Bali’s Brilliant!
Variety is the spice of life, and holidays to Bali will surprise you with how much there is to see and do. Here are five of our favourite Bali experiences:
1) Catch some waves
Surfing in Bali began in the 1930s, when it was very much a ‘frontier’ surfing destination, and well off the beaten track for most surfers. Much has changed since then, and the island boasts 20 or so top quality surfing spots, mostly around the southeast and southwest coasts of the Bukit Peninsula. Stay in a plush resort hotel near the Kuta and Legian beaches, where it’s only a short stroll before you’re in the water catching some quality breaks. Surf parties abound in the season, which runs from April to October. The sandy beaches are kind to beginners, and Bali is the perfect place to learn to surf, with relatively small waves and a distinct lack of crowds. Exotic locations and ideal conditions are complemented by great facilities and a friendly social scene.
2) Get a little deeper
For those that prefer their adventures sub-aquatic, Bali has a wealth of dive sites set against picturesque backdrops of looming volcanoes or lush rice paddies. The season is year-round, and most of the best diving in Bali is to be found around the east and north west of the island. One of the most popular spots is the Lombok Strait, a fast-flowing channel that attracts a spectrum of unusual fish, including the spectacular sunfish. During April to September, you can see friendly reef sharks, as well as pygmy seahorses and parrotfish. Again, the conditions are ideal for beginners if this is your first time with scuba gear. More advanced divers can see the Liberty wreck, a World War II cargo ship that is one of the most famous wreck dives in the world.
3) Keep the faith
There are close to 10,000 temples of one description or another in Bali, all of them facing the mountains, the sunrise or the sea. They usually lie in a serene, undisturbed state until the various festival times, when they are transformed into a riot of colour, music and dance. Many are unremarkable local temples, but there are some iconic, unmissable places. Besakih Temple on the slopes of Mount Agung is more than 1,000 years old, named after a dragon god and with 18 altars for worship. The Elephant Cave is just outside Ubud, a huge demonic face carved into the rock, protecting the inner temple, which dates back to the 11th century. The Goa Lawah Temple is in a cave filled with bats, or else descend the 300 steps to Gunung Kawi, with its ten, seven-metre high memorials. Whether you’re looking for peace or adventure, there’s a temple to suit you.
4) Shop til you drop
Bring your bargaining trousers too – because at most souvenir stalls in Bali, haggling is the order of the day. Most markets are a treasure trove of local handicrafts, with the most popular souvenirs being wood and stone carvings, hand-woven fabrics and hand-crafted jewellery. Kuta beach has many of the mainstream stores that international visitors may like to visit, as well as smaller stalls down the back alleyways, known as ‘poppies’. There’s a host of local art galleries to be found at Legian Beach if you’re looking for something colourful for your walls at home. Meanwhile, Ubud is surrounded by villages that specialise in different types of handicraft, and acts as a hub for the local gold and silversmiths, wood carvers and textile workers. You’ll find the prices very reasonable – even more so if you can bargain them down.
5) Fill up on fine food
The literary phenomenon of Eat, Pray, Love has seen a healthy stream of visitors to Bali, all looking for a gastronomic – and perhaps romantic – adventure. Indonesian food is spicy, colourful and best of all, ridiculously affordable. In Kuta, the restaurant Ketupak is something of an institution, dishing up local classics for around a few dollars a dish. In Ubud, the lines start early for the speciality at Ibu Oka Warung, where they serve up to 30 roasted suckling pigs a day. Pork fans will be in heaven. Along many of the beach resorts, small seafood stands have sprung up, where the fish will have been caught that very day and are cooked in front of you. If you crave sophistication and high dining, then head to Nusa Dua, where many of the country’s best gourmet restaurants are located, with international favourites mixed in among the local delicacies. 🙂 – Travel Feeder, your ultimate photo travel blog
About The Author
Cecil Lee
The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.
