Bali—a word that has almost become
synonymous to an island of tropical paradise.
About an hour and a half from Jakarta, the island of Bali is the main
destination of pleasure tourists to Indonesia. The main draws of this
island include its vibrant art culture,
friendly people, natural scenic beauty, ancient temples and gorgeous
tropical beaches.
Bali sunset
Bali retains a culture very distinct from
the rest of Indonesia due to its unique type of Hinduism called “Hindu Darma.” While the rest of Java turned to Islam in the early days, the
Balinese, isolated and hidden by a cluster of mountains and volcanoes
managed to preserve their traditional customs in family and community
life.
SIGHTS
Bali is famous for its beautiful landscape and awesome beaches. Six
volcanoes fill the horizon from the west to the east. One of the
volcanoes is the active Mount Agung, which the Balinese consider sacred.
And the coasts and seashores are tourist meccas for people out to get
some sun.
In addition to the beaches, Bali also boasts of lush tropical forests,
clear volcano crater lakes, fast flowing rivers, and numerous vegetable
and fruit orchards.
Tropical plants fill the island. From huge banyan trees, to fruit
bearing tamarind trees and coconut palms and more varieties of bamboo
than you could count. Trees that are just perfect for an afternoon shade
or for hanging up hammocks in which to laze the sultry days away are
found in abundance on the island. Almost everywhere you look is filled
with flowers. Bougainvilleas, magnolias, hibiscus and
orchids thrive
exceptionally well in the temperate climate.
After trekking through the island, one could head for the beaches in the
south. Their white sand and clear waters, offering a truly restful and
cool break.
Bali’s Top Three Beaches
With so many beautiful beaches to choose from, it is almost difficult to
pick just one to laze about in. To help tourists out, here are Bali’s
top three beaches:
Kuta Beach
Once a lonely village, Kuta is now a lively tourist resort popular among
the young beach crowd particularly the surfers. While the currents in
the area have made the beach less suitable for swimming, coast guards
are on duty throughout the day. For non-surfers, Kuta Beach is full of
restaurants, shops, discos, and nightly performances of Balinese music
and dance in addition to beautiful sunsets.
Sanur Beach
A popular recreation site
with
white sand on the south and black sand on the north part, Sanur offers a
vacation steeped in culture, esoteric beliefs and spectacular aquatic entertainment. The palm-lined
beaches of Sanur are protected from the force of the ocean waves by
offshore coral reefs making Sanur ideal for swimming, wind surfing,
boating, and other water sports.
Candi Dasa Beach
Set at the foot of Mount Agung, Candi Dasa is the name of a temple
complex on a lagoon by the edge of the sea. The white sandy beach of the
temple is only visible when the tide is out but the grassy foreshore and
beach are fantastic places to bathe in the sun.
The beach is an excellent base for day trips around Eastern Bali,
Tenganan, Goa Lawah, and Amlapura. Boats may be hired to take visitors
to good diving and snorkeling spots including the ruins of a sunken US
World War II ship.
Other beaches
Other beaches worth a visit are Lovina Beach west of Singaraja,
Pantai
Seseh found south of Tanah Lot and the Tegal Besar Beach found near the
Banjarangkan village which lures tourists with its natural beauty and
fishing boat trips.
Art
For a taste of Balinese culture, one can drop by the Ubud Museum, which
houses a permanent collection of island art dating from the turn of the
century.
The village of Mas is also worth exploring. Known as the village of wood
carvers, Mas is home to many of Bali’s old masters. Here, tourists can
get to watch the artisans at work. It is also fun to explore the
Balinese style houses and their intricately carved details.
Wildlife
While elephants and tigers don't exist any more on the island, the
forest abounds with monkeys, civets, barking deer, mouse deer and some
300 species of birds which include blue king fishers, white herons and
sparrows.
On the diving sites of Lovina, Candi Dasa and Padangbai, schools of
dolphins are commonly seen, along with the ever-present and colorful
coral fishes.
Nightlife
Kuta is the place to be for discos, pubs, and dancing. It is also an
excellent place to meet and mingle with both locals and tourists alike.
Highly popular among the young and young at heart, Kuta offers a beach
ideal for surfing, dancing and partying.
Performances of Balinese music and dance are regularly performed in Kuta
primarily for the benefit of visitors.
Another popular tourist resort can be found in Nusa Dua. Some of the
most beautiful and luxurious (read: costly) hotels are found here. The
surf is considered gentle among the northern side of the peninsula,
making its waters perfect for a relaxing dip.
Note to tourists: prepare to spend.
What you’ll need:
1. A good bathing suit to show of that tan
2. Sunscreen and tanning oil
3. A good cover up for walking around the island
4. Mosquito repellent for those pesky ever present pests on tropical
islands
5. Lip balm
6. A spirit for fun and the funds to go with it
Visit beautiful Indonesia today! |
