Bali Guide

The Tropical Paradise

A friendly and remarkably artistic people, the Balinese have created a dynamic society with unique arts and ceremonies, making Bali synonymous world wide with the perfect ‘tropical paradise’. Terraced ricefields dominate the landscape, rivers and small irrigation streams direct the luscious green landscape, filling the air with the enchanting sound of running almost through the center of the island. In Bali the mountains are the home of the gods. Shrouded in mystery and magic, they stretch skywards in majestic splendour. Bali’s main volcano is the sometimes explosive Gunung Agung, which is considered sacred among local people as the center of the universe. Many visitors leave with the same beliefs.

The Balinese have been more exposed to international tourist and generally speak more English than people in other parts of the Indonesian archipelago. They have managed to preserved their culture despite overwhelming foreign influences brought to the region by an ever-increasing number of tourists. Bali’s International Airport, Ngurah Rai, is in the south of the island and is served by numerous international airlines and charters. In order to keep up with the growing the number of visitors and the need for their comfort, more hotels have been built, ranging from small bungalows for budget travelers to the luxurious Nusa Dua tourist resort area. Water sports have naturally gained in popularity and Bali offers superb surfing, windsurfing, sailing, scuba diving and white water rafting.


History

The ancient kingdoms of the "Rajas" and princes of Bali were dismantled by colonial governments in the early part of this century, but many of their royal descendants still own traditional palaces and are very much respected as patrons of the arts. Art and culture are strongly bonded to Bali’s unique form of Hinduism called "Hindu Darma". Classical dance dramas are based on the old Hindu epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabarata, but contain an element of local folklore peculiar to the island . The very soul of Bali is rooted in religion and is expressed in art forms that have been passionately preserved over the centuries. It seems that almost every person is an artist. Whether expressed through beautiful and intricate paintings and dances, extraordinary carvings, superb weaving or even in decorations made for the myriad shrines, the island is alive with art.



Events

Temple Festival
Temple festival occur almost in Bali, such as the Odalan or tern pie’s anniversary celebrations. Offerings are carried to the temple. There are purification ceremonies and a fair-like atmosphere prefails. At night, performances of sacral dances. Wayang Kulit (shadow) puppets and gamelan music are held.


Accommodation

Bali has the biggest concentration of different types of hotels catering to the international tourist. There are several luxury properties such as Nusa Dua Beach Hotel, Club Mediterranee, Bali Sol, Putri Bali in the Nusa Dua area and Bali Hyatt, Bali beach in Sanur Beach in Sanur and Pertamina Cottage and Bali Oberoi in Kuta. All these hotels have convention facilities, swimming pools, sports grounds and a selection of restaurants, bars, night clubs,or discotheques and beach fronts.

There are also smaller cottage style hotels with modern amenities. Most unique is the long established Tanjung Sari with rates comparable to the big hotels. Above hotels and those with two stars have air conditioning, attached baths, telephones and TV.


Meeting Facilities

For more than two decades Bali has been a major international tourist destination and it has now matured as a meeting and convention venue.

Indonesia’s paradise island provides one of the world’s most interesting and exotic environments for a business gathering.

Against a backdrop of excellent beaches and spectacular scenery, the graceful Balinese proudly maintain and uphold their unique culture. There are festivals all year round and everywhere the haunting sounds of gamelan music can be heard.

The principal meeting and convention area is the Nusa Dua district where the Bali International Convention Centre is supported by an impressive variety of live star resorts.

However, the adjoining areas of Kuta, Sanur, Tuban and Jimbaran are also well catered for with luxury hotels.

In fact, all of Bali’s premium hotels and resorts feature dedicated meeting and convention facilities.

The island’s marketers are packing more options and innovations into their products, making them as easy to buy as conventional holiday packages.

Meetings and conventions can be adapted to suit any number of themes, from a Sultan’s palace, to a traditional Balinese market or a futuristic city of the year 3000.

The major venues can also transform themselves into simulated business environments, where new business concepts, product lines and sales techniques can be road tested.

Or perhaps you would prefer to conduct your business over golf, tennis, diving, rafting or trekking; together with outstanding food and entertainment?


Accessibility

By Air:
Numerous direct flights from Europe, Australia and most Asian countries.
Domestic flights to and from major cities within Indonesia.

By Sea:
Regular passenger ferries from lava and Lombok.
Cruise ship stop-offs.

Overland:
By car from Java.


Diving

Tiny, volcanic Bali is one of the most enchanting islands in the world. It entices a million tourists a year, drawn like moths towards an exotic flame. A flame fed by a fascination with the unique Hindu-Balinese culture of a gentle people, the legendary beauty of a land chequered by verdant rice fields studded by ancient temples, and the allure of coral seas alive with marine life beyond imagination.

The truth is, there is no better place than Bali for an introduction to Indonesia’s under-water wonderland. And no harder place to decide between time on land or under water.

In the traditional tourist stronghold of the Kuta/Nusa Dua/Sanur triangle, divers have a reef at their doorstep. It is a moderate drop, an undemanding dive made thrilling by a surprising range of fish.

There is more at Nusa Benida, 1.5 hours away by boat. Upwellings mean good visibility, bracing waters and challenging currents. Abundant and varied hard corals hug drop-offs and steep slopes rife with sweetlips, mantas and sharks. Lucky divers may glimpse the bizarre and rare oceanic sunfish and hawksbill turtles.

But the best of Bali’s waters lie beyond the tourist triangle. Discover Titan triggerfish and blue-spotted stingrays in Padang Bais mixed reef; coral walls of an underwater canyon at Candi Dasa; a kaleidoscope of fish at Cemeluk’s coastal reef; friendly fish at Tulamhen’s picturesque Liberty Wreck; and craggy reef walls blanketed by soft coral in Menjangans mind-snapping clear waters.

