a Guide to Bali
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| October 04, 2007 |
| Beaches |
#10 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why the Bali beaches are special
Bali has many long, palm-fringed, white-sand beaches kissed by clear, warm tropical waters.
There are beaches for every taste. Some are packed with sunbathers and lined with convenient shops, eateries, bars and other tourist facilities. Others are serenely off the beaten path and shared by few people.
Best known west coast beaches
They face the warm Indian Ocean waters - and are admiringly oriented for sunset watching.
Jimbaran Beach - Lovely location. Favorite of sunbathers seeking a long, quiet, scenic tropical beach. Never a blanket of people, even during peak season. Luxury resort hotels fronting the beach are discreetly semi-hidden from view.
Kuta Beach - Deservingly praised for its length and white sands, though the beach in front of Kuta's main tourist facilities can become packed.
Legian Beach - Adjacent and similar to Kuta Beach, though not quite as busy and commercialized.
Best known east coast beaches
These lie along the body of water between Bali and Lombok Island.
Nusa Dua Beach - Populated with many international-style five-star resort hotels. Can occasionally become moderately crowded.
Sanur Beach - Once Bali's most popular beach. Still pleasant, though waves in recent decades have eroded some sand.
Candi Dasa Beach - Half as busy and developed as Sanur and Nusa Dua's beaches, but has in recent decades suffered even more sand erosion than Sanur Beach.
Best known north coast beach
Lovina (collective name for a string of seaside villages) - Its beaches are hardly tropical paradises, but they do face the warm tropical Bali Sea -- and are less developed and commercialized than tourism centers like Kuta.
Lovina is known for its "black sand" beaches ("gray" would be more accurate).
Sunning advice
Use a high-rated sun block. Harmful solar rays are filtered less effectively by the earth's atmosphere near the equator than in the Temperate Zones.
Swimming advice
Do it wisely. Many Bali beaches are afflicted with dangerous riptides and undercurrents. Drownings are not uncommon. This is particularly so for some of the west coast beaches (including Kuta).
Unless you're a strong swimmer, enjoy Bali's attractive beaches for sunbathing, strolling and toe-dipping. Do your swimming in a pool. If there is none where you're staying, make inquiries at big resort hotels. Some let visitors use their fancy pool facilities for a daily fee (or, in some instances, for free).
If you are a strong swimmer,
learn the local colored flag warning system before rushing into the surf. Enlist someone on shore to keep an eye on you - and don't venture out alone or too far.Labels: Bali Top 10 |
posted by Admin @ 1:12 AM  |
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| Bali Cuisine |
#9 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why Bali dishes are special
In Bali, most home cooks use quality meats, fresh seafood and newly harvested fruits & vegetables seasoned with an intricate blend of herbs and spices.
Hot chilies are liberally used (though visitors can easily request "mild" in eateries).
Bali's four most famous specialties
Babi Guling - Spit-roasted, crispy skinned suckling pig
Bebek Betutu - Spiced duck slowly cooked in palm or banana leaves
Lawar - Minced innards mixed with chopped vegetables
Bubuh Injin - Black rice pudding (served with sweetened coconut cream)
Balinese cuisine at the table
Most visitors sample few if any local meals because authentic Balinese is difficult to find in restaurants.
The best way to enjoy the real thing is to be invited to dinner in a Balinese home or to attend a temple ceremony or festivity that serves Balinese fare.
If that's not in your cards, you can sometimes find Balinese meals in small roadside eateries called warungs. Or, for a plusher setting, dine at the tourist-focused Bumbu Bali restaurant (just north of Nusa Dua).
Although the atmospheric Ketupet restaurant in Kuta specializes in Indonesia fare, it does offer some Balinese mainstays.
Indonesian
Preparations originating in Java, Sumatra and other parts of Indonesia are easier to find in the Bali restaurants that cater to tourists. Bargain prices usually prevail. Well-known specialties include:
Satay (or Sate) - Charcoal-grilled meat or prawns on mini-skewers.
