Bali is one of the 17508 islands belonging to the Indonesian Archipelago in the Java Sea.
Contrary to the popular misconception of most Indians, it is not as close to India as Thailand or Singapore, for instance. I was quite surprised to learn that Darwin, Australia’s westernmost coast is just a little over an hour from Bali. It’s a good 9-hour long flight from New Delhi to Bali and no direct flights are available. Cheaper travel options include flights run by Malindo Air.
Let me start by saying that there is a lot to do in Bali. A vacation to Bali can give you an excellent taste of the beautiful Balinese beaches, an insight into the architectural marvel of their temples, water sports, traditions and culture, cultural performances, lively shopping streets and much more!
What struck me the moment we landed at the Arrival Lounge in Bali at the Ngurah Rai International Airport was an artistic display of Balinese life and culture everywhere starting from the precinct of the airport.
The entire city has beautiful statues depicting scenes and anecdotes from the Hindu sacred texts of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
In the heart of the main city is the stunning statue of Ghatotkach, the powerful asura-son of Bheem, the strongest of the five Pandavas...
Things you should know before planning a visit to Bali
- Bali is predominantly Hindu and the island is replete with old Hindu temples with breathtaking architecture and locales, Tanah Lot Temple, Uluwatu Temple, Besakih Temple, Goa Gajah, and Tirth Empul Temple to name a few.
- If you’re visiting Bali as a regular tourist, then it would be wise to plan ahead and take your pick on which temples you would like to visit during your stay in Bali, depending on your interests, their location and popularity.
Otherwise, you could spend your entire vacation only seeing all the temples. There is nothing wrong with that but there are many other things worth seeing too! The same is true for the many other attractions depending on which part of Bali you plan to stay at.
- The island of Bali is divided into many regions and each region is radically different from one another with a different vibe to it.
If you're a compulsive shopper and a foodie, then the upscale Seminyak is the place for you. It has the exotic Seminyak beach, luxury restaurants and beach bars that exude vibrancy as the sun goes down each day.
If you like fancy clifftop resorts and vast walking stretches all around, then Uluwatu should be your place to stay.
For serenity, you could try Ubud with its beautiful rice paddy fields and lush green landscape.
If you’re a party animal, then Kuta will cater to your needs.
And of course, Nusa Dua, the high-end southeastern coast of Bali that is synonymous with luxury and opulent living. Nusa Dua is like a luxurious tableau depicting the Balinese culture and religion in its impeccably manicured verdant green landscapes. The most popular attraction in this part of Bali is the famous Nusa Dua Theatre.
My Tip -
The distance between these regions is a lot but travel by cab is cheap. You will need to watch out for the traffic during rush hours though.
Cab drivers are very polite and are more than willing to help resolve your touristy curiosity about the place. Most of them speak English, so communication is not a problem.
My husband complimented one driver for this, he told us that the economy of Bali was hugely dependent on tourism for its sustenance. The bombing in Kuta in October 2002 had adversely impacted tourism and their livelihoods for some years when tourism declined drastically but the city crawled back to its status as being the safest destination in Asia for travel.
We were in Bali to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, so we started our vacation with an upscale resort called ‘Nyuh Bali’ in Seminyak.
The resort has independent cottages with a private swimming pool and is extremely well maintained with excellent room service and great food.
The breakfast in the morning is made to order, so indulge your taste buds if you're staying here.
Don't miss the bamboo straws and the wicker bread basket!
I can’t help but notice that a lot of bamboo and wood has been used as a part of the décor which gives the rooms a rustic yet cosy feel.
Bamboo straws are used throughout Bali, I noticed, which I found to be a wonderful variant to the conventional paper or plastic straws.
Day One - Tanah Lot Temple
We have only the second half of the day at our disposal. We start with the Tanah Lot Temple.
The temple is built on a huge rock and is dedicated to the God of the Sea. The temple is surrounded by seawater and one can walk right to the base of the temple when the tide is low over a makeshift bridge of small rocks and stones. The scenery around Tanah Lot is beautiful and one can spend a whole evening looking at the sights.
Entrance to Tanah Lot - The split doorway or 'Candi Bentar' is typical of all Balinese temples! There is also another small temple called Batu Bolong Temple near Tanah Lot overlooking the Indian Ocean conspicuously located on top of a cave with water flowing through it. My Tip -
If you plan to visit this area, then you should plan to go in the early evening to be able to catch the sunset.
The temples' views in the setting sun's backdrop are mesmerizing.
Batu Bolong Temple from far away.......Can't afford to miss the sunset! Day Two - Double Six Beach, Seminyak
We start our morning at Seminyak Beach. It's quieter in the mornings but comes alive as the evening descends.
If you go in the mornings, you can find children taking surfing lessons and flying kites. There is a 500-meter stretch of golden white sand on the beach called the Double Six Beach.
One can stroll along this beautiful coastline that is lined with amazing eateries and bars and the whole place comes alive around sunset. Some coconuts contain at least a litre of coconut water.
