Bali Top Places of Interest

Bali is crowned as the most beautiful island of the world. At least according to the version of US Magazine Travel&Leisure Bali is the top island followed by Galapagos Island in Equador and Kap-Breton-Island in Canada at rank 2 and rank3.

Bali has everything one needs for an exotic holiday!

1. Beaches

Bali has many white-sand beaches with palm along the way kissed by warm tropical waters. Perfect for a short or long holiday, honeymoon, wedding or family holiday. You can do many things on the beaches. Each beach has its own characteristic. All in all your options range from snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, rafting, sailing, parasailing, jet skiing and easier activities such as walking, strolling, sunbathing, or dining out/ chill out at beach restaurant. Notice that Bali beaches are considered dangerous for inexpert/weak swimmers due to its strong riptides and undercurrents.

There are also many accommodation opportunities around the beaches within foot distance. Bali hotels are also nominated the best hotels in the world.

Famous beaches are: Kuta Beach, Sanur Beach, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran Beach, Legian, Lovina. All fit under exotic beaches criteria.

Another attraction is Waterbom Bali in Kuta, on 3.8 hectares tropical land with many action rides, and facilities such as water bombing, lazy river, jungle ride, boogy ride, boomerang, water wave, etc. Whether children or adult, you will find your favorites. It was worth to go for me and I would love to go there again. I can stay there the whole day. It was the best Water park I ever visited. I am in love ever since and can’t find anything comparable to that in Germany.

Don’t forget to use high-protection sun cream, as it is very hot especially on the beaches. Due the wind it is possible to get pretty bad sunburn without noticing it. I got sunburn as I underestimated it by didn’t repeat enough using sunblock. My exposed skin on face arms and feet was tremendously red on the next day and it hurted a lot.

2. Temples and Caves: Tanah Lot, Besakih Temple, Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave), Goa Lawa (Bat Cave)

Bali is called also island of thousand temples. These are a few popular ones:

Tanah Lot: it is believed to be a work of 15^th century. Tanah Lot Temple sits on a large offshore rock on Balinese coast. It I a most very popular tourist temple. Tanah Lot area is commercialized, tourists have to pay entrance to get to the temple.

Besakih Temple or also called Mother Temple in Besakih is Bali’s biggest Hindu temple built in 11^th century. It is standing 1000meters (3000feet) high at the slope of Mount Agung.

On the drive ways you will see many beautiful rice terraces, one of the islandmarks of Bali.

If you make a one day tour to Besakih Temple (in Bali you will find numerous offers on day tours with cars plus driver/guide and gasoline for about 35-40 bucks per day or per 8 hours), on the way back you can also stop at the Bat Cave where thousands of bats hanging from the walls. It is not for me though, as I haven’t like these animals so much, not to mention the strong smell in the cave. J I was one time there when I was a child, but the last 2-3 times I went to Bali I skip this.

Goa Gajah or Elephant Cave: this cave is an heritage from 11^th century which was founded again at 1923 and got fully excavated 30 years ago. The name Elephant Cave derived allegedly from the figure at the cave entrance which was thought to be an elephant. The cave is located a steep valley at Ubud Bali.

3. Landscape, Mountain and Lake: Kintamani Village with Batur Mountain Lake, Bedugul Lake, Paddy terraces

Batur Mountain Lake: it is also worth to spend overnight there to either watch the sunrise or sunset at mountain, or mountain trekking. It is 1717m meters above sea level. The mountain is an active volcano. Its crater is seven miles in diameters and six feet deep. The mountain is an active volcano. . A fantastic panorama that you can also watch from the Kintamani Village.

Make sure it is about good weather. The last time I went there it somewhat raining in Denpasar, and as we got to the mountain it was too foggy to enjoy the great view.

Bedugul Lake: Bedugul Lake is also perfect for water sports like jet skiing, parasailing, canoeing, banana boating (just to mention some). For those who enjoy quiet less adrenalin sports, you can also do fishing there. I prefer jet skiing rather than fishing.

A temple called Ulu Danoe you will also view from Bedugul Lake.

From Bedugul there you can take a look also Kebun Raya Bedugul (=Botanical Garden Bedugul) where you can see many kinds of exotic flowers, orchids and vegetables.

Rice Terraces: is one of Balinese island marks. The well-built stepped terraces show you the exotic emerald green of paddy agriculture of the island. Bali rice terraces has track over 2000 years ago when the farmers started carving the stepped terraces out of steep hill. Popular rice terraces sites are in Ubud. You will see many rice terraces on your way travelling around as you can find other famous sites in Pupuan, Jatiluwih, Tabanan, and Tirtagangga.

