What makes the Bali island is a unique destination for travelers?

By Ekarini

For more info: Bali Travel Info

Photo: Bali Travel Info

People say, “You should put Bali on your bucket lists.”  I believe everyone should at least once in his or her life experience time. There are so many reasons why traveling to Bali will give you more than you expect, then you will come back for more than once.

“To me, Bali is one of those exceptions to my general rule of avoiding ‘popular’ travel destinations. It’s such a unique place in the world that I still really love it despite the fact that it is famous and fashionable, attributes that typically turn me off.” Traveler 

Here are some reasons why you should visit Bali:

1. Friendly and Happy people Everywhere

The heartwarming people, people will greet you as soon you wake up in the morning.  I say this, not because I am a Balinese, but this is true.  Balinese people are happy people based on the research of the happiest people on the Indonesian islands. “The index of happiness of the Balinese in 2017 reached 72.48 from the scale of 0-100. Head of Bali Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) Adi Nugroho stated, this figure is higher than the average happiness of the people of Indonesia 70.69.” Tirto. id

You will see for yourself, whether they take your order in a restaurant or greet you with a good morning on your breakfast table with “Selamat Pagi.” Balinese people always smile and contagious and there is no better way to start your day than with a smile right?

Photo:Bali Travel Info

2. The Beaches

Beautiful beaches are a must have for your tropical island destination, and Bali delivers with many of them.  You won’t believe that the crazy Kuta beach, through the years the most visited beaches on the island, is a sight to behold with its long, curved stretch of white sand and surf that swimmers and surfers alike can enjoy. And the sunsets there are breathtaking.

You also can go  to visit black sand beaches like at Pererenan Beach and Seseh Beach.  You can enjoy warm water all year around, day and night.  Even in the rainy season, you still can go to the beach.  If you love beaches, the best place to be and free, except if you want to join the beach club which can be found around Bali.   In Seminyak, Kuta, Canggu, Nusa Dua, Batu Bolong, Uluwatu, and north Bali coastline.  Bali has a lot of variety of amazing beach clubs. A great way to relax,  sit by a great infinity pool, have a drink and enjoy the warm sun.

3. Amazing Sunrise and Sunset

“The sunrise and sunset in Bali is some of the best I have seen.” Travelers

“Go to  Top-ten coastline adventures. We assure you that Bali is not just about theatrical images of a basking flare sliding through cardinal skies. What is really specific is the so-called “blue hour”: once the sun had disappeared below the surface, the sky welcomes an irresistible mulberry silhouette.” Traveler

To enjoy the best sunrise, go to Sanur beach and have breakfast in a variety of restaurants of your choice. 

Here are some best spot for sunset.  Tanah Lot temple,  The Rock Bar at Ayana Resort,  Uluwatu Temple, Petitenget Beach, Seminyak beach, Kuta Beach, Jimbaran Bay, Lovina beach, Echo Beach Canggu, Lembongan island, Nusa Penida island, Nusa and Ceningan island,

4. Healthy and Yummy Food

Bali has great soil and plenty of rain to grow lots of quality food, and also Balinese food has been significantly influenced by the outside world/seafaring cultures. Because of this reason, you will find Indian, Malaysian and Chinese flavors mixed in with the more traditional Indonesian foods you find in the rest of the country. And because of the growing influence of tourism over the last several decades you can also easily find high quality Indian, Moroccan, Thai, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, French, Mexican, Western cuisine, and fusion cuisines.

So, you can sample healthy and yummy food in Bali.

I recommend you should try the authentic Balinese food: Sate, Gado-Gado, Babi Guling, Lawar, Nasi Campur, Nasi Goreng, Mie Goreng, Cap Cay, Ikan Bakar, Betutu Ayam, Tum Ayam,  Soto/ stews, and many vegetarian restaurants also available in Bali.

Don’t miss the Bali Food festival annually on the island.

Photo: Bali Travel Info

5. Rice Fields and Outdoors

“Bali is the perfect living postcard.” Traveler 
 

One of Bali’s most distinctive landmarks is the rice fields.  Even though Bali has been having a big development through the years, you will still see the rice field If you drive from the coast towards Ubud you find them everywhere and you can see the hard working Balinese people with their distinctive shaped of hats who are working in the fields.

You can pull over and greet them and take a few pictures.

 If you have a curiosity about agriculture, you can visit Tabanan Regency and learn about the Balinese irrigation system, which is unique only in Bali. It’s called Subak, is “a traditional ecologically sustainable irrigation system that binds Balinese agrarian society together within the village's Bale Banjar community center and Balinese temples. The water managements are under the authority of the priests in water temples, who practice Tri Hita Karana Philosophy, a self-described relationship between humans the earth and the gods.”

6. Temples and Unique Culture
   
   

Although the majority of Indonesia is Muslim,  Bali’s is quite unique. Bali is 2% of the Indonesian population is predominantly Hindu, mix with animist influences which makes it quite different from Hinduism in India. Also very much every day you will see small but artistically designed offerings of items such as rice, flowers, fruits and incense being made to the gods, ancestors, spirits and demons that live on the island. The Balinese people are also extremely ritualistic as they have ceremonies for just about every stage in a person’s life, including an elaborate cremation ceremony that is usually the biggest and most spectacular event in the life cycle of a person beside wedding ceremony.

Balinese Temples:

Temple in Bali is called Pura.  There are over 20,000 Puras in Bali at last count, you can find them all over Bali island.  Travel to Bali will not be complete without visiting temples.  You don’t need to see all of them, but you do have to see at least a few of the temples below:

-Pura Besakih/ “ Mother Temple” is the holiest of all temples in Bali.  The temple is located some 3,000 feet up Gunung Agung (Mount Agung is the highest temple and holy by Balinese) in East Bali. 

- Pura Gunung Kawi: is one of Bali’s most unique archaeological sites, comprising a collection of ancient shrine reliefs carved into the face of a rock cliff.  The main temple overlooks the sacred Pakerisan River, which also flows from the Tirta Empul Temple a few kilometers up north in the higher elevation.  Across the river from the ancient reliefs is a temple courtyard featuring old Hindu shrines in a more contemporary architectural style, which is attended by Hindu pilgrims especially during its  temple festival ceremony every 6 months of Balinese calendar. 

- Pura Tirta Empul

The series of temples and sacred spring that feeds Tirta Empul provides holy water for the priests and bathing for Balinese people and people all over the world come here for purification ceremony, who believe that a dip the head can bring good fortune and health. People who come here, bring their Balinese offerings.

- Pura Tanah Lot

The Tanah Lot temple was built by priest Nirartha on a rock some distance from the shore, towering over the sea, in the 15^th century. Access to the temple is limited to low tide; even so, this prestigious temple is adored by visitors because of phenomenal sunset.

- Pura Taman Ayun

This temple was built in the 1600s by the King of Mengwi, Pura Taman Ayun is  a beautiful example of a royal public temple.  The temple serves  serves as the clan kawitan temple (a temple dedicated to the worship of the deified ancestors, in this case, the previous rulers of the Mengwi royal family).

7. Great and Cheap Spas 

In Bali is warm weather, being clean and wash away the sweat make massages and body scrubs business are a big part of Balinese culture for both men and women.   The Balinese spas are flourishing around all over the island.  The women who are trained to assist make your spa experience one of the best you’ve ever had. Honestly, I’ve never been to any places that has so many spas of all shapes and sizes.  You can have for an hour full body massage around less than $20.

Happy Travels!