Living in Bali is a dream for some people. Those who come over on hoilday, often gush about the Bali and the Balinese, is this place the closest thing to paradise? I hear many stories from expats aboutl ife in Bali, some good, some not. Everyone has their own opinion and I think its worth hearing them. A Bali expat sent me a email about how her Bali dream turned sour. I’m not saying I agree with all her comments, but this is what she wrote.

i have been living in bali since 2000, i got married
with a balines man two years ago, i have a baby one
year old and i was totally in love with bali and
balinese people until now, since two weeks ago my
opinion about balinese people has change totally
i need to say to somebody what i think or how i feel
now
now way they are 99% good people, balinese are
jeoulosy, sorry don´t know the word in english, they
have a lot envy, they live only by and for the
religion and the banjar, they follow the banjar and
the ceremony templos just by rutine many times, they
have not idea about what is commitment, compromise,
responsability, iniciative, they are dificult people
when there is a problem around, they hidden themself
and they run away, they don´t know how to face a
problem, they have not compassion, they have nice and
beautiful smiles outside but many times are not real
at all, they can be very arrogant, very machist, the
balines woman suffered a lot, there is a lot fare
about black magic, many people believe in this and
they are so scare about that, they run away from their
jobs many times without say anything, they are not
that good with children as we all foreigners think all
the time, it is only that they are all the time with
children because the most of them are not working,
that doesn´t mean they are better than westernes with
children, man are lazy and they could be all day lying
down, sitting on the banjar and sleeping, a lot
balines has not experience about anything or have not
knowlege at all about anything, they are very
ignorant, focus totally in their life at the banjar
and at the temples, they have not values in life, has
not education, but of course they smile and
smile…….laugh all the time, this makes them so
nice and good……they are dangerous, better don´t
make a balines ungry with you becuase he could kill
you or do anything, black magic……this is another
planet really, people thinking and living in diferent
ways, nothing to do with the rest of us, we always be
tamu and outsides always always, we are so diferent,
there is a lot human mysery behind their smiles,
everybody knows my problems now and knowbody seems to
know anything, nobody really cares or nobody wants to
help, they are deaf, damn…..nobody want to mix with
the problems of the other people, they don´t have
mind, thoughts, opinions, they follow their banjars,
they don´t questions anything, they are egoists,
really egoists, they are really coward, very coward,
they are not interested about the world around them,
they are happy with the ceremonies and their banjar or
it seems like everybody thinks that, are they really
happy????? they ask you all the time stupid questions,
sudah mandi, balum mandi, sudah makan, going up to the
road to my house a neigboard is asking me mau ke
mana?????? aduhhhhhh pulang of course, sometimes I get
sick answering these kind the questions, really
stupids even when I have been doind these as well for
fice years, but now aduhhhhhhhhhh all my beautiful
life in Bali is a fake, everything has been a lie,
everybody has not been that helpful nice and good
people, they are weak, run away, they are like
children……..
aduhhhhhhhh sorry to tell you all this this is a
nighmare and i am only only me, i am terrible lonely
in a society i don´t understand anymore and nobody
seems to be nice, my husband has been a evil for two
weeks and i don´t understand what is happening, here
nobody is doing anything, not his family, not the
people around, i could say friends but not i realise
that i have not friends, even when i know a lot a
lottttt people, his beautiful smile terjadi now a
monster and now i have not idea what to do, just pray
and pray to keep my mind sane, because i have a baby,
i am trying not to get crazy and be strong in front of
my little putu……
just now i only can say that bali is not the paradise
and balinese people are not as good as everybody
thing, there is a lot back sides about balinese
people, about their culture and their tradictions but
it seems like nobody talk about that, i don´t think i
am the only person who think this, a culture without
values……..
balines can be very agressive as well, they have not
idea about what is honor, responsability, loyalty,
malu, work, friendship, it seems like everything in
bali has harmony and it is very good but not, not
sorry, look some families……some people…..
please pray for me maybe I am already starting to be
crazy as well

here was a day in Egypt while visiting the pyramid at Saqqara that we were shown a network of connections between Cities of Light from Africa to south Asia that included the City of Light at Bali. To us, this City of Light seemed vibrant, nothing like the City of Light at Kilimanjaro that had needed near total restoration when we visited it in the summer of 2006. We knew then that we were being asked to travel to Bali, but we did not have a clear idea of what work would be called forth there. We could see this beautiful City of Light floating above Bali, although its connection with the land below it seemed stressed.

In March of 2007, Ulla, Gary and five women from Sweden gathered at Dancing Dragon Cottages on the east coast of Bali near the town of Amed. Ulla, Monica Lindblad, Yvonne Soderberg, Anna Straat and Eva Wiger arrived a few days early and experienced what the end of Bali’s rainy season was like. Even with the rain, they had managed to visit Ubud, the artistic center of Bali, in the interior of the island. Gary and Kerstin Brodin arrived a few days later.


First Day---Temples in the Mountains

Our plan was the same as we had used at Mt. Kilimanjaro---to spend the first day surveying the possible sites for our work and to begin working only after we had found the right location. We knew that we wanted to be close to Mt. Batur and that we wanted to be in nature. We explained to our guide and driver, I Ketut Alit Sidayasa, that we needed a quiet place where we would not be disturbed and he seemed to have a clear idea of where to take us. Off we went driving first through the town of Amed where the day’s sacred offerings could be seen at the main intersection, and then along the coast to the north side of the mountain. The bus twisted and turned its way back and forth through tropical forests and up toward the peak of the mountain.

Our first important lesson was that it took much more time to travel up the mountain than we had imagined. It took us nearly three hours to drive up to the high slopes of Mt. Batur. Our guide, Ketut, took us to a temple on a small peak from where we could see the intricate shape of the distant landscape. Beauty is a word that comes to mind easily in Bali. This was the temple Pura Penulisan, a place where the ancient kings had received guidance from the gods and from where they sent out their pronouncements. This was a central temple and there were six ‘protecting’ temples in the mountains surrounding this one. We were very happy with the energy here and it was also clear that we could not possibly visit more than two sites like this in one day. Rather then merely surveying the site and saving the work for tomorrow, we decided to begin right away. We set up our chairs in a circle in an open area at the back of the temple space, and while Ketut watched out for us, we started our work. We asked the local guardian spirits for permission to do our work and we called for the presence of the Ascended Masters who had led us to this work. We established a field of protection around ourselves and dedicated our work to the evolution of the Earth and of humanity. All of our efforts then focused on helping to shift the City of Light toward its next stage of evolution. The movement of energy began very slowly and there appeared to be considerable resistance. Individuals interpreted this in different ways, but all of these interpretations had to do with being stuck in established patterns. We received the message that it was important not to hold to preconceptions and that the work would be done through our physical bodies. What followed was a long period of processing dense energy, after which there was a very quick release of an ancient entity involved in the history of the region. The first session was over.


