Bali is one of the 17,500 islands of Indonesia, situated at the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, between Java to the west and Lombok to the east. A trip to Bali can be all about culture, nature, art, spiritual experience or a mixture of all of these
Relaxing Retreat
If you’ve watched the movie Eat, Pray, Love or just read the book, then you will know that there are plenty of opportunities in Bali to just relax and enjoy the culture and the arts. If you are on the lookout for such a retreat, then you will do well to visit Ubud which was once the destination for backpackers and bohemians but has, however, transformed into the place for the island’s designers and glitterati. Visit the island’s cultural center and soak in the Balinese culture and enjoy a spa retreat or a yoga session. Ubud boasts some great organic restaurants and cafes and also has a sacred monkey forest.
Cultural craze
The rich Balinese culture and religion are preserved in the old pagoda style temples in the island. Whether it is the Besakih Temple, which is known as Bali’s mother temple or the Goa Gajah which actually translates as Elephant Cave, Bali will give you a chance to fall in love with the architecture of the temples and their breathtaking surroundings. You can also visit Garuda Wisnu Kencana, or GWK for short, a cultural park on the island’s hilly southern coast, famous for the ongoing construction of a gigantic statue of Vishnu riding on the back of a ‘garuda’ (a supernatural eagle-like being). The cultural park is also a great place to be for art and cultural performances, exhibitions, and conferences.
Under the Sun
Bali is also famous for its fabulous beaches where you can play in the sand, surf or just sunbathe. Go surfing around Uluwatu, Bignin, or Balangan and if you don’t know how to, then you can learn surfing at Kuta, Legian, and Canggu. There is a beach for everyone; all you have to do is find the one that suits you. The popular beaches are White Sand Beach, Padangbai which will remind you of the Caribbean Island, Amed which spans seven different seaside villages and Karma Kandara’s Beach Club which is in fact a private beach.
Treats of trees
Surround yourself with nature and wildlife during your stay in Bali by visiting the Bali Safari & Marine Park, Elephant Safari Park of Desa Taro and Bali Botanic Garden. Bali Safari & Marine Park serves as one of the island’s largest and most visited animal theme parks and is home to over 60 species, all of which roam freely in large enclosures that mimic their natural habitats. This is the ideal place to take your children. Enjoy riding on a safari bus to visit the animals, watching fascinating elephant talent shows, get cuddly with baby orangutans, and view baby sharks at the aquarium.
Families travelling with children will have a blast at the adjacent water and amusement parks. On the other hand, Elephant Safari Park offers visitors a chance to get up close and personal with the peaceful giants and also to go for a sightseeing expedition on the backs of these towering pachyderms. The Park has a museum with 1,000 exhibits, a 15,000-year-old mammoth skeleton, and an elephant arena and painting display area. Locally referred to as ‘Kebun Raya Bedugul’ or by its official name, ‘Kebun Raya Eka Karya Bedugul’ Bali Botanic Garden gives you a chance to view the vast collection of tropical plants and wildlife in their natural habitat and get an eagle’s eye view from the Bali Treetop Adventure Park. It includes six main circuits stretching from tree to tree, as well as nets, Tarzan swings, jumps, and bridges.
Treats of trees
Surround yourself with nature and wildlife during your stay in Bali by visiting the Bali Safari & Marine Park, Elephant Safari Park of Desa Taro and Bali Botanic Garden. Bali Safari & Marine Park serves as one of the island’s largest and most visited animal theme parks and is home to over 60 species, all of which roam freely in large enclosures that mimic their natural habitats. This is the ideal place to take your children. Enjoy riding on a safari bus to visit the animals, watching fascinating elephant talent shows, get cuddly with baby orangutans, and view baby sharks at the aquarium.
Families travelling with children will have a blast at the adjacent water and amusement parks. On the other hand, Elephant Safari Park offers visitors a chance to get up close and personal with the peaceful giants and also to go for a sightseeing expedition on the backs of these towering pachyderms. The Park has a museum with 1,000 exhibits, a 15,000-year-old mammoth skeleton, and an elephant arena and painting display area. Locally referred to as ‘Kebun Raya Bedugul’ or by its official name, ‘Kebun Raya Eka Karya Bedugul’ Bali Botanic Garden gives you a chance to view the vast collection of tropical plants and wildlife in their natural habitat and get an eagle’s eye view from the Bali Treetop Adventure Park. It includes six main circuits stretching from tree to tree, as well as nets, Tarzan swings, jumps, and bridges.
In case you miss home
In Bali, there is a very low chance that you will miss home. Most of the things happening around will actually make you feel like you never left Nepal.
If you go around the paddy fields, you will find it to be exactly like ours. The terrace plantations along the slopes of the hill will transport you back to Bhaktapur. You can find bulls ploughing the field as their rice plantation is also similar to ours.
Most of the Balinese worship the front of their house just like the Newars of Kathmandu. While the Newars doing puja in pikhalukhi, the Balinese do not use abir.
Most Balinese are named after Hindu gods. Your guide’s name maybe Rama, while the shopkeeper’s name maybe Basuki.
Similarly, you will also find Hindu temples all over Bali. Visit Tirtha Empul where you can take a bath from their stone tap which will remind you of Balaju’s Baisdhara.
