source : http://www.indonesia.travel/
Bali is magical. As probably the most famous island in Indonesia, Bali blends spectacular mountain scenery and beautiful beaches with warm and friendly people, a vibrant culture and out of this world resorts.
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Travel & Leisure Magazine has awarded Bali the World’s Best Island in 2009, while the Lonely Planet’s Best of Travel 2010 ranked Bali second place among the world’s Top Regions.Also known as the Land of the Gods, Bali appeals through its sheer natural beauty of looming volcanoes and lush terraced rice fields that exude peace and serenity. Bali enchants with its dramatic dances and colourful ceremonies, its arts and crafts, to its luxurious beach resorts and exciting night life. For this exotic island has much to offer, from inspirational spirituality to fine dining and meeting experiences, from world class surfing and diving to exhilarating treks in the wild. And everywhere you will find intricately carved temples.
For, the Balinese, who embrace the Hindu religion, are a most devout people where a large part of their lives is dedicated to rites and ceremonies aimed at maintaining harmony in this world. Indeed, this relatively small island holds many surprises.
This is a miraculous island indeed, for after decades of popularity, Bali continues to amaze both local and international visitors alike. Here gather a variety of visitors from around the globe: from those who come to surf the waves of Kuta, Uluwatu and Dreamland, to others who love the panoramic beauty of mountains and lakes at Batur, Kintamani, or Lake Beratan at Bedugul, to those who merely love shopping or spend endless days on the beach.
Getting There
With increasing number of direct flights from many parts of the world, getting to Bali is easy. Flights from Jakarta to Bali take about 1.5 hours, from Singapore and Perth (Australia) around 2.5 and 3 hours, from Hong Kong about 4.5 hours, and from Sydney/Melbourne about 5.5 to 6 hours on many national and international carriers.Just make sure that you look for "Denpasar (DPS)" instead of "Bali" in airline time tables. Denpasar is the capital of Bali. While the name of its international airport is Ngurah Rai.
Another means to reach the island is by ferry from Banyuwangi, located at the most eastern tip of East Java. It takes 30 to 45 minutes crossing from Banyuwangi to Ketapang on Bali. From Bali, you can also continue further by ferry to the island of Lombok, in West Nusa Tenggara . Take the ferry at Padang Bay with transit at Lembar seaport for a total of 4 hours journey.
Bali has many travel agents to assist you with your holiday plans.
Getting Around
There are many modes of transport to help you get around in Bali. A variety of excellent half day, full day and overnight tour packages are available from your hotel desk or any of the numerous travel agents and tour operators which abound in Bali. Or you can find a car and driver who will also act as your guide.Whilst walking about, you will be barraged with constant questions of "Transport, transport?". Competition is tight and many drivers know several languages. Tell the driver your desired route and negotiate a fee.
An important virtue to have while on the road in Bali is patience! Although the road system in the heavily populated areas is quite reasonable (condition wise) in comparison to other developing countries, it can be heavily congested at peak periods. Ceremonial processions often take up the entire road so if you're caught behind a procession, enjoy the colorful experience.
To Do
- Beach Activities
Bali’s white beaches are favourite for family holidays. There are a variety of water sports available, such as banana boats, parasailing or jet skiing, swimming or plain sunbathing. Cruises to the surrounding islands can be taken from here as well as submarine dives to watch the tropical underwater life from within safe compartments.
Most well known among Bali’s beaches is Kuta beach, the best spot to watch dramatic sunsets. Further back along this stretch are an array of hotels, - from five stars to simple home stay - restaurants and shops and cafes, while in the evenings the area throbs to the beat of disco music.
Or for a quieter evening enjoy the beach at Jimbaran, a popular spot to eat fresh barbecued seafood in the evenings, while watching from a distance the lights of planes landing and taking off from Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport. Located here are some of Bali’s best hotels like the Four Seasons and the Bali Intercontinental hotel. Jimbaran is also renowned for the Barong trance dance.
Further west of Kuta are Legian and Seminyak. On the other side of the peninsula is the more sedate Sanur Beach, which is also dotted with hotels and restaurants, or visit Nusa Dua, where more private beaches front super de-luxe hotels.