We drove to a nearby restaurant for a late lunch from where we could overlook the basin of the mountain’s volcanic crater that contained the beautiful Lake Batur. Even though the day was passing on, we asked our driver Ketut to take us to another Temple and this time he took us up the side of Mt. Agung to the temple Pura Pasar Agung. Now we were above the low clouds watching the light of the late afternoon stretching across the lowlands. We sat on the plateau outside the temple to begin our work. The energy seemed very light here. In fact, we recognized that the City of Light was most strongly connected to Mt. Agung. Even so, our work went very slowly. Some of the group’s perceptions were similar to the morning---density across the land that had to be processed through the body---while there was also a strong connection to Mother Earth and to the heart. Our session came to an end without any central event. In truth we were surprised that the day had not brought greater clarity. It seemed that things had been happening on many levels and so it was impossible to tie together a story out of it. Before we left the temple, we observed a ceremony being conducted by a religious elder with people from the local village. It was devote and spiritually strong, so characteristic of Bali.
Second Day---Temples of Divine Flow

The next day, we abandoned the idea of returning to the top of the mountains and instead asked Ketut to take us somewhere near by. Ketut suggested beautiful temple Pura Penataran Lempuyang on the side of the Mt. Lempuyang that was much closer to Amed. The temples of Bali reflect the warmth and humidity of their environment. They have no need of walls, only roofs to hold off the rain. We formed our circle on a raised platform that could be used by worshipers or musicians. We were glad for the light breeze that moves lightly through such high places.

Ulla and Gary both received the message that yesterday’s work was exactly what needed to be done, but that for today’s work the women would have a different role from the only man present in the ceremony. The women would work with the Earth and at the same time provide a support for Gary who would work in the higher dimensions. Their energy would be used in cooperation with the guides for purposes that varied from woman to woman and which depended on their personal role. In particular, some women would hold heart energy and others hold the space of the new 4th-dimensional human. They were a foundation, like hands forming a bowl to hold the sacred energy for the new era.


In Gary’s mind his task to be clear a sickly energy that surrounded the connection of the City to the Earth. It was mostly a mental energy reflecting a separation of thought from Divine Truth. As instructed Gary used the energy of Divine Grace to dissolve everything that was ready to leave. He was then taken up to very high dimensions where he saw the image of a beautiful crown. When he asked what meaning this symbol had at this moment, he was told it represented the spiritual achievements of the past. Gary asked what needed to be shifted and sought above it. Shortly a wave of energy from higher realms began to descend. It moved through the crown, which now dissolved in this light. The crown represented a wonderful thing, but even it had to be released in order to move into the new era. The wave continued on into the City and became focused as a beam of light in the very center. As we watched, Lord Maitreya, the leading Master for the new era, emerged from the beam in a bright light that began to emanate throughout the City. This was totally unanticipated and Gary wept with the shock and the beauty of what he witnessed. The radiance of the new light permeated everything and what was already beautiful became a thing of unimagined beauty. The day’s task was done.

After we all dropped out of trance, we shared our experiences. The intensity of the energy had shaken loose many personal issues tied to the dualities, reflections of humanity’s issues as well as the individual’s. They had to be released through the body, both for the sake of preparing humanity to transcend dualities in the new era and for the sake of the individual being a pure conduit for the work. After closing our circle we drove further up the mountain to a place where there was a sacred stream and a small temple. We cleansed ourselves with water before beginning our descent from the mountain. Far below near the coast, we visited the temple at Tirtaganga with its beautiful water gardens looking out over the ocean. On the road back to the hotel, we drove past the many people in the villages preparing for festivals that preceded the next day’s holiday. The people were constructing paper and wood statues of evil spirits. These figures would be honored and nourished before being burned in evening ceremonies in villages across the whole of Bali.

Third Day---Nyepi, Day of Silence

The staff at Dancing Dragon Cottages had alerted us long in advance that the Balinese holiday of Nyepi would occur during our visit. In one sense Nyepi is the Balinese New Year, and in another sense it is a ‘holy-day,’ a day of national silence during which there is no speaking, no cars on the road, no airplanes at the airport---no sound other than the natural world. We had planned in advance to do our group’s work this day on the hotel grounds but away from other people and near the ocean. We would hold two sessions and speak only as we needed for essential communication during the ceremony.

Our guidance was that we would all be working together in relation to the City of Light. As soon as we started, some of the issues of duality, both personal and universal, processed by woman the previous day came to the front. For example, Eva experienced the ancient split between male and female as a spear in the heart. The guides took her to the City of Light where they operated on her while she worked to get to the bottom of the pain and to heal it. During this process, she received the story of how the relationship between men and women had degraded over time to the state that we experience today. Kerstin filled in the story with a connection to the womb and worked to release the pain associated with childbirth, pain that tied the mother and child to a relationship of guilt and separation. Just as the relationship between men and women will be transformed in the new era, childbirth would become something that mother and child experienced as creative joy. Everyone in the group supported the work by staying in their heart and connecting to the new era.

Ulla and Gary were both given over to anchoring and activating a new template for the City of Light from a high-level collective consciousness. In fact, a group collective consciousness had formed in support of the Earth’s shift that we have called the Earth Collective. It seemed that this anchoring was part of a greater plan associated with Lord Maitreya. The City of Light as a whole was being shifted to a higher-dimension level. The Ascended Masters themselves needed to evolve. They would shift up to a new level just as all humanity was preparing to shift. The City of Light at Bali was to be the first City of Light fully instantiated in the New Earth. We sat for a long time as these changes took shape. Then Ulla and Gary both began connecting this revitalized City of Light to the Earth. The work of all the women had been essential in preparing the connection. They were giving birth to the new world through the release of issues taking place in their bodies. When we all came out of trace, we shared essentials of our experiences and then returned to silence. Later that afternoon we joined again by the edge of the ocean in ceremony. Our agenda had shifted from anchoring the City of Light to the clearing of the dense energy in the region around Bali. After getting started, some of the ancient history became revealed. This region was a descendent of Lemuria in which the light of Lemuria was preserved by a balance with the dark. Black magic had a strong hold on the region that was particularly evident in the lower astral realms. A great deal of dark energy had settled in the waters. The situation was sustained by the people’s everyday myths supporting the duality of structure and chaos. It became clear that our role was not about restoration of the old Lemurian ways; rather it was about releasing the power of the past to limit the future of the New Earth.


How do you shift something so massive out of duality and toward the ‘unity in diversity’ of the new era? The region’s lower astral energy was represented by a demon like those portrayed in local art. This demon told us that he could not be removed because the people liked him. We relocated the demon away in a Merkaba and cleared the lower astral realms. As Monica brought light into the Earth, Anna and Yvonne spread the light of love throughout the space. Kerstin worked to clear the second dimension, which led us to the first dimension and a connection to the core of the Earth. There we perceived a dark entity, one that lacked any power or authority. This entity was assisted through a portal to return to the higher dimensions as a healing of its own separation from God/Source. The region had been cleared but the process of bringing it into alignment with the New Earth continued. Starting with the fourth, we aligned and synchronized through the dimensions until our work was done. Evening was soon upon us. In observance of Nyepi, there would be no electric lights and no air conditioners. We prepared ourselves for bed as everything around us faded away in the faint light of twilight.

