Bali - exotic Asia come true....

When I was a child, I dreamed of a place where the people wore bright, colorful clothing and walked the streets with baskets balanced on their heads. I dreamed of rice-terraced mountains sloping gently down to the sea, fringed by palm trees swaying gently in the breeze. I dreamed of snorkeling in clear, vibrant waters with dolphins dancing in the surf. I dreamed of the hypnotic sound of traditional music surrounding dancers entranced by the sound and the rhythm. I dreamed of eating lush unknown fruits and dishes prepared with never-before tasted spices. I was dreaming of Bali.

If you asked me where I thought paradise on earth could be found, I would answer Bali. This island found in the Indonesian archipelago encompasses everything I dream of when I think of "exotic Asia". Having traveled to Bali three times, I am still captivated and entranced by the beauty of this island.

Flights arrive in Denpasar, Bali from all over the world. There are direct flights from Guam with Continental Micronesia, and several carriers have direct flights from Tokyo Narita, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and other Asian cities. You can also come via Jakarta, which is on Java, the next island over from Bali, by either air or ferry.

While there are many beautiful islands in the world, it is the unique culture of Bali that gives it such a captivating air. While most of Indonesia is Muslim, the island of Bali is predominantly Hindu. There are numerous Hindu festivals throughout the year, and you will see the Balinese people going to the temples daily with their sacrifices of fruit, rice and flowers beautifully arranged and balanced on their heads. It is also possible to go to several totally unique ceremonies on Bali if you arrange ahead of time, such as a cremation, tooth-filing ceremony, or birth ceremony.

The many temples are a big attraction, and are usually set in gorgeous locations. The most famous temples are Tanah Lot, Besakih, Ulu Watu, Goa Lawah, and Ulu Danau on Lake Bratan. Tanah Lot is perched on a small rock island in south-west Bali and is only accessible when the tide is out. Besakih is the most important of all the Balinese temples, and is located on the side of Gunung Agung mountain. Ulu Watu, or the sunset temple, is perched high along a cliff . Monkeys reside in the temple, and provide great entertainment. Just beware of your glasses or anything else they can grab and carry off! Goa Lawah, or the bat temple, is found inside a cave that is crawling with bats! Ulu Danau is to me the most scenic of the temples. Located on lake Bratan, part of this temple even floats in the water. Lake Bratan is a volcanic crater lake found in the highlands of Bali, and is really lovely.

Another fascinating look at Balinese culture is provided by the many traditional dances. There are performances of the most popular dances for tourists, especially in the area around Ubud. It is also possible to stumble upon the real thing, as these dances are still very much a part of Balinese culture. The most famous of the dances are the Kecak, Barong and Rangda, Legong, Sanghyang, and Baris. The costumes are spectacular, the women are graceful and lovely, and the gamelin music is hypnotizing. There are also performances of Wayang Kulit, or shadow puppets, which have been popular for centuries.

Many tourists never get beyond the bar scene in Kuta, and though I recommend staying at least one night in the hubbub and noise of Kuta if only for the fantastic shopping,, you will not see real Bali if you don’t travel elsewhere. When staying in Kuta, there are countless hotels and guesthouses ranging in price from a few dollars a night for the bare basics to hotels only the rich and famous can afford. But my hotel of choice is Poppies I. Nestled among verdant gardens and a beautifully designed swimming pool are delightful cottages in the mid-price range. Poppies I (newer and nicer than Poppies II) also has a wonderful restaurant that is packed every night. Poppies I is within easy walking distance of the beach, and there are several other good restaurants nearby. Poppies I is located in a great shopping area, and it is easy to pick up many of the beautiful handicrafts from all over the island. (Poppies - www.poppiesbali.com)
When traveling from place to place, I recommend hiring a dependable driver. Your hotel should be able to direct you to someone trustworthy, although you can hire them on the street as well. Drivers will be more than willing to escort you wherever you wish and are very affordable. (You can probably hire a driver for $50 to $60 a day, and when several people are traveling together, this is very reasonable. ) We would advise our driver what time to meet us the next day, and then tell him where we wanted to go, asking that he take us via the most scenic way. We found many lovely and little known tourist spots this way, and often were taken to wonderful restaurants. Our driver even invited us into his home to enjoy a traditional Balinese meal. When we returned to Bali the next time, he met us at the airport and was our driver for our entire trip.