Gado Gado - Fresh and parboiled vegetables tossed in a spicy peanut sauce.
Nasi Goreng - A fried rice mixture with finely chopped vegetables and either meat or prawns. For the sibling Mei Goreng dish, noodles are used instead of rice.
International
You may be surprised about the large number of Thai, Chinese, Japanese and European restaurants in the tourist areas of Bali. There is even a MacDonald's.
Balinese fruits
Be sure to sample a wide variety of Bali's succulent tropical fruits including mangoes, papayas, snakefruits, rambutans and passion fruits.
They can be eaten out of hand or blended into superb mixed-fruit drinks.
Your favorite gourmet store back home may stock those fruits, but they will never be as fresh, ripe and tasty as in Bali.
Drinking water
Never drink tap water in Bali unless you're positive that that the hotel or restaurant purifies it. Otherwise, you could get sick.
The same is true for drinking beverages containing ice cubes made with tap (instead of purified) water.
Sealed bottled water bearing established brand names is safe, widely available and inexpensive in Bali.
Balinese alcoholic beverages
Imported spirits, wines, beers and soft drinks are expensive in Bali due to a hefty import tax.
More affordable are the Indonesian made beers, soft drinks, wines (top seller is the Hatten brand rose), and these traditional beverages:
Tuak - Sweet palm wine with low potency
Brem - Sweet non-distilled rice based drink with modest potency
Arak - Distilled rice based drink with strong potencyLabels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 1:07 AM |
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| Kuta Experience |
#8 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why the Kuta scene in Bali is special
Some say Kuta is Bali's fun vacation spot, others go out of their way to avoid it.
If you're young or young at heart and love being where the action is, you'll agree with the first assessment.
If you're older and more sedate, it is probably not the place to stay. The town is commercialized and is neither attractive nor romantic. Its main arteries are traffic clogged. Still, it warrants at least a brief visit. It gives those staying in quieter places a change of pace. It has interesting shopping and dining.
Kuta nightlife
The most exciting time for a "check it out" visit to Kuta is after the sun goes down. Its streets, sidewalks, bars and clubs teem with energy. While the nightlife in the rest of Bali generally snoozes by 9 p.m., it pulses into the wee hours.
Kuta dining
It's usually easier to find foreign food (Chinese, Thai, pizza, etc.) than local cuisine. Two good bets for Balinese and Indonesian food are Kepupat and Made Warung.
Kuta Beach
Kuta is blessed with a long, beautiful white sand beach along the warm Indian Ocean. Two decades ago this beach was a tranquil paradise for sun worshipers, but today it is packed with tourists and many pushy hawkers.
Swimmers take note that the ocean undertows and riptides along Kuta Beach can be dangerous, particularly to inexpert swimmers. (Click the green "Beaches" button for insights on beach safety.
Kuta surfing
Surfing is popular. You can do it on the waves near the beach or on those that break well beyond the shoreline at Kuta Reef.
Shopping
True, most of the shops stock tacky goods. However, Kuta has most of Bali's chic upscale designer boutiques - and prices are half those found in Paris and New York for equivalent style and quality.
Hotel accommodations
Lodging range from home stays (very inexpensive) to full service hotels (moderately expensive). You have to go elsewhere in Bali to find the island's luxury resorts.
Legian
The adjoining, overly developed beach resort towns of Legian and Kuta have effectively (but not politically) merged into a single community. It's now difficult to tell where one town ends and the other begins.
Though Legian is less known and slightly quieter of the two, much of what is said in the above paragraphs applies to both towns.
Tourism
The blasts in Kuta of October 2002 and 2005 put a heavy burden on the local and the overall island economies, which deeply depend on tourism money. Because the island has so much to offer travelers, I am confident that tourism will eventually bounce back to its former level.
Labels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 1:05 AM |
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| Luxury Resorts |
#7 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why the luxury resorts of Bali are special
Bali's luxury resorts are world famous for their exquisite settings, superlative facilities, hospitable employees and attentive service catering to your whims.
