What You can See & Do
in Bali, Indonesia
| Bali's natural attractions include miles of sandy beaches
(many are well-known amongst surfers), picturesque rice terraces, towering
active volcanoes over 3,000 meters (10,000 ft.) high, fast flowing rivers,
deep ravines, pristine crater lakes, sacred caves, and lush tropical forests
full of exotic wildlife.
The island's rich cultural heritage is visible everywhere
– in over 20,000 temples and palaces, in many colorful festivals and ceremonies
(including tooth filings and cremations), in drama, music, and dance.
You can experience Bali on many different excursions and
guided tours by coach or private car, by boat or air plane. Most full day
tours (about 8 to 10 hours) cost about US$30 to US$40 per person, half
day tours US$20 to US$25. These prices include a multi-lingual guide and
transport in an air-conditioned private car, all entrance fees, but no
meals. Which guide and driver you choose can make or break your day: be
warned that those who offer very low prices tend to waste your time by
showing you hardly any more than those shops which pay them a commission
on your purchases.
The most important tours are: |
Kintamani Volcano Tour: The first stop is often
in the village of Batubulan to watch a performance of the Barong and Kris
Dance. Afterwards you visit the villages of Celuk (silver jewellry) and
Mas (wood carving) to see Balinese artisans at work. Ubud, Bali's cultural
center, has grown to a busy town with numerous art galleries and shops.
A scenic drive over small roads overlooking beautiful rice terraces brings
you to the mountain village of Kintamani (about 5,000 feet above the sea)
which offers spectacular views of Lake Batur and the volcano. You can cross
the crater lake below the still active Mount Batur and visit the "Bali
Aga" village of Trunyan. Return through traditional villages with stops
in Tampaksiring to visit the temple of Tirta Empul, and to visit the Elephant
Cave "Goa Gaja", a hermitage from the 11th. century used by both Buddhists
and Hindus.
|
The "Mother Temple" and East Bali: Drive to Besakih
through various villages visiting on the way a weaving factory, see the
famous painted ceiling at the old "Palace of Justice" in Klungkung, and
visit the school of painting in Kamasan. The "Mother Temple" in Besakih
is Bali's most holy and Indonesia's biggest Hindu temple. It was build
in the 11th. century in an altitude of 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) on the
slopes of Mount Agung. You pass picturesque rice terraces on the way to
the walled "Bali Aga" village of Tenganan, and continue to Candi Dasa on
the East coast. On the way back it's recommended to stop at the famous
Bat Cave "Goa Lawah" with thousands of bats hanging from the walls.
|
Bedugul: After a stop in Sangeh to visit its holy
forest inhabited by wild monkeys, drive up into the mountains to Lake Bratan
(1,200 meters above sea level) and the picturesque water temple Ulun Danu.
Visit the busy flower, fruit and spice market in Candikuning where most
of Bali's vegetables come from. Drive back through small country roads,
villages and rice fields, with a stop in an artisan village specializing
in gold threaded textiles (Ikat) worn during important ceremonies.
|
North Bali: Drive the scenic road via Pupuan through
the mountains to Bali's North coast. You'll enjoy beautiful views of pictoresque
rice terraces, and large plantations growing vanilla, chocolate, coffee,
cloves, and even wine grapes. Near the village of Banjar is a popular hot
spring where you can take a bath in the natural pond. After a lunch on
the black beach in Lovina you pass the old capital of Singaraja on the
way to Git Git, famous for its multi-tier water fall. Return over back
roads to see the unspoiled Bali. (This tour can be combined with the visit
to Bedugul.)
|
Monkey Forest & Tanah Lot: Visit of the royal
Taman Ayun temple in Mengwi (built in 1624), the holy monkey forest near
Sangeh, and famous Tanah Lot. This picturesque temple was built in the
16th. century on a huge rock 100 yards off Bali's West coast and is surrounded
by the sea during high tides. Spectacular sight, however, spoiled by thousands
of tourists visiting every day during sunset. To avoid these, enjoy the
view from the lobby of the nearby Le Meridien Nirvana Resort.
