Around Bali (page 2)
Beaches, temples, towns and day trips across the island.
Sanur Bali
Sanur is one of the main beach resort areas on the south coast of Bali, located NE of the airport in Tuban.
Map of Sanur
Here is a map of Sanur highlighting streets, accommodation and food options. Check out these other maps: Amed & Aas Bali Bali Barat National Park Bangli Bedugal, Munduk and Lake Bratan Bukit…
Weekend trip to Gunung Batukaru Bali
Visiting the quieter parts of Bali is a treat and my latest trip was back up to the peaceful slopes of Gunung Batukaru , north of Tabanan .
Exploring the highlands of Bali
Exploring a new place is a big part of the excitement for newcomers. Bali is accessible to first time visitors and the only thing you have to do to have an adventure and to escape the tourist scene…
Candi Dasa services
Candi Dasa could be called the 'gateway to East Bali '. The completion of the Kusamba highway means one can get there from Kuta in less than 2 hours with little stress.
Map of Candi Dasa
Here is a map of Candi Dasa, highlighting accommodation options and local services. For a larger view click on the map .
Accommodation in Padangbai Bali
Padangbai in East Bali offers a quiet place to relax. The 3 beaches (the main beach , Blue Lagoon to the north and Pantai Kacil to the south) are white sand and great for swimming / snorkeling.
The Lombok Ferry from Padangbai
Padangbai in East Bali is the traditional route to Lombok. Its ferries are large and leave every hour around the clock, allowing motorbikes cars and trucks.
Map of Padangbai
Here is a map of Padangbai in East Bali, detailing accommodation options and local services.
Lake Batur Bali
Danau (lake) Batur is the largest of Bali's 4 mountain lakes , with a length of 8km and a width of 3km .
Accommodation in Toya Bungkah: Batur Bali
For those contemplating hiking Gunung Batur , the best place to stay is Toya Bungkah , which has a good selection of budget accommodation.
Map of Toya Bungkah
Here is a map of Toya Bungkah detailing the accommodation options. Check out these other maps: Amed & Aas Bali Bali Barat National Park Bangli Bedugal, Munduk and Lake Bratan Bukit Peninsula Central…
Gunung Batur: The crater rim
Bali's mountain lakes are sacred to the Balinese, who worship the Goddess Ida Batara Dewi Ulun Danau (Goddess of the lakes).
Map of Gunung Batur & Danau Batur
Here is a map of Gunung Batur & Danau Batur detailing temples, points of interest and accommodation options.
Batukaru Mountain Retreat
Peace and quiet are precious commodities in this modern age. Seems like no matter how busy our lives are, we just keep on stuffing in extra distractions, whether it be iPods, Playstation, email,…
Trip to Batukaru Bali
Ika, Jevon and I are about to take a 1 day overnight trip Gunung Batukaru in Tabanan .
Amed Bali
Amed is located on the SE corner of Bali . The coastal strip from Amed to Aas is often referred to as 'Amed', but there are a few villages along the way including, Jemeluk, Bunutan , Lipah and Selang…
Map of Amed & Aas
Here is a map of Amed & Aas in East Bali. Check out these other maps: Bali. Bali Barat National Park. Bangli Bukit Peninsula. Central Bali. East Bali. Map of Gili Trawangan Jimbaran. Jungkutbatu.
Bali's NE coast: A quiet place to enjoy
The NE coast of Bali is one of the quietest parts of the island. Most tourist never make it up there and those that do are simply on their way from Amed to Lovina.
Waterfalls in Bali
Bali has a selection of waterfalls that are fun to visit. For many people the idea of hiking through the jungle to a hidden waterfall and taking a cooling swim is the image of paradise.
Denpasar: Bali's only municipality
Denpasar means 'by the market' and is Bali's only real city. Denpasar is home to Balinese people from all over the island who work in Kuta, so in the late afternoon the roads leading to Denpasar are…
Udayana Eco Lodge Bali
Udayana Eco Lodge is located on Jimbaran Heights , is located on 30 hectares of bush land overlooking a beautiful view of Gunung Agung, Jimbaran Bay and Benoa Harbor.
Hiking Gunung Batukaru Bali
Gunung Batukaru is the second highest mountain in Bali after Gunung Agung. At 2,271m , this baby is will take a while to get to. Accommodation is at the Eco Lodge , in Sarinbuana .
The trees of Bali
Long ago Bali enjoyed dense forests, with jati (teak) trees covering parts of the north coast. Nowadays there is not much forest left, with the last dense section of jungle around Mt.
