Introducing Bali
Bali may be small in size – you can drive around the entire coast in one long day – but its prominence as a destination is huge, and rightfully so. Ask travellers what Bali means to them and you’ll get as many answers as there are flowers on a frangipani tree. Virescent rice terraces, pulse-pounding surf, enchanting temple ceremonies, mesmerising dance performances and ribbons of beaches are just some of the images people cherish.
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Small obviously doesn’t mean limited. The manic whirl of Kuta segues into the luxury of Seminyak. The artistic swirl of Ubud is a counterpoint to misty treks amid the volcanoes. Mellow beach towns like Amed, Lovina and Pemuteran can be found right round the coast and just offshore is the laid-back idyll of Nusa Lembongan.
As you stumble upon the exquisite little offerings left all over the island that materialise as if by magic, you’ll see that the tiny tapestry of colours and textures is a metaphor for Bali itself.
And those are just some of the more obvious qualities. A visit to Bali means that you are in the most visitor-friendly island of Indonesia. There are pleasures of the body, whether a massage on the beach or a hedonistic interlude in a sybaritic spa. Shopping that will put ‘extra bag’ at the top of your list. Food and drink ranging from the freshest local cuisine bursting with the flavours of the markets to food from around the globe, often prepared by chefs and served in restaurants that are world class. From a cold Bintang at sunset to an epic night clubbing in Kuta, your social whirl is limited only by your own fortitude.
Travel Alert: High level terrorism-related warnings have been issued by Western governments concerning travel in Bali. Travellers are advised to check their local consular information and monitor the situation in Bali closely before making travel plans. Check out Safe Travel. Travellers should also be cautious when drinking locally sourced alcohol; see the Health & Safety pages for details.
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Last updated: Mar 5, 2010
Tips & articles
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Billionaire beach cabanas
11 August 2010
The beach cabana has become prime holiday real estate. For the price of the average honeymoon suite, some hotels are...
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Spa aaaah: Bali's best spas and chill-out spots
24 November 2009
Whether it’s a total wind-down for the mind, body and spirit, or simply the desire for some quick-fix serenity, lots...
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Essential Bali
21 July 2009
It’s time to take it easy! A trip to Bali puts you on the most visitor-friendly island of Indonesia. White-sand...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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Visa on Arrival
by turin74 1 reply, last post 06 September 2010
Hi Are there any restrictions on the Visa on Arrival for Indonesia - for example can you fly in to Jakarta and leave from Bali? Thanks…
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Bangka trip from Indo Borneo to Sumatra and Java
by ktsblui 0 replies, last post 06 September 2010
Hello, if anyone is interested in the unique opportunity of traveling by boat u from Brunei down to Bali, we are currently in Brunei,…
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Sumatra or Flores for 8 days in December?
by davidteacher 4 replies, last post 05 September 2010
I have only 8 days (25 Dec-2Jan) flying from KL. I know it will be the rainy season, so wich of these two places will be better? I was…
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Bali
Recommended things to do & see
Our Top Picks For Bali
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1 Ubud
Foodies make a beeline for Ubud’s many cafes and restaurants. Get your bumbu over to Bumbu Bali Restaurant – hands down the best Balinese food on the island
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2 Nusa Lembongan
Surf’s up and the living is easy at this car-free, seaweed producing paradise
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3 Kuta
If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. The legendary Double Six Club continues to reinvent itself
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4 Museum Le Mayeur, Sanur
Belgian artist Adrien Jean Le Mayeur married renowned Legong (classic Balinese dance) dancer Ni Polok when he was 55 and she was 15. His house of antique carvings became a museum
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5 Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, Central Moutains
This picturesque temple, surrounded by lakes and silhouetted against the often misty mountain backdrop, is a true Bali photo cliche
Fast Facts about Bali
- Best way to spot a Bali bogan: him: Bintang t-shirt, her: hair braids
- 1L of petrol: 6000Rp
- Currency: what's the Indonesian Rupiah worth today?
- Average spend: foreign tourists spend an average of US$100 per day in Bali. In comparison, locals in Denpasar spend less than $2 per day
- Visitors per annum: 2 million
- Rubbish tip: Bali produces 150 tons of waste each day as a direct or indirect result of tourism
- Staple dish: rice is revered as a gift of life from God. Anything not served with rice is considered jaja (a snack)
- Percentage of land used for rice production: 20%
Related Groups
Our favourite Bali Blogs (beta)
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A Little Perspective…Lessons from my Broken Computer in Bali
Blog: A Little Adrift - A RTW Travelogue - 29 August 2010
About time I posted an update from Bali! I actually broke my laptop my first day in here- and by first day I mean within hours of landing in Bali after 36 hours flying from US my laptop simply would not turn on – so with some initial tears and “holy crap, I’m screwed” thoughts rolling through my head I was forced to hunt down a local computer repair center recommended by the locals (details at the bottom). Telephone Conversation with my Computer Technicians I’m going to jump right into my ...
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The Weekly Photo: Gili Islands
Blog: Nomadic Matt's Travel Site - 28 August 2010
The Gili Islands in Indonesia [...]
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Velvet moments: travel photo of the week – Canggu, Bali
Blog: velvet escape's blog - 25 August 2010
A gorgeous sunset at Echo Beach, Canggu in Bali. Read the accompanying post: ‘Enchanting sunsets in Bali‘. See other Velvet moments: Millau Viaduct, France Masaai Mara, Kenya Valle de la Luna, Chile Positano, Italy Lang Tengah island, Malaysia Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina The Great Ocean Road, Australia
