BALI PLACES of INTEREST

Introduction

Bali is an island of startling diversity. You will find lush jungles, rivers, canyons, waterfalls, bamboo forests, orchids, and rice terraces. You will see temples, handicrafts, ceremonies, dances, and rituals.
You will experience some of natures most spectacular snorkeling and scuba diving among beautiful reefs, white water rafting, parasailing and mountain-biking. There are white sand and black sand beaches. Some surfing areas are rated among the top 5 in the world.

You will also enjoy accommodations that range from world class 5-star resorts to budget back pack style hostels and home stays.

There are fine dining restaurants with international cuisine and street carts featuring local snacks. There are beach pubs with tables and chairs in the sand and night clubs with live music that goes on until the early morning hours. T-shirts, flip flops and shorts are sold next to shops featuring top quality fashions and hand tailored leather goods that rival European quality for a fraction of the cost.
There is jam packed non stop excitement and secluded serene relaxation.

What ever your interests, here is some information that will help you decide what you would like see and experience while in our island paradise!

BALI PLACES OF INTEREST

Besakih Temple
Located at the foot of sacred Mount Agung, the highest mountain in Bali is the most important temple of the Balinese Hindus. It is referred to as the "Mother Temple" of Bali. Besakih is not just a temple but a complex of temples. The main temple is Pura Penataran Agung and features a large three-seated shrine to Brahma, Wisnu, and Siva. Many tour operators will take you to the temple to observe it but refrain from the guided interior tour offered by the temple guides. They have been known to ask for very large fees far and above other temple fees, and this is considered very rude by the Balinese tour operators. Discuss this with you Tour Company if you wish to visit the interior.

Goa Lawah
Goa Lawah means bat cave and this cave a sacred shrine, its walls vibrating with thousands of bats. In the evening at dusk the bats surge from the cave to start their nocturnal hunting for insects. Something very interesting are the traditional salt makers along the nearby Kusamba Beach, taking salt from the sea as it has been done for centuries.

Candi Dasa Beach
Candi Dasa is a quiet seaside resort that features bungalow style rooms and small quaint cafes. Here you will find a slower pace than the west coast Kuta and Seminyak. It is more rural and less modern than Nusa Dua. It is definitely a different pace.

Tenganan Pagerinsingan Village
Tenganan Pagerinsingan is an ancient village where you will see “Bali Aga”, original pre Hindu Balinese culture. It features unique Balinese architecture. Here you will find the original customs, traditions, practices, and weavings seen in very few places on the island.

Kerta Gosa
An 18th century structure, it once served as the Royal Hall of Justice to Bali's greatest kingdom, Klungkung. It was then used as an administration headquarters by the Dutch. It features many classical paintings on the ceiling some portraying visions of heaven and hell. Worth seeing is the small museum that feature pictures of the Balinese Rajas. This is a unique look into another world long past.

Bukit Jambul
This is an area that features vistas of beautiful rice terraces with the stunning Indian Ocean in the distance. It is great for photos on a clear day.

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Uluwatu Temple
Facing the west and built in the 17th century, Uluwatu Temple is situated on top of a cliff 100 meters high with a spectacular panorama of the Indian Ocean, It is said to be the most visual temple on the island. A late afternoon or early evening visit will provide one of the most stunning sunsets to be found in all of Bali.

GWK
Garuda Wisnu Kencana is the biggest art and culture center of Bali. It is an ongoing project changing and adding displays regularly. You will find some of the largest and most awesome statues in Bali. You will find many displays and information of Balinese history.

Jimbaran Beach
This area is famous as one of the most colorful fishing villages in Indonesia. There are a handful of hotels on a beautiful crescent-shaped white sand beach. Situated on the western shore, the sunsets are spectacular. Many guests gather at the beach to sit and enjoy a sunset cocktail as the sun sets in the beautiful blue Indian Ocean. Naturally there are many, many small seafood restaurants that sit right on the beach and offer the freshest possible seafood available anywhere. Fish, lobster, clams, calamari, and prawns all straight from the ocean!

Tanjung Benoa
Here you have an opportunity to enjoy a variety of marine activities such as waterskiing, jet skiing, banana boats, parasailing, snorkeling, scuba and boogie boarding. There are many 3 and 4 star resorts that offer great values.

Nusa Lembongan Island
This area offers scuba, snorkeling, and water sports in an atmosphere removed from the main island. It is a small island and marine reserve serviced by sailboats and large powerful catamarans that whisk passengers to a quiet pontoon serviced with food, drink, and water activities that are all supervised by trained staff and lifeguards. This is a perfect day trip away from traffic, noise, and crowds.

