Bali Information Guide: bali travel

Showing posts with label bali travel. Show all posts

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Bali Travel Guide With Attractions In Bali For Bali Newbie

Bali Travel Guide Advice And Attactions In Bali For First Time Visitors To Bali

So When Should You Travel To Bali?

I will always recommend all my friends, colleagues and associates to visit Bali during the dry season in May-July, the best period to visit Bali in terms of weather. However, preferences may differ depending on the type of tourist you are, surfers like it bright and sunny while explorers and newly-weds prefer the weather to be cool. During May-July, the beaches in the western part of Bali is known to have beautiful waves which surfers like! My best recommendation is to check on the weather forecast for the days when you'll be visiting Bali and plan accordingly. I noticed that most Aussies travel to Bali during Christmas and May-August during their school breaks. Europeans normally in June-July. However, no matter who you are and where you're from always remember to book your flight tickets and accomodation early so that you can get better prices. Do visit BALI HOTELS REVIEW to get UNBIASED &HONEST hotel reviews in Bali.

With the mentally spiritual destination in Bali lying in the mountains, the tourist heart of the island lies in the south, where major tourist destinations in Bali are located. They are Kuta, Legian, Sanur and Nusa Dua. This is the main destination or at least the embarking point for the majority of visitors, especially those arriving by air. Those staying in any of the above-mentioned areas will find it quite easy to make day trips to most of the popular tourist destinations, including Gunung Agung and Besakih temple, Kintamani, Lovina Beach, Candidasa, and Ubud, the main art hub in Bali and for the Balinese. However... Please do make sure that you allocate at least 2 days for UBUD, to get a real feel of the Balinese culture, arts and attractions. Ubud is the main cultural heart for Bali.

Bali's timezone is +8 hours, same as Singapore, Bangkok and Malaysia's timezone and 1 hour ahead of Jakarta, Indonesia's capital. Bali's main currency is Ruppiah (IDR) with denomination notes of Ruppiah 100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000 denominations. USD or United States Dollar $ is also widely acceptable in Bali. Normal changing rate is IDR 10,000 for USD $1.

What Should I Do In Bali?

I say.. you MUST watch the Balinese Dance, a pillar and famous Balinese Culture. Balinese Dances have historically played an important role in Balinese society. Through this art, people learn about the tales of the Ramayana, Mahabarata and other epic stories from Balinese history. Balinese dance never fails to awe the audience including myself, a native Balinese and they never fail to put a smile on my face :) A place i'll recommend is Lotus Pond Restaurant in Ubud. The settings of the garden in Lotus Pond Restaurant (Jalan Raya, Ubud) is a beautiful environment where you can watch TRADITIONAL & ORIGINAL Balinese Dance. The Thursday night performance by Balinese kids from the age of 9-18 is DEFINITELY charming and enchanting. Entrance fee is Rp 50,000 for a 75mins dance show which starts normally at 7.30pm. The only problem is during the rainy season when a sudden downpour may mean they dash up to perform in a hall at the back – but trust me, that’s interesting itself and you still get to experience the beautiful Balinese Dance.

Next on the list, I normally bring my visiting friends and associates for some monkeying around in Bali's Monkey Forest - Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (Jalan Monkey Forest, Padangtegal, Ubud; 62-361-971304; www.monkeyforestubud.com). The monkeys, being Ubud's most beloved residents, live in a dense forest to the south of Ubud, complete with their own temple. If you go to the Monkey Forest, just be careful, particularly with regards to your children. The monkeys go for 'bright' - glasses, cameras, watches, jewellery and can rip bags of peanuts out of your or your child's hand. Not to forget.. leave your bananas and never buy bananas on your way to the Monkey Forest. While this can be amusing for your kids, it can also be distressing if the monkey escapes with your goods or worst still, an experience that my own brother will never forget whereby he got attacked by the playful but fierce Monkeys which leave his arm torn and bleeding badly. He ended up getting 12 stitches on his arms and vow that he'll never bring banana's again, even if it's for the monkeys.. Hehehe... Admission is 10,000 rupiah, or about $1 at 10,000 rupiah to the dollar.