Difference between a villa resort and hotel resort
A luxury villa resort consists mostly or exclusively of villas (think of fancy cottages). They are ideal if you seek seclusion and privacy. Guest count is low. You receive highly personalized service (the staff to guest ratio can be as high as 5 to 1. Peak season rates for two typically run about $400 to $1000 per night.
A luxury hotel resort's accommodations are mainly or entirely rooms and suites. They are arranged in the familiar hotel hallway layout (though the buildings are only several stories high and the corridors are usually open aired). These luxury hotel resorts are perfect if you want - as most vacationers do - the big resort experience (many fellow guests, a large pool, and an interesting variety of restaurants and organized activities). Peak season rates for two typically run about $200 to $500 per night.
Best of the best luxury resorts - my top 5 picks
Amandari - Villa resort. Ubud area. Consists of just 40 villas, each with built-in privacy. The Amandari is designed like a traditional Balinese walled village. Its infinity pool is famous and overlooks a spectacular rice terrace gorge.
Begawin Giri - Villa resort. Ubud area. It's Bali's ultimate villa resort seclusion spot. Peaceful garden park setting. Lodging is divided into six widely spaced residences (which can be rented whole by an extended family or shared by several different vacation parties). Each residence has its own private full-length infinity pool (see photo).
Ritz Carlton - Hotel resort. On Jimbaran Bay cliffs overlooking Indian Ocean. Refined personality. Professionally landscaped. Best food among Bali's resorts.
Four Seasons - Villa resort. On Jimbaran Bay. Directly on a beautiful, uncrowded beach.
Inter-Continental - Hotel resort. On Jimbaran Bay. Mammoth pool. Justifiably boasts the widest and finest beach front among the luxury hotels.
Luxury resorts runners-up
Amankila (villa resort near Candi Dasa -- see my Bali map)
Amanusa (villa resort near Candi Dasa)
Bali Cliff (hotel resort near Ulu Watu)
Bali Hilton (hotel resort in Nusa Dua)
Alila Ubud (hotel resort, formerly the Chedi, in Ubud area)
Four Seasons Sayan (hotel resort in Ubud area)
Tuga (villa resort on coast between Kuta and Tanah Lot Temple).
In planning your budget,be aware that...
A 21% surcharge (11% tax plus 10% service charge) is added to bills at upmarket tourist hotels and restaurants.
If your budget is limited
Not to worry. Bali has many small adorable resorts and private cottages in the $50 to $100 a night per couple range to suit individual preferences. Some are on or near the beaches. Some are in the Ubud area hills with superlative views.
If you're on a shoestring budget, you can find spartan accommodations for as low as $10 a night.Labels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 12:56 AM |
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| Adventure Sports |
#6 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why the adventure sports of Bali are special
Bali has world class surfing, snorkeling and diving.
These sports draw over a hundred thousand enthusiasts per year.
It's easy to rent good equipment, charter boats with guides and -- if a beginner -- find competent instructors.
Bali has whitewater rafting for thrill-seeking novices (see photo).
Click the "Bali Map" button to locate key places discussed below.
Surfing
Bali's superb surfing draws enthusiasts from around the globe.
The premier surfing spot for skilled practitioners is Ulu Watu (situated at the southern tip of the island).
Accomplished surfers also praise the nearby Padang Padang surf - and the surf at Canggu (between Kuta and Tanah Lot)
The surfing at Kuta Reef (which lies out to sea from Kuta Beach) also receives accolades. However, its waves can become overpopulated with surfers due to its proximity to the bustling tourist town of Kuta.
June, July and August are the ideal months for surfing the above spots.
Snorkeling and scuba-diving
Bali is ringed by many clear-water reefs rich in live coral, colorful tropical fish and other marine life. At one site - Tulamben - you can explore a sunken World War II ship.
Snorkelers and divers relish two of Bali's small off-shore islands named Menjangan and Lembongan. The first is Bali's best overall site. The second makes an interesting day trip from Bali's tourist centers.
May to September is the best period for snorkeling and diving.
