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- Arundhathi |
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Quite often, when we yearn for an escapade to a destination full of greenery and beaches, our primary choice would be ‘God’s own country’, Kerala. But some time back a friend suggested ‘The Island of Gods’, Bali, one of over 17,000
beautiful islands in the Indonesian archipelago.
From the moment we landed at Ngurah Rai International Airport till the end of our stay in Bali, we were constantly surprised by the Balinese people, who are very religious and follow many rituals throughout the day. At every public place, Balinese houses, restaurants, souvenir stalls and even at the airport check-in desks, one finds tiny offerings of
flowers, rice and salt in little bamboo leaf trays, locally referred to as Sesajen. Though a part of Indonesia is predominantly Muslim, in Bali, 90 per cent of population follows Hindu religion and culture.
Ubud, the cultural centre of Bali, at 600 metres above sea level, was cooler and quieter than the urbanised parts of Bali. Getting around was easy as it just spreads over 5 kms and can be covered on feet. |
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Soaked in
Balinese culture, the town and nearby villages are full of artists, workshops,
galleries and eateries. Visitors are drawn by the rich culture of Bali and indulge in activities like shopping at the Ubud Market for batik shirts, handicrafts etc. Ubud is also the centre of the most beautiful dance of the region, the Legong Dance. The other two being Barong and Kekak dances.
Ubud’s monkey forest is quite famous among tourists and at the Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal (Temple of the Dead) performers wearing fearsome lion-like masks perform the barong or ‘lion dance’, a ritual dance depicting the fight between good and evil.
The island of Bali has about 20,000 temples and amongst these, the two extremely popular ones are the Uluwatu temple and Tanah Lot temple.
The Uluwatu temple built in the 11th century is perched on a steep cliff, 70 metres above the roaring ocean waves. A |
| must see here is the Kecak, which is a stage drama of a chorus based on the Ramayana, an ancient Indian epic. Beware of the monkeys that dwell here, as they tend to attack people carrying food and are experts in stealing possessions like glasses, small cameras and even handbags. |
The Tanah Lot temple built in the 15th century, stands on a huge rock, and at high tide, water surrounds the temple. Besides these, the other two significant temples are the Tirta Empul dating back to 960 AD and visited by the locals to bathe and purify themselves and the mother temple of the Bali Hindus, the Besakih temple, located on the southern slopes of Mount Agung, Bali’s highest peak. Respectful dressing is required in all Balinese temples and one must wear a sarong and sash that can be obtained at the entrance to the temple for a nominal fee.
After Ubud, we arrived at Sanur, where the white sandy beach is sheltered by a reef. Despite the abundance of restaurants and hotels, it is quieter and more relaxed. For the sporty, a wide range of water sports are available. Nusa Dua, a wellknown enclave of expensive hotels is popular for its luxurious 5-star resorts, seafood grilling restaurants on the beach and is located 40km from Denpasar, the provincial capital of Bali.
A bustling city, Denpasar, is the administrative centre and transport hub of the island. Denpasar means ‘by the market’ and is Bali’s only ‘real’ city. |
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A popular stop for youngsters and surfers is Kuta, due to its long sandy beach that is free from dangerous rocks. It has hoards of hawkers that comb the streets, making it by far the most developed area in Bali. If you have had your fill of Kuta’s frenetic
energy, consider moving up the coast to the less manic surrounds of Legian or stylish Seminyak with its designer bars and legendary clubbing scene. The further north you go from central Kuta, the less built-up and more exclusive the areas become. |
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The Bali Monument, located at the civic centre of Bali, from a distance, appears like a Thai Temple. Horizontally, the monument structure is a symmetrical square and adheres to the Tri Mandala, which is a concept of dividing the space of a compound into three parts. It consists of Utama Mandala, the main building located at the centre, the Madia Mandala, which is the inner yard surrounding the main
building, bordered by a wall fence with four split gates in each direction, and Nista Mandala, which is the outer yard surrounding the monument with a park with trees of medicinal, ritual, and endangered species in abundance.
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| The Sukawati Market is a one-stop shopping paradise offering garments, souvenirs, paintings, basketry, at a comparatively cheaper price. One should connect with common people and observe the locals go about the art of negotiation. |
Bali is also described ‘The healing island’, not only because it has numerous
beauty salons and spas but also because of the unique energy of the island that is in harmony with Mother Nature, the smiling faces of the Balinese people immersed in spirituality, and the splendid beaches.
The climate in Bali is always warm, humid and tropical, remaining around 30-35°C (85-95°F) all year round. April-October is the dry season and November-March is the rainy season. During the off season, Bali can be surprisingly quiet and good discounts on accommodation are available. |
HOW TO GET THERE
By Air: From India, you can take
a direct flight to Singapore and from there you can fly to Ngurah Rai
Airport in Bali.
By Sea: You can reach Bali by sea
from nearby places like Singapore,
Java, Sumatra etc. |
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