Bedugul

Bedugul

Bedugul is a mountain lake resort area in Bali, Indonesia, located in the centre-north region of the island near Lake Bratan on the road between Denpasar and Singaraja. Bedugul is located at 48 kilometres (30 mil) north of the city of Denpasar. Other nearby lakes are Lake Buyan, and Lake Tamblingan.

Bedugul enjoys a mild mountain weather due to its location at an altitude of about 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) above the sea level.

Major sites in Bedugul are the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan water temple and the Eka Karya Botanic Gardens. The Botanic Garden, opened in 1959. With a total area of 157.5 hectares (389 acres) is the largest in Indonesia.

Besakih Temple

Besakih Temple

This Mother Temple is actually a complex made up of twenty-two temples that sit on parallel ridges. It has stepped terraces and flights of stairs which ascend to a number of courtyards and brick gateways that in turn lead up to the main spire or Meru structure, which is called Pura Penataran Agung. All this is aligned along a single axis and designed to lead the spiritual person upward and closer to the mountain which is considered sacred.

The main sanctuary of the complex is the Pura Penataran Agung. The symbolic center of the main sanctuary is the lotus throne or padmasana, which is therefore the ritual focus of the entire complex. It dates to around the seventeenth century.

A series of eruptions of Mount Agung in 1963, which killed approximately 1,700 people also threatened Puru Besakih. The lava flows missed the temple complex by mere meters. The saving of the temple is regarded by the Balinese people as miraculous, and a signal from the gods that they wished to demonstrate their power but not destroy the monument the Balinese faithful had erected.

Jimbaran

Jimbaran

Jimbaran is just south of the airport and Kuta. This was formerly a real backwater of south Bali, just a tiny fishing village with a daily market. That all started to change in the 1980s and Jimbaran is now home to several world class 5 star beach resorts, plus a few more moderate mid-market hotels. There is however little in the way of budget accommodation and there are also many high-end villas in this area, particularly on the ridges of high ground above Jimbaran Bay. This has resulted in monikers such as the "Beverly Hills of Bali" or "Millionaire's Row".

The bay itself has a pleasant white sand beach and is very safe for swimming. The three clusters of grilled seafood restaurants on the beach are a major tourist draw in the evenings, as is the truly stunning sunset.

Jimbaran is also home to a Norwegian University, Gateway College, with around 500 students studying athletics, philosphy, culture, economics and journalism. The school is located in Kedonganan close to Sari Segara Resort and in Jl, Bantas Kau where it also has a small cafe.

Jimbaran has an increasing number of rather chic shops but there is little or no nightlife here. It has the advantage of being a little closer to Kuta and Seminyak and the cultural highlights of Central Bali.

Uluwatu Temple

Uluwatu Temple

 

If there is one thing that I would recommend to a Bali's first timer to do, then it would be enjoying the Kecak and Fire dance at the Uluwatu Temple.

Why? Coz it's trully a blend of culture and breathtaking scenery, and it's hassle free, and it's affordable!

The dance is Balinese traditional dance, in which hundreds of man will dance and shout in harmony. The storyline of the drama is provided on the leaflet in several language in order for easy understanding the story path.

Kecak Dance

Uluwatu temple is Hindu's temple that is located at the cliff of Uluwatu, close to the classy luxury complex of villa with the view overlooking the Indian ocean.

To reach there, taking a cab would be best, aside from joining the more pricey organized tour. Quote the cab for Uluwatu area, and it's almost at the end of the uphill road, where you will enter a monkey forrest with the temple, Uluwatu temple.

Shows start daily at 5 PM, so just be there, and while waiting, people can enjoy the monkey forrest on top of the cliff.

Tanah Lot

Tanah Lot

Tanah Lot means "Land Sea" in the Balinese language. Located in Tabanan, about 20 kilometres (12 mil) from Denpasar, the temple sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide.

Tanah Lot is claimed to be the work of the 15th-century priest Nirartha. During his travels along the south coast he saw the rock-island's beautiful setting and rested there. Some fishermen saw him, and bought him gifts. Nirartha then spent the night on the little island. Later he spoke to the fishermen and told them to build a shrine on the rock for he felt it to be a holy place to worship the Balinese sea gods.

The Tanah Lot temple was built and has been a part of Balinese mythology for centuries. The temple is one of seven sea temples around the Balinese coast. Each of the sea temples were established within eyesight of the next to form a chain along the south-western coast. However, the temple had significant Hindu influence.

At the base of the rocky island, poisonous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. A giant snake purportedly protects the temple, which was created from Nirartha's scarf when he established the island.
Restoration

In 1980, the temple's rock face was starting to crumble and the area around and inside the temple started to become dangerous. The Japanese government then provided a loan to the Indonesian government of Rp 800 billion (approximately USD $130 million) to conserve the historic temple and other significant locations around Bali. As a result, over one third of Tanah Lot's "rock" is actually cleverly disguised artificial rock created during the Japanese-funded and supervised renovation and stabilization program.

Kintamani

 Kintamani

The area of north-eastern Bali at the Mount Batur caldera, and which encompasses Penelokan, Toya Bungkah, Batur and Kintamani villages, is known widely as just Kintamani. Kintamani, Batur and Penelokan villages sit on the rim of the huge Batur caldera about 1,500m above sea level, and offer dramatic views of the active volcano Mount Batur and serene Lake Batur. Toyo Bungkah village is down at the lake edge.

As well as the lake and the volcano, Kintamani is home to Pura Ulun Danu Batur, one of Bali's key nine directional temples.

Climate

You are high in the mountains of Bali here and the temperature is usually about 15 degrees cooler than down on the coast, and even more so at night. That, coupled with the often cloudy and drizzly weather, makes a sweater or jacket advisable in the day time and vital after sunset.

Tanjung Benoa, Bali

Tanjung Benoa, Bali

In a narrow peninsula of land, in the southern part of Bali, just north to Nusa Dua city, you'll find a small village named Benoa, Bali, with the white sand beach stretching the length of the coast. It is a booming resort, popular with water sports enthusiasts.

Water sports can be enjoyed at the Tanjung Benoa beach - are jet ski, parasailing, banana boating, scuba diving, snorkeling, glass bottom, flying fish and a visit to Turtle Island (turtle island).


From the small harbor / concrete pier, Tanjung Benoa, Bali, you can see the Serangan Island, lying low on the water. From Bempa (fishing village), people can depart daily by the Cruise ship. Out in the bay, is an anchorage for ocean - going yachts and The Bali International Yachts also has a base here.

The Tanjung Benoa area has an increasing number of good restaurants. Near the peninsula tip, the sumptuous Beluga Water sport Complex is a hull shaped restaurant.
Bali Tours, Bali Attractions - Bali Places

Tanjung Benoa Activities facilities are available at reasonable rates in over 10 locations. The following is available for renting: Canoes, Deep-sea fishing, Scuba Diving, Bali, snorkeling, day trips/boat to Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan, banana boats, water scooters, water skiing, jet skis, wave runners, wind surfers, parasailing glass bottom and flying fish are also available. Tanjung Benoa beach, Bali, is the place to go for a visit to Turtle Island (click on the link to get more Bali information about the Turtle Island).

Although the Nusa Dua / Tanjung Benoa area does not compare to Kuta or Denpasar for choice, you can find a wide range of products - with fair prices - in a much smaller area.