Destinations
Bali, Indonesia

The Island of the Gods

The island of Bali in Indonesia is such a breathtaking place that someone might think that it’s merely a painted backdrop with its lush tropical forests, volcanoes that reach for the sky and warm waves that lap against the beaches. When you add friendly locals who cherish their own culture and delicious Indonesian cuisine into the equation, there’s nothing left to want. Bali hasn’t been called “The Island of the Gods,” ”Dawn of the World” and “The Last Paradise on Earth” for nothing.

You can’t help but to have a happy face when you leave your everyday routines behind and soak up some sun on one of the gorgeous beaches. Bali also offers great possibilities for water sports and golfing. Travelers who like culture will enjoy seeing exotic ceremonies and dances, which are part of the everyday lives of the locals, or visiting some of Bali’s thousands of temples. Bali is an exotic location, which is suitable for people of all ages. It’s sure to offer something for everyone.

Facts and History

Country: Indonesia
Population: Bali 3.3 million, Indonesia 235 million
Area: 5 561 km²
Language: Bali, Indonesia, English
Currency: Indonesian rupiah (IDR)
Capital: Denpasar (population 600 000)
Electricity: 127/230 V
Religion: Balinese Hinduism
Time zone: GMT/UTC +8

Bali was inhabited by 2000 BC by Austronesian people who migrated from Taiwan. Stone tools have been found in Bali dating from this time. The Balinese developed a complex irrigation system for growing rice very early on.

The first contact with Europeans was in 1597, when a Dutch explorer arrived on the island. In the 1840’s the Dutch began to control the northern parts of the island and took over the whole island in 1900.

During WW II Bali was under Japanese rule and after the war it became a part of Indonesia, but it still maintains its own unique culture.

Climate

Bali is located close to the equator and due to the tropical climate the temperature is pleasant all year-round. The average day time temperature is from 20 – 33 degrees Celsius. The wet season lasts from October to March and the dry season from April to September. The humidity is low during the dry season and the evenings are cooler.

The different parts of the island have different weather; the temperature in the mountain villages can be cool enough to wear a long-sleeved shirt, even if the sunshine in the coastal areas is scorching.

Places to See

Southern Bali – The Mecca of Tourism

Most people head straight for the best beaches in Bali, such as Kuta Beach, Sanur, Jimbaran or Nusa Dua. These areas have many separate hotel villages, shopping centers and of course more white sandy beaches than the eye can see.

Nusa Dua is popular among tourists who want high-quality vacationing with all the possible comforts, whereas Kuta is known for its beautiful sunsets, surfing and wild nightlife. Kuta also has lots of stores and restaurants, which make it popular among the younger crowd. Jimbaran offers some of the best seafood restaurants, which are situated right on the beach. The area is also popular among families, because the waves are smaller than at Kuta. Sanur Beach is a location, which doesn’t offer surfing or partying, because the waves are quiet and so is the nightlife.

Uluwatu has one of Bali’s most sacred places and a temple, which represents architecture at its finest. It’s a great spot for enjoying the sunset and watching some pro surfing. Padang Padang is a pristine beach located next to Uluwatu. Both areas are easy to reach from Kuta by motorbike; the trip takes 30 – 60 minutes.

Legian, Canggu and Seminyak are located north of Kuta. These areas are quieter than Kuta (especially Caggu and Seminyak) and offer nice but affordable restaurants and nightlife. The areas are great for finding accommodation, if you’re interested in renting a private villa with a pool.

The capital of the island, Denpasar, is also located in southern Bali. However, it may not be a vacationer’s paradise due to the pollution, traffic and noise. It’s a good place to go shopping (the prices are very inexpensive) or getting a glimpse of Balinese culture at the National Museum.

Central Bali – Ubud and other villages

When traveling north of Denpasar, you’ll come across numerous small villages. Batubulan is a village where you can visit Bali’s bird park, watch the sculpting of tufa statues or see a number of barong dances. Celuk is known for its numerous gold and silver merchants and its handicrafts. The drama dance Gambuh is often performed at Batuan. Also, other forms of art such as wooden sculptures in bas-relief are valued in this village. Ubud used to be a quiet colony of artists, but it has now developed into a luxurious tourist center with museums and performances. It is one of the most popular places to visit in Bali. Most travelers combine Ubud and a beach resort for a perfect vacation. Ubud has many accommodation options and restaurants of good quality and it’s easy to visit the surrounding rural areas by bicycle from the town. Pejeng is a place for seeing several fascinating and unusual temples. In Bangli you can visit the architectonically interesting viewpoint of Pura Kehen and the ancient banyan tree, which grows in its yard. We also recommend visiting the temple of Pura Ulun in the village of Danau Batur, because it is one of the most magnificent temples in Bali.

Eastern Bali – Mount Agung and its surroundings

The Sidemen Valley in Karangasem has some of Bali’s most memorable terraced rice fields. The most massive temple on the island, Pura Besakih, which sits at the bottom of Mount Agung, offers travelers even more memorable sights.

Western Bali – The Rice Bowl

You can drive along the winding roads of the undeveloped Tabanan area for quite some time without seeing anything other than rice fields. The Bratan Lake area has some interesting places though, such as a fruit and spice shop and the Bali Botanical Garden. Tanah Lot, which is situated a short distance outside of Tabanan, is a temple that fascinates both tourists and locals. It’s been built amidst the cliffs by the sea.

Northern Bali – A Point of Contact for Cultures

Northern Bali is a drier area than others and it’s known for the stream of merchants who arrived from Arabia, China and Holland. There are remnants of colonialism in the area, for example, in the form of Dutch architecture. Lovina is a beach resort, where you can watch the dolphins’ morning swim at sunrise. A memory that’s certain to last a lifetime. The Pura Ulun Danu temple is also situated in Northern Bali. It’s one of Bali’s most sacred temples. On the island of Menjanga you can see some of the most interesting underwater life in Bali.

