POINT OF INTEREST IN BALI

THE SOUTH

DENPASAR & SURROUNDING
Bali’s main tourist area is centered south of Denpasar, although there are now resorts all over the island. Most of the major temples and craft villages are an easy half-day’s excursion from the main resorts. There are some places very much worth visiting such as:

Bali Museum; At Jalan Letkol Wisnu No. 8, Denpasar.
Built in a series of pavilions, with examples of both Palace (Puri) and Temple (Pura).

Art Museum;  At Jalan Abian Kapas, Denpasar
Have three galleries with exhibitions of paintings and wood carving

Night Market; Behind the Kumbasari Centre
In the evening has hundreds of stall including some delicious local food

Tanah Lot;
Bali most photographed sea temple, is few minutes drive west of Legian-Kuta

Pura Taman Ayun;
Surrounded by a moat, is the old state temple of former kingdom of Mengwi and another easy drive from the peninsula

Bukit Sari; The monkey forest
Just outside the Village of Sangeh, approximately 30 minutes drive from Denpasar, the forest is complete with nutmeg grove, is said to have been dropped by the Monkey God Hanuman as he flew off the war with the evil Rahwana. Remember to keep hold of your possession – the monkeys are light-fingered.

Jimbaran Bay;
Is beautiful bay with white-gold sand. Great Seafood BBQ Cafés are spread along the beach. Early dinner (sunset dinner) would be great experience.

Sanur;
Stretching out along the reef-protected beach on the eastern side of Badung peninsula, Sanur has attracted western visitor since the 1930s, when it was a haunt of the artists who “discover” Bali. The former home of Belgian artist Le Mayeur is now a museum, it is easy to find, right next to the Bali Beach Hotel.

ARROUND THE PENINSULA
Serangan Island, (Turtle Island);
Is easy to reach especially from Sanur or Nusa Dua, just charter a colorful outrigger canoe (Jukung). Turtle are kept in huge sea-pens for later slaughter.

Uluwatu Temple;
Overhangs the towering cliffs and the southern tip of the peninsula, most people come on sunset but the temple is spectacular at anytime. Nearby Suluban beach is Sait area to have best surf in Bali and regularly features in surfing movies.

Lembongan;
Is popular day trip from Sanur or Nusa Dua, there are some lovely pale gold beaches, good coral and fantastic view of Mt. Agung.

ARROUND UBUD
Puri Lukisan art museum;
Have comprehensive exhibits of all the schools of Balinese painting in a series of pavilions set in lovely garden

Neka Museum;
Specializes in traditional and modern Balinese art

Monkey Forest;
Monkey forest is just 15 minutes walk from the Ubud market

Petulu;
One of the nicest expeditions around Ubud is the walk to Petulu, where thousands of white egrets roost at nights. The bird start flies in around 16.30.

Gunung Kawi;
Has 11th-century temples and tombs carved into solid rock face

Tirta Empul;
Has springs said to prolong life and ease sickness, many Balinese come here on pilgrimage and it can gets hectic.

Pura Kebo Edan (Crazy Buffalo Temple);
Located in Pejeng village with brilliants carving and statues, one with six penises.

Pura Penataran Sasih;
The old state temple of Pejeng Kingdom, houses of 3m (10ft) long Bronze-age drum known as the Moon of Pejeng

Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave);
Discovered only in the 1920s, was named for the huge demon that forms the temple’s mouth. The carvings around the entrance are almost surreal.

Yeh Pulu;
A lovely 20 minutes walk (signposted) from Goa Gajah, is more peaceful, a frieze 9m (30ft) long carved on a cliff-face. You may have it to yourself, most tour group don’t walk more than few meters along the track.

CENTRAL BALI & THE MONTAIN

Mt. Batur; (2276m; 7467ft)
Great attraction for many, dormant volcano towers above Lake Batur and the village of Trunyan. Comprises an ancient caldera out of which younger volcano has risen.

Lake Batur;
Lies at the foot of the mountain, taking up most of the old caldera.

Penelokan;
Stop off at this village on the very lip of old caldera, for fantastic view over the lake

Trunyan Village;
Is the village of Bali-Aga, the original inhabitants of Bali. The lakeside setting is lovely but the villagers do not welcome visitors. The Bali Aga does not cremate their dead but place the body in open bamboo cages to decompose.

Lake Bratan;
High in the mountains on one of the few passes through the island, Lake Bratan is a Crater Lake set in glorious scenery, with three-covered mountains rising on all sides. It is very peaceful, especially around the nearby smaller lake. (Water-skiing is available on the main lake).

Ulun Danu Temple;
Is dedicated to Dewi Danu, goddess of the water. The dedication is appropriate; although the main part of the temple is built on a small peninsula; two smaller buildings are set on the island in the lake.

Pupuan;
Return from Bratan to the south coast on the road via Papuan village to see clove and vanilla plantations and some of Bali’s most immaculate rice terraces.

Mt. Agung;
Dominating East coast, Mount Agung is the island’s highest and most revered mountain, a haunt of gods. The volcano is currently dormant, but no Balinese can forget the horrific 1963 eruption in which 2000 died and tens of thousands lost their homes.

Besakih Temple;
The site is the largest and the holiest of all Bali’s temple, dominated by the tall black pagodas of the temple itself. Built high above the coast, with fantastic views toward Lombok and Mt. Rinjani

THE EAST

Kerta Gosa;
The Hall of Justice, the open pavilion has a painted ceiling depicting sinners being tortured by demons on lower levels while the innocents enjoy the pleasure of heaven above. A few meters away is the Bale Kambang, the Raja’s floating pavilion.

Goa Gajah (Bat Cave);
20 minute from Kerta Gosa, is one of Bali’s nine most sacred temples, a cave fronted by a shrine ‘guarded’ by thousands of bats.
 
Tenganan Village;
Is Bali-Aga village like Trunyan village that the original inhabitants of Bali, however the villagers are quite friendly. Is famous for its waving, music and dance. Bali-Aga men or women who marry outside are no longer considered Bali-Aga and the lure of the world beyond Tenganan is strong.

Candi Dasa
In the early1980s Candidasa was a tiny fishing village with small temple and lotus pond, a lagoon and a couple of backpackers’ hostel. Now after fast and furious expansion, Candidasa has scores of guesthouses and some smart little hotels, while over the headland you can catch magical tropical sunsets.

Puri Karangasem;
On eastern tip of Bali and an easy outing from Candidasa, the site of an ancient with no one but places. Puri Kangin is the largest, but much more beautiful are the water palaces built by the last Raja of Karangasem at the village of Ujung. A small lake surrounded by pavilions representing the sun and the moon. Better still is the Tirta Gangga water palace, 20 minutes drive north of Amlapura. Surrounded by some of the most incredible rice terraces in Bali, it’s a wonderful place to stay for a couple of days.

THE NORTH

Lovina Beach
The beach is quieter than south of Bali area, while the offshore reefs are a delight close enough to swim out from the beach.

Banjar
Bali’s only Buddhist monastery is up in the hills, just outside of Banjar Tege Sawan.

Tulamben
The northern tip of east coast, is the wreck of Liberty class ship torpedoed by Japanese submarine in 1942, now home to reef fish and coral growth, this is one of Bali’s most popular dive-site.

THE WEST

Bali Barat National Park