If you ever watched Julia Roberts, ‘Eat,
Pray, Love’ you will definitely remember Bali.
So in November of 2014, I decided to spend my ‘eat, pray, love ‘ in Bali
so I can also enjoy what Julia did and maybe meet me a sexy Brazilian man – ohh
well that never happened. But everything else did happen.
Known
as the island of Bali in Indonesia is year after year voted by the readers of
all major travel magazines as one of the most enchanting travel and holiday
destination in the whole world. Bali is constantly changing. It’s dynamic.
It’s organic.
Bali offers an incredible wide variety
of attractions and there are countless reasons why one should come to the
Island of the Gods and enjoy an unforgettable holiday. The welcoming nature of the Balinese, the incredible value for money ratio (I became a millionaire)
for almost anything the island has to offer, the unique, vibrant and alive culture, the physical beauty of the island, and the year-round pleasant climate make Bali a place regarded by
many visitors as the “Ultimate Island Holiday Destination”
First of all, the Bali you encounter when you
land at Denpasar Airport is very different from all things you saw in the
movie. As many places we all know, its crowded, heavy traffic, beaches of Kuta
are trash covered but all the same, very nice place to visit and take time away
from work. For me that’s exactly what I needed after the year I had. By the way, traffic in Bali is crazy – Just
another reminder.
Weather in Bali
Bali is approximately 8 degrees south
of the equator. So you can expect a tropical, warm and humid climate all year
around with two main distinctive seasons: Dry Season and Rainy Season. And the
best time to go to Bali? May, June, September. Also, April and October are
good. This is because room prices are 30-50% off high season rates, less humid,
not too crowded, and cheap airfares.
For me, I visited Bali in November which was
good because I was still able to swim and enjoy myself. Just know that it is
the season when it starts to rain a lot.
After endless research of places to stay in,
I decided ‘Sanur’ was going to be my
base and yes, I really did choose well.
I ended up staying in Kamuela Sanur. It is was everything I had dreamed
of, small but with luxury that rivals some of the biggest hotels we have
around.
Sanur has developed into a well-known
tourist destination. It has a good mix of bars and eateries, it lacks the
congested traffic, crowds, and hectic pace of Kuta and Legian. The ocean is
calm and good for swimming, the sunrises are breathtaking and the 5km paved
beach-path makes it an ideal place for walkers and cyclists. And this was exactly what I needed. I would
wake up everyday at 5.00 am just to see the breathtaking sunrise that Sanur
displayed.
You need to know that Sanur has bicycles
as its popular mode of transport and they have taxis everywhere but when you
stay at a hotel, you can easily hire a driver who will take you everywhere.
I spent 10 days in Bali and I felt like
my life had transformed. I visited every place you could think of, Ubud,
Denpansar, Legion, Nusa Dua, Seminyak, Kuta and had excellent seafood and
enjoyed the beaches of Sanur way more than I could have hoped for. Let us not
forget excellent massages and morning yogas that transform how you view life
that start from as low as $7.
So
what do you do when in Bali?
Visit
Places
Seminyak boasts some of the most
glorious beaches in Bali. Be sure to catch the legendary sunsets and enjoy the
tranquil beauty, and marvel at Balinese ceremonies on the beach, complete with
gamelan players and offerings to the gods.
Ubud. Ubud is home to the lush rice terraces, hindu temples and gave me the
opportunity to get up-close and personal with monkeys but also the rice
terraces.
Nusa Dua is a gated, purpose-built
tourist area on the Bukit Peninsula. It is unique to Bali and a bit isolated
from the other resort areas on the west and south coast. As an FYI, Nusa Dua
attracts luxury travelers, those looking for relaxation and quite content to
stay within the local area for the majority of their vacation.
Kuta, known as a place that has the
best beaches in Bali, a five-mile stretch of clean sand that is a magnet for
surfers and sunbathers. Its such a touristy place with so much partying and
night crawlers. Wild Wild at night!
Temples
Traditional religion is very alive in
Bali. And Bali has more than 20,000 temples found across the Island of
the Gods are the sites of regular rituals, spanning life from birth to death.
Balinese temples are unique in architecture and structure and are built
according to strict rules. Village organizations make sure that their temples,
which are a major part of Balinese life, are beautiful and well maintained,
and their attractiveness and deep spiritual power make them popular among
visitors.
