A Few Things You Should Bring to Bali

by Barrie | February 18th, 2011   Tweet

Bali is a crazy strange place for first-time arrivals and besides being overwhelming [that includes starting at the airport] it is a full-on experience. For those of us who have years under-our-belts it’s a bit of the ‘ol ho-hum usual. There are several things new travellers to Bali could bring with them that would be helpful during their stay on the island.

Of course good common sense and sometimes logic helps but of course it is a matter of letting-go and stop ‘thinking western’ and expecting everything to be just like home because it just isn’t. If you can let yourself go and immerse yourself into the fascinating culture then an awesome experience awaits you. However, it is the material things that help when you visit Bali (besides money!].

First Aid Kit: Without a doubt the first thing you should throw into your suitcase or backpack, and, make sure it is up-to-date. Suggested medications to include in your first aid kit are analgesics (Tylenol, ASA, codeine), antimalarials (discuss with medical professional), antidiarrheal (Imodium, Pepto-Bismol); antibiotic such as Cipro, Zithromax), rehydration salts (Gastrolyte), antihistamine (Benadryl), sunscreen and the usual prescription and non-prescription medications used regularly. Others to be included in your kit should bandaids, tensor bandage, tweezers, Swiss Army knife, insect repellent. Or, if you don’t want to make up your own then simply buy one from any Red Cross store.

Guidebook and Balinese / Indonesian Phrase Book: There is a literal plethora of these in any bookshop in the city where you live. It’s best to purchase these at home as they can be expensive in Indonesia. Before you leave for Bali, browse through the guidebook and obtain some idea of the paces you want to visit. Learn from the phrasebook even if it’s only the usual greetings etc. A few words of the local lingo will unlock many social encounters.

As far as guidebooks are concerned, I prefer using Rough Guides because they are very nuts & bolts oriented, listing guest houses, places to eat, festivals and good all round information.

International Driving Licence: It is very true that your mode of transportation is one of the main factors that will affect your trip to Bali. So, if you fancy taking on the crazed road skills of the local drivers and the terrain then having an International Driving Licence will allow you to rent cars and motorbikes. Make sure to obtain insurance when you rent the mode of transport you choose.

Laptop or Notebook: I wouldn’t leave home without mine! Besides being handy for detailing the events of the day, they are also a great for downloading all your images from your digital camera. Most internet cafes on the tourist strip accommodate for laptop use. The size is up to you but a 15” like the one I use is excellent. They are also for recording all the special people you meet and names of cool places you encounter.

Ear plugs: These are easily purchased at any chemist or camping store. The reason I have added earplugs to this list is because they are useful if you wind up in a hotel on a busy street. Also, most of the 5 star hotels have ‘theme nights’ and these can be quite rowdy through until the early hours.

A Few Things to Do in Ubud

by Barrie | February 17th, 2011   Tweet

Ubud is peaceful. It is a place where you could spend your entire holiday in Bali and it is also a great place to base yourself for exploring the rest of the island. There is so much of interest on offer in Ubud and the surrounding areas. Being a relatively tranquil place, it is a haven for tourists, lovers of art and a delightful area to spend a whole day. The centre of town is Jalan Raya Ubud and it is along this stretch of road where you can find some fabulous restaurants and warungs, and, great places to shop.

One of my favourite places in the surrounding area is the village of Petulu. Set in one of the most scenic areas on the island and directly north-east of Ubud, the village of Petulu is famed for its artists, dancers and carvers of wood and stone. No one really knows why the Herons, who first began roosting there in 1966, chose Petulu as their nesting site. Ask any of the elders in the village and they will tell you that the birds are in fact reincarnations of the tens of thousands of men and women who died during the civil unrest throughout Bali in 1966.

There are so many places to visit and here are a few things you could do:

1. Take time to check out a few of the great museums – Neka, ARMA, Seniwati – and learn about traditional Balinese art.

2. Visit the Ubud Monkey Forest but be aware that the monkeys are not as friendly as their relatives in the Sangeh Monkey Forest.

3. Take a dawn rice paddy hike along one of the many routes on the outskirts of town. If you like cycling then take one of the many tours available in the area.