Hard-core divers can escape the established dive zones with a hired boat. A long ride north brings them to the Kangean Islands, to a world of coral knolls rising from sandy beds.


Attractions

Bali has become synonymous with all that is beautiful and exotic.

And rightly so. For Bali is a beautiful island of palm fringed beaches, coral ringed lagoons and soaring volcanoes; inhabited by beautiful people with a unique tradition of music, dance, painting, sculpture, architecture, drama and poetry.

Despite its popularity with the rich and famous, Bali remains a land of surprises where you can still experience real adventure, discover untouched places and witness exotic rituals unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.

Batuan
An old famous center of the arts, it is known for its dancing, wood panel carving and paintings.

Celuk
Northeast of Denpasar, the village of Celuk is noted for its silver and gold works of jewelry in many styles

Mas
A village of wood carvers, many of Bali’s old masters still live here. Art galleries exhibit some of their best works. Visitors can wonder through the Balinese-style houses to view the carved wooden pillars and the artists instructing apprentices.

Ubud
The center of Balinese painting, Ubud’s Museum "Puri Lukisan" has a permanent collection of modern works of Balinese art dating from the turn of the century. There are also several art galleries and homes of famous artist here, including that Dutch-born Hans Snel and American Antonio Blanco. The "Young Artist" style now popular in Balinese painting was introduced by the Dutch painter Arie Smith. In the past, other foreign painters inspired Balinese artist to adopt western techniques but traditional Balinese paintings are still highly collectable. The Neka Museum has a wide collection of paintings by Indonesian as well as foreign artist who used to live Bali. Ubud has a several small hotels and is located in the foothills of the central mountain range, giving it a cool, pleasant climate.

Peliatan
Peliatan is located between Ubud and Mas. It is known as the center of traditional music and dance.

Goa Gajah
Goa Gajah, dates back to the 11th century and is believed to have been built as a monastery. Carvings on the wall show a demon head over the entrance, flanked by two statues. The cave contains a statue of Ganesh. Escavations have uncovered a bathing place with six statues of the nymphs holding water-spouts.

Tampak Siring
The temple of Pura Tirta Empul is built around the scared spring at Tampak Siring. Over 1000 years old, the temple and its two bathing places have been valued by the people because of the spring water's curative powers. Regular ceremonies are held for the purification. Specialities of the area are bone and ivory carvings.

Kintamani
The villages of Kintamani and Penelokan give a view of the active Mt. Batur and Lake Batur. The caldera of Batur is 7 miles in diameter and 60 feet deep. From Penelokan, a road leads to Kedisan on the shores of the lake where boats can be hired to cross over to Trunayan. This ancient village is inhabited by people who call themselves "Bali Aga" or "original" Balinese, and have maintained many of their old ways.

Bangli
Pura Kehen is Bali's second largest temple. Three terraced courtyards are connected by steps, and theirs balustrades are decorated with carvings and statues. A large Banyan tree with a tower shades the lowest and second courtyard, while in the third courtyard several shrines for the gods and ancestors are found.

Klungkung
The former seat of the Javanese Hindu Kingdom in Bali, from which Balinese royalty draws its blood line, Klung kung was the oldest kingdom on the island and its "Raja" the most exalted. The Kerta Gosa or Royal Court of Justice, built in the 18th century, known for its ceiling murals, painted in the traditional wayang style, portraying punishment in hell and the rewards in heaven. The floating pavillion, garden and lotus ponds in this walled-in complex are reminder of the former glory of this kingdom.

Besakih
Know as the "Mother Temple of Bali", the sanctuary of Besakih on the slopes of Mt.Agung is the biggest and holiest of all Balinese temples. Over a thousand years old, steps ascend through split gates to the main courtyards where the Trinity shrine are wrapped in cloth and decorated with flower offerings. Around the three main temples dedicated to the Trinity (Shiva, Brahma and Wisnu), are 18 seperate sanctuaries belonging to different regencies and caste groups.

To the Balinese, a visit to the temple’s sanctuaries is a special pilgrimage. Each has its own anniversary celebration or "Odalan". The sight of the temple against the background of the mountain is impressive, and during festivals coloured banners add a touch of gaiety.

Sangeh
The hectares of nutmeg trees in the Sangeh forest abound with monkeys. The forest is considered sacred, so no wood is allowed to be chopped here. Two temples stand in the middle in this sacred forest, the monkeys are also held sacred and are rather tame, but it is advisable not to play with them.

Tanah Lot
One of the Bali’s most important sea temples, the temple sanctuary at Tanah Lot is built a top a huge rock surrounded by the sea. Poisonous sea snakes found at the base of the rocky islands are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. The best to see Tanah Lot is in the late afternoon when the temple is in silhouette.

Bedugul
The mountain resort of Bedugul, 18 km north of Denpasar, is known for its excellent golf course. Located besides Lake Bratan, it is surrounded by forested hills. A beautiful sight is the "Ulun Danu" temple which seems to rise out of the lake. The are offers good walks. Boats are available for water skiing and para sailing. Is done as well. The Bali Handara Country Club has bungalows for rent and a restaurant.

Tenganan
Protected for centuries from the outside world by its surrounding walls, the village of Tenganan has maintained its ancient pre-Hindu customs through a strong code of non-fraternization with outsiders. Here unique rituals, dances, and gladiator-like battles between youths take place. Tengana is famous for its "double ikat" woven material called gringseng, which is supposed to protect the wearer with magic powers.