Whitewater rafting
Although there are more challenging rapids in the world, the 11 kilometer (7 mile) run in the deep & steep Ajung River gorge near Ubud is breathtakingly beautiful.
You pass isolated rice terraces, dangling jungle growth and high waterfalls. Your 4 to 6 passenger rubber raft is stirred by an able skipper while you and your mates do the paddling.
The Ajung rapids are rated Class 2 -- ideal for rafting novices who want an adrenaline rush without being scared to death.
Bali's other well-established adventure sports
Hiking & Trekking - Walk through tropical foliage and scale active volcanoes.
Sailing - Bali has the right boats, strong winds and open seas to gratify seasoned sailors. You can even rent and sail a tiny outrigger canoe on the ocean.
Wind-surfing - Hop the waves on a sail-surfboard.
Parasailing - View the coastline from a seagull's eye view.
Bungee jumping - Several daunting sites serve those who dare.Labels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 12:44 AM |
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| October 02, 2007 |
| Ubud Experience |
#5 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why Ubud is special
The town of Ubud is the undeniable artistic heart and soul of Bali's art. It rests among lush hills and rice terraces.
The vacation lifestyle is markedly different from Kuta's, the island's other major tourist magnet. It's more cultural, less hedonistic.
Life proceeds at a slow pace in Ubud, even for visitors, which is part of the charm.
The locales are open and friendly -- and you encounter few pushy vendors.
Day trippers from the southern beach resorts miss out on the special sense of place. You need to stay in the Ubud area for at least several days. It's an insightful, unforgettable experience.
Checklist of key attractions & activities in and around Ubud
Traditional dance and gamelan orchestra performances - There's a quality performance practically every night. (Click the "2" button for brief descriptions of Balinese dances and music.)
Art shops, galleries and studios - You find many in Ubud and nearby villages, including in the neighboring village of Penestanam (renowned for its refreshing Young Artist School style of painting).
Museums - The area has world-class museums. Namely, the Neka, Puri Lukisan and Agong Rai. (Click the "top runners-up" button for brief descriptions of those institutions.)
Ubud Palace - Small, walled complex of embellished buildings and courtyards smack in the middle of town.
Restaurants - Good variety to suit different tastes and wallets. Nearly all have a relaxed, unpretentious tone.
Hiking - One of Bali's best areas for short walks on scenic foot paths.
Whitewater rafting - Run the rapids down the eye-arresting Agung River gorge. Easy but challenging enough to thrill novice river rafters. Basic swimming proficiency recommended in case the rapids get the better of your rubber raft.
Doing nothing - Some visitors unwind by renting a cottage or villa with a picturesque rural view -- and hole up with a good book or companion.
Labels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 2:09 AM |
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| Temples & Ceremonies |
#4 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why the temples and ceremonies of Bali are special
Religion runs deep in Bali. About 95% of the Balinese practice Hindu-Dharmaism, a local variant of India's Hinduism. The faithful interweave their religion into their daily lives.
Bali is nicknamed The Island of the Gods because it has over 10,000 temples dedicated to an array of spirits. To the Balinese, every living thing -- from a lowly weed to a human being -- has a spirit.
The Balinese believe that there are both good and evil spirits -- and that this eternal duality exists in balance.
Each year the Balinese hold countless temple ceremonies and make frequent offerings to please the good spirits and appease the evil ones. The fascinating upbeat aura of these ceremonies is unsurpassed anywhere in the world.
The most tourist-frequented temples in Bali
Tanah Lot -- Famous for its tiny, quaint island setting (reachable during low tide). Bursts with tourists during its vaunted sunset.
Besakih -- Bali's largest and holiest temple is Pura Besakih (see photo). It's popularly known as the "Mother Temple".
Ulu Watu -- Dramatically perched on high promontory overlooking the breaking surf.
Ulu Danu -- Photogenic. On Lake Bratan.
Temple ceremonies of Bali
No trip to Bali is fulfilled without observing a festive temple ceremony.