Bali Landscape with its mountain, lake, green rice terraces, thousands of temples, warm temperature all year long, is giving you exotic feeling everywhere you are.

5. Art and Handicraft: Celuk (silver jewelry) and Mas (wood carving), Pengosekan (Painting), Batubulan (stone carving), Batik and Sarong Bali (many shops offer batik from Java and Bali, its has special dyeing characteristic and colorful design)

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. (Howard Hillmann)

4. Flora and Fauna: Monkey Forest, Birdpark Batubulan

Bali Safari Park: a huge 40 hectares land is a home to hundreds of animals including rare and endangered species. It is a beautiful place with education and conservation purpose. It is featuring big animals like elephants, camels, tigers, cheetah, zebra, lama, orang utan, just to mention some. You can ride a bus tour inside the park and watch the wild animals with the ambience of African Savannah.

Birdpark Batubulan: there are over 1000 birds from over 250 species include rare beautiful Cendrawasih (bird of paradise) and Bali starlings. It is a two hectares land with tropical plants and singing birds. Besides, it has also non-native Komodo dragons.

and Rimba Reptile Park which is located next door to Birdpark offers you about 20 species of turtles, phytons, crocodiles, and more non-native Komodo dragons.

Sacred Monkey Forest: located at south of Ubud. As the name already says, you will see many monkeys there. They are mostly long-tailed macaques. Currently approximately there are 340 monkeys living there at the Monkey Forest. Be careful, they are very quick picking up your stuffs such as hats, glasses, from your pockets. In the middle of the forest there is one small temple. Within Balinese Hinduims, monkeys can be positive or negative. Those who are in Monkey Forest are protected by Balinese as they believe the monkeys can be guiding the temple site.

6. Culture and Religion: Rituals and Ceremonies, Bali Dances

Balinese dances are entertaining and spirit enriching.

Traditional Barong is a classic performance depicting a fight between good Barong (a lion-dog creature) and evil Rangda (widow witch). You can go to Batubulan to watch the performance. Batubulan (which means moonstones) is a center of textile, woodwork and stone carving. It offers also numerous crafts and antique shops.

Kecak Dance or also called Monkey Dance is one famous Bali dance which is a very quick non-stop dance without musical accompany. It is supposed to be used to scary away evil spirits.

Other interesting Balinese Dances: Legong Dance, Pendet Dance

Rituals and Ceremonies: there is nearly no day without ritual and ceremony in Bali. Most Balinese believe that there is spirit in everything. In every cycle of life there are special rituals they still keeps for example on birth, wedding, and death. One special traditional holiday in Bali is called Nyepi Day or Day of Silence, where for one day Balinese stay at home with family and friends and do nothing. Basic rules are: no fire, no work, no travelling, fasting and no revelry/self entertainment. The ritual begin at 6.a.m on March 19^th to the next 6.a.m

Waisak (Birthday of Buddha) is also celebrated in Bali by few Buddhists on the island as majorities are Hindus. There is a huge celebration at Borobudur Temple where thousands of pilgrims come to pray together at the famous temple in central Java.

7. Shopping and Night Life : Kuta Square!

There are many shopping places in Bali, but my favorite is Kuta Square. There you find everything, from shopping houses, restaurants, café, hardrock café to discopubs. I find it very beautiful at night with all the lights on the streets. It is one busiest area and very famous in Bali. It is nearly a must to see for all young-spirited tourists.

8. Restaurants:

Sea Food, Western, Indonesian, Chinese, Indian Tandori Chicken, Italian Pizza and Lasangna, Mexican Enchilada, German wurst and beer, Austrian Wiener Schnitzel, Hong Kong Dim Sum, Japanese Sushi and Shabu-shabu, Greek slouvaki, Thai Tom Yam, MacDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, you can find them all in Bali.

If you love seafood I can recommend the Jimbaran Seafood Restaurants, you can eat at the beach with sands on your feet on a breezing wind, night lights and exotic live music next to your seat, you may watch beach sunset while dining, Isnt it romantic?There are plenty of restaurants at jimbaran beach so you wouldnt be lack of options.

Babi guling (roasted suckling pig), Bebek betutu (roasted duck in banana leaf) ala Balinese are also very special and worth to taste. Oh I am getting hungry.. I would like to go to Jimbaran this time ordering grilled fishes and schrimps, and es kelapa muda (young coconut iced drink)

Last but not least, I am wishing you an exotic holiday at paradise island Bali!