About Bali
Bali becomes a legend for each visitor that arrives. This tiny island offers a wealth of attractions: a vibrant, living Hindu culture that welcome visitors ; beautiful, sandy beaches pounded by the rolling surf of the Indian Ocean, ricefields terraced in beauty, outstanding handicrafts and arts, and sufficient festivals and temples to keep the most active tourist exhausted. Bali is easily the most visited region of Indonesia by foreign tourists.
Despite the continued growth of tourism in Bali, the people have retained their strong sense of identity. The spirituality of everday life can be seen practised by the bus driver who stops on the road to make offerings to a local god or goddess - or the young woman saying a prayer and laying an offering in front of her shop while people step politely around her. Dance and music are also looked upon as an offering to the Gods.
Festivals, ceremonies, trance and dance are an integral part of Balinese life, found everywhere, and the visitor only need to ask politely and behave courteously for the Balinese to issue a gracious welcome to participate. The magic of Bali is definitely contagious, making it an island of enchantment!
Location & Geography
Bali is a small island, crowned by the still-active volcano Mt. Agung. The island is lush with vegetation, brightly colored foliage, fruit and flowers, vistas of green rice fields and steep ravines. Although the beaches can be quite hot, the elevated regions of Bali offer a pleasant contrast of coolness, peace, and tranquility.
Access
Bali, via Ngurah Rai International Airport near Denpasar, offers daily, worldwide connections. Domestic flights connecting Jakarta, Surabaya, Ujung Pandang and the eastern islands of Indonesia are frequent. Bus travel via ferry to and from Java is common, offering connections to Surabaya, Jakarta and elsewhere. Bali’s Benoa Harbor is an excellent port of call for sailing vessels and ships of all sizes.
City & Other Attractions
DENPASAR: The capital of Bali is not the tourist center but it does offer many business facilities. Its main museum, Pura Jahathnatha, offers an excellent glimpse of the Balinese culture as well as prehistoric and modern art. ASTI arts school is located at Werdi Budaya performing arts center, a beehive of artistic activity.
SANUR: Just outside Denpasar is Sanur Beach, which offers a wealth of accommodations. Its beach is serenely quiet and the area has long attracted the upscale traveller.
KUTA: On the other side of Denpasar is Kuta Beach, where the thunder of the pounding surf is a constant refrain. Kuta has long been a surfers beach and the sunsets are outstanding. Known for its great shopping, the traveller can bargain for everthing from antiques to t-shirts, including a wealth of handsome handicrafts. Kuta is frequented by a younger crowd and remains a popular, thoughsometimes rowdy, nocturnal haunt.
NUSA DUA: The newest tourist development in Bali, this area is comprised solely of major resort hotels, including the fabulous Nusa Indah Hotel and Convention Center. Nusa dua also boasts a new golf course.
UBUD: Ubud, less than an hour from Denpasar, located in a cooler climate, is considered the art center of Bali. It has several excellent galleries and museums, including the Puri Lukisan Museum with its rare examples of early Balinese painting and wood sclupture. Ubud was the early 20th century home for European painters, including Walter Spies. Nearby is the Holy Monkey Forest, where numerous chattering monkeys entertain the stroller.
SINGARAJA: Located on the northern coast of Bali, Singaraja’s beaches are more secluded and less frequented, with blackened sands of crushed lava. Accommodations can also be found here.
BEDUGUL: Located in the virtual center of Bali, among the cool mountain mists, this is a truly magnificent golf course. Built along Lake Bratan, the Ulu Danu temple appears to rise straight out of its waters. The course is naturally fringed with flowers and beautiful landscapes.
BESAKIH TEMPLE: Known as the “Mother of Bali”, the 1000-year old Besakih Temple structure is a majestic compliment to the beauty of Bali and its thriving Hindu culture. Set low on the slopes of Mt. Agung, the visitor approaches Besakih through ascending steps to three main temples at its top, each offering homage to the principal Hindu gods of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu. Besakih is a “must” for even the most casual visitor.
BATHING TEMPLE: Dating back over 1000 years, the temple of Pura Tirta Empul surrounds the sacred waters of Tampak Siring. Long considered a curative for poor health and bad luck, the site is visited frequently by Indonesians. President Soekarno, Indonesia’s first president after Dutch independence, had a retreat here.
TANAH LOT: Truly one of the great temples of Bali, Tanah Lot is perched atop a enormous rock which during high tide is completely surrounded by the waters of the Indian Ocean. Built in the 16th century by a Hindu priest fleeing Java, its rituals include offerings to the guardian spirits of the sea.
Dining
The traveller has a wide array of options in Bali where many restaurants cater to tourists. Of course, rice plays a main role in the traditional diet. Whole-roasted pig is common, while skewered meats (satay) are plentiful. Many international cuisines, including Continental, are available in Bali, especially around Denpasar, Sanur, and Kuta. Chinese food is quiet popular, especially in Kuta where huge seafood restaurants offer the day’s freshest catch, allowing you to select your own live lobster or fish.
Shopping
Bali is a shopper’s paradise! With its long history of fine painting, go to Ubud for paintings, both contemporary and traditional. On the way, stop in Mas, the village of wood carvers. Purchase sculptures depicting traditional Balinese images, masks, carved furniture, and decorative home furnishings. Silver work has flourished in Celuk, also en route to Ubud. Contemporary clothing, especially casual and resort wear, is an ever present bargain. Leather goods, jewelry, baskets, bags, bamboo furniture, bone and ivory carvings, are all produced in Bali. Handicrafts from throughout the entire Indonesian archipelago are available as well.