Serangan: Turtle Island Bali
Serangan , or Turtle Island , sits off of the SE coast of Bali . As a rule most westerners won't have any cause to go there and many people could not tell you where it is.
Tanjung Benoa Bali
Tanjung Benoa is often lumped together with Nusa Dua by the travel agents, but there are a few differences. Here's the rundown on Tanjung Benoa.
Nusa Dua Bali
Any Google search for hotels in Bali will brings up a range of options including those located in Nusa Dua . For people who haven't yet been to Bali, here is a little information about Nusa Dua.
Nusa Dua Beach Bali
Nusa Dua is a custom designed resort complex featuring 20 resorts hotels. The location on the eastern side of the Bukit peninsula was chosen because of the expanses of sandy beaches.
Restaurants at Bali Collection Nusa Dua
Bali Collection Nusa Dua is a smart shopping center catering to the needs of the resort tourists nearby.
Pura Tegalwangi beach: Another secret spot in Bali
Adding to the ever growing list of 'secret beaches' we can find in Bali is the secluded white sand beach at Pura Tegalwangi , on the Bukit peninsula .
Padang Padang's paradise beach
Perfectly quiet beaches are getting harder to find, particularly with new villas projects and resorts positioning themselves overlooking white sand beaches and giving themselves private access.
Kerta Gosa: Bali's Sistine Chapel
Kerta Gosa is the name of the former Royal Courts of Justice in Klungkung . Set is a courtyard of ponds, the highlight is an elaborately decorated ceiling featuring the wayang style of painting.
The Bukit Bali: Almost an island in itself
When you say 'Bukit' to most Bali tourists, they have no idea what you're talking about.
Bali Most Liveable
Greenstump has a website dedicated to keeping the planet green. He asks the question 'what is Indonesia's most liveable province/city/town/village?' We already know the answer to the first part of…
Arriving in Bali: A tourist's account
Thousands of tourists arrive everyday in Bali. Ngurah Rai airport is at it's busiest between 12pm and 4pm, with 4 or more flights arriving an hour.
Butterfly Park in Tabanan Bali
Bali has a wide variety of attractions which offers tourists alternatives to the beach and shopping. One of the parks in Bali is the Butterfly Park in Wanasari .
Top 30 things in Bali and Lombok
Bali conjures up visions of a tropical island with towering volcanoes shrouded in brooding clouds, sandy beaches fringed with swaying palms and an ancient culture that lives on in the 21st century.
Traveling as an Indian in Bali
Bali has a historical connection to India in that some of the Bali Aga are said to be descended from people from eastern India.
Diving tips for Bali
Talking to an experienced diving instructor in Bali, I learned some tips that I have already passed onto one person.
Komodo Diving: Liveaboards in Indonesia
Last night I chatted to an Australian couple who have been diving in Indonesia recently. Everyone has their favourite places and experiences with dive sites, operators and supporting infrastructure.
Learning to dive in Gili Trawangan Lombok
Gili Trawangan offers a white sand island, surrounded by turquiose water. There are no cars or motorbikes, no police, no nightclubs, but there are many restaurants, many showing evening movies and…
Crackers Bar & Grill: Candi Kuning Bali
Crackers Bar & Grill is located just off of the main road that goes from Baturiti to Lake Bratan . Tucked away behind a local market, the place feels like an optical illusion.
Day Trip to Candi Kuning Bali
Years ago in Australia I had a weird experience. Hitchhiking on the Sunshine Coast, my friend and I were picked up by a tour bus driver who had no customers.
Semawang Beach, Sanur Bali
A somewhat cloudy afternoon in Kuta, continued and allowed me to walk around on the beach at Sanur without a hat.
Petrol in Bali
Bali is held together by bits of string. That's how it sometimes feels anyway. The geography of the island, plus the rugged nature of some of the roads, combined with the fact that many people ride…
Planning your trip to Bali
There are different schools of thought on how you should plan your trip to Bali. Some people have an itemized itinerary, others simply let the adventure happen.
Finding answers for a Bali tourist
Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree message board is one of the busiest on the web. Once is a while it can be intersting to see what comments people post.
Dreamland Beach Bali
Dreamland is a white elephant, donated to the people of Bali by Tomy Suharto. Actually it wasn't really donated, it was grabbed, mangled, then taken back. Riding along Jl.
Recent visitor's Bali experience
Talking to Bali visitors I hear many of the same complaints ( aggressive beach vendors, trash everywhere), some glowing acounts of personal interactions ('the people are so warm and kind') and once…
Fish lunch in Denpasar Bali
On my home home from Ketewel today I swung through Denpasar , the capital of Bali. My guide book said the Natour Bali hotel. close to the Bali Museum, on Jl.