Transportation

The most common forms of public transportation in Bali are buses and minibuses, which are called bemos. Buses are most often very crowded and drive quite slowly, but they are also cheap. Buses are also a great way to meet locals. If you want to get to where you are going faster, a bemo is a better choice, because they use shorter routes. You can also choose the more comfortable tourist buses, which run between the larger cities, but they are much more expensive.

If you want to get to know Bali in your own time and according to your own schedule, you can hire a bemo and driver or rent a car or scooter. Bali has left-hand traffic and almost constant honking is a normal part of the traffic culture.

Food and Drink

Balinese cuisine is a mixture of Chinese, Indonesian, Arabian and European influences. Rice is the main part of almost any meal and coconut milk is used for a rich, creamy flavor. Balinese cuisine is often quite spicy. The main proteins are chicken, fish, beef and shellfish. Noodles are also quite common. Food is very affordable, whether you buy it at a restaurant or from a street vendor. Remember to drink only bottled water.

Beware of ’sambal’, a mixture of red-hot chilies and dried shrimp, which is a popular condiment. It may be quite spicy to the untrained tongue. Always taste just a tiny bit first. Enjoy the wide variety of fresh, exotic fruits and don’t forget to give the ‘kaki lima,’ i.e. five legs, a try. The kaki lima are food carts pushed by young boys. The name refers to the number of legs the cart has; two for the boy and three wheels for the cart. Sample a fried banana or ‘bakso,’ which is meatball soup.

Nasi Goren: Fried rice with egg
Mie Goreng: Fried noodles with egg
Satay: Thin slices of barbecued meat on a skewer, served with spicy peanut sauce
Gado Gado: Indonesian salad with spicy peanut sauce
Bubuh Injin: Black rice pudding dessert. Black rice served hot with palm sugar and coconut cream.

Currency

You can exchange your local currency to Indonesian Rupiah (Rp.) at banks, money exchange offices and large hotels. Most often it is most expensive to exchange money at hotels and at the airport. One euro is approximately 14,000 rupiahs.

You can withdraw cash from the ATM’s with your credit card. ATM’s are common in larger cities.

Paying with a credit card is safe at the larger shopping centers and hotels, but be cautious in smaller places, because credit cards are copied quite a bit. Small stores and taxis only accept cash.

Vaccinations

Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and Tetanus-diphtheria are should be kept up-to-date. Hepatitis A is recommended. Malaria prevention medication may be recommended to some travelers, but this can be bought after arriving in Indonesia. Some travelers may also be advised to take vaccinations for Japanese encephalitis, Hepatitis B, cholera and typhoid fever.

Safety

Generally speaking, traveling in Indonesia is safe and the areas are peaceful. Beware of pick-pockets and keep an eye on your luggage.

Even though Indonesia is a seismically active area, Bali is located far away from the boundaries of the tectonic plates. Earthquakes are very rare on the island.

The Best of Bali

Kuta Beach

The Kuta and Leagian beaches have been popular among travelers for over a quarter of a century. They offer tourists affordable accommodation, great shopping and dining, surfing, beautiful sunsets and wild nightlife. Even though the beaches aren’t Bali’s best, they’re worth visiting for at least one sunset.

The Batur and Agung Volcanoes

Gunung Batur, the most active volcano in Bali, is 1.7 km high and there is an amazing view from the edge of the crater to the crater lake below. You can climb Batur to enjoy a beautiful sunset. You can purchase a day-trip to visit the volcano from Kuta, the drive takes about an hour. You can hike up by yourself as well; just remember to take some eggs and a frying pan with you, so you can make yourself a delicious omelet with the heat that steams through the crevices. If you plan on hiking at night, take a guide with you.

The village of Kintaman, which is located along the edge of the crater, is a very popular attraction. There are also other small villages at the base of the volcano, such as Toya, which is located by the crater lake and Bungkah, where you can find a few hiking trails up to the top of the volcano.

Gunung Agung is a sacred volcano for the Balinese and it is over 3 km high. People even point their beds in the direction of Gunung Agung. Visitors must be aware of behaving properly. A guide is strongly recommended. You can also marvel at Agung from the sea, as you travel towards the Gili Islands.

Tanah Lot

Tanah Lot is located ten kilometers from the city of Tabanan and twenty kilometers from Denpasar, the capital of the island. The area is an exciting mixture of natural beauty and man-made wonders. In Tanah Lot, the waves that crash on the white sandy beach complete the setting, the center of which is the Pura Tanah Lot temple. Pura Tanah Lot is a small but grand temple, which peeks through the shelter of the cliffs to the sea. Tanah Lot attracts both locals as well as tourists and many people go there to catch a glimpse of the romantic Tanah Lot sunset.

Gili Islands near Lombok

The three islands are a maximum of 2 – 3 km in diameter. The coral is unbelievable and the water is crystal clear. A must-see for diving and snorkeling – if you’re lucky you’ll see sharks, sea turtles and goannas. The islands are all very different and it only takes about 15 minutes and costs a few euros to go from one island to the next with one of the local boats.

”There are hammocks on the porch of the bungalow, where you can just lounge or read a book. The restaurants by the sea are small huts with no walls. There is a slight, cool breeze from the sea that keeps the mosquitoes away. You can just lie among the cushions and admire the ocean and Lombok with its mountains, which rise up in the distance. There is no way to describe the atmosphere. It feels so surreal.

The world under the sea is so fascinating, just like in the movie ”Finding Nemo”. The coral and fish have such bright colors and the sea turtles are huge.”