Because there are so many temples in Bali with different ceremony schedules, there should be at least one event taking place on any given day during your visit.
Some ceremonies are grander and more festive than others. Some have traditional dances and music.
Consult your concierge or the local government tourist office for the latest schedules and recommendations when you arrive in Bali.
Ask them to brief you on temple etiquette (for instance, you as a visitor should don a sarong and leave a small monetary gift for the upkeep of the temple).
Temple processions of Bali
A major adjunct of the temple ceremony is the procession of traditionally attired women walking single file down a country road to the temple.
Each gracefully balances on her head a tall colorful tower of neatly arranged fruits, flowers and other offerings (see photo).
Daily offerings in Bali
The Balinese also make offerings to the good and evil spirits on a daily basis with tiny tray baskets (called bantens) made of woven coconut palm fronds.
Each contains simple gifts such as flowers and rice.
You'll see plethora of these baskets. They are placed nearly anywhere including on altars and, to enhance and protect a business's prosperity, on the sidewalk near a shop's doorway.
I've even seen a banten parked on a computer as the operator entered data into a spreadsheet.Labels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 2:03 AM |
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| Arts & Crafts |
#3 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why the arts and crafts of Bali are special
On a per capita basis, Bali probably has the most accomplished artists & craftsmen in the world. To the Balinese, personal artistic achievement is part of the religious experience.
Painting of Bali
For centuries the international art world paid little heed to the talented Balinese painters, who focused on traditional motifs geared for Bali's temples and religious ceremonies.
Then, in the late 1920s several expatriate European artists (including the now renowned Walter Spies and Rudolf Bonnet) successfully taught and encouraged some Balinese artists to become more modern and daring by capturing scenes of everyday Bali life and landscapes. Today, this work is globally recognized as fine art.
Bali's painting capital is Ubud village, followed by the villages of Batuan and Samasan. The first is more eclectic and contemporary in style while the latter two specialize in Bali's traditional Wayan style.
The best way to introduce yourself to Balinese paintings is by visiting the Neka Museum and other leading art institutions (click the "top runners-up" button for their capsule descriptions).
Wood sculptures of Bali
Mas village is clearly Bali's wood carving center.
Its artists create refined Balinese sculptures depicting Hindu-epic Ramayana characters, ordinary people and various animals (the Njana Tilem Gallery is generally regarded as Bali's finest artistic producer).
Mas is also unrivaled in carving the colorful Balinese wood masks (see photo) worn by classical dancers.
Stone sculptures of Bali
Batubulan village is Bali's stone-carving heart.
Most works are of deities and other Balinese temple themed objects.
Many artisans also cater to tourists by sculpting everyday Balinese subjects, real and whimsical.
Gold & silver jewelry of Bali
Celuk village (near Batubulan) is Bali's gold- and silver-smithing epicenter.
Intricate earrings, necklaces, bracelets and broaches are popular items with Bali tourists.
Batiks from Java and Bali
A batik is a fabric richly decorated using a special dying technique.
Many are used as sarongs.
Although virtually all the "Bali batik sarongs" sold to the tourists and Balinese are made in Java, Bali does produce in small quantities some exceptionally fine hand-made batiks, including the rare double itak from the walled village of Tenganan (near Candi Dasa). A single cloth can take years to finish.
Other arts & crafts of Bali
Balinese design and construct colorful kites in unusual forms such as mythical birds and four-masted ships (yes, they fly). Some Balinese kites are as big and wide as a car.
Other Balinese artistic endeavors include the making of ceramics, furniture and shadow puppets.
Observing the Balinese artists and craftsmen
Many studios, galleries and factories openly invite tourists to view their Balinese artisans in action -- and to browse the displayed finished goods with no obligation to buy.Labels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 1:57 AM |
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| Dance & Music |
#2 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why the dance and music of Bali are special
The dance and music of Bali entertain and uplift your spirit. Both art forms have been performed and acclaimed in major cultural centers around the world. Experiencing them in Bali is the ultimate experience.