My favourite activity in Ubud itself is to experience Ayung River.. Wanna know why most of the expensive luxury hotels in Ubud are built along this river? Just one answer and that is, THE VIEWS ARE SIMPLY AWE-INSPIRING AND GORGEOUS!!! See it for yourself and click on that cameras so that you can boast to your friends and family that will definitely make them wanna visit Bali! Don't forget to get yourself wet in these naturally beautiful clean river in Ubud which will definitely gives you good memories of Ubud! Hehe.. Do climb aboard a rubber raft while you're in Ayung River and watch the waterfalls with thick vines along the low-flying swallows go by. Bali Adventure Tours (0361-721480, www.baliadventuretours.com) runs 90-minute trips down the river starting at $60 for a morning trip that includes a basic lunch of rice and egg rolls.

After some monkeying around and getting wet in the rivers of Ubud, you should pamper yourself with a Balinese Massage (Do read What Is Balinese Massage to get an idea of a Balinese Massage) Don't worry, it won't burn a hole in your pockets.. My elders always remind me that four hands beat two hand :) so why not book a four-handed massage at Spa Hati (Jln Raya Andong no. 14, Peliatan, Ubud; 0361-977-578), a massage salon with stone and thatched-roof compound at the edge of Ubud. I recommend you to try the four-handed massage packet with "Lulur", a traditional Javanese body scrub using blends of rice flour and secret herbs — 90minutes massage packet for only Rp 225,000. After the massage, the unhurried staff lets you relax for as long as you want in the hot tub, listening to little frogs make big noises in the rice paddy next door. And about that cheap labor: spa profits help support the Bali Hati Foundation, a non-profit organization that runs community programs and help the needy Balinese, including building a school for the local less-privileged kids.

Now, for the best show in town guys! Head for Seminyak beach, to the north of Kuta by 5.30pm so that you can get the best front-row seats in "Breeze" an elegant and sleek beachside bar & restaurant at the Samaya Hotel in Jalan Laksmana(Seminyak), for the MOST DAZZLING ROMANTIC SUNSET in BALI and Indonesia!!! Don't forget to order yourself a glass, or if you must, a bottle of WINE. The decks are so close to the surfs that you can almost feel the foam from the breakers!

Besides witnessing the Sunset in Bali, you should experience the beaches in Bali. Bali have many beautiful beaches that is good for swimming, surfing, or just reading and chilling on the sand. Some hotels and villages groom the beaches and ensure their cleanliness. Also, the quality of a beach can change drastically between seasons, depending on the location of the beach and the direction it faces. To be sure and get more useful insights into the beaches in Bali, do visit Bali Beaches Guide.

Bali is not complete if you don't have a night out in the club :) Night life in Bali starts late, which means around midnight. Tourists normally wonder why the expats and locals only start partying at around 1am – even in Kuta where most of the top clubs are, clubs only start getting crowded after midnight. Do visit Ku De Ta, a modern and trendy spot that faces the surf where young Balinese adults especially the beautifully-flashin

g babes hangs out (Jalan Laksmana 9, Seminyak; KuDeTa). It's a shockingly sceney — a DVD is sold showing highlights of the high season. Get yourself seats by the beach with sights of the beautiful waves crashing in, illuminated with the help of floodlights from the club. After Ku De Ta, head on to Double Six Club (Jln Double Six Blue Ocean Boulevard, Seminyak; 0361-733067 - www.doublesixclub.com; Ruppiah 70,000 for admission), with a gigantic dance floor and bungee jumping, YES you heard me right - bungee jumping, on weekend nights. But don't show up before 3 a.m. For more information on Bali Nightlife do read Bali Nightlife - Bali After Dark

After you're done with having fun and getting a feel of Bali and Balinese cultures... it's time to do some shopping for souvenirs and more! You can go shopping for handicrafts and arts such as antique furnitures, balinese paintings, delicately crafted Balinese gold and silver, wood and stone carvings, masks, woven and dyed fabrics and etc. in many shops in the Kuta/Legian area, in Sanur, in various handicraft villages and the Sukawati market on the way to Ubud and in Ubud itself.