Fourth Day---Activation

Over these days we had become aware that our driver Ketut was a very devote man and that each night he had a dream about where he should take us the following day. This day he wanted to take up to Pura Ulawatu, a famous temple where the founders of Balinese Hinduism had achieved enlightenment and transcended physical form. Only after we had started the journey did we realize that we were going to the south of the Bali and that the journey would take us nearly four hours. During our drive was passed through some of those areas of Bali that are contending with modernization---fast food restaurants, pricy tourist shops. How will beautiful Bali handle these pressures? Far away from the modern congestion sat the temple on a high cliff above the ocean. From this location we could see the island of Java far off in the distance. The whole natural landscape was an inspiring sight. We found a small shelter near to the temple where we could focus on our work. Guidance told us that this day would be devoted to activation. In the first phase, the Ascended Masters established a column of light in the center of the City of Light that spread out until it encompassed the entire City. There were various personal visions of Masters in the City and on the Earth. In the next phase, Ulla and Gary began climbing up through the dimensions, but a being in the form of a dragon grabbed Ulla and tried to hold her down. Yvonne and Anna particularly worked to send the dragon light, after which it left. Ulla and Gary then worked together in the 17th dimension from where they began to bring down new templates for the upper charkas---the Heart Chakra through the Crown Chakra, also the Cosmic Portal Chakra at the top of the aura. As these new forms came into the City of Light, they were revealed as charkas for the new human being, templates for the new era. The experience of these new upper chakras had placed Ulla in a state of bliss.

After a short break we continued essentially where we had left off. Throughout the process of bringing down the templates for the new chakras, Ulla had experienced a figure of the Buddha descending through her body. This Buddha represented the energy of enlightenment. (Seems that we had come to the right temple!) Now the figure said, “You don’t want only half your body in Nirvana!” This started the process of bringing in the templates for the lower charkas---the Solar Plexus, the Sacral, the Root and the Earth Portal Chakra at the base of the aura. These new chakra energies began penetrating the Earth and moving down through the dimensions.


While this was going on, several women were experiencing heavy energies associated with various issues stuck in their lower bodies. When the new chakra energies shifted from the third into the second dimension, the circle simultaneously experienced these old heavy energies begin to release, and, as the anchoring of the new continued into the first dimension, their release continued. This was a good example of how so much of the work was carried out---simultaneously in the realms of the body and the etheric world. By the end of the day, all of the templates for the new charkas had been anchored. How all of this fit into a bigger picture was not clear until the next day.

Fifth Day---Of Heaven and Earth

After our long bus ride the previous day, we told Ketut that we were not going to travel anywhere more than an hour away! In characteristic form, he knew exactly where he wanted to take us---this time not to a temple, but to a monument to Bali’s independence from the Netherlands. We all knew that Bali had been occupied by the Japanese during World War II, but we had no idea that the Balinese along with other Indonesians had fought a war for independence from the Netherlands just when the rest of the world had stopped fighting. Nothing revealed to us the imprint of war or the suffering that the Balinese had endured. This memorial was not as high on Mt. Agung as the temple we had visited a few days earlier and the short bus ride felt like a gift. What we found here was a large concrete statue of a freedom fighter with depictions of battles set into its base. We gathered our circle on the grounds nearby.

Most members of the group experienced issues related to the first two chakras. We all became aware of the sounds of the birds and insects, sounds that became intense and healing. There was a synchronicity between our work and nature that we had not experienced before. While all this was happening, Gary was held in the very highest of dimensions for a time and then taken to the 8th dimension. In our system of numbering the dimensions, the significance of the 8th is that it is the highest dimension in which human beings have an etheric human form. Above the 8th, we are spirits with a different form. Gary worked to shift the 8th dimensional template of humanity to whatever state was needed for the new era. Ascended Masters came directly into his field and joined the work. After some period of time, the template shifted into the 9th dimension. Could this be true? Was the energetic template of humanity shifting to a higher dimension in the New Era? Then it shifted to the 10th---then the 11th, and the 12th, one slow step at a time until all settled on the 15th dimension. Unsure of what was transpiring, Gary asked what was this thing that was happening? Almost immediately he found himself in front of a spiritual Council. They said that they had expanded the energetic template for the New Human. Humanity would begin now to hold their form through 15 dimensions. The Council said that this was not simply a restoration of humans to a primordial state from which they had fallen in ancient times. We had not experienced this level of development before. Humanity was being promoted, they said. This was indeed a new era into which we were moving. The Council advised us that the new era was not the end to all our issues. For example, we had to let go of our beliefs and feelings about having failed during this era. While we moved beyond one set of issues, we faced fresh challenges in the new era. There were certainly fresh challenges in learning to live in relationship to our15-dimensional human awareness. Then the Council asked if we had questions. Who could think of what to say! In response to a question about chakras, the Council said that we had become used to thinking about chakras in a certain way. We would experience these new Chakras as very multidimensional. And when we quickly ran out of questions, the Council departed. Our work on Bali was done.It had not rained during four and a half days of work. Now it began to pour. It seemed like one more way in which nature was in harmony with our work. Everything that needed to happen had happened. We gathered our circle together once more, this time under the protective roof of a nearby shelter. Within our circle we each stated our intentions for how we would live our lives after this point. How would we each dedicate ourselves? “Each is rewarded in accordance to their commitment” was the message.


Afterthoughts on Bali

Since returning home, we have thought long and hard about carrying out our work in the presence of Bali’s great spiritual tradition. The people of Bali were the most peaceful and devote people we had encountered in all of our travels. We observe that the Ascended Masters chose Bali as the place to bring the new templates for the chakras and the new high-dimensional human form into the domain of the New Earth. This step seems very significant to us in revealing the specific shape of the New Human, a human who will maintain consciousness at least at the 4th-dimensional level. Bali appears to have a major role to play in the great transition.

The day after we finished our work, our group attended a traditional Balinese performance portraying the confrontation of Rangda and Barong. This was a short version of a ceremonial spectacle of dance and music staged by a village that would last all night. Rangda dances black magic and chaos while Barong dances light and order. Neither is ever victorious over the other, and both are needed for the equilibrium of the world. The most fundamental dualities of life are stabilized in a dynamic balance of light and dark. The performance is both a spectacle and the expression of a very ancient view of the universe.

Duality also came up as a theme in our work at Bali as our group attempted to release issues on both the personal and the universal levels. Many spiritual traditions include the teaching that energy invested in one side of a duality creates its opposite. The transcendence of dualities comes through finding the point of balance where one is no longer giving energy to one side or the other---one becomes free to move without creating opposites. And though it may appear similar, maintaining balance by feeding both sides of the duality is not necessarily transcendence; it is an investment in duality.

