BALI TOURIST AREAS AND SIGHTS

When it comes to tropical getaways, Bali is definitely a prime destination. Brimming with thousands of temples, sparkling beaches, and endless shopping experiences, the island has always been the perfect playground for paradise-seekers. And when the night closes in, watch the dazzling sunset as rolling waves come crashing onto shore. Here, on the island of the Gods, infinite pleasures await at every turn.

Nusa Dua Beach

A dreamland of prime luxury hotels amids white sand beaches lined with coconut palms, some of which have private beache. Just to the north on Benoa beach, watch Bali's parasailers while enjoying the mild ocean breeze. This area is a swimmers haven as the waters, are tranquil and clean.
Nusa Dua Beaches although good for some watersports such as :
Surfing: The southern coast of the Bukit, just a few kilometres from Nusa Dua, is a surfer's paradise. These reef breaks are best off-season - November to April. Fast, exciting, and dangerous.
Diving: Good sites for beginners or refresher dives. Take a boat a few hundred meters, and the majority of marine life can be seen around 8 - 10m. Visibility, generally 8 - 12m
Other Water Sports: Jet Skiing, Fishing, Scuba Diving and Snorkeling are all available at most resorts within Nusa Dua, and just ten minutes drive from Nusa Dua, at Tanjung Benoa, can be found many water sports companies offering parasailing, windsurfing, water-skiing snorkeling and diving.

Sanur Beach
Sanur beach is easily reachable from Denpasar, about a 5 to 10 minute drive. Here the water is calm due to a fringing reef, which provides anther diversion for snorkellers and swimmers. A stone's throw away from Sanur's golden mile of beachside hotels lies a string of ancient temples. Many hotels have expansive gardens that face the ocean in a picturesque unbroken seaside promenade. Sanur is an excellent site to watch the sun rises, as we jog along the white sandy beach. Nightlife in Sanur is pretty relaxed. It starts and finishes earlier than in Kuta. Most restaurants fill up early in the evening and apart from a few bars and the disco, generally wind up around midnight.

Kuta Beach
The popular beach in Bali - a golden shore pounded by surfable waves. Attracts foreign and local water sport enthusiasts and sun worshipers. Local vendors hum with activity, while solitude seekers relax in uncrowded parts of the beach and provide a relaxing massage for a reasonable fee.Kuta faces the West, offering beautiful sunsets.
Beside watching sunsets and surf, the other things that you may see or do here are:
Shopping: There are many souvenir shops along Kuta that offering you many kind of Balinese souvenir, starting from clothes, paintings, handicrafts, wooden crafts, etc.
Bali Dance: Watching performances of Balinese music and dance in Kuta, staged specially for tourists and anywhere else in Bali and some of them are staged nightly.
Dining Guide: There are various foreign and local restaurants that offering international and local foods. These restaurants are available along Kuta. If you're looking by night, various foreign and locally restaurant, clubs, pubs and bars start to fire up.

Lovina Beach
A quiet budget resort on the north coast. Grapes are grown on trellises here and the sea is usually calm. Outriggers can be hired to visit the offshore island. Tranquility, incredible under water world and popular attraction is the dolphin watching. A small traditional boat called, jukung, may be hired from the villagers in the morning to bring us off shore to meet these smart and cute creatures. According to the news, theres about 500 - 1000 dolphins here in Lovina Beach

Jimbaran Beach
Gentle tides, dramatic sunsets, fine seafood restaurants. Located just at the south of Ngurah Rai International Airport, the beach is cluttered with hotels from inexpensive homestays to five stars hotels. It is widely known for the fresh seafood kiosks that litter the beach. No watersports available on the beach although some may be arranged with the hotels who provide equipment and boats for snorkeling trips and sea canoe excursions.

Tuban
Near the airport, this beach resort features a tranquil atmosphere. A main attraction is Waterbom Park, a complex of water slides.

Candi Dasa
In eastern Bali, this newly developed area rings life to a former small village. A quiet, laid-back atmosphere gives quick access to a number of sights. It was a calm small fishing village, but since five years ago, it built with a dozen of losmen (house to stay), hotels and restaurants, and many travelers prefer Candidasa, calmer than Kuta, cheaper than Sanur, and the best place to stay and to explore the oriental part of Bali. It is especially popular among the submarines but the main problem is the beach has erosion as quickly as the new hotels were built.