4. Sample the fine food available in places such as Casa Luna, Ary’s Warung and Murni’s Warung. My favourite is Café Wayan!

5. Indulge in adventure white water rafting with one of the many reputable companies such as SOBEK in Sayan.

6. Watch an evening dance performance at the Ubud Palace on Jl. Raya Ubud.

7. A visit to Pasar Ubud traditional market is a must-see and an ideal place to find that cool souvenir that might have eluded you.

8. Do visit Museum Blanco. This magical place will astound your cultural senses.

9. Visit one of the many temples in the area of Ubud.

10. Take a walk to Nyuhkuning and see some of the most beautiful rice terraces on the island.

Exploring the Bukit Peninsula – South Bali

by Barrie | February 12th, 2011   Tweet

One might think that there isn’t really that much to see to the south of the tourist area on the Bukit Peninsula except for the odd temple and some brilliant surfing locations. But, there is a lot to see and experience.

These days, unfortunately, the Bukit Peninsula is pounded by tourist buses daily visiting the sacred temple of Pura Luhur Uluwatu on the western tip of the Bukit and on the east side, the upmarket Nusa Dua.

Then there is Jimbaran Bay and the surfing beaches such as Dreamland to the north. Yes, you could definitely say that the Bukit is not off the beaten track. But it is to a certain degree. Geologically being a limestone peninsula the Bukit Peninsula is pervious to the forces of Mother Nature.

Subsequently you will find numerous sea caves on the coastal area and inland, dotted around the peninsula. A lot of these caves are prehistoric are considered sacred such as Gua Selonding. There is one drawback though. A lot of these caves can only be reached on motorbike along rough tracks or by walking to them.

Quite a few of these caves are located within temple sites or shrined areas. Here are a few for you to check out. On the road to Uluwatu just before you arrive at the village of Simpangan you will find on your left-hand side you will find the turn-off to Pura Gua Gong and Pura Kayu Sijih. Both worth visiting and exploring.

Another good one to visit is Gua Peteng. Getting there is by a small track. When you arrive at the turn-off to Kutuh you will notice the track on your left-hand side. The cave is located not far from Cengeling. These are only a couple and it is well worth asking the locals about any caves in the area when you stop at a warung for refreshments.

If you like to visit out-of-the-way and unusual temples then visit the sea temples dotted around the coastline of the peninsula. Many are extremely old and rarely visited making it a treat to explore them. Start your journey from Pura Luhur Uluwatu and head to Pecatu. Here you will find Pura Pererepan. Further along the road heading in an easterly direction and before you arrive at the village of Bakung there is a turn-off which will take you down to the coast and the delightful Pura Masuka.

Going back to the main road and heading to the village of Kutuh, there is a secondary road that will lead you down to the coast again and to Pura Batu Pageh. From here, instead of going back to the main road, continue in an easterly direction along the coast and you will come across the temples of Pura Karang Bona and Pura Geger at Cape Lebang. The great thing about this secondary road is that it connects to a main road taking you directly to Nusa Dua near the Grand Hyatt Bali.

Exploring the Markets of Kuta and Denpasar in Bali

by Barrie | February 15th, 2011   Tweet

Bali is an incredible place for tourists with so much to see and, experience. The problem for a majority of tourists is time being on a restricted holiday plan. However, we all love shopping [although I am not a great lover of it] and the areas of Kuta and Denpasar have a fabulous experience for those wishing to experience Balinese culture.

I am talking about markets. Not just your usual tourist markets, although I have included those, but traditional markets as well. I think it’s the buzz of the colour and culture and the opportunity to bargain for your purchase that is an exciting experience; as well as satisfying.

I have this penchant wherever I travel in the archipelago of Indonesia and that is for traditional markets. It gives me a buzz just walking around checking out the goings-on and the manner tourists handle bargaining and the ilk. There are numerous markets in Bali; some good and some that are totally gross.
The general tourist markets are interesting but in my opinion, the traditional markets are the best. You will find these in just about every village and town on the island. However, if you are just searching for the cool T-shirt, weird object d’art or a souvenir as a gift for a friend, then most of the stuff you see on the street stalls you will inevitably find in the markets.