Giant coconuts...one is enough for the entire family....Walk along the beautiful Seminyak beach...
Day two also happens to be our 25th wedding anniversary. We had made dinner reservations at 'Bambu', a classic Indonesian restaurant in the quieter side of Seminyak.
The restaurant boasts a modern twist to classic dishes. The restaurant is expensive but well worth the money.
Day Three - Seminyak to Kuta
We move out of our cottage in Seminyak to Anavaya Beach Resort in Kuta.
As I've mentioned earlier, Bali has very distinctly different regions and we wanted to stay in at least two of them. The route to the beach in a cab is a treat in itself.
A tour of the city throws up some very interesting facets of Balinese culture, which is steeped in religious rituals even in this day and age and is very much a part of the people's everyday life.
Along the roads, throughout the city are bamboo poles adorned with palm leaves and flowers and some fruits, even vegetables, tied to them.
We again chat up with our driver, I learnt that these poles are called 'Penjor' and these fruits are a way to thank Mother Earth for its many blessings.
At a lot of places, in front of trees and shrines, I notice this black and white checkered cloth tied around trees and even around small temples made outside houses. This is called 'Kain Polena', literally meaning two-coloured cloth.
This cloth symbolises the two dual aspects of life, the good and the evil, darkness and light.
I saw this even in front of houses and shops. Apart from this, the Balinese people also keep offerings to spirits outside their shops and houses each morning, called 'Canang Sari'.
These are small palm leaf baskets filled with rice cookies, sweets and flowers. Passersby ensure that no one steps on these while walking by.
After jostling through heavy traffic, taking pictures en route and chatting with our cab driver, we finally reach the Anavaya Beach Resort.
This is a very popular resort for tourists in the centre of Kuta on the Islands of the Gods.
The uber-luxurious resort boasts a private sand beach and walking platforms.
The resort has beautiful water bodies all around. These musicians are playing the 'Rindik', an instrument made by suspending bamboo tubes on a wooden frame.
At the entrance to the Resort...musicians playing Rindik, a percussion instrument
Day Three - Uluwatu Temple and Kecak Dance
In the afternoon, we head to the beautiful Balinese Sea Temple of Uluwatu.
En route to the Uluwatu Temple, one can see the mammoth statue of Garuda Wisnu in the Kencana Cultural Park which is about 11 km away from Uluwatu.
This colossal statue is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the preserving deity in the Hindu Trinity and Garuda, his mount.
The statue is huge, about 30 meters taller than the Statue of Liberty!
A trip to the park can be exhilarating and informative. There are street performances, cultural events in the amphitheatre and many more activities for tourists to give them a full day of entertainment.
Time was short, I had set my heart on watching the Kecak dance at the Uluwatu temple.
I had read so much about it. So, we saw the statue from a distance and it looked just as majestic.
Garuda Wisnu at the Kencana Cultural Park...you cannot miss this mammoth structure jutting out into the sky!
A lot can be said about Uluwatu and the energetic and mesmerising Kecak Dance.
Please click on the link below to learn more about this Balinese dance that will blow your mind away...
Day Four - Dream Museum Zone DMZ
After Watching the scintillating Kecak dance performance on the previous night, we decided to spend the morning at the Anavaya beach.
The water is shallow and the weather is great for walking on the platform around the resort. In the evening, we decided to go to DMZ, Dream Museum Zone, Bali.
My Tip -
The museum is not a very impressive structure on the outside but the artworks inside are fun. This can easily be the highlight of your trip if you're travelling with kids.
This is a 3D Art museum with illusionist effects. One can take pictures against the backdrop of these 3D artworks. The pictures are embarrassingly childish but the experience was certainly enjoyable.
Day Four - Evening - Jimbaran Bay
Late evening we go to Jimbaran Bay. The bay is located in the south of Kuta and is a haven for seafood since it is the biggest fish market on the island.
The sea here is tranquil, and in the evening the beach comes alive with tourists wanting to taste the seafood delights. The barbeques are rustic and cheap.
My Tip -
There are numerous luxury beach resorts in Jimbaran, it's called the Beverly Hills of Bali. But this experience of going into the fish market and picking the seafood of your choice and then eating it on the seashore is hardly the definition of luxury!
Go to this place if you're not too finicky about hygiene and ambience because the fish we ate was not cleaned properly and not well cooked.
Day Five - Devdan at Nusa Dua
Today is the last day of our stay in Bali. We decide to go shopping in the morning and have tickets for the famous Nusa Dua Theatre for the evening.
Kuta has some of the hottest shopping centres in Bali, Ubud Art Market, Guwang Market and Pasar Badung Market are some of the markets to buy souvenirs, handicrafts and clothes.
Don't forget to indulge in some bargaining before you go buying things.
There is also Legian Street with luxury boutiques. A memorial to the infamous bombing of 2002 in Bali is also located here. In the evening, we head to Nusa Dua Theatre for the Devdan Show. This spectacular show turned out to be the highlight of our trip to Bali.
Click on the link below to read more about it
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