Discovering Bali, exploring its landscapes, towns, white & black beaches, rice fields, volcanoes, temples, and culture is an incredible opportunity which everyone should be afforded a chance to experience. Bali has so much to offer to its visitors, making it a popular vacation destination in Asia. Let’s take a look at some of the fine things that can be found on Bali’s shores, towns, and wilderness.
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1. The Local Culture
Bali has a wonderful, artistic people with a rich heritage of family values. Largely rooted in the Hindu Dharma tradition, the Balinese are exceptional artists, musicians and chefs. Their art, both visual and musical, has many intriguing qualities unique to the small island, such as Bali’s distinctive architecture, blending common Hindu themes with an indigenous flair, possibly originating from early Polynesian influences. World renown for their incredible displays of theater, Bali has been the source of many incredible dancers and dramatic performances.
2. Beaches
One of Bali’s most incredible offerings are its long beaches, picturesque beaches. With no shortage of ocean front, in Bali one is never far from a swim. These are a few of the best spots to take a dip or get a tan.
Sanur Beach is on the western side of the island – it is near a village from which it derives its name. Sanur Beach is a beautiful, golden sand beach with very little ocean current, making it an ideal spot for children or those not too confident in their swimming skills to take a dip.
Nusa Dua beach is a highly popular swim spot, situated near a hotel complex, with long stands of gorgeous sandy beach front perfect for relaxing, and no ocean currents to speak of make this an ideal spot to go for a casual dip.
Padang-Padang beach is world famous, often drawing large crowds due to its depiction in “Eat, Pray, Love.” The beach itself is a lovely small sandy bay, situated near the incredible Ulu Watu temple. A great spot for swimming or snorkeling, Padang-Padang offers plenty of opportunity for relaxation and adventure.
3. Surf Spots
Dreamland Beach is a fantastic place to catch some incredible waves. One of the most beautiful pieces of coastline on the entire island, Dreamland Beach is home to some of the most desirable surf breaks anywhere in Bali.
Balangan Beach, a spectacular white sandy beach nestled into a neat little bay, is well known for its high waves and strong currents. While potentially challenging, Balangan is sure to offer some rewarding rides for anyone who catches its waves.
Geger Beach is a great spot for a swim when the surf is low. However, when the tide is just right, Geger produces some awesome breaks which are capable of providing fantastic rides.
4. Rice Fields
While Bali is coated with many long acres of beautiful rice fields, there is nothing in the world of agriculture quite as visually striking as a terraced rice field. These fields, naturally following the terrace of hills, provide an incredible transformation over the landscape, which is exciting to look at and efficient for the work of the farmers. This brilliant and beautiful innovation provides visitors with an amazing photographic opportunity.
In central Bali, in a gorge north of Tegallalang village, are some of the most incredible terraced rice fields ever constructed. These are a popular subject of photography, and have become world renown for their beauty.
Other areas of Bali also provide the incredible spectacle of terraced rice fields, such as Ubud, Jatiluwih, and Pupuan.
5. Temples
The architecture seen on Bali is truly remarkable, an inimitable style not to be found anywhere else in the world. Occasionally referred to as the “Island of a Thousand Temples,” there is definitely no shortage of incredible architecture on display for such a small island. In eastern Bali, Pura Besakih, “The Mother Temple” sits some 3,000 feet up the incredible Gunung Agung volcano. Composed of 23 separate temples, Pura Besakih is host to some of the most incredible accomplishments of architecture ever realized, a truly stunning work of art, science and engineering. The oldest parts of the temple date back to the 10th century – making this truly a living piece of history.
While the incredible display of Pura Besakih may be the penultimate Bali temple experience, there is no shortage of other remarkable temples worth a visit, such as Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, an incredible construction which is built to provide the illusion of the temple floating on the lake it calls home.
6. Volcanoes
Bali is home to four volcanoes. The largest volcano on the island, Gunung Agung is notable for being an incredible natural spectacle as well as being the home of the Pura Besakih temple. It is still an active volcano, having erupted last in 1963-1964.
Mount Batur is a popular destination for tourists, because of the relatively easy hike to the summit of the central crater. It is also active, with a history of eruptions recorded since the 1800s, it erupted last in 1968.
Mount Merbuk and Bratan are the two no less notable but somewhat smaller volcanoes on Bali. They remain active as well and provide plenty of intriguing vistas for exploration and photography.