Most of the markets you visit will be so rich and alive with colour and activity as well as having delicious traditional Balinese food for sale. A good idea is to get to the market as early as possible, stroll around and have breakfast. One hint – get there early in the morning because the later the morning becomes, the hotter and busier it is.

Kuta Art Market: Located in Tuban behind the Matahari Square complex and opposite the Stadium Café, the Kuta Art Market is one of the big drawcards for tourists visiting Bali. At times this place can be overwhelming with its cacophony of narrow alleys crammed with various ‘tourist’ fare.

The market is a great place to visit but best done in the morning. If it all gets too much for you then simply walk to the back of the markets to the beach which backs onto it. Also, here you will find kaki lima selling some delicious traditional Balinese foods.

Wake Bali Art Market: Located on Jalan Kartika Plaza in Tuban the relatively new Wake Bali Art Market is doing a good trade. Unlike the pushy and somewhat uncomfortable markets around the area, the Wake Bali Art Market offers a relaxed atmosphere in which to shop at your leisure. Their choice of Balinese handicrafts is quite good and reasonably priced compared with its counterparts in other places on the tourist strip. The Wake Bali Art Market is a great place to shop for those special gifts or if you desire is to decorate your home with that Balinese touch, this is the place to go.

Pasar Badung: This is the largest market in Bali and acts as a sort of clearing house for many island goods. Sarong vendors in Padangbai may buy their wares at Pasar Badung. Fruit and vegetable producers from around Bali may bring their goods to market at Pasar Badung, so the market is humming with activity 24/7.

Around the ground floor areas of Pasar Badung, especially outside the stairwells, one can observe older Balinese ladies preparing and selling traditional Balinese snack foods, complete with ground chilli’s, vegetables and an array of other items. You may not know exactly what you’re eating but it could be a wonderful experience and one that will not break the bank.

Pasar Kumbasari: Another market that is also worth a visit is Pasar Kumbasari. This 4-storey traditional art-market is located across the Badung River from Pasar Badung. Pasar Kumbasari is purely an art market, stocking sarongs, paintings, textiles, woodcarvings and other souvenir items. You can walk from one market to the other in 2 minutes.

Other markets in Denpasar:

Pasar Burung: This is a smaller scale open-air market located on Jl. Veteran, north on Alun-alun Puputan. This market does not sell food or sarongs, but specializes in live animals, particularly live birds. No doubt the conditions of the market are not up to western standards, but one has to put this kind of thing aside for the moment in order to check out the place. Tropical birds of all kinds can be found there.

Pasar Malam: Located next to a busy street, these places look like a disaster area during the day, a combination or bare cement, corrugated iron roofs, piles of garbage and parked food carts, this is a great market to visit. Things found at a pasar malam will be all things goreng (fried). Giant wok1 1 meter in diameter are set up on jet engine-like burners, each containing about a gallon or 2 of vegetable oil.

Locals have figured out by now that this is the easiest way to knock out food fast, away from a proper kitchen. Ayam goreng (fried chicken), served with rice and lalapan (raw cabbage, green beans, mint leaves and sliced cucumber, with a portion of hot sambal) is a good choice. No doubt there will be a soto ayam (chicken soup) seller and of course a corner stall cranking out pisang goreng (fried bananas).

Other sources of tourist fare can be found at the numerous factory outlets located in the Kuta area and Denpasar. Although all goods for sale are fixed price, most of what you can purchase is of good quality and reasonably priced.

Balinese markets are not as scary as they look and you can have a good time checking them out.

Taman Kupu Kupu – Bali Butterfly Park

by Barrie | February 14th, 2011   Tweet

One of the delightful must-see and do experiences in Bali is a visit to where butterflies dance around you. Being just eight degrees below the Equator, Bali has the type of climate that is pleasing and relatively mild although warm. It is an island that has a diverse range of animal species.

One that I have always found delightful is butterflies. You will find them fluttering around the gardens in your hotel but it is when you get out of the polluted tourist areas that you are able to view these colourful creatures in their natural habitat. Of course the most spectacular in colour of these butterflies you will predominately find in the jungle areas of Bali such as the Bali Barat National Park.