Dances of Bali
Most Balinese dances relate to segments of the Ramayana, an ancient Hindu epic illustrating the perpetual struggle between good and evil.
The three favorite dances among locals and tourists in Bali are:
Barong - A classic dance. Stunning. Depicts the conflict between the good Barong (dressed in a fanciful lion-like costume) and the evil Rangda.
Legong -. Another classic dance. Graceful. Performed by three pre-pubescent girls in colorful attire.
Kecak - Although this frenetic dance was not choreographed until the 1930s (and by a Westerner), the Kecak is convincingly rooted in Balinese tradition. Typically, it features 50 to 100 bare-chested men sitting cross-legged in tight concentric circles. They play the role of monkeys, which is why the dance is sometimes called the "monkey dance". As they sway in unison, they repeatedly chant the nonsensical phrase "kechak ke chak” virtually non-stop and without musical accompaniment. They do this in a hypnotic beat to scare away an evil spirit. Several Balinese dancers help dramatize the story.
Gamelan music of Bali
Nothing is more mesmerizing than the haunting percussion sounds of a Balinese gamelan orchestra.
The musicians play an assortment of instruments including native metal gongs, drums, chimes, cymbals and metalophones (xylophones). The counterpointing is exhilarating.
Although a 15 to 30 member gamelan orchestra is the one most associated with “gamelan”, many other distinct types exist in Bali. There are marching gamelans – and small-group gamelans that provide music for the Barong and Legong dances.
And, there is the Gamelan Jegog, consisting of two or more floor-seated Balinese musicians playing soft rhythmical melodies on bamboo-based xylophones (Note: Jegog performances are now common in resort lobbies).
Cultural Performances
Many Balinese villages hold dance and music events for temple ceremonies. Some welcome visitors, providing they discreetly observe.
Though not as authentic (or lengthy) as the village presentations, there are many one hour Balinese dance and music performances geared especially for tourists. They are staged in hotel or non-hotel settings. Hotel events are integrated with grand buffets.
Most of the non-hotel performances take place in the Denpasar Art Center and in artisan villages such as Ubud and Batubulan (click the Bali map button to see their locations).
Both the hotel and non-hotel affairs entertain, though those in non-hotel venues are truer to the originals. And, their Balinese performers are noticeably more skilled and talented – and put more of their hearts into their efforts.Labels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 1:51 AM |
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| Rice Terraces |
#1 ranked travel attraction in Bali
 Why the Bali rice terraces are special?
Rice terraces throughout the world are photogenic. Of all of them, those in Bali are the most beautiful.
Where to find the most photogenic rice terraces in Bali
The emerald-green rice terraces in the river gorge north of Tegallalang village in central Bali (see photo) are generally considered to offer travelers the best photo opportunity.
Other popular lush-green and well-tended Balinese rice paddy sites include those in the Ubud area (including Sayan) -- and in Pupuan, Jatiluwih. Tabanan and Tirtagangga.
Rice terrace history in brief
The Balinese rice terraces go back over 2,000 years when hard-working farmers with primitive hand tools began carving the stepped terraces out of steep hill sides.
Generation after generation has extended and kept them in meticulous shape out of necessity - rice is the staple food of the islanders.
Cooperation is essential for rice terraces
Today's individual rice terrace farmers, as did their ancestors, join a community cooperative.
Each informal agricultural mini-society establishes firm regulations on a local level. This helps ensure that the limited irrigation water is fairly allocated and that only so many farmers tap into the limited-flowing water at the same time.
The community cooperative also makes sure that the complex irrigation system is maintained and that a farmer does not block the water from flowing downward to rice terraces below his.
Rice terrace cooperatives are a major reason why a farmer is able to get up to three crops per year from his paddies.
Rice fields vs rice terraces
Although the maze of rice fields that blanket Bali's flat lands are not quite as visually striking as the rice terraces that follow the natural contours of the hills, they are stunningly picturesque in their own right.
Labels: Bali Top 10 |
| posted by Admin @ 1:40 AM |
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