Nusa Dua
Nusa Dua is the home of Bali’s 5 star resorts and opulent Balinese villas. Beautiful white sand beaches are a main feature as well as 18-hole championship golf courses. The grounds of the resorts are stunning with gorgeous landscaping and beautiful statues and masonry. Service and dining are superb. The prices are very reasonable when compared to other world class destinations. It is a famous world class destination rivaling Hawaii, Rio De Janerio, and the Riviera. There are no villages and very little traffic.

Sanur Beach
Sanur beach is protected by a 5 kilometer long reef and is great for wading at low tide, and swimming jet skiing, parasailing and snorkeling at high tide. It features many bungalow style resorts and has a laid back original Bali atmosphere, found by visitors in the 1980s and 90s. The beach restaurants and pubs are very enjoyable providing one of the best and most relaxed beach front dining experiences in Bali. It is home to the Le Mayeur Museum a very interesting museum dedicated to the works of A. T. Le Mayeur, a European painter who lived and worked in Sanur from the 1930s until the 1950s.

Kuta Beach
Kuta beach is known world wide for its surfing and white sand beaches. The surf is a beach shore break so is good for beginning and experienced surfers alike. This is where the European and Australian backpackers initiated the Bali experience years ago. It has mushroomed to a culture of pubs, restaurants, discos, water parks, resorts, shops, cafes, surf shops, night clubs and what ever is popular at the moment. The night club culture is very popular featuring live bands and may start at 10:00 at night until the early morning hours. It is very crowded but at the same time very exciting. Motorbikes fill the streets and alley ways. Local shops offer t-shirts, flip flops, and shorts next to high fashion clothing boutiques and beautiful leather goods.

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Denpasar
Denpasar can seem like a bustling overgrown village. It is by far the largest city on the island and is the center of commerce and government administration. Traffic can be very frustrating but the addition of traffic lights at the busiest intersections and a number of one-way streets are easing some traffic problems, so be patient. The main section, Jl. Gajah Mada, is the commercial center offering modern shops, banks, and restaurants. The Pasar Badung market place is a sprawling complex of stalls with everyday products available such as vegetables, meats, salted fish, spices and herbs. Many fine woven cloths and silks are featured. The gold market is the center of the gold jewelry trade in Bali.

Museum Bali
This is a museum established by the Dutch in 1937. It still has the original feel of an old museum that is meant for exploring and finding the unusual. The buildings are of differing architectural styles and the displays a varied lot. Paintings, carvings, textiles, masks, puppets, and everyday items used by the Balinese throughout their history are featured. There is very little information available so just enjoy the pieces for themselves and don’t worry about what year they come from.

Batubulan
This is the center of soft stone statues and masonry of Bali. Made from soft gray paras stone, it is easily shaped and easily eroded with a life expectancy of about 20 years if left out in the elements. There is every style, shape and size of ornamental statuary imaginable. You will see Balinese gods and demons, Buddhas, Jesus, and intricate designs.

Taman Burung Bali Bird Park
This is a modern well appointed attraction that features many species of exotic birds and a few of the famous Komodo Dragon Lizards.

Celuk
Celuk is a village world renowned for its silver and gold work. A wide range of jewelry from traditional, filigree and modern can be found in the many shops. Some offer pieces with gemstones or inlay. Silver service and ornamental pieces can also be found here. You will be able to watch the silversmiths create the jewelry that you have to select from.

Mas
This village features the real woodcarving artists of Bali. The works here are truly stunning and you will find carvings of masks and statues that are too large and too valuable to be sent to the shops in the tourist areas. Featured are dolphins, horses, whales, Hindu deities, fish and flowers to name a few. You will see life sized carvings of fisherman with the fish in their nets, produced from one solid piece of wood! The detail and craftsmanship will leave you in awe.

Ubud
Since the 1930s Ubud has been a mecca for foreign and local artists who thrive in the creative atmosphere in this area of Bali. Ubud's main streets feature shops selling all varieties of paintings, carvings, weavings and handicraft. The painting and carvings have a huge range and variety from traditional to impressionism to cubism. The small cafes and coffee shops are wonderful with a very slow paced rhythm. The surrounding villages and countryside are as charming as ever, and most artists welcome visitors into their homes or studios. There are beautiful rice field terraces, waterfalls and jungle lined canyons. It is the white water rafting center of Bali. Here you will find many public and private museums dedicated to various artists and styles. Museum Puri Lukisan, Neka Art Museum, the Agung Rai Museum of Art, and the Senawati Gallery of Art by Women are the most popular.