Please forget the idea of DUTY FREE SHOPS and do not visit them by all means! Local-made goods are over-priced and sold at ridiculous prices in DFS. Imagine, just one bottle of HATTEN Rose wine which is made in Sanur costs US$11 in DFS outlets. That is way more expensive than in most local restaurants! It's worst if you're looking for a beautiful French made blouse, a designer handbag, some jewellry or a dress watch for your partner to wear at a special occasion in Bali, you'll totally waste your time and MONEY!

PLEASE DO BARGAIN ON THE PRICES NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE AND WHETHER YOU HAVE LOTS OF CASH OR NOT!

Bali is the best place to master the "Bargaining Art". Unless the product is price-tagged, bargaining is a must and you shouldn't be ashamed of it! Trust me, it's gonna be fun and bargaining is an exciting thing to do! If you have never bargained before, the bargaining masters will find it exhilarating, especially when a good deal was struck. Many come to Bali with a 'shop until you drop' attitude, so you would probably end up buying a few things anyhow. There are numerous western-style department stores and shopping centers in Denpasar, Kuta-Legian, Sanur and Nusa Dua that offer a range of clothing, shoes, leather goods, sports gear, and toys. The service is generally good, and the low value of the rupiah ensures excellent prices. Balinese arts and crafts are the most popular purchases but you can also get value-for-money goods such as clothing, music, musical instruments and watches.

I've specially made my own youtube video on the beautiful sites in Bali. Do watch it to visualize the beautiful Bali Islands.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Bali Vacation Information Info Price Cost

Bali Travel Cost And Price Information

Accommodation in Bali:
Accomodation is very reasonably priced compared to other top tourist destinations around the world. Rooms in basic 2-star Bali hotels (perhaps US$20 or so in Bali) can easily compare with other country's accommodation which can cost e.g. in North California US$150 per night, and there they don't provide ANY service at all whereas this hotels in Bali do provide good service.

At the high end, the accommodation offered at the RITZ CARLTON BALI, Conrad Hotel Bali and BVLGARI BALI resort for instance can be US$100 - US$1200++ per night. At the new ST.REGIS BALI resort, 1-bedroom suites and villas are between US$950 and US$2,500++, and 2- ond 3-bedroom residences can be around US$5,000 and more but the same standard of accommodation would cost you somewere else still more.

Generally speaking, hotel rates in Bali range from about US$20 for a basic but clean, air-conditioned room with private bathroom and a small terrace to US$2,500 + 21% tax & service charge per day for beautiful Balinese 1-bedroom cottages and villas with private plunge pool set in a walled tropical garden and offering stunning views and polished 5-star service around the clock.

Private villa rental has become very popular in all parts of the world because it offers MUCH more space, personal service and better value than 5-star resorts. Prices for fully staffed villas in the Caribbean can be about two to three times higher than in Bali. In Europe, on the other hand, you pay only 30% to 50% more than in Bali, but then this is kind of a self-service vacation as in most countries NO STAFF is included.

The bottom line is that accommodation of any kind in Bali is still a great bargain, and in every category you get more than you pay for. You can read our HONEST REVIEWS OF BALI HOTELS here - Bali Hotel Reviews.

Transportation
Transportation in Bali is always cheap by any standard. The metered radio taxis start with a flag fall of 5,000 rupiah (plus 4,500 Rupiah per kilometer), and most trips cost Rupiah 20,000 to 90,000. Most reliable and polite are the drivers of the blue taxis, and you should avoid most other taxis as they often refuse to use their meter and over-charge foreigners.