How does the transcendence of duality figure into the transition to the new era? We believe that the rule of duality will be replaced by the rule of unity in diversity. It is a fundamental shift in the very organization of the world, a shift that is being brought in from the higher dimensions as part of the transition to a new era. Issues will not be defined in terms of opposites as if the range of choices were arranged along a straight line connecting two dots. Rather, there will be a spectrum of possibilities like the circumference of a circle representing a rainbow of colors. In the transition of the Earth and humankind to its next stage of evolution, all humanity truly transcends dualities and moves on to the new challenges that unity in diversity will unfold.

Subak Museum History

What to See in Subak Museum ?

• As a center of the erudite investigation and documentation
• As a place of science channeling
• Cultural acquaintanceship place
• Medium place to introspect the human being
• Place of mirroring the human being history
• Place to enjoy the art and culture object generally

In tourism effort, this time can be form as a tourist destination, especially for incoming tourist from the big countries like America , Europe, Japan , etc that this museum as a unique place of interest in Bali.

Everything you need to know about Bali's Museums

Most of Bali's museums and galleries are centred in Ubud, but culture and history rich Bali is peppered with museums and galleries - all individually interesting! These museums and galleries offer paintings, wood carvings, textiles and all kinds of souvenirs for viewing and also purchase.

The Museum Puri Lukisan in centre of Ubud, the Neka Museum in Campuhan, Seniwati Gallery and Agung Rai Museum in Pengosekan are a must, to see the difference between creative art and more commercial products.

Central Bali

Museum Puri Lukisan, Ubud

Founded by Rudolf Bonnet and Cokorda Gde Agung Sukawati, Ubud's Museum Puri Lukisan houses a permanent collection of Balinese painting from the turn of the century; displaying fine examples off all schools of Balinese art. This museum has a collection of 150 painting and 62 pieces of sculptures. The first fine arts museum in Bali, it has a valuable aim of culturing Bali's very aesthetic art and culture for its next generation.

Museum Neka, Ubud

The superb Neka Museum, in Campuan, is another excellent museum, with marvelous collections of traditional Balinese paintings by local artists and foreign artists who lived in Bali; and items of modern Balinese art. The museum stores art from the Kamasan style of the 16th century to modern 20th century paintings. The whole collection is displayed chronologically, to provide an overview of Bali's history of fine arts.

The Neka Gallery on Jalan Raya , and the Agung Rai Gallery in Peliatan are some of Bali's largest and most important.

Museum Nyoman, Ubud

This three storey museum in Mas village follows the conception of Tri Angga, that is, the three parts of human body; head, body, and legs. The museum's art collection is a mix of works of painters from the olden days of the ancient Klungkung Kingdom to this very day.

Museum Agung Rai, Ubud

Sprawling all over six hectares, the Museum Agung Rai was built based on the concept of a "living museum". It displays paintings and holds stage presentations for various art forms; and is a place for karawitan. It comes complete with an arts library and book gallery, hotel, restaurant, cafe, and coffee shop. One of the museums main specialty is its terrific views of Ubud, with rice fields and trenches integrated into part of the museum.

Seniwati Gallery of Art by Women

This gallery was established in 1991 by Mary Northmore, the very personable wife of famous painter Abdul Azis; with the aim of helping Balinese women to be accepted as artists; and also to expose the long hidden and unrecognised brilliance of women artists in Bali. The gallery also serves to motivate, train and encourage young talented Balinese girls achieve their full potential in the world of arts.

Southern Bali

Museum Negeri Propinsi Bali, Denpasar

This museum in Denpasar was founded by the Yayasan Bali Museum in December 8, 1932. It has interesting exhibits of traditional tools, crafts, masks and costumes from all over Bali; and displays archaeological items and a collection of ethnographical exhibits.

Museum Le Mayeur, Sanur

This memorial museum immortalizes the memory and enduring love of a pair of lovers - Le Mayeur and Ni Polok. All displays and exhibits are from the collection of Le Mayeur's paintings.

Museum Manusa Yadnya, Taman Ayun

Just as its name implies, the Museum Manusa Yadnya details items regarding the process of a human's life from the womb to the tomb.

Northern Bali

Museum Gedong Kirtya, Singaraja

This wonderful museum in Singaraja is a display of thousands of ancient Balinese letters in chronological order; the kakawin, or old Balinese poetry; and the geguritan which written on the palm leaf. All these and more are stored in the original building that was built in 1928 and still standing tall today.

Western Bali

Museum Subak, Tabanan

Tabanan is a region popularly known as Bali's 'rice warehouse'. Hence, it is no surprise to learn that Tabanan is home to the Subak Museum, which houses a vast collection of, what else, but agricultural items. An interesting display to take note of is Bali's typical watering system, called Subak, the museum's namesake.

Museum Gedong Area, Gianyar

Located in the Bedulu Village, this museum's collection is dedicated to archaeological items reflecting the history of Bali's cultural development.

Eastern Bali

Museum Seni Lukis Klasik, Klungkung

This museum is owned by the talented Nyoman Gunarsa, and is used as an outlet by the man himself to exhibit his masterpieces, completing the museum's collection, which documents the classical paintings of Bali. The Museum Seni Lukis Klasik is located in the village of Banda village.

Museum Manusia Purba, Gilimanuk

The Museum Manusia Purba, at the western end of Bali, was established in 1990s. It all began with an archaeological expedition of Dukuh Cekik in 1962, by R.P. Soejoeno from the Bali Archaeological Service. The expedition estimated that approximately 2,000 years ago, the stone age man dwelled on the site of the museum.

Barong, Legong, Kecak, Fire Dance

Art is everywhere in Bali. From the intricate flower decorations in a Barong dancer's headdress, to elaborately carved temple facades and beautiful oil paintings. Bali's performing arts are also an integral part of Balinese culture.

Music and dance play a huge part in significant rituals and religious ceremonies. Known as " the Island of the Gods" hardly a day goes by without a ceremony or festival taking place. Traditional dances with full gamelan orchestras are performed for tourists daily in addition to the day to day religious ceremonies. Definitely worth seeing.

Barong Dance

The Barong is triumphant display of graceful movement and vibrant colour. The dance is basically a contest between the opposing forces of Rangda - chaos and destruction, and Barong - order. (Basically good and evil.)

Performances
Suwung and Kesiman, in the suburbs of Denpasar.
Batubulan: Daily from 9:00 or 9:30 a.m.
Banjar Abasan, Singapadu: Daily from 9:30 a.m.
Puri Saren in Ubud: Fridays from 6:30 p.m.

Legong Dance

The Legong is a very difficult dance requiring great dexterity and is generally performed by young girls. The dance is choreographed to the finest detail, to a set pattern with no improvisation allowed.

Performances
Peliatan Stage, Friday from 6:30 p.m.
Pura Dalem & Puri Peliatan, Saturday from 6:30 p.m.
Pura Peliatan in Ubud, Sunday from 7:30 p.m.
Puri Saren, Ubud, Monday from 7:30 p.m.
Banjar Tegal, Kuta, Saturday and Tuesday from 8:00 p.m.