- Surfing and Diving in Bali
A good start for surfers is Kuta beach. But the best waves in Bali are at Uluwatu, at the southern tip of Bali, which is the site for international competitions. Here are the long, and perfectly formed hollow-barreled reef-breaks at 3 unique lefts, while at Nusa Dua and Sanur 3 complementary rights can be found. The time to surf is during April through September when winds are predominantly east-southeast. .
Surfers also love the waves at Nusa Lembongan near Nusa Penida, sister islands due south east of Bali facing the Indian Ocean. These islands are a 45 minutes boat trip from Nusa Dua or from Sanur. Here the waves are known as Playground Surf Break, Shipwreck Surf Break, Ceningan Reef Surf Break to Lacerating Surf Break.
For thrilling dives Bali offers excellent underwater challenges, with a range of options to suit beginners, while others should only be attempted by advanced divers.
At Nusa Penida, there are strong currents as this strait separates Bali from Lombok. At Nusa Penida’s south western coast are the Manta Point and the Malibu point where divers can swim with Travally, big rays and even sharks. At Blue Corner find Moia Moia fish.
At Bali‘s most eastern end is Padang Bay and Cemeluk, better known as Amed Beach for great dives, where you can find cardinal fish, black snappers and damsel fish.
While along Bali’s north-western coast in the Bali Barat National Park, the best dive spots are at Menjangan with its reef flat, anchor wreck, eel garden and caves to explore. Nearby and still in the Bali Barat Park is Pemutaran island.
For detailed information on Diving in Bali, click on Promotion Materials, Indonesia Diver’s Paradise:
- Rafting, Cycling and Eco-tours
Bali offers first class adrenaline pumping white water rafting down the spectacular Ayung River by Ubud. Here you can also go bungy-jumping from a cliff down to almost touch the river.
If you enjoy cycling, Ubud and its surrounding is a wonderful town to bike around, as found by Elizabeth Gilbert, written in her bestselling novel “Eat, Pray, Love”. There are also good cycling paths at Uluwatu in the south.
Mountain climbers may want to climb up Gunung Agung. Begin your ascent from behind the temple or through the village of Sebudi. However, make sure to ask permission first from the temple authorities, as Balinese religion prescribes that no one may stand higher than the sacred temple especially when ceremonies are being held. The tough climb takes 6 to 8 hours, and
you are recommended to start out early in the morning, and be led by an experienced guide.
- Bali Barat National Park
For serious trekking, head for the Bali Barat National Park at the western part of the island. This is a large park covering 76,312 hectares in the districts of Jembrana and Buleleng. Entrance at the Jembrana side is at Melaya off the Denpasar-Gilimanuk highway. The Park offers pristine tropical nature, and is the last home of the most endangered Bali starling with only some one hundred remaining. These are very pretty white birds, with black wing tips and a brilliant blue streak around their eyes. Here is also the endangered wild Javan buffalo or banteng, with only 30 to 40 left living deep in the forest. Other animals are the rusa deer, the mouse deer, leopards, civets, macaques and a number of species of monkeys.
Visitors to Bali Barat must first obtain a permit available free of charge at Cekik, at Labuhan Lalang or at the Forestry Ministry office at Renon, Denpasar. Although shelters are available, trekkers must bring their own bedding, mosquito protection, food, water and utensils. There are simple hotels at Labuhan Lalang or at Gilimanuk and Negara.
- Benoa Mangrove Tour
Another interesting eco-tour is a trip through the Mangrove forests via elevated wooden boardwalks. The forests are located near Benoa Harbour at Suwung Kau, some 21 km. south of Denpasar.
The Mangrove Information Center, opened in 2003, is dedicated to the study and preservation of the region's coastal mangroves. Covering an area of about 200 hectares there are nursery plots occupying 7,700 square-meters, wooden boardwalk trails for observation and exploration huts for resting and meditation and floating decks.
Mangroves play a central role in the ocean’s life cycle and food chain since they serve as key breeding areas for an entire range of sea creatures that are fundamental to the Ocean's food chain. And in case of a tsunami, mangroves serve as life-saving buffers.
These mangrove forests are best visited in the early morning or in the afternoon, the best times to watch the many species of birds that make the mangroves their habitat.
Mangroves play a central role in the ocean’s life cycle and food chain since they serve as key breeding areas for an entire range of sea creatures that are fundamental to the Ocean's food chain. And in case of a tsunami, mangroves serve as life-saving buffers.