|
Handicraft Villages & Ubud: Visit the artisan
villages of Batubulan (stone carving), Celuk (silver & gold jewelry),
Mas (wood carving), and Pengosekan (painting). Stop at the "Art Market"
in Sukawati to bargain for all kinds of handicrafts and textiles. The fast
growing town of Ubud is Bali's cultural center where you find numerous
art galleries and shops offering paintings, wood carvings, textiles, and
all kinds of souvenirs. Don't miss the MUSEUM PURI LUKISAN in the center
of Ubud, the NEKA MUSEUM in Campuhan, the NEKA GALLERY in Ubud, the AGUNG
RAI GALLERY in Peliatan, and the AGUNG RAI MUSEUM in Pengosekan to see
the difference between creative art and more commercial products. Visit
also ANTONIO BLANCO at his residence and studio, and the BLUE MOON STUDIO
and GALLERY which were founded in 1994 with an emphasis on exhibiting contemporary
artists. The LOTUS CAFE has become kind of an institution, and MURNIE'S
as well as the BRIDGE CAFE offer tasty snacks and full meals in very pleasant
surroundings and at reasonable prices. The various dance and Wayang Kulit
performances (see below) in Ubud and in nearby villages are worth spending
the early evening there.
|
| Bali by Air: After take-off from Bali's airport
you enjoy scenic views of Jimbaran bay and Kuta beach and head for the
famous Tanah Lot temple which you circle in an altitude of only 200 meters.
Next destination is the island of Lombok where you circle the three Gili
islands continuing over beautiful lush valleys with dazzling waterfalls.
Singigi, the major tourist spot on the island, appears next, followed by
the capital city of Mataram and Kuta on the southern shore of Lombok. The
flight continues over Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan giving you an bird's
eye view of colorful corals and idyllic beaches. After the return to Bali
you'll be ascending slowly over green rice paddies towards Kintamani offering
views of the crater lake and volcano, and descending towards Singaraja
on the north coast of Bali. On the way back you pass Nusa Dua and the Ulu
Watu temple before landing. |
| Balinese Dance Performances
Most performances are held in the evenings, however, you
can also see some Barong Dance performances in the morning.
If you prefer to watch one of these Balinese dances performances
in a hotel after a sumptuous dinner buffet, the OBEROI is recommended because
of the beautiful beach front setting. More spectacular even are the Cave
Nights at the BALI CLIFF hotel: guests enjoy an excellent dinner buffet
sitting in a large natural cave slightly above sea level and can watch
a performance of the Kecak Dance on the beach below. |
Barong Dance: A contest between the opposing forces
of chaos and destruction ("Rangda") and order (the "Barong"). Performances
in Suwung and Kesiman (suburbs of Denpasar), and in Batubulan daily from
9:00 or 9:30 a.m.; in Banjar Abasan, Singapadu, daily from 9:30 a.m., and
at Puri Saren in Ubud, Friday from 6:30 p.m.
|
Legong Dance: highly stylized, extremely difficult
dance performed by young girls. Choreographed to the finest details, and
no improvisation allowed. Performances at the Peliatan Stage, Friday from
6:30 p.m., at Pura Dalem, Puri Peliatan, Saturday from 6:30 p.m., at Pura
Peliatan in Ubud, Sunday from 7:30 p.m., at Puri Saren, Ubud, Monday from
7:30 p.m., and in Banjar Tegal, Kuta, Saturday and Tuesday from 8:00 p.m.
|
Kecak Dance: A ritual dance created in the early
1930's for the movie "Island of the Demons" by the German painter and intellectual
Walter Spiess who combined the chorus of the "Sanghyang" trance dance with
a story from the "Ramayana" legend. Very impressive with its circular chorus
of sometimes over 100 bare chested male singers. Performances are held
at the Arts Center, Denpasar, daily from 6:30 p.m., also in Banjar Buni,
Kuta, Sunday from 8 p.m., and in Banjar Tegal, Ubud, Sunday from 6:00 p.m.
|
Kecak & Fire Dance: The Fire Dance is an exorcist
dance against spirit possession. Girls in trance dance barefoot among glowing
coals. Performances in Bona Kangin, Gianyar, Friday. Monday and Wednesday
from 6:30 p.m. In Bonasari, Gianyar, Friday, Monday and Wednesday from
7:00 p.m., and in Batubulan, daily from 6:30 p.m.
