Indonesian flag.
Local food specialities:
The local basic rice meal, equivalent to Singapore’s nasi goreng (fried rice), is nasi campur (“champur”).
Balinese satay, for which they use bamboo skewers.
Babi guling, roast suckling pig, which you will see everywhere. Remember babi like bay , and g as in pig, so you can avoid it, if you or your companions are following vegetarian, kosher or halal diets. It does tell you that Bali is not Muslim so pig is prevalent on the menus.
Restaurants
In Kuta, eat at Poppy’s – excellent, popular and longstanding authentic Balinese restaurant hidden in the heart of town – you can stay there too.
Another famous Balinese restaurant is Bumbu Bali in Benoa north of Nusa Dua. There is now Bumbu Bali 1 and 2.
The local wine available at Poppy’s and elsewhere is Hatten Wines. write to the winemaker if you want an guided tour.
Also see Métis below.
Attractions
Temples
Bali is called the island of the gods. Bali is not Muslim but animist/Hindu. Temples are everywhere, even up the volcanoes, and little offerings at every threshold.
Tanah Lot. Photo from Wiki.
Tanah Lot. Photo from Wiki.
Visit Tanah Lot, a temple on an offshore rock, at sunset, north of North Kuta. While up there, you could dine afterwards at Bali’s top French restaurant (in a very romantic setting) called Métis.
Water Sports
Benoa is also the place for water skiing.
Arts
The Arts Festival I have already mentioned in a previous post. Tickets at the door.
Mas, which means wood, is a wood carving area. Remember to bargain.
Carvings
We asked why some carvings were more expensive than others. The number of carvings, the details on the faces and leaves. How much of it is 3D? Is the carving just on the front surface or also up the sides?
Mas, which means wood, is a wood carving area. Remember to bargain.
Carvings
We asked why some carvings were more expensive than others. The number of carvings, the details on the faces and leaves. How much of it is 3D? Is the carving just on the front surface or also up the sides?
Balinese carving. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Side of balinese carving. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Ubud is the arts and crafts centre though it has been a bit spoilt by over-development and traffic jams.
Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall famously threw their wedding reception at Café Lotus, worth a coffee or lunch stop.
Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall famously threw their wedding reception at Café Lotus, worth a coffee or lunch stop.
UBUD Hotels
Absolute must.
Fabulous hotels.
If you can't afford to stay at one of the top hotels. pop in for a drink or a meal or have a look to plan to come back.
Rice terraces in the East with Mont Agung as background. Photo from wiki by
Ubud is also the place for white water rafting on the stunning Ayung river. My family have done it many times, and say it is fab. Water is highest in January and will be calmer in July. E.g.
http://www.baliraftingtours.
http://www.baliraftingtours.
Then eat at the cliff-top hotel Kupu-Kupu Barong (meaning giant butterfly) where we stayed for three days way back when.
Notice that repeated words mean plural.
North of Ubud are the Jatiluwih rice terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and other rice terraces. Worth taking a one day coach tour up North to see the scenery. Not vital to reach the North coast for an overnight, the beaches have volcanic black sand.
Kings Tombs
Kings' tombs, near Ubud. Photo author, Michael Gunther. Wikipedia article on Ubud.
I was not over-excited by the kings tombs. Nothing like the wonderful monuments in Cambodia.
Monkey Forest
Kings Tombs
Kings' tombs, near Ubud. Photo author, Michael Gunther. Wikipedia article on Ubud.
I was not over-excited by the kings tombs. Nothing like the wonderful monuments in Cambodia.
Monkey Forest
Accommodation
No shortage of options naturally. Mentioned Poppy’s above. It’s also fun staying in homestays and they cost just a few dollars. My family use booking.com though I’m sure AirBnB works, too.
Travel Tips
1 Sunscreen
Keep sunscreen and insect repellent handy. If you have to put them in your checked luggage, get them out when you reach the airport. You don't want to get bitten whilst waiting for the hotel porters to deliver your luggage. Nor to dash off to eat or swim without unpacking and not having the vital protection.
2 You could be told that you can buy sunscreen at local shops, which are a walk away. Meanwhile you want to go to swim or take a tour or have a massage.
3 Check timings.
You may find the massage or tour or concert is booked tomorrow or having a day off.
4 Check availability of gym or pool
Is the pool accessible every day of your stay? It could closed one day a week for maintenance. It could be being re-built (happened to us on a ski weekend in the USA, when I picked a hotel with a pool because I was a non-skier. Or the steep staircase with sheer drop one side for access is without a handrail (happened to me at the start of this year in Siem Reap, Cambodia).
Have a happy trip!
Useful Websites
https://www.balitourismboard.or.id/
http://www.baliraftingtours.
booking.com
https://www.duolingo.com/course/id/en/Learn-Indonesian
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.
No comments:
Post a Comment