These mangrove forests are best visited in the early morning or in the afternoon, the best times to watch the many species of birds that make the mangroves their habitat.
- Cultural Performances
In Bali, dance and dramas are an inseparable part of daily temple devotion and celebrations, and many are held sacred. Each village has a different date of festivities, and a visitor may therefore, accidentally watch dance performances that are not staged for tourists.
However, Bali villages do offer cultural performances catering to tourists. The Barong dance is staged mornings in the village of Batubulan. This is the eternal story of the fight between good and evil.
The Kecak dance is staged most dramatically in the open air by Pura Tanah Lot with as backdrop, the sun slowly lowering in the sea over the horizon beyond this beautiful temple. The Kecak dance tells the story of Ramayana wherein prince Rama’s wife, Sita, is abducted by the ogre Rahwana. In the forest Rama sees a golden deer and he chases it, but not before drawing a circle around Sita, warning her not to step out of it to stay safe. Rahwana lures Sita out of the circle and she is abducte
To save her, prince Rama is helped by the white monkey god Hanoman. For its rhythm and music the kecak dance relies entirely on the human chorus of a hundred men representing Hanoman’s monkey army sitting around in a circle forming the dance arena. As the sun goes down and darkness sets in, the arena is dramatically lit by flickering bamboo torches.
The village of Peliatan is famed for its graceful Legong Keraton – the palace court dance - and superb flowing gamelan orchestral music.
Other fascinating dances are the Baris – the dance of the warriors, and the Mask Dance – this is a one man performance expressing different dramatic characters and human emotions.
- Shopping
Bali is an island that produces great artists and artisans, where creativity exudes from every village. Painters, woodcarvers and dancers are experts, with artistic traditions handed down from generation to generation.
Your best buy in Bali, therefore, will be paintings. For best paintings visit at leisure the galleries at Ubud, and admire artists at work, before you decide which painting you like best. Most Balinese paintings go best with a Bali carved wooden frame. For fine woodcarvings, go to the village of Mas, where are the master woodcarvers. If you are looking for gold or silver jewelry, head to the village of Celuk.
But if you are thinking of bringing home souvenirs for friends and relatives, your best bet is the souvenir market at Sukowati, where you may be overwhelmed by choice.
For casual and chic summer wear the place to browse is Kuta, which has a large variety of boutiques and shops, selling everything from bright T-shirts, surf- wear, flip-flops to creative trinkets.
If you wish to buy dried food stuffs, Bali coffee is most aromatic. You may also want to buy aromatherapy essential oils to sprinkle your bath with.
If you wish to buy dried food stuffs, Bali coffee is most aromatic. You may also want to buy aromatherapy essential oils to sprinkle your bath with.
- Spa and Wellness
Bali today has become the leader of Spas in South East Asia. Almost all de-luxe hotels offer unique top class Spa facilities where guests enjoy luxurious treatment and pampering, for which Indonesia is so justly famous.
Here you will be spoilt with aromatherapy massages, herbal wraps and scrubs with essential oils, foot reflexology, detoxification, from highly respected traditional treatments once only enjoyed by princesses in the ancient courts, to modern technology methods. Two spa resorts in Bali offer thalassotherapy, based on the restorative powers of the sea rich in miner and oligo elements that are massaged in and absorbed into the bloodstream to restore the balance in the body.
A number of spas are set amidst breathtaking views of green hillsides and winding rivers or jut out to sea where the lapping of the waves of the Indian Ocean provides peace and rest. Each spa has its own unique feature. Most incorporate salon treatment for facials, cream bath, manicures and pedicures, everything to make you feel refreshed and come out feeling completely different person.
A weekend at Bagus Jati provides the opportunity to enjoy delicious, healthy food, lots of activities and pampering in a tropical forest. Here the Indonesian herbal treatment or “Jamu” restores the body, mind and spirit, cleansing the body from all toxins. Regular Yoga exercises complete the course.
A number of spas are set amidst breathtaking views of green hillsides and winding rivers or jut out to sea where the lapping of the waves of the Indian Ocean provides peace and rest. Each spa has its own unique feature. Most incorporate salon treatment for facials, cream bath, manicures and pedicures, everything to make you feel refreshed and come out feeling completely different person.