|
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Wayang Kulit, Traditional Drama & Other Performances |
| Wayang Kulit: In the Indonesian shadow puppet
play beautifully painted and gilded leather puppets are used although only
the shadows are visible to the audience. The stories come from the spirit
world and are full of symbolism and myth. A highly skilled puppeteer controls
hundreds of puppets, speaks with a different voice for each character,
and controls the musicians. Plays go on for several hours. |
|
Museums, Exhibitions, etc. |
| Bali Museum: Jalan Letkol Wisnu, Denpasar, daily
from 8 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. except Mondays. |
| Museum of Archeology: Jalan Letkol Wisnu, Denpasar,
daily from 8 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. except Mondays. |
| Taman Budaya Cultural Center: Jalan Nusa Indah,
Denpasar, daily from 8 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. except holidays. |
| Museum Le Mayeur: Jalan Hang Tuah, Sanur, daily
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Fridays. |
| Agung Rai Museum of Art: Jalan Pengosekan, Peliatan,
Ubud, daily from 9.00 a.m. to 6 p.m. except holidays. |
| Neka Museum: Jalan Raya Campuhan, Ubud, daily
8.00 to 5.00 p.m. except holidays. |
| Museum Puri Lukisan: Jalan Raya Ubud, daily 8.00
a.m. to 4.00 p.m. except holidays. |
| Rudana Museum: Peliatan, Ubud, daily from 8.00
a.m. to 5.00 p.m. except holidays. |
| You can go shopping for fine art and handicrafts
such as antique and semi-antique furniture, all kinds of paintings, delicately
crafted gold and silver jewelry, wood and stone carvings, masks, woven
and dyed fabrics, etc. in many shops in the Kuta/Legian area, in Sanur,
in various handicraft villages and the Sukawati market on the way to Ubud,
and in the town of Ubud.
Beach wear, t-shirts, pants, and other clothing, shoes
and leather goods, sea shells, trinkets, etc. are offered at low prices
in numerous shops in Kuta and Legian as well as -- much more expensive
-- in many hotels. Popular shopping centers are Kuta Square with many shops
and a branch of the Matahari Department Store, and the Galeria Nusa Dua
with over 80 specialty shops offering everything a tourist could be interested
in. |
HOW MUCH IT COSTS:
Like many other Asian currencies,
the value of the Indonesian Rupiah has moved violently since summer 1997
– from 2,400 Rupiah in July 1997 to 17,000 Rupiah for one US Dollar, and
back to around 8,000 Rupiah – and nobody can predict tomorrow's exchange
rate! Therefore, as long as the rate keeps changing (sometimes 10% to 20%
up or down during a single day), please check
the current exchange rate when converting Rupiah prices to your own
currency.
Because of the cheap Rupiah
you could enjoy huge savings during the first half of 1998. However, prices
have increased steadily, and the cheap bargains are a thing of the past.
Transportation in Bali was always cheap by any
standard. The metered radio taxis start with a flag fall of 2,500 Rupiah
(plus 1,000 Rupiah per kilometer), and most trips cost Rupiah 5,000 to
20,000. Most reliable and polite are the drivers of the blue taxis, and
you should avoid the white taxis as they often refuse to use their meter
and over-charge foreigners. Motor bikes range from Rupiah 15,000 to Rupiah
35,000 per day, and five to ten years old self-drive cars (Jimney or Toyota
Kijang) cost from 80,000 Rupiah to 200,000 Rupiah per day. Newer models
are much more expensive, and luxury cars such as a Volvo limousine or a
new Toyota "Land Cruiser" will cost at least US$150 to US$200 and more
per day. Premium gasoline is still 1,000 Rupiah per liter.
If you didn't bring an international driving license you
better hire a car with a driver who speaks some English. However, the cars
these guys drive are usually quite old. Radio, tape and even the air-conditioning
are often out of order, and although many drivers are quite friendly some
are real con artists. And don't forget: they are drivers – not trained
guides. However, even then it's much more relaxing to have someone who
knows his way around behind the wheel than to drive yourself. You can fully
enjoy the sights, don't have to worry whether you are on the right track,
and always have somebody who watches the car and your belongings when you
go sightseeing. The cost: you hardly pay more for a car with driver than
for a self-drive car.
Food and drink at Bali's better hotels cost about
the same as in the same category of hotel anywhere else in the world. Breakfast
is US$8 to US$30, lunch and dinner US$20 to US$100 or more per person –
and that does not include any wine which can be very expensive. As many
hotels have based their prices on the US Dollar, you don't benefit from
the depreciation of the Indonesian Rupiah here. On the other hand, restaurants
outside the large hotels are often 60% cheaper, and at the open food stalls
you can still get a tasty meal for a few thousand Rupiah. |
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