Lonely Planet guide announces Bali is Back

The launch of Lonely Planet’s new edition Bali & Lombok guidebook, released today, not only focuses on the traditional appeal of sun, sea and sand but commends the destination’s culture and people as well as the true ability of Bali to bounce back from a crisis.

Whilst the guidebook notes that the bombs in Kuta on October 22, 2002 that killed over 200, crushed the Bali economy as tourists stayed away, the destination is well and truly back on the traveller agenda with the number of visitors to Bali from January to December 2008 hitting a near-record 1.8 million for the year.

As Co-ordinating author Ryan Ver Berkmoes explains:

‘Bali has always found a way to get through crisis, whether it was invasions from Java, volcanos blowing their lid or the Dutch taking over,’ says ver Berkmoes. ‘2008 was a near-record year for Bali tourism. It’s not just about Kuta anymore as people discover beautiful beaches, sinuous rice fields and misty jungles right around the island. The latest Lonely Planet Bali & Lombok is filled with new places that will both surprise and delight even the most experienced Bali vets.’

In the new guidebook, Ver Berkmoes goes on to say:

‘It can’t be said often enough, Bali is like no other destination in the world. Yes, Bali has beaches, surfing, diving and resorts great and small, but it’s the essence of Bali – and the Balinese – that make it so much more than a fun-in-the-sun retreat.’

Because the authors of this guidebook are regional experts who either live fulltime in Bali or maintain busy Bali social calendars there, the guidebook is strengthened by its focus on the true Balinese culture. It focuses in particular on icons of modern Bali style, top temples, festivals and dance, as well as hot spots and up and coming destinations.

The guide highlights the iconoclastic architecture, in which travellers can stay: ‘single-storey, thatchroofed pavilions that open onto courtyards,’ and ‘floating pavilions over infinity-edged pools, as pioneered by Muller at Amandari’.

Temples are highlighted, too, such as Pura Tirta Empul at Tampaksaring, renowned for its ‘beauty and nearby springs and bathing,’ along with Kuta Karnival where ‘the always-near-the- surface zany side of Kuta is let loose’ and the dance troupes of Ubud, including the ‘Gunung Sari performing the Legong dance’ also come highly recommended in the guide.

The idiosyncratic side of Bali can be seen at destinations such as Lalang-Linggah in the west and Ulu Watu in the south. The guide explains ‘A rolling area of dunes and knolls overlooks the pounding surf of Lalang-Linggah’. Ulu Watu is described as ‘a storied surf spot - the stuff of dreams and nightmares’ famous for not only its ‘fabled surf break’ but also its ‘much-revered temple’ with a ‘spectacular clifftop location’.

Another highlight of the guidebook is the attention given to Lombok - ‘Bali’s much less renowned neighbour to the east.’

Contributing author and Lombok expert Adam Skolnick says:

‘The big news in Lombok comes down to two locations: Gili T as an international tourist destination and the coming metamorphosis in Kuta, Lombok.’

The guidebook describes the ‘turquoise-tinted, bathtub warm waters of the tiny, irresistible Gili islands’ and in particular recommends the ‘road-weary rambler’s lucid fantasy’ that is Gili T. Kuta’s majesty is described in the guidebook as a ‘crescent bay – turquoise in the shallows and deep blue further out. It licks a huge, white sand beach, wide as a football pitch, backed by swaying trees and framed by dome-like headlands.’

Note to Editors

- The authors of the guide are available for interview (some on location in Bali)

- Extracts available on request

- A selection of free images from the book are available

For further information or review copies please contact:

Matthew Bowell: matthew.bowell@lonelyplanet.com.au

Phone +61 3 8379 8000 Mobile +61 450 909 072 Web: lonelyplanet.com

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