Around Bali (page 3)
Beaches, temples, towns and day trips across the island.
Bali Forum Threads for the week of December 4, 2006
Check out these topics currently being discussed on the Bali Forum at BootsnAll : In Perth, philosopher caught a whiff of something that reminded him of Bali .
Watersports in Lovina Bali
Located on the north coast on Bali , Lovina enjoys warner water than the south coast and way less waves. Perfect for some leisurely watersports.
Getting to Lovina Bali
According to some people the town of Lovina , (which is actually a conglomeration of the villages of Pemaron, Tukad Mungga, Anturan, Kalibukbuk, Kaliasem, Temukus and Banyualit) got its name after…
Bali: Travel & Activities
What you do with your time in Bali is up to you. There's no shortage of ideas and one site that does a nice little rundown is NeedTravel.Blogspot.com This site breaks the various activities into:…
Suggestions for family exploring Bali
Today I got an email from a guy who is coming to Bali in 2007, with his wife and kids. He asked me for suggestions on what to do, saying cheap accommodation was key.
Hiking Gunung Agung in Bali
Since living in Bali I have had the opportunity to explore some of the more remote parts of the island.
Paradise beaches on the Bukit Bali
Southern Bali is where 95% of tourists come to and spend their time. The most southerly tip of mainland Bali is the Bukit Peninsula .
GWK (Garuda Wisnu Kencana) on the Bukit Bali
Bali has undergone rapid development in the last 20 years focusing on tourism. Kuta, Legian and Seminyak have seen tremendous growth and now other parts of the island are seeing that too.
Dissappearing jungle in Bali
When I ride around the highlands of Bali, I can see how it once was, uninterupted hills, stretching to the horizon, a canopy of nothing but green.
Trip to coastal Tabanan Bali
Sunday came along again, and I got ready to head out on a short road trip, after I escaped the killer bees, that is.
Butterfly Park in Tabanan Bali
Bali has a wide variety of attractions and I try to cover as many of them as possible. The Butterfly Park in Tabanan is one of the smaller attractions within reach for people in the Kuta area.
Charlie Sellers' view of Padangbai Bali
Padangbai is a small fishing village in East Bali. I first ent in 1993, when it was teeming with backpackers and divers. Now its a backwater, with more sarong vendors than tourists.
Top 30 things in Bali and Lombok
Bali conjures up visions of a tropical island with towering volcanos shrouded in brooding clouds, sandy beaches fringed with swaying palms and an ancient culture that lives on in the 21st century.
Day trip through Pupuan Bali
Riding a scooter in Bali, I am often in areas frequented by small tourist buses. Today I got the chance to take a trip with Barrie, Candika and Barrie's mother Yvonne, in a tourist bus.
Sunday ride in Central Bali
Sunday is a day I look forward to. The traffic is less, Balinese locals often have the day off, and all the poncey Euro's in Seminyak, are flat out after a night on the ecstacy.
Postcards of Bali
A trip to Bali wouldn't be the same without sending your family a postcard. The most popular brand is Periplus.
Pasir Putih beach: East Bali
Of all the beaches in Bali , the one that fullfills the vision of a tropical beach the best, is Pasir Putih in East Bali .
Touring East Bali
Walking around Kuta, you will see hundreds of places offering day trips. Virtually every hotel has a tour counter, offering the same thing.
Amlapura: Why visit?
Every time I've visited Amlapura I've got good vibes. maybe its just that being in East Bali gives good vibes, I don't know, but I find Amlapura to be a fairly clean, typical Balinese town, with the…
Amlapura: East Bali
Most visitors to Bali will not visit Amlapura , firstly because it is in East Bali and secondly because nothing draws them. Here's a little history on Amlapura .
Kopi Bali; Balinese coffee
The word 'java' is synonimous with coffee. Java produces coffee and so does Bali. Drop into any supermarket or convenience store and you will see packets of kopi Bali .
Zen Resort: Ayurveda in North Bali
Most people have heard of Deepak Chopra , the Indian guy with the penetrating eyes, who parlayed Indian holistic healing into a million dollar fortune.
First timer's experiences in Bali
When I'm not working on Baliblog, I spend all my time reading BootsnAll.com , a worldwide travel guide.
Cruising through Pupuan Bali
Sunday morning I took off on the motorbike for a cruise in the Bali highlands . My route, Seminyak-Canggu-Beraban-Tabanan-Penebel-Baturiti-Lake…
Where to stay in Munduk Bali
The cool thing about Munduk is the weather, its cool! If the heat and humidity of Kuta are getting you down, and Ubud just seems like another tourist trap, Munduk will be a breath of fresh air.