Kecak Dance

The kecak is a ritual dance which was created in the early 1930's for the movie "Island of the Demons" by the German painter and intellectual Walter Spies. The dance combines the chorus of the "Sanghyang" trance dance with a dance story from the epic "Ramayana."

It is extremely impressive with its circular chorus of sometimes over 100 bare-chested male singers.

Performances
Arts Center, Denpasar, daily from 6:30 p.m.
Banjar Buni, Kuta, Sunday from 8 p.m.
Banjar Tegal, Ubud, Sunday from 6:00 p.m.

Fire Dance

This dance is an exorcism dance form against spirit possession, where barefooted girls in trance dance among glowing coals.

Performances
Bona Kangin, Gianyar, Friday. Monday and Wednesday from 6:30
Bonasari, Gianyar, Friday, Monday and Wednesday from 7:00 p.m.
Batubulan, daily from 6:30 p.m.

Ramayana Dance

This highly entertaining dance form plays out the epic legends of the Ramayana. There are occasional performances in Banjar Buni, Kuta.

Shadow Puppets - Wayang Kulits

Wayang Kulit, is an Indonesian shadow puppet play, which uses intricately made and beautifully painted, gilded leather puppets. Although only the puppets' shadows are seen by the audience, the performances are fascinating. The stories told by shadows are often from the spirit world and are full of symbolism and mysticism.

A single, highly skilled puppeteer controls hundreds of puppets; plays out the roles of different characters with a different voice for each character; and leads the traditional musicians.

Wayang kulit plays can play for several hours or be several days long.

Performances
Popular performances are at Banjar Buni, Kuta, every Monday and Thursday 8:00 p.m.
Oka Kartini, Tebesaya, Peliatan, Ubud, on Saturdays from 8:00 p.m.

The Bali Aga

Bali culture is totally unique and permeates through every aspect of life. The influence of Hinduism the main religion is evident in the music, drama, art, costumes and festivals which take place daily.

You'll encounter a festival almost every day, celebrating the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Anthropologists believe that the Balinese are descended from the ancient Chinese, the Indians and Arabs from the west, and others who came to the island directly or via Java.

The Bali Aga (The Original Balinese)

The original Balinese or Bali Aga, are a unique ethnic group that still live and practise a way of life that pre-dates modern civilisation. The Bali Aga are thought to be the original inhabitants of Bali who fled imperialistic invaders, eventually finding refuge in the solitude of Bali's remote mountains. Only two villages remain - which until recently, were firmly shut away from the rest of the world, hidden in the hills of East Bali.

Located just west of Candi Dasa lie the villages of Tenganan and Trunyan, isolated across the vast Lake Kintamani. The villages, home to the Bali Aga, are shut off by a solid wall surrounding the entire village. The wall is only broken by means of four gates, each facing north, south, east and west. Within these walls lies a massive Banyan tree surrounded by a low wall of uncut stones, making up a small enclosure for a very sacred temple. Tenganan has only recently opened up to outsiders although strict rules still apply, especially concerning marriage to outsiders. Tenganan has wonderful fabrics, including the renowned double weave ikat cloth.

The villagers of Tenganan are tall and slender with very pale complexions and refined manners. The men folk still wear their hair long and have a communistic system which does not recognize individual ownership of property. Every house in Tenganan looks exactly alike, with a flight of steps leading to a small gate opening into a courtyard with sleeping quarters, kitchen, and a long house for storage. A small empty shrine, signifies a place where spirits may rest when they visit their descendants.

Tenganan owns huge tracts of fertile and well cultivated lands capable of satisfying the needs of the village; and also making Tenganan one of the richest in Bali.

A people known for their filed and blackened teeth, the Bali Aga are said to bring the spirits of their ancestors down to Earth for protection through sacrifices. The Bali Aga leave the bodies of their dead in the jungle to be carried away by the spirits, and they are believed to have possibly eaten parts of their headmen's bodies to absorb magic powers. Family clans are ruled by a council of elders who are also religious priests. The Bali Aga revere the forces of nature and the spirits of their ancestors, with whom they continue to live as a great family of both the living and the dead.

Bali Aga Rites

The Tenganans practice an ancient rite known as mekare kare, the ritual blood sacrifice. This is not as gory as it sounds, but an event where all villagers get involved in an annual ritual combat, using thorny pandan leaves to draw blood.

Each combatant hits his opponent with the aim of drawing blood. The ritual fight will be held every time there is a temple ceremony is Tenganan, which tends to fall in the fifth month of the Balinese calendar.

The fighting and the blood are real, and all participants come well prepared, carrying weapons of a rotan-woven shield and a bundle of thorny pandan leaves, used to scratch the opponent's skin until it bleeds.

Before the fight begins, participants drink rice wine or tuak, fermented local palm, to symbolise brotherhood and sportsmanship. But when the selonding music fills the air, a volley of fierce jeers, insults, cheers and shouts are thrown to instill fear. And the fighting begins.

The fighting is judged by a mediator, most probably a prominent figure of the village, and usually lasts for a fierce 5 to 10 minutes. The first person to draw blood with the thorny weapon is victor, and the person he draws blood from is the vanquished. Both victor and vanquished are broken up by the mediator as soon as blood is drawn.

As the injured are treated with traditional liquid medicines, and all fighters recover their strength, the whole village prepares food and drink for an elaborate feast which must follow the Balinese sacrifice of human blood.

Balinese culture has also got a population control mechanism in their child naming practices, and this is not only confined to the Bali Aga, but encompasses every Balinese. Every first born is named Wayan, second born Made, third Nyoman, and the fourth Ketut. Anymore children will see a repeat of the names following the order. But this practice definitely is a big hint and subtle reminder to stop at a maximum of four!

Balinese Religion

Nearly everything in Bali carries a religious significance from creating stone and wood carvings, cremation ceremonies, trance dances and gamelan music, are intended to please and appease the gods.

As most pleasing and appeasing rituals take place in a temple, temples are, undisputedly, the most important structure in Balinese culture, providing a pleasant resting place for the gods during their stay on the island.

Every house on the island has its own shrine, a resting place for ancestral spirits. Even the paddy fields have a shrine for Dewi Sri, the Rice Goddess. Each village has three temples, the Pura Puseh, dedicated to the villagers' ancestors, the Pura Desa, used for official celebrations, and the Pura Dalem or the temple of death, specially dedicated to the deities of death and of cremation.

Cremation Ceremonies

The Ngaben or Cremation Ceremony is a very important part of Balinese culture. The ceremony is performed to send the dead from death to the next life. When death descends on a Balinese, the village kul kul will sound, hanging in the village temple tower to announce the departure of the deceased.

The body will then be placed at the Bale Delod, and the deceased treated as if sleeping. No tears are shed as the Balinese believe that the deceased will return shortly to be reincarnated into the family.

The Priest will then consult the Dewasa for the day of the ngaben ceremony. On the appointed day, the body of the deceased is placed inside a coffin, which is then placed inside a wadah, or sarcophagus shaped in the form of a buffalo. It is actually a temple structure made of paper and light wood.

