Things to do in Denpasar
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Pasar Burung
Elsewhere in Denpasar, a short distance north on Jl Veteran, Pasar Burung is a bird market with hundreds of caged birds and small animals for sale, including guinea pigs, rabbits and monkeys. There are also gaudy birdcages. An impromptu dog market also operates directly opposite the bird market. While you're here, have a look at the elaborate Pura Sutriya, just east of the market.
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Pasar Malam Kereneng
You can eat very well in Denpasar. Most places cater to locals and Indonesian visitors, so they offer tasty authentic food at good prices. At the Pasar Malam Kereneng dozens of vendors dish up food till dawn.
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Museum Negeri Propinsi Bali
Think of this as the British Museum or the Smithsonian of Balinese culture. It's all here although, unlike those world-class institutions, you have to work at sorting it out.
This museum was originally established in 1910 by a Dutch resident who was concerned by the export of culturally significant artefacts from the island. Destroyed in a 1917 earthquake, it was rebuilt in the 1920s, but used mainly for storage until 1932. At that time, German artist Walter Spies and some Dutch officials revived the idea of collecting and preserving Balinese antiquities and cultural objects, and creating an ethnographic museum. Today the museum is well organised and most displays are labe…
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Pura Jagatnatha
Next to the museum, the state temple, built in 1953, is dedicated to the supreme god, Sanghyang Widi. Part of its significance is its statement of monotheism. Although the Balinese recognise many gods, the belief in one supreme god(who can have many manifestations)brings Balinese Hinduism into conformity with the first principle of Pancasila – the 'Belief in One God'.
The padmasana (shrine) is made of white coral, and consists of an empty throne (symbolic of heaven) on top of the cosmic turtle and two naga (mythical serpents), which symbolise the foundation of the world. The walls are decorated with carvings of scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Two major festivals…
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Kube Dharma Bakti Massage Centre
Many Balinese wouldn't think of having a massage from anyone but a blind person. Government-sponsored schools offer lengthy courses to certify blind people in reflexology, shiatsu massage, anatomy and much more. Usually graduates work together in group-locations such as Kube Dharma Bakti Massage Centre. In this airy building redolent with liniments, you can choose from a range of therapies and contribute to a very good cause at the same time.
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Cak Asm
No, the name isn't the sound you make after eating here. If that were the case, this simple cafe would be named 'yum'. Join government workers and students from the nearby university for superb dishes at rock-bottom prices. Order the cumi cumi (calamari) with telor asin sauce (a heavenly mixture of eggs and garlic). The resulting buttery, crispy goodness may be the best dish you have in Bali. And it's under US$1.
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Ayam Goreng Kalasan
The name here says it all. Fried chicken (Ayam Goreng) named after a Javanese temple (Kalasan) in a region renowned for its fiery, crispy chicken. The version here falls off the bone on the way to the table; the meat bursts with lemongrass scent from a long marinade prior to the plunge into boiling oil. There are several other excellent little warung in this strip.
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Pasar Badung
A must-see destination: shoppers browse and bargain from 5am to night. It's a retail adventure and you'll find produce and food from all over the island as well as easy-to-assemble temple offerings that are popular with working women. Deals include a half-kilo of saffron for 250,000Rp. Ignore guides who may offer their services. This is one of the better places to see Bali's myriad types of fruit.
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Indonesia Australia Language Foundation
The best place for courses in Bahasa Indonesia is the Indonesia Australia Language Foundation, which has a language lab, library, and well-run four-week 40-hour course (two hours per day Monday to Friday). Courses are available in six levels, from beginner to advanced.
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Bajra Sandhi Monument
Otherwise known as the Monument to the Struggle of the People of Bali, this huge structure is as big as its name and dominates what's already a big park in Renon. Inside this vaguely Borobodur-like structure are dioramas tracing Bali's history. Taking the name as a cue, you won't be surprised that they have a certain jingoistic soap-opera quality. But they're a fun diversion. Note that in the portrayal of the 1906 battle with the Dutch, the King of Badung is literally a sitting target.
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Taman Wedhi Budaya
This arts centre is a sprawling complex in the eastern part of Denpasar. Established in 1973 as an academy and showplace for Balinese culture, its lavish architecture houses an art gallery with an interesting collection, but few performances or much else most of the year.
From mid-June to mid-July, however, the centre comes alive for the Bali Arts Festival, with dances, music and craft displays from all over Bali. You may need to book tickets at the centre for more popular events.
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Nasi Uduk
Open to the street, this spotless little stall has a few chairs and serves up Javanese treats such as nasi uduk (sweetly scented coconut rice with fresh peanut sauce) and lalapan (a simple salad of fresh lemon basil leaves).
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Cianjur
Big, airy and cool, this shiny upmarket restaurant has Balinese seafood in an array of preparations (crispy, grilled, steamed or wrapped in a banana leaf). It's hugely popular with families and groups of government workers.
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Pasar Kumbasari
Across the river from Pasar Badung, this huge market has a profusion of handicrafts, a plethora of vibrant fabrics, and costumes decorated with gold. It's a modern, multilevel building of shops and stalls and you should just plunge at random into the canyons of colour.
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Bhineka Jaya Cafe
Home to Bali's Coffee Co, this storefront sells locally grown beans and makes a mean espresso, which you can enjoy at the two tiny tables while watching the bustle of Denpasar's old main drag.
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Wong Solo
Part of small local chain, chicken in myriad forms is the specialty here. Sit at an open-air table and have it spicy and grilled or try the ikan lele (grilled catfish).
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Warung Satria
This is a long-running warung on a quiet street; try the wonderful seafood satay served with a shallot sambal. Otherwise, choose from the immaculate displays of what's fresh, but don't wait too long after lunch or it will all be gone.
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Warung Bendega
Walled off from street noise, this lovely and stylish open-air oasis hums to the rhythm of Balinese pop music at dinner. Creatively spiced seafood is the specialty.
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Café Merdeka
Delightful Balinese bakery with a wide range of sweet and savoury baked goods you choose yourself and can take away or enjoy at the outside tables.
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Warung Beras Bali
Organic rice underpins organic vegetables and various Chinese dishes at this appropriately green-hued open-front cafe. A long list of fresh juices adds to the healthy patina. Try the unusual – and organic vegetarian – saté sambal plecina, which is a tasty skewer of grilled spinach and tomato. Or buy a bag of rice.
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Bali Bakery
Small branch of the Kuta cafe known for good Western baked goods.
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Kampung Arab
Has jewellery and precious-metal stores run by scores of Middle Eastern and Indian merchants.
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Robinson's
Matahari's arch-competitor has a large selection of midrange goods.
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