Ketewel area SE Bali
Wet season surfers look to surf the eastern beaches for 2 main reasons, the winds change and the amount of garbage in the water.
Nyoman's Beergarden Restaurant & Bar: Nusa Dua Bali
Nyoman's Beergarden Restaurant & Bar is located along the strip of restaurants just outside of the Nusa Dua resort complex, on Jl.Pantai Mengiat in Bualu .
Banana Boat Aloe Vera Gel
Riding around on the Bukit today, I was focused on the road, as potholes appear unexpectedly.
El Pirata: Nusa Dua Bali
El Pirata is a cool looking place on the main drag in Bualu. The restaurant is an International & Seafood specialist.
Rolf Potts: Travelling cheaper longer
Rolf Potts is one of the new generation of travel writers. An experienced world traveller, he wrote a book called Vagabonding , which talks about overseas, long-term travel.
Developing ecotourism in Bali
Ecotourism does have a place in Bali's future. While ecotourism is never going to reel in the big bucks of package tours, it takes advantage of what is already out there, with the least amount of…
Travel gear for Bali
Travelers, tourists and adventures show up in Bali, sporting an assortment of gear.
Puri Cokorda: Palace in Tabanan Bali
The word for temple is pura , the word for palace is puri . On the western edge of Mengwi is the Puri Cokorda, containing a carved bell tower.
Pura Alas Kedaton: Another Monkey Forest in Bali
Bali has no shortage of temples and monkeys. Today I rode over to Pura Alas Kedaton , just up the road from Tabanan , to get another taste of the place.
Back roads of Bali
Riding around the area close to Pura Alas Kedaton, I took a couple of smaller roads, one dead ending down a local street.
Wayang Kulit: Balinese shadow puppets at Bali Museum
Bali Museum has examples of Balinese shadow puppets, which are important to cultural and religious life in Bali.
Geringsing: Balinese weaving at the Bali Museum
The Geringsing cloth, is the most intricate work of cloth in Bali. It is made in the Bali Aga village of Tenganan Pegeringsingan, and considered by Balinese, to have the power to ward off evil…
Bali Museum: Denpasar Bali
The Bali Museum is located at Puputan Square in Denpasar. Set in traditional looking grounds, adjacent to Pura Jagatnata, a visit to the museum is a relaxing and affordable place, where you can learn…
Indonesian Food in Denpasar
On the way to the Bali Museum today, I made a stop at warung in Denpasar. The road to the museum, Jl. Teuku Umar has many places to choose from and I chose Kedai (warung) Nasi Uduk.
Schoolkids in Bali
School kids in Bali are full of life, and not afraid to show their stuff. Today on Jl. Kartika Plaza in Tuban, I passed a school that was closing for the day.
Wage Silver: Jewelry in Sanur Bali
Wage Silver is a silver jewelry shop located on Jl. Danau Tamblingan, in Sanur. Items on offer include silver and shell bracelets for 272,500rp, earrings for 78,000rp, small necklaces with a stone…
Gopi Style: Cushions in Sanur Bali
Gopi Style is a cute little shop in Sanur, that specializes in cushions. Located on Jl. Danau Tamblingan Perahu, the shop is quite visible, due to the bright colored cushions in the window.
Bali Primitive Design: Ethnic t-shirts in Sanur Bali
Bali Primitive Design is located on Jl. Danau Toba in Sanur, and sells t-shirts, with primitive designs. There is something like this on Jl. Legian in Kuta too.
Paris Van Java: Shoes in Sanur Bali
Paris Van Java is a shoe shop in Sanur. Located on Jl. Danau Tamblingan, the small shop stocks ethnic wooden shoes, made in Bandung Java.
Different levels of comfort in Bali
Bali leaves different people, with different memories, largely dependent on 2 things, their mental state coming out here, and the experiences that follow.
Melons in Sanur Bali
Coming back from Denpasar today I passed a string of garden shops. Taking Jl. Hayam Wuruk past the statue of the Indonesian soldier, the road veered left straight onto Jl. Hang Tuah, towards Sanur.
Lunch at Ramayana Mall Denpasar
After getting up early and spending time riding around, I was getting hungry. Looking around the streets that surround the Bali Museum, it became obvious there was nowhere to eat.
Bali Museum Denpasar
This morning I headed off like Columbus, into the Denpasar traffic, hoping to find the Bali Museum .
Breakfast in Bali: A few choices
Most people staying in Bali for a holiday, will be staying in guest house, hotel, or villa. This usually means breakfast will be taken care of.