The funeral procession then leaves for the cremation site, carrying the wadah. The most important part of the ngaben is the burning of the wadah, with fire taken from a holy source, thus sending the deceased to the afterlife,to prepare for a future reincarnation.

An ideal destination for your honeymoon

Bali's beauty and allure make it a perfect place fro a honeymoon. Idyllic vistas over tropical shores, cool green forest with gentle breezes, or stunning views from cliff tops.

Honeymoon Hotels & Resorts in Bali

Snuggle up close in a private villa, or tucked up a deluxe suite secluded in a stunning beachside hotel.

Submerge yourself in total luxury at Bali's five star resorts like Four Season's Resort and the superlative Ritz-Carlton Bali at Jimbaran, for some unforgettable memories. Jimbaran's lovely setting also offers numerous restaurants with delectable offerings of ocean fresh seafood. The beaches here are dark and warm with exhilarating surfs and great waves to ride. If you prefer a cool hillside setting where you can relax in style, the incomparable Amanusa, located on the hillside overlooking the sea at Jimbaran may be just the answer - style with anonymity.

For a classy and stylish honeymoon, Nusa Dua provides elegant hotels and a beautiful setting. Luxury international hotels line a long stretch of fine white sand lapped by azure warm water. While Sanur offers luxury in the midst of traditional Balinese culture.

Tanjung Benoa and Amed with terrific sands and warm waters for great diving, snorkelling, and a host of fun water sports also offer excellent resorts.

Padang Bai has some of the most temptingly secluded beaches in Bali. Padang Bai is a truly charming village set in the beauty of a picturesque bay, which also doubles as a harbour for boats sailing the waters of Bali and its nearby Lombok.

There is a collection of idyllic seaside villages stretching from Lovina to the western part of Singaraja. This seafront charm lies in its many lovely coves. While the sand is a grey colour - a reflection of its volcanic origins, it's warm, smooth and fine. These coves also make for perfect snorkelling, but for breathtaking sunsets head for Tanah Lot.

Historical Towns

A honeymoon in culturally rich Bali would be incomplete without a visit to its historical towns, arts centres and temples. Start off with Denpasar, Bali's capital city, which also houses the Sanggraha Kriya Hasta. This large art centre houses an endless variety of handicrafts and works of art.

The Taman Wedhi Budaya, an arts centre with occasional exhibits of paintings, crafts and carvings, also hosts mesmerizing traditional dances every evening depicting historic and heroic moments.

Don't miss out on Amlapura, the major transport terminal for east Bali. Formerly known as Karangasem until 1963, it has the old Puri Agung Karangasem palace, once the stronghold of the past Rajas of Karangasem; and the ruins of the magnificent Taman Ujung water palace nearby.

The quiet village of Tirta Gangga is another attraction worth a visit. Meaning 'Water of the Ganges' Tirta Gangga has a variety of budget restaurants and hotels, pampering visitors attracted by Tirta Gangga's treks through lush greenery and the delightful Taman Tirta Gangga Water Palace.

Temples in Bali

Bali's fascinating temples are unforgettable. Start with temple of Batubulan with its artistic and finely carved heavenly beings and demons of sandstone.

No less stunning is the mountain resort of Bratan, in Bedugul, and the magnificent Ulun Danu, an inspiring place of worship that appears to rise out of waters of Lake Bratan. This resort also offers numerous water sports like boating, water skiing, and parasailing.

Bali's Pura Besakih, known as the Mother Temple of Bali, is spectacularly perched at 1,000 metres above sea level, on the slopes of Mount Agung. The sprawling Pura Besakih was built in the 11th century and is Bali's oldest and biggest Hindu temple.

The Pura Jagatnatha in Denpasar is another awe-inspiring piece of Balinese architecture. It was built in reverence to the Supreme God of Bali, the Sang Hyang Widi. The renowned Kertha Gosa, the Royal Court of Justice, was built in the ancient town of Klungklung way back in the 18th century.

Kertha Gosa known throughout the world for its of a ceiling masterpiece, dominating murals portraying the bliss of heaven and the tortures of hell in traditional Balinese wayang art. Klungklung's golden era is preserved in its floating pavilion, elaborate gardens and lovely lotus ponds.

The Pura Tirta Empul can be found in Tampak Siring. Built around a sacred spring, it has an inscription dating the spring back to 926AD! The temple and its springs are believed to bring good health and prosperity.

The royal Taman Ayun temple in Tanah Lot was built in the 1624, and is one of Bali's most astounding sea temples. Sitting on a massive rock, it is completely surrounded by the sea and cleverly guarded by guardians of the temple, poisonous sea snakes staying in the caves at the temple's base.

A little to the north of Ubud is the Pura Penataran Sasih, housing the famous huge bronze drum is said to be 2,000 years old. Legend tells that this huge drum fell to earth as the mystical Moon of Pejeng. (More on Bali Temples)

Bali Museums

Most of Bali's museums and galleries are found in Bali's cultural heart - the town of Ubud. Paintings, woodcarvings, textiles and all kinds of handicrafts and souvenirs are on display and for sale at the many museums and galleries

Museums which should be on your list are the Museum Puri Lukisan in centre of Ubud, the Neka Museum in Campuhan, Seniwati Gallery and Agung Rai Museum in Pengosekan. Honeymooners may be particularly interested in the Museum Le Mayeur in Sanur, southern Bali which holds the memory and enduring love of Le Mayeur and Ni Polok. Exhibits are from the collection of Le Mayeur's paintings; most of which depicts the love of his life, Ni Polok a beautiful and young Balinese dancer whom the significantly older Le Mayeur subsequently married. (More on Bali Museums)

Bali's History

Bali's history and fortunes have often been determined by the larger islands surrounding it. Its ties with neighbouring Lombok, Java and Sumbawa have often been turbulent and bloody.

But Bali has remained a place of mystery and intense beauty, not only in its surroundings, but also in the romance, bravery and tragedy of its past.

Since the beginning of time

Bali has been inhabited for a long time. Sembiran, a village in northern Bali, was believed to have been home to the people of the Ice Age, proven by the discovery of stone axes and adzes.

Further discoveries of more sophisticated stone tools, agricultural techniques and basic pottery at Cekik in Bali's far west, point to the people of the Neolithic era. At Cekik, there is evidence of a settlement together with burial sites of around a hundred people thought to be from the Neolithic through to the Bronze Age.

The massive drums of the Bronze Age, together with their stone moulds have been discovered throughout the Indonesian archipelago, including the most famous and largest drum in Southeast Asia, the Moon of Pejeng, nearly two metres wide, now housed in a temple in east Ubud. In East Java and Bali, there has also been a concentration of carved stone sarcophagi which you can see in the Bali Museum in Denpasar and the Museum Purbakala in Pejeng.

Of early traders and olden kingdoms

Bali was busy with trade from as early as 200 BC. The prasasti, or metal inscriptions, Bali's earliest written records from the ninth century AD, show a significant Buddhist and Hindu influence; especially in the statues, bronzes and rock-cut caves around Gunung Kawi and Goa Gajah.

