Bali Attractions
Hanging Around with the Locals: Belimbing
I have often mentioned some of my favourite views in the countryside of Bali and everybody has their greatest discoveries. A while back I came across a ripper of a place with not only a great view of terraced ricefields, but also some of nature’s radar-users just hanging around. We were driving along the north-west road up to Pupuan from the main south coastal road and it was a hot day subsequently needing to satiate our thirst. Roughly about half-way up this stretch of road from Antosari to Pupuan heading north you will notice a small warung neatly tucked away on the right-hand side of the road just outside of Belimbing. The place looked just like the many others you see on these long stretches of roads in Bali that I almost drove by, but, Candika my wife nudged me to stop. I went in to buy a couple of bottles of water only to discover that at the rear of the building was a small, quaint café. My need for caffeine was greater than water!
Date: August 6th, 2008 |
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The Secret Beach – Pasir Putih
If you have been a regular on the Baliblog forum then you will have noticed of late there have been some inquiries and great answers regarding the best beaches on the island. The general consensus is that pasir putih, or secret beach, near to Candi Dasa is the favourite amongst readers. The pristine beach at Pasir Putih is an idyllic place to relax, soak up a bit of sun and swim in the clean and clear waters. I went to this ‘secret spot’ the same year Lonely Planet listed it in their Bali guidebook as the best beach in Bali. That was in 2004 and, although I haven’t returned there since, I can imagine it is now looking more like Kuta Beach on a bad day. Back in 2004 there was only a ramshackle warung and a couple of Javanese tourists from a nearby hotel. Like most beautiful stretches of yet-to-be-discovered beaches, once the word gets out, then it is a fee-for-all as far as the locals marking out their territory to build a warung and not long after that, no doubt, you would find a Mcdonalds or some other foreign enterprise despoiling the beauty of the area.
Date: August 3rd, 2008 |
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The Rudana Museum: Peliatan, Ubud
Ubud is, without a doubt, the cultural heart of Bali and it is here you will find some of the best art galleries and museums on the island. Getting from one museum to another or gallery is as easy as taking a walk, or if you prefer, hiring a taxi. For the energetic and healthy person try hiring a pushbike and take in the cool and fresh mountain air. One of the villages that make up the Ubud area is Peliatan and it is here you will find the Rudana Museum. First established in 1995, the fine arts museum’s aim is to provide an outstanding collection of paintings for the public to see and enjoy. The museum houses a beautiful collection of artwork covering the social history of the nation. There are three floors of spell-binding artwork to explore and enjoy.
Date: July 27th, 2008 |
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Waka Namnya Ubud Resort: Penestanan, Ubud
Bali’s major arts and culture centre, Ubud has developed a large tourism industry and is located amongst rice paddies and steep ravines in the island’s central foothills. The town sits centrally among a group of villages - Padang Tegal and Nyuhkuning are to the south, Peliatan and Kutuh are to the east, Campuhan, Penestenan and Sayan are to the west and Sanggingan and Kedewatan are to the north-west. There is an abundance of accommodation to suit any budget, but if you can afford to lash out a few extra bucks then there are some great value-for-money resort villas in the area. Slightly out of town is Penestenan, you will find the Waka Namya Resort and Spa - a luxury Balinese architecture with a beautiful spa treatment available for every guest staying there.
Date: July 26th, 2008 |
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Official Holidays for 2009
It’s always good to know when the official holidays are in Bali because some dates, like Nyepi, you are losing virtually a day of your holiday having to be in the hotel and in silence. Other major events like Galungan and Kuningan can see shops close for days on end even though it is great to witness these occasions. Then there are the government closure days like Islamic holidays when banks and offices are closed and this can be inconvenient. Bali Discovery has just released a list of the official holidays for travellers to Bali.
Date: July 22nd, 2008 |
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Kuta Sidewalk Festival
Indonesians are great people for putting on spectacular festivals and I have seen a fair share on my travels around the archipelago. Bali is no different to any of the other islands and they enjoy a good festival or two…or three or four! Coming up this month on the 17th August is Indonesia’s Independence Day and the Balinese intend to celebrate this important date by putting on a 3-day sidewalk festival in Kuta. So, if you are travelling to Bali around this time then don’t miss this great festival. It proves to be an excellent day. Here’s more from the Bali Discovery:
Date: August 4th, 2008 |
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Novotel Benoa Bali Green Globe Certified
Responsible ecotourism includes those places or organisations that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment and enhance the cultural integrity of local people as well as evaluating environmental and cultural factors. These are integral parts of ecotourism and include the promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and creation of economic opportunities for the local communities. Novotel Benoa Bali is the first Accor hotel in Asia to achieve Green Globe Certified, a Green Globe qualification which recognises the hotel’s commitment to successfully implement an integrated Environmental Management …
Date: August 1st, 2008 |
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Tumpek Uduh
Across Bali today it is Tumpek Uduh. This is a day to offer respect to trees, particularly the coconut palm that are important to the livelihood of the Balinese. In South Bali the trees are dressed in traditional Balinese clothes, complete with a headband, tlie udeng, a kilt-like kamben, and a special scarf, saput, as a belt. Then the tree is hit ceremonially with a hammer to notify it that offerings are nearby and to ask it to produce abundant fruit. Tumpek Uduh falls five weeks later on Saturday of Wariga, the seventh week This day has many alternate names, …
Date: July 26th, 2008 |
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6 Crazy Things to Do in Bali
There are numerous adventure companies in Bali offering a wide range of adrenaline-pumping activities. A few I have already experienced and I am looking forward to completing my list of crazy and adventurous things to do. There are the mundane and less adventurous activities like going surfing at night or getting lost in the Bali Barat National Park [been there, done that and wouldn’t recommend it to anybody!] or even diving alone off any of the reefs around the island. However, there are those activities that will give you a buzz and get the heart pumping.
Date: July 24th, 2008 |
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In Search of Prasasti Blanjong
I had heard about it from Balinese friends, read up about it, and finally, went in search of it. The stone pillar of Prasasti Blanjong is one of the oldest man-made objects in Bali dating back to 913AD, and it is the written language on the pillar that I was most keen to observe even though I knew I wouldn’t understand it. After reasonable research I was able to find out the language used on the pillar is most likely old Javanese (kawi), and it tells the story of a king …
Date: July 20th, 2008 |
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