Bali indonesia

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.

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.

place in bali :
Kuta

Kuta is Bali-on-a-budget, a raucous, infamous holiday enclave dedicated to fun and sun. A bustling network of narrow lanes lined with bars, losmen (basic accommodation), and stalls piled high with fake surfwear, dodgy DVDs and lurid football shirts, Kuta is all about bacchanalian nights and rampant commerce. Prepare yourself for plenty of attention from the shopkeepers and armies of hawkers that comb the streets here.

Yet a few steps away, Kuta’s raison d’être remains as wonderful as ever, as another set of perfect rollers washes over its magnificent golden sands. And while subtlety is not Kuta’s strength, the resort retains a slice of Balinese charm – incense wafts down the gang and offerings of flower petals are laid out each morning to placate the Hindu gods.

And if you’ve had your fill of Kuta’s frenetic energy, consider shifting just up the coast to the less manic surrounds of Legian or stylish Seminyak with its designer bars and legendary clubbing scene. Both are continuations of the same strip that creeps up the coastline; the further north you get from central Kuta, the less built-up and more exclusive the area becomes. But even in the heart of Seminyak there are a few budget hotels, and some terrific, authentic warung.

Following the bombs of 2002 and 2005, the area is not quite as busy as it used to be, but the locals remain upbeat, and stylish new places are emerging. So if you’ve spent weeks hiking the jungle trails of Kalimantan or thirsting for a bar in deepest Papua, Kuta could be ideal for a few nights R and R, for this is where Indonesia slips on its boldest board shorts and really lets its hair down.

transportation :
Land
Bus & bemo

Public bemo travel regularly between Kuta and the Tegal terminal in Denpasar (6000Rp, 30 minutes). The main bemo stop in Kuta is situated on Jl Raya Kuta, just east of Bemo Corner. Bemo head south from here to Jimbaran and Ulu Watu, but for anywhere else in Bali you’ll have to go via Denpasar.

For bus tickets to Java, Lombok and Sumbawa it’s most convenient to book via a travel agency; there are dozens in Kuta and Legian. Make sure the transfer to Ubung terminal in Denpasar (the bus departure point) is included.

Tourist shuttle buses travel between the Kuta area and all points of interest in Bali and Lombok. Perama (751551; www.peramatour.com; Jl Legian 39) is the best-known operator with daily services. Sample prices from Kuta are Ubud (30,000Rp, one hour), Lovina (100,000Rp, 3¼ hours), Padangbai (40,000Rp, 1¾ hours) and the Gilis (240, 000Rp, nine hours).
Car & motorcycle

Car- and motorcycle-hire places offer some of the most competitive prices in the world. To charter a vehicle, just walk up Jl Legian and listen for the offers of ‘Transport? Transport?’ Expect to pay 110, 000Rp per day for a Suzuki Jimny, or 30,000Rp for a 90cc scooter.
Boat

Pelni ferries link nearby Pelabuhan Benoa with destinations throughout Indonesia.
Air

Planes from Ngurah Rai airport, located near Kuta, serve destinations across Indonesia and the world.