If you have an International Driver's License, you can rent bikes from Rp 55,000 to Rp 85,000 per day, and five to ten year old self-drive cars (Jimmy or Toyota "Kijang") cost from 250,000 Rupiah to 400,000 Rupiah per day. Newer models are more expensive, and luxury cars such as a Volvo limousine or a new Toyota "Land Cruiser" will cost US$150 to US$250 and more per day. Gasoline prices have been raised several times in the past, and Premium leaded gasoline is now 6,500 Rupiah per liter (as per August 28th, 2008).

Everywhere in tourist areas you'll be offered "transport, transport", and the rates are negotiable. However, the cars of many of these guys are quite old. Radio, tape and even the air-conditioning are often out of order. Although most drivers initially seem to be very friendly some are real con artists and waste hours of your precious vacation by bringing you to shops you never wished to visit because they want to earn a commission on your purchases.

Shopping
Shopping in Bali can be cheap and it also can be expensive. If you shop in malls, definitely it'll be costly and around the international-standard prices. I actually recommend you guys to skip the shopping malls and visit "traditional markets" in Ubud, Denpasar, Sukawati, Tegalalang and etc. It may cost you only Rp 10,000 for a beautiful painting to Rp 50,000 for an exquisite Balinese Fabric. For more information, you can read my guide on Shopping In Bali.

Food
Food and drink at Bali's top hotels cost about the same as in the same category of hotel anywhere else in the world. Breakfast is US$8 to US$45, lunch and dinner US$20 to US$100 and more per person – and that does not include any wine which can be very expensive. On the other hand, restaurants outside the large hotels are often 40% or 50% cheaper, and at the open food stalls you can still get a tasty meal for a few thousand Rupiah.

If you've rented a private villa for your stay in Bali, your house staff will do the shopping at the local "warungs" and supermarkets and prepare delicious meals according to your instructions. Your savings on food and beverage will be about US$40 to US$60 per person per day compared to what you'd spend in a good hotel. This way you can enjoy delicious meals and all your favorite snacks and drinks – at unbelievably low prices.

I really recommend you guys to try the local Balinese food such as Babi Guling, Kambing Mekuah and Sate. Trust me, you'll be hooked to them as much as my friends got hooked to Bali cuisine. For more information, you can read here at Bali Food Famous With Tourists.

So what do you think? Do you have any comment on the expense and cost of travelling in Bali? Do share it with me alright!

Friday, August 28, 2009

10 Bali Food Famous With Tourists

Bali is definitely a haven for food lovers and those who loves to try new food :) Here's the list of 10 Bali Balinese food that is famous with travellers! Starting from #10...

#10 - Nasi Goreng

There are as many different ways of preparing Nasi Goreng in Bali, as there are cooks. The only main ingredient is rice; everything else is determined by the cook's taste or the availability of ingredients. Please be certain to use only cold rice, as warm rice will stick to the wok.

#9 - Pesan Be Paseh
Balinese tweaked-version of a popular Javanese dish, Ikan Pepes. When banana leaves are not available, replace with greased aluminum foil. Small whole fish are often used in Bali instead of fillets cut from a large fish; just adjust the size of the banana leaf wrapping.

#8 - Bebek Betutu
The rich essence and flavor of duck is greatly enhanced by a host of pungent herbs and roots, and seasonings in this dish, which is invariably a great favorite with visitors to Bali. The Balinese have great admiration for the duck and consider it to be a particularly strong animal as it is, like the turtle, the only one able to survive on land as water.

#7 - Kambing Mekuah
Goat is more likely to be used than lamb in Bali to make this curry – like dish. This dish is a must-have dish for family festivals and gatherings. A hit with expats in Bali.

#6 - Nasi Kuning
Yellow is one of the four sacred colors makes this festive rice dish strikingly different from the normal, everyday steamed rice. The rice is cooked in lightly seasoned coconut milk and chicken stock for extra flavor, while the touch of oil in the coconut milk gives it a glistening appearance and keeps each grain separate.