Taman
Ayun Temple was built in 1634 by the
King of Mengwi. It is set in the middle of magnificent gardens and ponds and
surrounded by a moat, with access via the bridge. It is one of the most
beautiful temples in Bali.
Pura
Ulun Danau sits on the shore of Lake
Bratan, and is the second most important temple complex in Bali. It actually
consists of four temples: Lingga Petak, Penataran Pucak Mangu, Terate Bang and
Dalem Purwa. 
Pura
Tanah Lot, a pilgrimage temple, is the most
photographed temple in Bali. It sits a few meters offshore on a rock formation
and is particularly popular late afternoon for the stunning sunset. At high
tide the temple is impossible to reach, but at low tide you can walk to the
base of the temple to be blessed by a priest. I loved the feel of my feet on
the water here.
Pura
Uluwatu sits on top of a cliff edge, 90 meters
above the waves below, and the views from here across the Indian Ocean are
stunning. Plus, animal lovers will enjoy the forest in front where numerous
monkeys live, and who often play around the temple area. FYI, The monkeys will
steal anything that strikes their fancy — take care! Wearing a sarong and sash
is compulsory. Bring your own
Tirta
Empul Temple located at Tampakskiring,
just a short drive from Guning Kawi, and is a very easy site to visit as it is
relaxing and refreshing. Tirta Empul has a holy spring and many Balinese make a
pilgrimage here at least once a year. Plus, holy water from this spring is also
taken home and used all over Bali in many Hindu ceremonies where the sprinkling
of holy water is essential.
Rice
Terraces
Jatiluwih'
is the name given to the lush green rice terraces that cover Tabanan. This area
is more beautiful than its better-known sister, Tegallalang, and its panoramic
views with Mt. Agung and Mt. Batukaru in the background – so beautiful!
Tegalalang
Rice Terrace
Absolutely spectacular rice terraces
only a short drive from Ubud, with dramatic views and wonderful photo
opportunities. The valley is narrow so the terraces are steep as they step down
to the Sepat River Valley.
Local
Market
Pasar
Candi Kuning is a traditional market
selling fruit, vegetables and flowers. The produce sold here is locally grown
in the rich, fertile fields which benefit from a cooler climate higher up. Here
you will find all the exotic fruits of Bali (when in season), and spices in
abundance. And always bargain!
Ubud
Traditional Art Market
You really can't visit Ubud without at
least one trip to the Art Market. Open every day from 8am to 6pm, and located
opposite the Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Palace), you will find a range of arts and
crafts, home ware, clothing, and other souvenirs here — the large majority of
which are made in Indonesia.
Mount
Kawi
When in Ubud, your tour cannot be
completed without paying a visit to the stunning Gunung Kawi especially if you
want to get away from the crowds. The beautifully carved stone temple can be
seen across the Pakerisan River (once you get to the bottom of the steps and
have crossed the little bridge), and you'll find Hindu monuments carved into
the rock face on either side of the river. This is an absolutely beautiful and
peaceful monument and is a must see in the area.
And if you are trying to decide where
to go to, here are a couple of things to put in mind to help you choose where
to stay.
- Kuta is wild at night
- Seminyak has most clubs and beach clubs, more upper class
- Ubud is laid back, art, small shops, great food, healthylife style, yoga
- Lembongan Island is easy to get to and like Bali 40 years ago. Paradise
- Sanur is more quiet, a bit upper class in general, calm beaches, great restaurants at the beach side (pantai sindhu). Lots of live music – My special place.
- Rainy season, October to February, Dry season March to September
- Bali (incl. Lembongan) are one of the best surf destinations in the world
- Amed is the place where most scuba divers stay and where you find the wrecks
- Nusa Dua, 5 star resort area
- Jimbaran - seafood restaurants and BBQ directly on the beach, every night (busy, fresh seafood, tasty)
- Bukit Penisula in the south, surfer's paradise and still a little bit off the beaten track.
- Padang Padang Beach, Bingin Beach, Dreamland, Uluwatu, Balangan
So if you are in Bali, remember these
things:
1.
Hire a private car and
driver for the day to visit places
2.
Bargain and bargain at
popular tourist hotsports
3.
Tipping is not a must but
you are allowed to
4.
Do not point your finger at
anyone
5.
Carry $25 to pay as you
exit Bali.
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