Balinese society was pretty sophisticated by about 900 AD Their marriage portrait of the Balinese King Udayana to East Java's Princess Mahendratta is captured in a stone carving in the Pura Korah Tegipan in the Batur area. Their son, Erlangga, born around 991 AD, later succeeded to the throne of the Javanese kingdom and brought Java and Bali together until his death in 1049.

In 1284, Bali was conquered by Kertanegara, the ruler of the Singasari; until the turn of the century, saw Bali under its own rule under the hands of King Bedaulu of Pejeng, east of Ubud.

Mighty Majapahut and golden Bali

1343 AD, is an important date in Bali's history. It was then that the whole island was conquered by East Java under the mighty Hindu Majapahit kingdom. This resulted in massive changes in Balinese society, including the introduction of the caste system.

Balinese who did not embrace the changes fled to the isolated and remote mountainous areas hill areas. Their descendants are known today as the Bali Aga or Bali Mula, meaning the "original Balinese" They still live separately in villages like Tenganan near Candi Dasa and Trunyan on the shores of Lake Batur, and maintain their ancient laws and traditional ways.

When Majapahit in East Java fell in 1515, the many small Islamic kingdoms in the island merged into the Islamic Mataram empire, Majapahit's most dedicated Hindu priests, craftsmen, soldiers, nobles and artists fled east to Bali, and flooded the island with Javanese culture and Hindu practices. Considering the huge influence and power of Islam at the time, it is worth pondering why and how Bali still remained strongly Hindu and Buddhist.

Batu Renggong, also known as Dewa Agung, meaning great god, became king in 1550, and this title became hereditary through the succeeding generations of the kingdom of Gelgel, and later Klungkung, until the twentieth century. Bali reached the pinnacle of its Golden Era under the reign of the Batu Renggong, the great god ruler. Bali's decline started when Batu Renggong's grandson, Di Made Bekung, lost Blambangan, Lombok and Sumbawa. DI Made Bekung's chief minister, Gusti Agung Maruti, eventually rebelled and reigned from 1650 till 1686, when he in turn was killed by DI Made Bekung's son, Dewa Agung Jambe, who then moved the court to Klungkung, and named his new palace the Semarapura, Abode of the God of Love.

Of foreign tricks and trade

Bali was unknown to Europeans until the end of the fifteenth century when explorers from Portugal, Spain and England encountered the island while searching for the lucrative spice islands. Bali was marked on their maps as Balle, Ilha Bale or Java Minor, but rarely visited.

Later in the nineteenth century, conflicts in Europe brought massive repercussions in Bali. In 1840, the Dutch envoy, with the very skillful and devious negotiator, Huskus Koopman, began a series of visits to persuade the Balinese to agree to Dutch sovereignty. He managed to make treaties with the regencies of Badung, Klungkung, Buleleng, Karangasem and Tabanan agreeing to a Dutch trade monopoly, while the rajas failed to realize that they had also virtually agreed to give the Dutch sovereignty over their lands and reefs.

Most regencies ratified the treaties, but Buleleng and Karangasem stood firm. The brother of the rajas of Buleleng and Karangasem, Gusti Ketut Jelantik, finally voiced the brave sentiments that, "Not by a mere scrap of paper shall any man become the master of another's lands. Rather let the kris decide. The kris, a traditional curved knife, used in battle, did decide when on May 20, 1849, after years of domination and hardship, the Balinese of Karangasem all committed puputan, or ritual suicide. So the stage was set for the Balinese who preferred to die than live cheated and subservient to Dutch power.

Colonial rule and Dutch rules

The puputan caused quite a stir in Europe and the United States and the Dutch were pressured to moderate their policies in Bali and Indonesia. But having gained control of the island, the Dutch continued with the Ethical Policy of governing, a philosophy and approach, which they claimed upheld Balinese values.

Businesses were not encouraged out to Bali, but KPM, a steamship line started promoting tourism on Bali. The island's first few visitors stepped ashore in the 1920s, and by the 1930s Bali was welcoming around a hundred visitors every month.

Bali's visitors were mostly artists, musicians, anthropologists and writers; many made the enchanting island their home like the famous and infamous Walter Spies, the wonderful K'tut Tantri and the quirky yet talented Louise and Bob Koke.

Independence

Throughout the 19th and 20th century relations with the Dutch were still turbulent resulting in the loss of many lives. In 1949, under continuing world pressure, the UN Security Council ordered the Dutch to withdraw their armed forces and negotiate, instead of dominate.

In 1950, the Republic of Indonesia was formed, with Sukarno as president. While Bali is part of Indonesia, there are significant religious, historic and cultural differences with Java and the other main islands. Present day Bali remains independent with a strong Hindu / Buddhist in a country dominated by Islam, retaining a certain amount of autonomy from Jakarta.

Butterfly Parks, Zoo, Elephant Safaris, Monkey Forest

As you'd expect from a holiday destination that's on a tropical island that's so lush and green, Bali has a wonderful variety of wildlife and animal parks and attractions that allow you to get to see Bali's wildlife up close.

Butterfly Park

The Bali Butterfly Park in Tabanan is the island's sole butterfly enclosure. Acres of charming grounds and intricately landscaped gardens, make it a lovely home to these beautiful creatures. Definitely worth a visit. The Bali Bird Park in Batubulan, has over a thousand birds including rare Indonesian species in beautifully landscaped grounds.

Elephant Safaris

Lumbering around... Bali's majestic elephants can be found in the Bali Elephant Safari Park of Desa Taro, north of Ubud. This park offers visitors a chance to get up close and personal with the peaceful giants and also go for a sight-seeing expedition on the backs of these towering peaceful creatures.

Sangeh Monkey Forest

The Sangeh Monkey Forest near the village of Sangeh, in south western Bali, has six hectares of forest land with giant nutmeg trees. Home to hordes of sacred monkeys in the forest. The monkeys here inhabit both the trees and the Pura Bukit Sari, a temple deep within the fragrant greens.

Ubud Monkey Forest

The Ubud Monkey Forest is a natural forest reserve popular with both locals and tourists. Inhabited by wild monkeys (don't even think about petting them) but tame enough to steal your bananas, handbags, toupes, etc., These mischievous monkeys provide lots of entertainment in their own habitat. Pleasantly laid out along two roads its smaller than the Sangeh Monkey Forest, with interesting meandering paths leading to charming bathing temple surrounded by lush remnants of dipterocarp forest.

Just off the main square is a lovely arched stone bridge leading to the forest's most alluring feature - the Hindu elephant-headed Lord Ganesh sitting comfortably overlooking a small, square, moss-covered pool where several Koi swim at his feet.

Bird Park

Bali's Bird Park (Taman Burung Bali) in Singapadu, near Batubulan, houses over 1000 birds, with rare and beautiful varieties from all over Indonesia. One of the goals of the park is to breed endangered species in captivity in the quest of preservation. This includes the indigenous Bali Mynah.