Munduk & Tamblingan in the highlands of Bali
Lake Tamblingan sits on the northern side of Gunung Batukaru, one of the largest volcanoes in Bali.
Coordinates for places in East Bali
Visiting Candi Dasa this last weekend I stayed a place called Flamboyant , a set of guest houses just before Candi Dasa, in a place called Senkidu.
Pictures now added
Pictures have now been added to the Candi Dasa articles. Please read and enjoy. Riding back from Candi Dasa in East Bali Beaches in Candi Dasa Food in Candi Dasa Nightlife in Candi Dasa Lontar…
Riding back from Candi Dasa in East Bali
East Bali really is the part of the island that I love coming to. Getting out to Candi Dasa, the colors just seem brighter, maybe its because the amount of tall trees and vegetation, outnumber the…
Beaches in Candi Dasa
Candi Dasa used to have a good beach, but it washed away, because the locals destroyed the reef for lime. That is a well known story.
Food in Candi Dasa
Staying at Flamboyant guest house in Senkidu , just outside Candi Dasa, I had an agreement with the staff, ocean front room, with no breakfast, for 50,000rp .
Nightlife in Candi Dasa
Candi Dasa has limited nightlife. There is one bar, I can't remember the name of it, but its easy to find. It has live reggae music and is located at the far north end of the long strip of places.
Checking out the ceremony at Tenganan Dauh Tukad
My guest house, Flamboyant, is located 30 meters from the entrance to the road to Tengenan .
Candi Dasa Bali
Okay here's the deal folks. I'm here in Candi Dasa, East Bali. I've had a very active day checking stuff out and talking to locals. Internet connection is dial-up, meaning very slow.
Heading to Candi Dasa on Saturday
Saturday morning I will be off to Candi Dasa, in Karangasem, East Bali. Karangasem is one of my favourite parts of Bali and Candi Dasa can be a good base for the region.
Candi Dasa: A place to be explored
My problem with writing stuff for Baliblog, is that while I have been all over the island, I usually don't stop in the places I'm blazing through, longer than it takes to snap a photo.
Services in Candi Dasa
Candi Dasa has motorbike and car rental places, an ATM, money changers, some slow internet access, postal services. Candi Dasa is served by Perama Bus, around 35,000rp from Kuta.
Candi Dasa diving centers
Candi Dasa is located on Amuk Bay , which is a popular place to dive. The tiny islands in Amuk Bay ( Gili Tepekong, Gili Biaha, Gili Mimpang ) offer the best diving experience and that's where the…
Klungkung: Accommodation / tourist office / post office
Most tourists visiting the highlights of Klungkung don't spend the night there. Bali has its tourist areas (Kuta, Legian, Sanur, Ubud, Nusa Dua etc.) and its traditional district capitals (Bangli,…
Klungkung Bali: What's of interest?
In the center of Klungkung at the main roundabout, is Taman Gili (Island Garden). This impressive place, complete with decorated bales and ponds, contains 3 important places, Kerta Gosa , Bale…
Accommodation in Kintamani Bali
A trip to Kintamani is 3 hours, one way from Kuta . Some people like to do that on day trip, but others prefer to stay in the area and have a chance to relax, look around and try to escape the mad…
Beaches at Padangbai Bali
Padangbai is a quiet fishing village in East Bali . When I visited back in 1993, it was very popular with divers and backpackers. The main attraction of Padangbai, is its rustic character.
Yeh Gangga Bali: Where to stay
Yeh Gangga beach is 10km SW of Tabanan . The attraction of this area is natural beauty, with rice fields leading down to the beach, volcanos in the distance and a rugged, empty coastline.
My hike in Yeh Gangga Bali
Sunday I rode from Seminyak to Yeh Gangga beach , just north of Tanah Lot. Yeh Gangga means water from the Ganges.
Bali Botanical Gardens: Candikuning
A ride to to Bedugal can take a pleasant side track in Candi Kuning . The Bali Botanical Gardens are located to the west of the main road, and are accessed by turning left at the corn knob statue ,…
Lovina area hike: Asah Gobleg to Selat
Lovina is a fairly quiet, relaxing resort area. If you feel like some energetic activity, a hike might be what you need.
Lovina watersports Bali
Taking to a trip to Lovina, on the north coast , can be a pleasant change from the busy shopping / party scene in Kuta.