A weekend at Bagus Jati provides the opportunity to enjoy delicious, healthy food, lots of activities and pampering in a tropical forest. Here the Indonesian herbal treatment or “Jamu” restores the body, mind and spirit, cleansing the body from all toxins. Regular Yoga exercises complete the course.
To Stay
Many beautiful resorts offer fine lodgings. Most of the starred hotels are located near the beach. Otherwise, they usually have their own private spots at certain beaches. You can find them easily at popular spots like Kuta or Sanur.If you're in a serene highland like Ubud, forget starred hotels. You're there to embrace the atmosphere. Just pick one of the small lodgings lining up the streets. And even the smallest one's ready to make you feel welcome.
During the 2007 Ubud Readers and Writers Festival, a man in a wheelchair checked in at a small inn on Monkey Forest. He had some difficulties in navigating through the stairs to his bungalow. He then left for the Festival. When he returned at night, the owner had already paved an ascending lane to his bungalow. That's a typical Balinese hospitality.
When you've already picked a certain destination in Bali, just check out our Travel Directory. See what options are near.
To Eat
Like the food of other regions in Indonesia, Balinese staple food is rice, served with small portions of spicy, pungent vegetables, fish or meat and served almost always with sambal or chili paste. Bali is a few of the regions in Indonesia whose majority of its people are non Muslims, thus babi guling or roasted suckling pig is a specialty, as is bebek betutu, smoked stuffed duck wrapped in bamboo leaves.
In Jimbaran area, for instance, you can sample seafood dishes while sitting on the beach. Visit this place in the evening, the cool atmosphere and caressing breeze will make your dining experience remarkable.
To Buy
There are are thousands of giftshops in Bali. Everywhere you go, from Denpasar to Ubud, you'll find many things you'd like to bring back home. Try clicking the "Find a Shop" button on the bottom right if you need some pointers.
Tips
Remember to "hoot" your horn when going around curves on mountainous roads as it is very common to drive in the middle of the road here. There are a lot of one way roads in Bali. If you miss your turn off you may have to drive quite a distance before being able to turn back. Be alert!
We highly recommend you fill up at any of the numerous government owned petrol stations. In more remote areas at stalls by the side of the road sell bottles of clear liquid. The quality may not be as good as at the petrol station and could cause damage to the rental car.
The corals in Komodo National park are pristine, with Mantas, sharks, turtles, dolphins, dugong, many pelagics, to the tiny pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, frog fish, you name it we've got it. The sites vary from gentle easy coral slopes to heart pounding adrenalin rides, from the warm waters of the Flores Sea in the north to the chillier waters down south in the Indian Ocean, the underwater terrain is so varied with sheer cliff walls, pinnacles, sandy flat bottoms, underwater plateaus, slopes, caves, swim-throughs, channels, all with varying colours, sizes and types of coral both hard and soft.
DIVE SITES:
Cerita tentang Teh Poci, teringat Guci. Guci sebuah poci pancuran besar yg berasal dari alam. Airnya mengepul panas dari perut bumi, yang ditampung di dalam kolam, membentuk pemandian umum.
Guci sudah komersial, jadi anda bisa mendapatkan banyak pilihan dari melati sampai bintang empat. Ada sarana rekreasi ikutan spt menunggang kuda dan hiking. Dari yang sekedar menikmati keindahan alam, memperbaiki kulit, ataupun yang sedang mencari pesugihan. Suasana pegunungan dan keramaian yang ada mirip peristirahatan di Puncak Pass Cianjur. Sayur2an segar dari kebun di lereng2 gunung banyak dijajakan, dan biasa dibawa sebaga buah tangan.
Lokasi Taman Safari Indonesia, terletak di jalan raya Jakarta-Bandung, lebih kurang 80 Km dari Jakarta atau 1,5-2 jam dengan kendaraan. Sedangkan bila dari Bandung sekitar 78 Km atau 3 jam dengan mobil. Bila menggunakan kendaraan umum/ bus dari Jakarta atau Bandung, berhenti di Cibeureum Cisarua, kemudian dilanjutkan dengan menggunakan ojek atau angkot, lebih kurang 15 menit ke Taman Safari Indonesia.
