Do The Balihoo!
10 things
to do when you’re in Bali
YOU KNOW how people ask,
if you get stuck on an island someday, what would you do?
This actually happened to
me. Due to a mistake in my visa for New Zealand, I had to change course and ended
up having an unplanned holiday in Bali for a couple of weeks.
Bali is far from being a
desert island. There are hundreds of things you can do. But here are some
things I did that I recommend highly should you ever visit this beautiful
island.
1 Ubud
is worth all the hype created by Julia Roberts in the movie Eat, Pray, Love.
So spend a few days here at a villa overlooking lush green paddy fields, walk
down the monkey forest road, popping into little art shops on the way. Watch
the artists create Balinese art and sign up for an art class.
2 Rent
a bicycle and explore the surrounding areas. Pick any cycling trail.
Friendly locals will guide you if you’re lost in the beautiful fields.
3 Watch
a traditional dance show. There are many to choose from: the fire dance
was my favourite. The puppet show was great too. Most shops carry a schedule of
the shows so you can pick and choose or go for all if you have the time.
4 Bali
is famous for its beautiful temples. There are hundreds of
them, so keep a couple of days aside to explore at least the main ones. Begin
with the Goa Gajah cave temple. Take a boat ride around the Ulun Danu Bratan
temple in the Beratan lake surrounded by mountains – it’s magical if the day is
cloudy. Visit the Uluwatu temple at the very tip of Bali and enjoy a beautiful
sunset on a cliff if you chance upon the place on an evening. End another
evening at the Tanah Lot Temple that’s guarded by the mighty ocean itself and
may or may not grant you access depending on the tides.
5 Wake
up really, early and drive or trek to the sleeping volcanic mountain, Mt
Batur, to see the most spectacular sunrise ever.
6 If
you’re a coffee enthusiast, Bali is your haven. Check
out Luwak coffee, an Indonesian speciality. Once you discover how it’s made,
you might see how it’s not to everyone’s liking! But do a coffee tasting: they
serve you a host of flavours and for a coffee lover, it’s magical.
7 Stay
at a beautiful beach villa in Seminyak. It’s got beaches, beach
clubs, organic cafes, little boutique stores and some great restaurants.
Seminyak is fun: it’s cosmopolitan, it’s filled with foreigners and it’s
essentially a little melting pot of a holiday island.
8 Do a
long brunch at Kudetah beach club and spend the day on
their beach bed doing absolutely nothing. It’s a great vantage point for a
sunset. Read a book, drink beer and get a massage on the beach.
9 Spend
an evening in Kuta, where Goa meets Bangkok. It’s where the hectic partying happens.
Stay a day at the Hard Rock Hotel if you’re a hard rock fan, go club hopping
and drink the night away
10 Go
to Jimbaran for the most serene beach experience: beaches with
velvet sand and spectacular sunsets, villas overlooking the beautiful bay, and
tons of seafood restaurants. Bali has a positive and warm vibe. I came away
sated and happy. This is definitely one of the best islands I have randomly
been stuck on.
·
By Rick Roy HTBrunch 27NOV16
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