An increasingly popular place to stay is Ubud, in the center of the island. While there are no beaches here, the area is surrounded by some of the loveliest rice terraces on earth. Ubud is famous as a cultural arts center. There are many great hotels in the area, and most are centered around verdant gardens. We often stay at Ubud Inn, which is found on Monkey Forest Road. It is within easy walking distance of the Monkey Forest, plus there are fantastic shops and restaurants in the area. There are also many inviting places to stay in the more secluded outskirts of town. (Ubud Inn / Monkey Forest Road / Ubud, Bali Tel: 0361 975071 - 96257)

Candidasa is another up and coming destination on Bali. This is a great spot to relax and enjoy the sea. Candidasa is not yet a tourist hub like Kuta or even Ubud, so the pace is much gentler. Our hotel of choice is Kuba Bali Bungalows. Charming cottages are scattered up the side of a mountain overlooking the sea, with gardens and gurgling streams running throughout. The view from the swimming pool at the top is so serene that you never want to leave. There are some other nice places here I am told, but I love this hotel so much that I never try the others. ( Kuba Bali Bungalows - Tel: 0361 235531)

If you want to cool off, travel to the Lake Bratan area. There are several good, inexpensive places to stay here, so take a look around before deciding on one particular place. There are many recreational opportunities at the lake from speedboats to parasailing. One of my favorite memories of Bali is parasailing here on Christmas Day for the whopping price of $6!

If you want to see dolphins, the best place to go is Lovina, where they also have great snorkeling and diving. Every morning, small speed boats pull away from shore before sunrise and travel out a few miles from shore to wait for the dolphins. The dolphins come here to feed and play in the water, and they will surround you and delight you with their escapades. I have never stayed in Lovina, but I saw many great hotels and guest houses that were very appealing.

These are just a few of the many wonderful places you can stay on Bali. Many tourists love Nusa Dua, and some of the most spectacular (and expensive) hotels in the world are found here. There are other places just waiting for you to discover scattered around the island, and far too many for me to name here. Pick up a good guide book (I recommend Lonely Planet even if you don’t want to do the back packer thing), and plan your own exciting itinerary.

Since Bali is a tourist hot spot for people from all over the world, you can find just about any type of food that you desire here. Seafood is delicious and inexpensive, and the Indonesian food is marvelous. I highly recommend trying satay. It consists of pieces of cooked, skewered meat coated in a savory peanut sauce.
Also make sure you try some of the luscious tropical fruits, many found only in this part of the world. They are a wonderful breakfast coupled with the delectable Indonesian yogurt.

It is hard for even the most avid anti-shopper to not find something to buy on Bali. There are wonderful wood carvings, leather goods, batik material and clothing, gold and silver jewelry, etc., to be purchased, and I always go home with at least one suitcase full of treasures. People who see the things in my home from Bali are always eager to know where I got them.

There are a few things to watch out for in Bali. Hawkers will follow you mercilessly soliciting customers for everything from massages to hair corn-rowing and will try to sell you all manner of Balinese craftwork. The best way to avoid this harassment is to simply ignore them. Even if you frankly tell them, "No thank you!", they will follow you begging you to buy from them. You should also be wary of pick-pockets, although more serious crime is not common.

Bali offers something for everyone, from great water recreation to shopping to relaxing by a pool or enjoying an evening of music and dance. The people are friendly, the culture is infectious, and the island will charm you beyond your wildest dreams. Come to Bali, and see your dreams of exotic Asia become a reality!

Guam Girl