However, there is no need for you to go trekking through the jungle to view these beautiful creatures. Located 7kms north of the town of Tabanan, at Wanasari, on the road to Penebel is the Bali Butterfly Park (Taman Kupu Kupu) – kupu kupu is Indonesian for butterflies. It will take about an hour to get there by vehicle. The park is a fabulous place for families and educational for children.

After passing through a couple of doors and a set of hanging chains, you are inside the net-covered garden. From the very start you will be enchanted by the array of thousands of brightly coloured butterflies all around you; hovering in curiosity as you wander through. I particularly liked the large yellow and black butterflies fluttering around. The park is aesthetically mesmerising. Photography is allowed.

The Bali Butterfly Park covers 3,500m sq, making it the largest park of its kind in South-East Asia and the park provides an environment for butterfly preservation and study.

Opening hours:
Daily 8am-5pm

Bali Butterfly Park
Jalan Batukaru,
Sandan Wanasari
Tabanan 80351
Tel: (0361) 814282 (0361) 814283
Fax: (0361) 814281

Further Reading: Butterflies of Bali by Victor Mason

Try Paragliding When You Are in Bali

by Barrie | February 11th, 2011   Tweet

As mentioned in the previous article, there are a lot of offbeat, crazy and adventurous things to do on the idyllic island of the Gods. Paragliding is one buzz you really cannot miss the opportunity of experiencing.

I have done it a couple of times in New Zealand, you can take my word for it when I tell you gliding through the air on wind currents whilst delighting in the stunning views from ‘up there’ is one heck of a thrill. It is totally different to skydiving where the thrill is in the first rush when you jump from the plane.

A paraglider is one simple wing in every sense of the word and it is designed as such that the same aerodynamic principles as a conventional aircraft are used. By using the upward flowing air streams you will find just how easy it is to attain substantial heights and travel great distances. If you desire for adventure is in the skies and you want to soar like the birds then there is a great company in Bali that can fulfil your lust for thrills. Exofly has been operating in Bali for the last 14 years and has an excellent reputation.

If you have never imbibed in paragliding before and are a tad concerned then Exofly will ease those worries. As their website explains ‘Experience is not necessary as our highly professional and well experienced instructors can take you on a tandem flight leaving you free to enjoy the captivating scenery of coral reefs and green lagoon waters below.’

Exofly is open from April 15th through until November 30th.

Check out their website for further info – http://www.exofly.com/

Other contact info:

Technical Director/Flight Instructor:
Phone: (intl code +62) 811393919
Fax: (intl code + 62) 361-730811

Training Center:
Timbis Beach Training Facility
Timbis Beach, Bali

Booking Inquiries:
Tel: (intl code + 62) 811393919

Photo Credit: airsports.co.uk

Protected Mangrove Forests to be Robbed of Two Hectares

by Barrie | February 14th, 2011   Tweet

One attraction tourists to Bali seldom visit is the Mangrove Information Centre in Sanur located on Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai at Suwung Kauh. It’s an amazing place with helpful staff ever-willing to answer all your questions and, in fact, the information centre is an education in itself on the ecology and management of Mangroves.

There are two trails to choose from – a short route of about one hour, and the other, a longer route of nearly two hours. If you chose the latter it will give you the opportunity to see as much of the mangrove swamps as possible.

The wooden pathway on a connecting bridge system six feet above the ground affords spectacular views of the mangroves and its wildlife as you walk towards the open sea. When you eventually reach the sea, the spectacular view of Benoa Port on one side and Tanjung Benoa on the other is a rewarding sight.

This place is truly stunning at sunrise and at dusk. What has annoyed me is an article I read in the Bali Discovery concerning these protected mangroves. It seems that the increase in tourism has inspired the Balinese Government to extend a toll way connecting Nusa Dua and Benoa. This will require the sacrifice of two hectares of the protected mangrove forests. According to the article the two hectares are needed to construct access ramps at the Ngurah Rai International Airport, Tuban and Nusa Dua.

So, with the ever increasing numbers of tourists visiting Bali, does this mean that sacred areas are under threat?