. Interestingly, the menus are often highly adapted to the local tastes, e.g the menu at Pizza Hut looks nothing like the one you find in western countries.
Try the smaller local restaurants rather than touristy ones; the food is better and cheaper. Be sure to try the ubiquitous Indonesian dishes nasi goreng (fried rice), nasi campur (pronounced nasi champur, steamed rice with various vegetables and meats), and mie goreng (fried noodles). These dishes should rarely cost more than Rp 25,000 and are often considerably cheaper. Balinese Nasi Campur is on a must-try list. The food is consist of Indonesian food staple: white rice, served with babi guling, fried peanut, sambal matah, deep fried pork skin crackers, lawar (vegetables with grated coconut and base bali seasoning), sate lilit and sambal goreng. The other Balinese delicacies would be Nasi Ayam. It's chicken and rice with Balinese taste. You can also find the other Indonesian food in most of local restaurants: Nasi goreng (sauteed rice with various toppings), Mie Goreng (sauteed noodles). The price range for local food is no more than Rp50,000,- with iced tea or mineral water.
Some of the most authentic food can be found from roving vendors called kaki lima, which literally means "five legs". This comprises the three legs of the food cart and the vendor's own two legs. Go to the beaches of Kuta, Legian and Seminyak at sunset and find steaming hot bakso(pronounced ba-so), a delightful meatball and noodle soup, served up fresh for a very inexpensive Rp 5,000.
Accommodation in Bali
Bali has, without a doubt, the best range of accommodation in Indonesia, from Rp60,000 per night ($6) losmens to US$4,000 per night super-homes.
The backpackers tend to head for Kuta, which has the cheapest digs on the island. However, if the accommodation is located near a night club they can be noisy at night. One quiet and clean place in the cheaper category is Hotel Oka in Jalan Padma in Legian, only a kilometre from the night clubs of Kuta and walking distance from the beach.
Many of the numerous five-star resorts are clustered in Nusa Dua, Seminyak and Ubud. Sanur and Jimbaran offer a fairly happy compromise if you want beaches and some quiet. Ubud's hotels and resorts cater to those who prefer spas and cultural pursuits over surfing and booze. Legian is situated between Kuta and Seminyak and offers a good range of accommodation. The newest area to start offering a wide range of accommodation is Uluwatu which now boasts everything from surfer bungalows to the opulent Bulgari Hotel. Further north on the west coast is the district of Canggu, which offers many traditional villages set among undulating rice fields and a good range of accommodation. For rest and revitalisation, visit Amed, an area of peaceful fishing villages on the east coast with some good hotels and restaurants, or head for the sparsely populated areas of West Bali.
Thanks to Bali's balmy climate, many hotels, bungalows and villas offer open-air bathrooms, often set in a lush garden. They look amazing and are definitely a very Balinese experience, but they may also shelter little uninvited guests and are best avoided if you have a low tolerance for critters.
A lot to see in Bali such as:
Uluwatu Temple
Seminyak
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Mount Batur
Sanur, Bali
Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
Goa Gajah
Taman Ayun Temple
Besakih Temple
Pura Tirta Empul
Mount Agung
Legian
Tirta Gangga
Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park
Bali Safari and Marine Park
Pura Gunung Kawi
Gitgit Waterfall
Lake Bratan
West Bali National Park
Waterbom Bali Indonesia
Dreamland Beach
Bali Zoo, Kampung Sumatra
Lake Tamblingan
Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Pura Luhur Batukaru
Kuta Beach
Amed Beach
Bajra Sandhi Monument
The Blanco Renaissance Museum
Pandawa Beach
Pura Ulun Danu Batur
Ubud Palace
Museum Puri Lukisan
Neka Art Museum
Monkey Forest Road
Padang Padang Beach
Goa Lawah Temple
Bali Bird Park
Finns Beach Club
Taman Kertha Gosa
Bali Museum
Balangan Beach
Kebun Raya Bali Lake View Spot
Balai Gili
Nungnung Waterfall
Art market
Green Bowl Beach
Tegenungan Waterfall
Jimbaran Beach
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
Denpasar
Candidasa
Kuta
Jimbaran
Legian
Lovina
Padang Bai
Sanur
Seminyak
Ubud
Amed
Bedugul
Bukit Peninsula
Kintamani
Mount Agung
Nusa Dua
Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Penida
West Bali National Park
( Bali- Indonesia ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Bali. Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Bali- Indonesia
Join us for more :
No comments :
Post a Comment