Sukawati and the Pasar Seni Market
This is a village and market where you will find many, many local handicrafts. It features inexpensive, colorful puppets, wind chimes, fans, sarongs, soft wood carvings etc. It is in the middle of a local food and supply market so a walk across the street may find you in a very different, interesting environment.

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Tanah Lot Temple
A spectacular temple built in the 17th century, on top of a lava rock about 200 meters offshore. The whole compound will turn into a wonderful silhouette as the sun sets right behind the temple. Should you reach this spot earlier, there will be an opportunity for you to relax and enjoy fresh "young coconut" drink while waiting for the sunset.

Tabanan Area
This area is noted for its sculptured rice terraces. It is in the south west foothills and mountains. Many villages and temples retain the culture and pace of the Balinese life. It is centrally located to the west coast and the artist community of Ubud.

Batukaru Temple
The second most sacred temple in Bali is located in the midst of a tropical rainforest, on the slope of Mount Batukaru. The serenity of its surrounding enables you to enjoy the sounds of nature and is an ideal spot for relaxation and meditation.

Jatiluwih
A small village in Tabanan on Mount Batukaru, Jatiluwih is of 850 meters above sea level. This provides scenery of Bali's terraced paddies fields which stretch in over hills and valleys as far as the eye can see. This is the scenery seen in countless books, travel brochures, and photographic art.

Sangeh Monkey Forest
Wild monkeys inhabit the temple and nutmeg forest of Sangeh. They are used to visitors but are not pets. They are accustomed to people because they are fed peanuts and see us as a source of food. They will bite if you try and pet or handle them. If a monkey climbs on your arm or shoulder, they are harmless and looking for food. DO NOT try and hold them or pose them for pictures! They will grab cameras, eye glasses or loose jewelry. They have learned that if they can acquire these items a reward of peanuts or a banana will be given to them for their return.

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Batur
The smoking peak of Mount Batur lies inside the middle of a huge volcanic crater basin, or caldera. Long black streams of cooled lava from recent eruptions stretch down to the lake below. Curtains of mist and clouds move through the basin causing dramatic changes of the panorama from moment to moment. On the furthest shore of the lake is an isolated Bali Aga or pre Hindu Balinese culture village. This area is very string and wonderful to visit, however the vendors are very aggressive and the local restaurants are of very poor quality. Avoid restaurants with tour buses parked at them. It is better to go on the east toward Suter and Rendang at the turnoff to Besakih.

Kintamani
This is a village known for its view of the nearby volcano, Batur. It has no arts or handicrafts that it is known for. When one is going to “Kintamani” it refers to the general area and not the village itself. It is very busy with local commerce and not well suited to tourism.

Bedugul Resort Area
This is an attractive mountain resort area 1300 meters above sea level. Many resorts as well as the Bali Handara Kosaido Country Club 18-hole championship golf course are available. It features the Kebun Eka Botanical Gardens, which feature many orchids and higher elevation plants and trees. It is a very peaceful and relaxing place to visit and stroll the grounds. Due to the elevation the climate is very moderate and can be cool in the shade. A tourist attraction is Lake Bratan with its scenic "floating" Ulun Danu Temple dedicated to the goddess of water dwelling in this area. There is the wonderful Bukit Mungsu Market that has a true Balinese atmosphere. Monkeys, bamboo forests, banana and nutmeg plantations add to the charm and color. Many visitors make this area a place to stay for a few days in there holiday plans.

Singaraja
The original capital of Bali, Singaraja is on the northern sea, and its harbor has been the key to local trade and commerce since its days as the Dutch capital of Bali. A bustling center of local commerce its people are animated, open, friendly, and reflect their local culture.

Lovina
This northern Bali area offers the very best in snorkeling and scuba off of black sand beaches. The section of beach that is protected by a reef is shallow and great for swimming and water sports. It is also noted for its population of dolphins that frolic off of the shore.

Menjangan Area
The setting is in the northwestern coast of Bali. Here you will find Bali Barat National Park, a famous diving site of Bali, Menjangan Island. Its location offers an ideal setting for diving, snorkeling, canoeing, and sea-biking and an easy exploration to discover the flora and fauna of the Bali Barat National Park.

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