The Tegal Bunder Trail: Bali Barat National Park
The Bali Barat National Park ( Taman Nasional Bali Barat ) has a few short hikes. In order to hike in the National Park , you must obtain a permit from the National Park HQ at Cekik , or the National…
Gilimanuk: The port to Java
Travellers visiting Bali may be tempted to visit Java, the attractions being Mt. Bromo in east Java, Solo and Yogyakarta in Central Java.
Sports by regions in Bali
Here is a rundown of the sports on offers in Bali by region . • South Bali: Surfing: The beach areas of southern Bali and the Bukit peninsula have extensive infrastructure for surfing.
Bali highlands scenic walks: Wongayagede / Jatiluwih
The highlands of Bali offer a multitude of routes that are perfect for a slow cruise, in a car, or on a motorbike. My recent trip to Jatiluwih , which took about 7 hours roundtrip from Seminyak.
Taking the steep road less travelled in Jatiluwih Bali
In the shadow of Gunung Batukaru, this whole area is so fertile. The wet season brings rain from the SW and dumps it on the southern slopes.
Metting Muslim locals in Soko Bali
Soon after my lunch i decided to take a left turn and explore. Within 30 seconds I was on a quiet lane with a Balinese temple in front of me.
Exploring in the Jatiluwih area in the highlands of Bali
Zooming up towards Bedugal I didn't really manage to get anything to eat. Realizing that local Balinese food might be the only thing on offer, on quiet coutry lanes, I took the opportunity to stop at…
Trip to Jatiluwih in Tabanan Bali
Jatiluwih has been elected to the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO . The reason for this is the sweeping sawah (rice fields). and today I rode around the area taking a few photos.
Checking out Nusa Lembongan Bali
The old saying is true, that visitors to your see more of it than you do. I am a longtern visitor to Bali, and have seen my fair share of it.
Pantai Geger: Nusa Dua Bali
Pantai Geger is located on the eastern side of the Bukit Peninsula . Pantai Geger is ideal for families with young kids, as the beach is protected from waves and is comfortable.
North-Central Bali: What to do on a 3 day trip.
North Bali is a part of the island most people don't visit. I mean out of every 100, maybe 5 take a trip to the north coast while on holiday.
East Bali: Bunutan
Amed is the general name for the string of small villages on the SE coast in East Bali . We already looked at Lipah , but just to the north in Bunutan.
East Bali: Lipah beach
East Bali is probably the closest thing a tourist will got to the 'real Bali'. To be honest, tourists aren't looking for the 'real Bali' anymore than they would want a 'deserted beach'.
Travelling as a Caucasian in Bali
Travelling as a Caucasian in Bali requires some adjustment, but is not difficult. Caucasian basically means 'white person' which can mean from a wide selection of countries.
Dalung Bali
Sometimes I feel like riding among rice fields and the fastest way for me to do that, apart from the few remaining fields on Jl. Oberoi, is to head to Umalas and pull off the road to the left.
Bali Wines: Hatten Wines
Bali is not a place you'd think of as a wine producing area, but there are vineyards on the north coast. Here is one true Bali wine, Hatten.
Sailing in Jimbaran Bay
Bali has many kinds of watersport activities and one of the most relaxing is sailing. A friend of mine, Ebong is running a sailing operation in Jimbaran Bay .
Bali Barat National Park
West Bali is the least visited part of the island, as far as tourists go. There is one huge attraction here though, the Bali Barat National Park .
Top 10 things to bring to Bali
Bali offers a wide range of travel experiences, from the cheap guest houses of Kuta, to the enclosed luxury of Nusa Dua.
Tenganan to Tirtaganga hike
Exploring Bali means adopting varied forms of transport, from car, motorbike, bemo, to boats, bicycles and 'shank's pony' (walking).
Legend of Tenganan
Tenganan has a certian mystery associated with it, largely due to its insular style and claim to of being a Bali Aga (original Balinese) village.
Tenganan: Bali Aga village
Tenganan is the most famous Bali Aga (original Balinese) village and is located close to Candi Dasa in East Bali . Villagers maintain a strict cosmology and social organization.
Traffic and rice fields in Tabanan Bali
Usually the best part of my trips is the middle, where I am cruising slowly through beautiful scenery and interacting with locals.
Ride to Tabanan Bali
The clock is ticking and soon I will be leaving on a jet plane for Germany, to watch the FIFA World Cup 2006 .
Dealing with annoying 'guides' in Bali
Bali is a small island with 3 million people. Its is also a major tourist destination, meaning that sooner or later, people figure out their best bet is to make a living off of tourism.
My first trip to Karangasem Bali
On this day in 2003, I had just come back from my first trip to Karangasem. Karangasem is the eastern most district in Bali and probably one of the most enjoyable.
