Beyond
the Beaches:
other reasons to visit Bali, Indonesia
One of the
main reasons for attracting so many visitors is
Bali's image as a beach destination, with white sandy beaches
all around.
More than perfect beaches,
there are other reasons to visit beautiful Bali.
Everyone knows that
the relaxing atmosphere of a perfect Bali beach is more than enough
to fill out a complete summer vacation. But as crazy as it sounds,
even the biggest beach bums get tired of the sands and surf sometimes.
Here are other reasons to visit the island of Bali.
The Local Cuisine
As most will tell you,
the food itself is good enough reason to spend a couple days or
even weeks in Bali. Local stalls, kiosks, and native-ran restaurants
boldly do business side by side with modern and posh European
style establishments.
Notable places to try
out the cuisine are:
Kuta Beach, where,
as residents proudly state, you could eat at a different place
for each one of your meals and you won’t eat the same thing
twice in a month.
Ubud: Reputably offers
the most interesting menus on Bali. Serves everything from original
Western to Javanese cuisine.
There’s also Nusa
Dua Bali, Sanur, Bukit Peninsula, Denpasar, Padang Pai, and countless
other places. Offers are as varied as the avaialble nuances of
the food itself, and it’s definitely a good idea to try as
many restaurants and dishes as you can master – provided
your stomach’s up for the myriad of spices and tastes you’re
likely to experience.
Relaxation in the luxurious
Balinese Spas
No one needs convincing
that in Bali, spa treatment is one of the most effective ways
to relax and forget about work related stress. Let those troubles
be melted off by a traditional Balinese bath and massage. The
internationally renowned Mandara Spa actually originated in Bali,
and is just one of the many spa treatment facilities that dot
the island. A Balinese spa treatment might be a little steep financially,
but it’s a unique experience that’s truly worth trying.
Temples
Bali hosts the largest
local Hindu community outside of India. The island practices Amaga
Hindu, a branch of traditional Hinduism in India. A major difference
of this branch of Hindu is that the Balinese Hindus eat cow meat,
taboo to Indian Hindus.
Many temples dot the
island. All of which showcase the diverse architecture of the
Balinese people. Most notably are:
The Besakih Temple
(The mother temple of Bali): This temple has 18 separate sanctuaries
(for different castes) that surround the 3 main temples (each
dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma), making it the biggest
of all the temples in Bali. Considered to be the holiest Balinese
temple, it is situated at approximately 3000 ft. or 1000 meters.
The perfect time to visit this temple is before the arrival of
the tourist throngs (earlier than 8am), when it is most beautiful
and serene.
Pura Tirta Temple:
This temple boasts 2 bathing spots where regular ceremonies of
purification are held. The waters from these baths come from sacred
Tampak Siring spring (where an inscription dates is back to 926
A.D.). The temple itself is believed to date from the 11th century
A.D. or the 1000s.
The island of Bali
offers more than just the perfect Bali beach; the local culture
awaits the avid adventure-seeker.
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