Location: Indonesia, Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago
Area: 5780 km²
Content:
Bali is an unusual part of wonderful Indonesia, in which many tourists from all over the world rest. The inhabitants of Indonesia adhere to the Muslim faith, but Bali is inhabited by followers of Hinduism and Buddhism. A fabulously beautiful island like a magnet attracts fans of surfing and diving, connoisseurs of exotic nature, therapeutic massage and spiritual practices.
Where do tourists go?
Bali is a relatively small island with an area of 5,780 sq. km. It stretches for 145 km from west to east, and 80 km from north to south. From end to end, you can easily drive in one day.
There are four cities here. The largest of them is the capital of the province of Denpasar. A slightly smaller industrial center in the north is Singaraja. Even less is the tourist city of Kuta, which today practically merged with Denpasar and turned into a suburb of the island capital. A special place is occupied by colorful Ubud - the cultural heart of Bali.
Where are the most famous vacation spots? Kuta and Seminyak are considered party centers. Both resorts lie on the southwestern coast of the island. There are many night discos, bars, club parties, art galleries and boutiques in noisy towns. Kuta looks more democratic, and the prices are budgetary. Seminyak is a pretentious place where everything is more expensive.
Nusa Dua is aimed at wealthy tourists who like a high level of service and comfort. The resort has many luxury hotels, spas and golf courses. To save money, many choose the neighboring resort town of Tanjung Benoa. There are 3-4 * hotels, and the cost of rest is lower.
Ubud is not on the ocean, but that does not make it less attractive to tourists. People go to the picturesque resort to get acquainted with traditional crafts, buy beautiful souvenirs, outfits, visit ancient temples, the Botanical Garden and the Monkey Forest.
The Balinese resorts of Uluwatu and Canggu are recognized as a surfer's paradise. There are always high waves and steady wind in these places. Sanur and Jimbaran are ideal for a relaxing beach holiday. Families with children, wealthy pensioners and newlyweds like to relax here.
Amed is located in the east of the island and Lovina in the north. Both resorts are remote from the airport and cannot boast of a well-developed infrastructure. They attract those who crave silence and want to see the real non-tourist Bali.
Leisure seasons
The island has a hot climate with high humidity. The equator is just a stone's throw away, so the change of seasons is imperceptible. From month to month the air temperature reaches + 30 ... + 32 ° С, and sea water + 28 ° С.
There are two seasons in Bali. It rains from November to March. The rainiest months are considered to be the winter months, when the air humidity exceeds 85%. Showers start unexpectedly and often spoil the excursion program. Ocean waves cause storms. During the low season, there are fewer tourists on the island and house prices are falling.
Tirta Gangga Water Palace
The dry season starts in April, but the bulk of tourists come to Bali from May to the end of October. At this time, the island is sunny, there is no high humidity, and it rarely rains. Surfers are not very worried about the vagaries of the weather, so they rest in Indonesia all year round.
Where to stay in Bali and how much does it cost
There is a lot of accommodation for tourists on the island. Rooms in luxury hotels start at $ 50 per night, and villas with a private pool start at $ 100. Double rooms in good budget hotels in any part of Bali can be rented for $ 11-15. Accommodation in guesthouses is even cheaper - $ 8-10. The cheapest accommodation is offered in hostels. For a bed in Kuta you need to pay only $ 4-6.
Rice terraces
Many tourists arrive in Bali on a voucher, and then the issue with the hotel is resolved by itself. Those who travel on their own make reservations in advance or look for suitable options locally. The latter option is more convenient and cheaper.
Housing prices on the coast are higher than inland. Hotels in major tourist centers are more expensive than in smaller coastal villages. If you rent a house for a long time, you can count on a good discount.
The tropical island is so colorful that vacationers do not live in one place for a long time. They travel from end to end of Bali and try to see as much interesting things as possible at different resorts.