Amed to Ujung: Where to stay
Amed is usually thought of as the furthest point in East Bali . Its definitely one of the quietest places, and one people head for when they want to relax.
Amed & Culik: East Bali
Beaches on the East coast of Bali , are predominately black sand. Nothing wrong with that, but people always seem to prefer a white sand beach.
Diving in the Amed area
Amed grew as a tourist area because of diving. The small independent hotels are often attached to a dive shop, or have one close by.
Amed: What's out there?
People have been asking me a lot recently about Amed, where its is, and what's out there . Amed is a tiny fishing village on the coast of East Bali.
Visiting Nusa Dua for the first time in 2003
On this day in 2003 I paid my first visit to Nusa Dua . Located on the eastern side of the Bukit , Nusa Dua is a 'man-made' resort park, that was planned and built to contain high end hotels.
Balinese Handicraft Villages
Bali is famous for its culture, art and handicrafts. A visitor might browse what is on offer in the Kuta area, but want a more dedicated place, focusing on one kind of product.
Amuk Bay East Bali
Amuk Bay in East Bali includes the coastal towns of Candi Dasa and Padangbai (' padang ' is Balinese for grass, ' bai ' is Dutch for bay). The name of the bay is famous after the term ' running amok.
Black sand beach
Many travel agents will tell you that Bali is the island of sunny skies and white sand beaches. This is partly true, weather can be sunny and there are white sand beaches.
Interesting question from a Bali traveler
Baliblog gets a ton of questions from people who are planning their first trip to Bali, and also people who are planning a repeat trip.
Map of Bali
Looking at a map of Bali you will see its not a very big island, measuring 150km East - West by 80km North - South.
Rice fields north of Sukawati Bali
Sukawati was a hive of activity and is a draw for foriegn, domestic and Balinese shoppers.
Swinging through Sukawati Bali
Right after Celuk heading NE came Sukawati . This was midday and the famous Sukawati market was in full swing.
Sun Silver: Celuk Bali
Parking in the lot of Sun Silver to check out the birds and the boiled egg, I felt obliged to at least stick my head in the door and show interest.
Birds in cages in Celuk Bali
Right up the road from Batubulan lies the town of Celuk . You can pick up your garden ornaments in Batubulan and cruise to Celuk for something more delicate in th silver department.
Bypass Nusa Dusa Bali
Riding back from the Bukit I swung through Jimbaran to the Bypass. Stopping to call my friend Ebong who lives in Jimbaran, I got a message that he was in East Bali.
Riding on the Bukit Bali
Late in the afternoon I wanted to get out of the Seminyak scene and went for a ride out to Nusa Dua.
Life & work in Bali
Yesterday I offered an opinion on the way that Balinese people work. Stress and anger, seem to be out of the question, enjoying the day and the company of one's fellow employees seems to be high on…
Old lady Wanasari Kelod Bali
Riding on from the temple the road came down into a valley with more sawah . The fields had been recently flooded and were in another part of the endless cycle of ploughing, planting, growing,…
Pura Luhur Dalem Bongan Kaja Bali
A sawah-side temple in Bongan Kaja allowed me to climb of the motorbike and stretch my backside. The small temple was deserted, but I was able to check it out from the outside.
Ladies get all the hard work at Bongan Kaja Bali
Construction in Bali is going ahead at a rapid pace, often without much thought or planning. Many of the people who do the physical work are women.
Swimming spot north of Pejatan Bali
Searching for swimming holes is something of a hobby for me. Its not a hard thing to do, if you have a map.
Tile making in Pamesan Bali
Locals in the Pamesan area have a cottage industry going making tiles. I don't much about how to make tiles but its obvious you need fire, lots of it, because every tile factory has a massive coconut…
Kids and coconuts Pamesan Bali
A little further on still in the Pamesan area, I stopped to photo a lady sorting through a massive pile of coconut husks.
Farmhouse & Farmer in Bengkel area Bali
From the banana tress the small country road headed north towards Bengkel and I stopped coming down a hill to snap a farmhouse.
Stopping to look at sawah and bananas in Beraban Bali
Heading north on the road from Tanah Lot towards Tabanan my route went only a couple of hundred meters before taking a swift left hander.
Getting ready to ride to Tabanan
I've been house bound recently, meditating to find those newsworthy items I think people will enjoy.
Bali hot spots: Places to write down
Here are some place s in Bali you might enjoy while visiting. Air Saneh: Tranquil beach with freshwater springs for swimming Alas Kedaton: Beautiful temple set in forest with temple monkeys…