Ubud
Once a sleepy village, Ubud is a mecca for seekers of the "real" Bali. Located in the cool mountains, just one hour's drive north of the airport and the resorts of southern Bali, this traditional country town is the home of the Balinese Royal family. See the full range of Balinese handicrafts, and watch traditional Balinese dances. Walk through deep valleys and rice paddies among the birds and ducks.


Denpasar
Capital of Bali, although the modern centre of government departments, international banks, and many other offices, it still retains its unique Balinese personality. This sprawling town has an interesting museum, shops and art galleries.

Kintamani
Bali's own "drive-in" volcano, with spectacular views of misty lake Batur nestling below. Tour to Kintamani is a very impressive experience where Kintamani Area have very beautiful panorama located in plateau and also encircled by mountain atmosphere with the windblast from Mount Batur. Carpet of Batur Lake seen far below and also there are local resident house beside of Batur Lake. Beside of that, Mount Batur which to date still be active growing its beautiful for Kintamani Area.


Balinese Temples and Other Sights:

The pura or temple is the center of Balinese worship, ritual and devotion, so be respectful whenever you enter. It is appropriate to put a bright yellow sash around the waist, and for men to wear either long pants or a sarong. Be prepared to make a nominal contribution toward the temple upkeep. For a fee, English-speaking native guides will be glad to give you a tour of the temple grounds.

Besakih
Besakih is the biggest and holiest of all the Balinese temples, known as the "mother temple" or greatest of all Balinese sanctuaries, this complex consists of 22 separate structures and is perched high on the slopes of Mt. Agung. The temples were build between the 14th and 17th centuries. Prominently featured are the three seats in the lotus throne, in which shrines are dedicated to Brahma (right), Siwa (center) and Wisnu (left).

Gua Lawah (Bat Cave)
A state temple of Klungkung in eastern Bali. Legend has it that when Klungkung was ruled from Kusamba, a prince of Mengwi sought protection here.

Gua Gajah (Elephant Cave)
Located two kilometers east of Teges near Ubud, this complex overlooks the Petanu River and consists of a Siwaitic rock-cut cave, a bathing place, a monk's chamber, a number o uddhist rock-cut stupas and statues, and several foundations. Dating from the 11th century, the temple features statues of Ganesa and Hariti and a sacred bathing pool.

Pusering Jagat
This temple in Pejeng contains several interesting Hindu antiquities dating from the 14th century, which are now placed in shrines. Reliefs represent a story from the Mahaharata called the "churning of the ocean" in which gods and demons search for the elixir of life.

Sangeh Monkey Temple (Pura Bukit Sari)
Said to have been built in the 17th century, there is a statue here of Garuda. The temple is surrounded by tall nutmeg tree as high as 40m. The monkeys of the forest are believed to be sacred and indeed will approach anyone paying respects at the temple. Many monkeys roam the surrounding forest. But visitors should be aware that these monkeys are attracted to shiny objects, so cameras and jeweler should be left behind or kept well hidden under clothes or in a bag when exploring Sangeh Bali.

Taman Ayun
Located in Mengwi, the temple consists of a forecourt, a central court and spacious inner court. After a tall stone gateway, the inner court has rows of shines and carved stone pedestals. Along the basement of the pavilions are relief series on Arjuna.

Tanah Lot
Tanah Lot is located about 12 kilometers from Tabanan City and 20 kilometers from Denpasar. Sunset is the favorite time to visit this isolated temple on the west coast. Its distinctive silhouette is a photographer's dream and nightly they crowd the coastline awaiting the spectacle. Perhaps the answer is to arrive in the daytime to see the temple-avoiding the crowds and to leave long after sunset.

Tirta Empul
"The Sacred Spring". Pura Tirta Empul is the temple of Tampak Siring. The temple and its two bathing spots have been used by the Balinese for over a thousand years for good health and prosperity; as the spring water really does have the power to cure. Regular purification ceremonies also take place here.

Uluwatu
Pura Uluwatu is located on the cliff top close to the famous surf break on the SW of the Bukit peninsula, with a breathtaking view of the sea. The carving which decorate the temple are very well preserved. It was built in the 11th century. Uluwatu Beach is known for its surf and, in nearby hostelries, its full moon rage parties. Being a popular surfing spot for the very experienced, Uluwatu offers a wonderful vantage point to view a spectacular sunset.

Ulun Danu Batur
This is imposing complex of nine temples.

Ulun Danu Bratan
This highland destination is located just outside the small town of Bedugul. A beautiful temple is sited on the shores of Lake Bedugul and casts a neat reflection is its still waters. The temple lakes on an ephemeral at dawn.