Satwa-satwa yang ada di Taman Safari umumnya merupakan satwa yang dilindungi baik dari Indonesia maupun yang didatangkan dari lima benua. Sedang ada beberapa ekor, keadaannya sangat mengkhawatirkan, sehingga perlu campur tangan manusia dalam meningkatkan jumlah populasinya melalui program penangkaran.Taman Safari - Bogor juga memiliki air terjun didalamnya. Untuk mengunjunginya harus dilakukan dengan jalan kaki (+/- 500m), mengingat belum adanya jalan yang bisa dilalui oleh kendaraan bermotor hingga ketempat lokasi. Tidak hanya rekreasi alam yang terdapat di Taman Safari. Ada banyak sarana rekreasi umum yang bisa dinikmati bersama keluarga.
Seperti halnya kebun binatang lainnya, Taman Safari mempunyai beberapa fungsi. Selain sebagai lokasi rekreasi juga aktif didalam membantu usaha perlindungan dan pelestarian populasi jenis satwa yang terancam punah karena kehilangan habitat. Selain itu meningkatkan ilmu pengetahuan dengan melakukan berbagai penelitian untuk mendukung pelestarian satwa, serta melakukan kampanye, pendidikan dan penyuluhan mengenai konservasi.
Perjalanan menuju lokasi dimulai dengan melajukan kendaran kearah perumahan bukit sentul, untuk kemudian berbelok melintasi perumahan bukit pelangi dan menuju desa bojongkoneng. Minimnya informasi akan letak sebenarnya dari air terjun tersebut menyebabkan beberapa kali harus bertanya kepada penduduk sekitar. Dan ternyata benar, asumsi awal yang telah dibuat akan lokasi tujuan ternyata berbeda cukup jauh dilapangan, akibatnya track yang sudah disiapkan bisa dibilang tidak berguna lagi 
Tentunya acara bertanya arah jalan menuju lokasi menjadi rutinitas yang sering mewarnai perjalanan kali ini. Terlebih setelah bentuk jalan yang sebelumnya berupa aspal mulus berubah menjadi jalan makadam(berbatuan) dengan lebar yang sempit, menambah keraguan akan benar-tidaknya jalan yang telah ditempuh. Bila berpapasan dengan kendaraan dari arah yang berlawanan, maka terpaksa harus mencari badan jalan yang cukup untuk dilewati dua kendaraan. Tak jarang halaman pekarangan rumah penduduk setempat, terpaksa digunakan untuk parkir sejenak, menunggu kendaraan lain selesai melintasinya dari arah yang berlawanan. Untunglah pada akhirnya seorang pemuda yang ditanyai, menawarkan diri untuk menjadi pemandu menuju lokasi air terjun.
Kurang lebih 1,5 km total perjalanan yang mesti ditempuh dengan perjalanan kaki. Tiba dilokasi, kami dihadapkan dengan sebuah air terjun dengan ketinggian +/- 30 meter. Air melimpah dengan sangat derasnya meluncur dari atas menuju ke bawah dengan debit air yang cukup tinggi. Derasnya air yang jatuh ke permukaan kolam menimbulkan riak air dan hembusan angin yang cukup kencang. Hembusan angin yang membawa juga butiran air, praktis menyulitkan untuk proses pengambilan gambar/foto dikarenakan harus berulang-ulang menyeka lensa dari cipratan air. Disekeliling air terjun merupakan tebing terjal dengan dua bagian celah yang berada disamping kiri untuk mengalirnya air dan dibagian depan air terjun, digunakan pengunjung sebagai pintu masuk ke lokasi ini.
Setelah puas bermain air, dan badan mulai mengigil kedinginan, kamipun keluar dari kolam dan kembali memakai pakaian yang sudah basah-lembab. Sungguh menyenagkan sekali bermain air terjun dilokasi yang masih alami ini. Tidak adanya sampah menambah poin positif dan merupakan bukti bahwa jarang orang berkunjung kelokasi air terjun desa Bojongkoneng. Ade-pun menambahkan, terkadang di sisi tebing air terjun banyak dijumpai monyet, yang sayang sekali kami tidak menemukan barang seekorpun saat itu.
Kosongin Perut !