Even those who do not have any particular interest in ornithology will be impressed by the two hectares of lush tropical gardens.

Bullock Races

Negara is Western Bali's major town and transport terminal. It is calm, silent and relaxing all year through, except for the months of July through October, when it is time for Bali's unique bullock races!

Surfing in Kuta Beach, Kite Surfing, Parasailing

The story goes that Kuta's rolling waves were discovered by the first surfers in the 1930's. They've been drawing those in search of sun, sea and long rides through glassy tubes ever since.

Bali's coastline provides an ideal place for surfing. Reef breaks, lagoons and varying conditions create great waves for both veteran surfers and newbies. Experienced surfers can head to the outer reef breaks, while newbies can opt for a gentler ride in the lagoons. Bali is a perfect place to learn this exhilarating sport with boards for rent at the main surfing beaches and lessons available.

Many local shops in Kuta cater to surfers, so if you've forgotten wax, rashguards, etc., it's not a problem. You can buy or rent surfboards from the beach by the hour or the day (negotiable) You can also buy the latest surfer gear that goes with it.

Surfing in Kuta Beach

Kuta is Bali's premier surfing beach. Beginner or expert, Kuta caters to all. Lessons are available for beginners plus board rental if you need basic equipment. The locals and regular surfers will tell you the best places.

Need a ride out to the outer reef? No problem boats are available for hire in Tuban, or opt for more mellow beach breaks in front of the Hard Rock hotel. Serious surfers now head for the Bukit Peninsula. (Hotels in Kuta)

Surfing in Bukit Peninsula

Located in south-west Bali ... This is where the world famous surf waves are to be found. Uluwatu, Impossibles, Bingin - poetically named waves that break on shallow reefs creating those lovely long long tubes...

Surfing in Sanur

November to April produces perfect right handers which can result lovely long hollow waves at high tides. Turtle Island or Serangan, has a good reef break but can get a bit crowded if there's a big swell. (Hotels in Sanur)

Kite Surfing

An extreme water sport! Best time is from May until October in the dry season when the wind is around 12-15 knots. Prime spots are Canggu (advanced only)

Complete beginners can get lessons and try at Sanur Lagoon. Local shops can provide equipment hire and lessons.

Parasailing

Parasailing is mostly available in Tanjung Benoa near Nusa Dua or in the Sanur area.

Whitewater Rafting, Cycling, Trekking, Waterfalls...

Whitewater rafting, river kayaking and cycling are just a few of the activities on offer around Bali's beautiful interior. Mountain trekking and climbing ancient volcanoes are among the more exotic pastimes on such a small island. No wonder it's been voted the best island destination by readers of prestigious magazine "Travel and Leisure."

Soak up refreshing jungle sights and smells at Bali's rich national parks and botanical gardens, have a splashing time at Bali's waterfalls, or dip into the soothingly hot springs of Banjar...

Whitewater Rafting in Bali

The spectacular Ayung gorge provides the setting for one of the most exhilarating of white water rafting adventures. The shallow winding river Ayung offers an adrenaline pumping ride with stops along the truly idyllic shoreline.

A number of experienced companies run by veteran river guides operate tours including the adventure specialists SOBEK who also operate mountain treks and cycling tours.

Bali Cycling Tours

A perfect way to see the countryside - these "gentle adventures" offer a ride through rainforest, ricefields and the Bali backwaters with a few climbs up one or two hills!

Local guides will give you an insight into Balinese rural life, customs and religion, en route. An excellent way to quietly slip into the Balinese lifestyle.

Trekking in Bali

Some places you simply can't take a bike.... like a volcano. Bali's ancient and rugged landscape is well represented by Danau Batur, also known as Gunung Batur. The volcanic cones of Gunung Batur are located in massive bowl-shaped calderas. The majestic Gunung Batur rises to a towering 1,717 metres, and remains one of Bali's natural wonders.

Best viewed in the early morning at sunrise, Gunung Agung Bali's highest and most revered mountain, is the island's ultimate trekking challenge. It is not difficult to climb, but you need a reasonable level of fitness. Start really early - a few hours before sunrise. You'll need a guide to take you up in the dark. The locals are well used to starting at 3am so don't worry. They'll show you a trick or two about avoiding loose shale under your feet, and even demonstrate how to boil an egg on the hot rocks!

Some of the locals (obviously triathlon candidates) will climb ahead of you (actually they whizz past) just to have a coke or water ready when you reach the top. They've made the effort to climb, so don't begrudge the slightly higher price for a drink! After all, how many people can say they sat on a volcano at sunrise and were waited upon?

Do remember to report to the police station at Selat before start off on your excursion, and drop by again on your return. A guide is necessary, and one can be pre-arranged in Selat or Muncan by just asking around the markets, or by contacting the Selat police station. (Bali's Forrests, Mountains & Parks)

Bali Waterfalls & Hot Springs

Splashing around... The cascading Gitgit Waterfalls close to Singaraja, present a spectacular 40 metres of crystal clear water rushing headlong into a seemingly bottomless pool. This alluring pool carries its own tale which can only be unlocked by a visit.

The Blahmantung Waterfalls in Pupuan takes long walk to reach but is really worth the effort. The Air Terjun Singsing west of Lovina, actually means Daybreak Waterfall, gushes will all the possibilities and strength of a refreshing brand new day.

Another spot well known for its waters are the pools of Yeh Sanih. The attractions here are freshwater springs channeled into clean and tempting swimming pools, amid charming garden surroundings.

The steaming Hot Springs of Banjar in south-eastern Bali are also worth a few days of heavenly soaking. Located close to the Brahmavihara Arama in Banjar, Bali's only Buddhist monastery, with a handsome structure offering inspiring views of land and sky meeting sea. (Bali Waterfalls & Springs)

Rambling & Adventure Challenges in Bali

Wandering around... It is truly a treat to be able to wander freely around the Bali Botanical Gardens in Bedugul, deep in the heart of northern Bali. Established in 1959, it is a rambling 120 hectares, high on the slopes of Tree Mountain; with a massive collection of trees; and five hundred species of exotic orchids!

Western Bali's Taman Nasional Bali Barat is a conservation park spread over almost the whole of the island's western tip. It is bordered by open savannahs, dense rainforests, tangles of mangrove swamps, and the colourful coral reefs of the renowned Deer Island, locally called Pulau Menjangan, habitat of the rare Java Deer.

Outward Bound, recognised in team building programmes offers high and low rope challenges over the Ayung river canyon together with a variety of other challenging team-building exercises.

Bali Horse Riding

Canter through ricefields, gallop on the beach or gently trot through villages. Organised by Umalas stables on a spectacular beach north of Kuta.

Elephant Safaris

Lumbering around... Bali's majestic elephants can be found in the Bali Elephant Safari Park of Desa Taro, north of Ubud. This park offers visitors a chance to get up close and personal with the peaceful giants and also go for a sight-seeing expedition on the backs of these towering peaceful creatures