Ujung Palace
Balinese food
Balinese cuisine is based on meat, seafood, fish and vegetables. Chicken and pork, different types of fish and shrimp are used here for cooking. The locals love tofu. They bake soy "cheese" on the fire, stew, boil and fry. Indonesians eat three types of rice - white nasi path, red nasi mera and yellow nasi kuning, which is rice with spices.
Just learn the names of the most popular dishes in Balinese and you won't go hungry! Fried egg noodles "mi goreng" and fried rice "nasi goreng" are only $ 1-1.5, while a serving of hearty soup is $ 1.3. Seasonal fruits and vegetables are inexpensively sold in the markets, but prices for alcohol, cheese and milk are high.
While on holiday in Bali, you should try "gado-gado" - a dish of boiled vegetables with tofu and peanut sauce. The aromatic gado-gado is often accompanied by fish or shrimp chips.
Pura Tanah Lot Temple
Balinese cook excellent poultry "betutu". Chicken or duck is carefully beaten, marinated in spices and herbs, and stewed in banana leaves. All tourists like babi guling - a suckling pig roasted on a spit.
In tourist restaurants, especially those located on the first line from the sea, food is expensive. Much more democratic prices are in local eateries - warungs. However, these establishments are different. The island has varungs designed for locals and tourists. There is no English menu in the Balinese warungs, but the food is very cheap and delicious.
Natural attractions
Bali is very different from the rest of Indonesia. There are four types of forests growing here. In the west of the island, there are moist evergreen rainforests. The highlands are dominated by mountain forests, while the wide valleys are dominated by savannahs. The most inaccessible deciduous forests are found in the remote northwestern regions of Bali.
Pura Besakih temple
The locals appreciate the banana groves. Bananas are considered sacred plants on the island. Their fruits feed a variety of animals, from squirrels to monkeys. Bali's forests are home to several types of palms, ebony and bamboo.
Tourists come to the island to visit the spacious sandy beaches, see the picturesque rice terraces and climb the Agung and Batur volcanoes. Bali pleases with powerful waterfalls, beautiful mountain lakes, strawberry farms and coffee plantations.
Religious monuments
The island is home to 3.89 million people. More than 83% of the residents profess the local variety of Hinduism. About 13% are Muslims and the rest are Christians and Buddhists.
Ulun Danu Temple
Bali is called "the island of a thousand temples", although in fact their number exceeds 10 thousand. The inhabitants are very religious and devote a significant part of their time and energy to rituals. Temples and palaces in Bali are looked after, rich offerings are left in them and colorful holidays are held.
Souvenirs
What can you bring back from Bali? Natural cosmetics are popular among tourists. The island makes excellent oils, gels and ointments from medicinal plants and minerals. The most famous brands are Cantika, Sensatia, Blue Stone, Muka Skincare, Utama Spice, Bali Alus.
Tirta Empul Temple
Summer clothes are willingly brought from Bali - slates, swimwear, sundresses, shorts, shirts. All this is inexpensive and sold in any Balinese resort. Vacationers love cotton shawls or sarongs.They can be used to shelter from the sun, wrap them around the body, or lay them on the sand instead of a beach mat. A popular souvenir is jewelry made of silver and gold, which is made in the village of jewelers Cheluke.
From the island, they bring original wooden masks, carved lingams, musical instruments, paintings by local artists, incense, decorative weapons and puppets of the Balinese shadow theater. From food, tourists are happy to take unusual coffee "luwak", spices, chia seeds, exotic fruits and local alcohol.
When buying souvenirs, it is important to know what cannot be exported from Bali. Rare animals and birds, turtle shells, stuffed animals, antiques and wood carvings equated to antiques will not be allowed through customs. It is forbidden to export unprocessed shells, corals and ivory items.
The Gunung Kawi Tombs
How to get there
From St. Petersburg and Moscow to Bali fly with transfers. The planes make a stop in the United Arab Emirates - Dubai, Doha or Singapore. All flights are accepted by the only airport in Denpasar. From the Balinese capital, tourists get to the resorts by taxis, rented cars and public transport - buses and bemo minibuses.