Pagi itu panas matahari belum begitu terik, namun kesibukan di Dermaga 17 Pantai Marina Ancol sudah terlihat. Antrean orang yang akan naik kapal cepat ke berbagai pulau di gugusan Pulau Seribu sudah mulai bersiap-siap naik ke perahu masing-masing. Pak Nur ( 41 ), Kapten kapal cepat yang akan menuju P.Bidadari juga terlihat berdiri diatas kapal untuk melihat kesiapan kapal yang akan dikemudikannya. 
Kalau hari libur atau Sabtu & Minggu kapal tetap berangkat jam sembilan pagi, namun jam kepulangan menjadi dua kali, jam dua dan jam empat sore. Harga tiket juga berbeda, hari biasa adalah Rp 160,000 ,- per orang sedangkan hari libur adalah Rp 200,000 / orang. Selain tiket pulang dan pergi, harga tiket tersebut termasuk welcome drink dan makan siang di restoran P.Bidadari.
Patung Sang Tanduk Tujuh Belas yang sedang mengangkat kakinya menyambut kedatangan para pengunjung. Bahkan sambutan tersebut disertai dengan bunyi puisi yang tertulis di bawah patung yang berbunyi sebagai berikut,”Singa Beraung dihutan-hutan, Hiu berteriak, Aku raja dilautan, Dan rajawali, Bebas terbang tinggi di awan – Disini Sang Tanduk Tujuh Belas, Akrab berbisik, Kepada para wisatawan, Saya hanyalah penjaga kepulauan – Cinta persahabatan, Cinta perdamaian, Cinta ketenangan, Dan cinta keindahan”. Merenung sejenak setelah membaca pusisi tersebut, welcome drink pun siap sedia diatas meja yang terletak di samping meja resepsionis. Di pintu masuk terdapat beberapa petugas yang sudah siap sedia melayani segala keperluan para pengunjung. Pemandu wisata juga tersedia bagi para pengunjung yang ingin penjelasan detail tentang P.Bidadari.
Bentuk bangunan menara pengawas ini di Eropa lebih dikenal dengan sebutan Menara Martello. Yang pertama kali diperkenalkan oleh Perancis, atau tepatnya d pulau Corsica pada abad 18. Ketika terjadi pemberontakan di pulau tersebut pada tahun 1794, mereka meminta bantuan Inggris untuk membantu menyerang. Namun untuk menaklukan Corsica, Inggris kewalahan merebut benteng menara di Martello Point yang menjaga pintu masuk teluk Fiorenzo. Benteng itu cukup ampuh dalam pertahanan, sehingga sekembalinya dari perang, Inggris mendirikan bangunan yang sama di negaranya. Kemudian bangunan ini tidak saja ditiru oleh Inggris melainkan juga Belanda. Tak heran jika Belanda mendirikan pula menara Martello di negeri jajahan seperti Indonesia sebagai bagian dari sistim pertahanannya. Dan salah satunya didirikan di Pulau Bidadari yang bekasnya masih bisa kita lihat sampai sekarang. Disamping itu ada benteng yang setipe dengan Martello yang terletak disebelah utara Pulau Bidadari. Bisa ditempuh dengan menggunakan perahu kurang lebih sepuluh menit.
Di sebelah utara benteng merupakan sisi pantai utara sebagai batas Pulau Bidadari bagian utara. Pantainya terlihat lebih bersih dan lebih bening dibanding dengan pantai sisi selatan. Hal ini dikarenakan pantai utara tidak berhadapan langsung teluk Jakarta yang sudah banyak tercemar. Beberapa tempat duduk kecil yang menghadap pantai tersedia disisi pantai. Duduk-duduk dikursi tersebut sambil melihat pemandangan laut biru, diterpa angin laut yang sepoi-sepoi merupakan hal yang sangat menyenangkan. Setelah puas mengelilingi pulau ini, senang, segar, capai dan rasa lapar bercampur jadi satu. Maka dari itu bersiaplah untuk menikmati hidangan makanan yang disediakan oleh restaurant dengan menukarkan voucher yang kita dapatkan ketika membeli tiket kapal. Menu yang tidak mewah, namun juga tidak bisa dikatakan sederhana, nasi dan lauk pauk lengkap serta hidangan penutup betul-betul menjadi pengobat rasa lapar yang ada.