Visiting Bali

Bali is well-known among visitors to Asia. It is a place which offers a variety of activities for those seeking a luxurious holiday, a simple holiday or something in between.

For those who wish to bask in luxury and have more privacy, you can choose to stay at Nusa Dua and Seminyak. Alternatively, for those who like the vibrant nightlife staying in Kuta/Legian would be the best option. Christmas and the New Year periods are peak seasons so if you plan to visit then, do book your rooms and flights much earlier in advance.

Never-ending Activities: The Island that Never Sleeps

1. Culture

Bali has many temples located around the island. Notable ones include Pura Tanah Lot which offers a beautiful sunset view and the Uluwatu temple where you have to be careful of naughty monkeys.

I personally experienced a scary incident. As I was leaving the temple, I suddenly felt something jump onto my shoulder. My first reaction was to shout. But as I stood there in shock, my mum rushed over to me and scared the MONKEY which had jumped onto my shoulder away. Our guess was that it wanted to steal my spectacles!!

Besides visiting the temples, visitors can watch dance/cultural performances such as the Kecak and Barong dance.

2. Water Sports

The surfing culture is well and alive and this is clearly seen along the stretch of Kuta beach where there are many surfing schools to choose from. In the town itself, there are also shops which sell surfwear.

3. Adventure

Although most people choose to come here for water sports, there are adventures even out of the water. For instance, you can choose to climb up Mount Batur, an active volcano in Kintamani. On the way down from Mount Batur, you can also visit orchards and taste uniue drinks with weird flavours such as ginger. Dried spices and coffee can also be bought. Besides that, you can go on cycling tours to get closer to the villages and rice terrace. For those who prefer theme parks, there is always Waterbom.

4. Art

The Ubud area has numerous art galleries which offer local art and also unique sculptures reflecting the local culture. You will also have opportunities to see local weavers/painters/sculptors at work. If you like their art work, do support them.

5. Nightlife

Bali has a vibrant nightlife particularly in the Kuta town itself. Familiar pubs/clubs include the Hard Rock Café which has nightly live performances and the Kama Sutra.

6. Massage/Spa

After a long day of sight-seeing or a full day of playing in the water, to fully relax you can choose to go for a massage or for a more complete experience, go for a half day spa. Most spa packages include transport to and from your hotel.

7. Shopping

Bali offers lot of shopping opportunities. Visitors can choose to buy wood carvings, silver jewelry, paintings, sarongs, and of course surf wear to go surfing. To bring home a taste of Bali, you can also purchase a local type of cake called "kuih lapis".

Due to the high influx of Western tourists, it is not hard to find Western food. Local food here is also different from other parts of Indonesia as Bali is not a majority Muslim region. Instead, Bali is mostly populated by Hindus. Thus, do not be surprised to find that a popular local food is “Babi Guling” (grilled suckling pig ). Other famous local foods are the satay and the “Bebek Betutu”, a delicious duck specialty.

For those new to the region, if the season is right, you should also try local fruits such as the durian, rambutan, mango and mangosteens. For honeymooners or couples, try Jimbaran. Many restaurants are located on the beach itself and serve mostly seafood sets. Head there before sunset, and continue to chat and enjoy the food as sunset arrives. As it is near the airport, you will also be able to see quite a number of planes taking off or landing.