Pasar Badung: Denpasar Bali
Pasar Badung is the huge market area in central Denpasar, famous among locals. Today I drove Ika, Jevon and my mother-in-law there, to check things out.
Good travel tips for Bali
Everyone has their own travel experience in Bali, which leaves them with their own view of the 'Island of the Gods.' Karyn Lindberg , from America visited Bali in November, and gives some useful tips…
How to explore Gay Bali
There are 6 billion realities on this planet and many thousands of lifestyles. Mine is just one of them, and if I get through till the end, without disrupting anyone else's, I'll consider that…
Bali Forum Threads for the week of January 8, 2007
Check out these topics currently being discussed on the Bali Forum at BootsnAll : Rod would like some information on getting to and staying in Krui ... Nick, however, has never heard of Krui!
Toby & Maya's trip to Bali
Toby Catlin recently visited Bali, with his 3 1/2 year old daughter Maya (who's mother is actually a Mayan indian!).
Locals, Shells & Shops: Jimbaran Bay
Jimbaran Bay locals, seem to still carry on like long ago. Life in Jimbaran goes slow, and the local aspect is as strong as the tourist aspect.
Seafood Warungs at Jimbaran Bay
If something works, repeat it. This simply strategy has firmly taken root at Jimbaran Bay , where long ago, some bright spark thought grilling fish on the beach, might attract customers.
Balinese Fishermen in Jimbaran Bali
Jimbaran Bay doesn't get much surf, you can tell by the fact the fishing fleet is based here. Balinese fishermen use the same boat all over the island, which is a narrow outrigger.
Jimbaran Bay Fish market Bali
Ask anyone in the Kuta / Seminyak area where to get fresh fish, and they'll say Jimbaran. The local fishing fleet is based here, at Kedonganan.
Handy Beaches: Jimbaran Bay Overview
People staying in the Kuta area, will no doubt sample the delights of Kuta Beach. These include sun, sand, surf, drink vendor, beach massage and handicraft vendors.
Your favourite place in Bali
Where your favourite place in Bali? I've got a couple, which are suited to my different moods.
The life of an Amed local
Westerners go to places like Amed, on the far East Coast of Bali , and feel like they've landed in heaven.
Pasir Putih Beach East Bali
Everyone is looking for the 'hidden beach', includung myself today. Driving along the road from Candi Dasa towards Amlapura, we shot through the village of Perasi and past the tiny entrance to the…
Snorkeling in Candi Dasa in East Bali
My friend Toby told me he was hoping to do some snorkeling while in East Bali . Thinking about our options, Padangbai, Candi Dasa and Amed would all work.
Mountain cruise in Central Bali
Just back from a cruise through the highlands with Toby, Maya, Ollie and Asia. I did the driving and right now feel like a zombie.
Toby & Maya: Single parents in Bali
Toby has a 3 year old daughter named Maya. He's a single parent, who has completely reorganized his life to accommodate her. Travelling with a kid is as easy as you make it, in my opinion.
Blue List for Bali
Lonely Planet puts out a book called the Blue List , listing the new 'hot spots around the world', that offer the most tantalizing opportunities for adventure.
Eco-tourism and Bali
Eco tourism , or ecological tourism, as Wikipedia defines it, is a growing phenomenon around the world.
Walking tour of Denpasar Bali
Denpasar offers a different type of scene to that found in the Kuta area. Not a tourist center, or even a party center, Denpasar is home to locals, Balinese from othe parts of the island, who work in…
Dating a Javanese girl in Bali
Bali has expats from all over the world, including what I sometimes refer to as local-expats.
Petrol stations in Bali
Just out of Seririt today, I stopped at a petrol station. Man, these things are popping up like villas (I can say that in Bali!).
Heading into the jungle in Pupuan Bali
Call me an inquisitive devil, but I can't resist riding my motorbike down narrow country lanes.
Thoughts on the Lovina coast
Lovina was originally a string of villages, that collectively came to be known as Lovina, after the last king of Buleleng, built his holiday home in Kaliasem, and named it 'Lovina'.
Volcano Bar & Restaurant Lovina
Lovina always felt kind of dead to me in the past. The main drag a scattering of hotels and dive places, the warungs never that busy.
Riding to Lovina Bali
Wanting to escape from Seminyak for a day, late saturday afternoon I packed my bag and hit the road for Lovina, on the north coast .
Climbing Gunung Abang in the highlands of Bali
Gunung Abang is located across Lake Batur from Gunung Batur in the highlands of Bali. At 2153m it is over 400m higher, but way less visited.