#5 - Sate Lilit Bebek
This is the "Duck version" of the famous "Sate". Duck meat is used hear instead of mutton or chicken. The delicate flavors of the duck is greatly improved if you can find spears of fresh lemongrass to use as skewers, and if you can cook them over a fire of coconut husks rather than charcoal.

#4 - Gedang Mekuah
Unripe papayas are often used as a vegetable in Bali. If these are not available, you can use summer squash or Chinese winter melon. This dish is normally served in every traditional Balinese family gatherings.

#3 - Rujak
This popular snack, in intriguing mixture of sweet, sour and spicy hot flavors, is prepared at countless warung throughout Bali.

#2 - Sate Lilit

Yes, SATE again! This probably the most delicious satay you will ever encounter. The delicate flavors of the shrimp and fish are greatly improved if you can find spears of fresh lemongrass to use as skewers, and if you can cook them over a fire of coconut husks rather than charcoal. Nonetheless, even with wooden skewers and a standard charcoal grill, you will have people coming back more.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

8 Must-Visit Bali Shopping Destination

8 Bali's Shopping Destinations A Tourist Must Visit!

Shopping is a very famous activity for travellers to Bali. In fact, tourist shops are sprinkled all over bali in the hope of getting lots of tourist visitors as customers! I've come up with 8 destinations for tourists to visit for your must-do shopping activity during your Bali Vacation! However, before you embark on your shopping adventure, do read up my "Shopping In Bali" guide to ensure that you get the best buys and good prices ;)

Denpasar

Denpasar being the capital of Bali, is the main "market" for the Balinese. Kumbasari market, which is nearby Badung River, is the biggest traditional market. It is the perfect place to get an insight into the traditional Indonesia market where local people do their daily shopping. Fruit, vegetables and meat can be found in the basement; on the second level is the place for spices and dried goods; while household wares, clothing, art and craft is on the third level. Here you can get a very good price if you're smart in bargaining. To find handicrafts, shoe shops and restaurants, you can head towards the northern part of Gajah Mada Street. To the east is Sulawesi Street, where you can get textiles and fabrics. On both sides of Sulawesi Street, you can find shops providing household wares. The area here is very colorful with all types of material from the traditional "songket" (cloth woven with strands of gold or silver) to modern day stretchy and shiny material. Why not buy your cloth by the meter and have a suit or dress made up by a local tailor. On the west Side of the market is the place for locals to buy coconut leaf and ceremonial supplies. In the southern part is Hasanudin Street where you can see gold and jewellery shops, tourists are always welcome but please bargain or you may find your pockets getting burnt :)

Ubud

Ubud is well-known for fine arts with international standard. This is where you can get the best Balinese culture arts and crafts. Highly-regarded art galleries such as Sumertha, Neka, Agung Rai, Rudana and Sika are highly recommended. Big names like Hans Snel and Antonio Blanco is recommended too however they may be really expensive.

The Kuta Area
As an international village almost all of the shops and restaurants here are for tourist market. You can find handicrafts, clothing, jewelry, CDs, furniture and leather crafts on each side of the road. But you can also see many street hawkers with their various offerings along the road. If you do not want to buy anything from them, do not make eye contact and do not ever look at their products, for if you do, they will follow you along the street and pester you to buy something.

Batubulan

On the border of Denpasar and Gianyar, lies Batubulan, the home to sculptures made of stone. You can find various kind of sculptures here ranging from traditional to minimalist, small to large, cheap to expensive :) The craftsmen can sculp random and custom orders and even ship them to your home address back in your country.

Sukawati

This area is popular to shop for Balinese arts. If you ask the locals where to get the cheapest Balinese arts and crafts, Sukawati will be their answer. Besides arts and crafts, you can also find statues, paintings, cloth, Balinese jewelry and also Balinese ceremonial needs,

Tegalalang

Very colourful wooden carvings of flowers, objects and more are displayed gracefully along the road. Various woodcarvings can be found in this village and its nearby neighbourhood at cheap prices! Here's the place to really master the art of bargaining.

Bono

The village to shop for anything made of Bamboo! Yes practically everything from furnitures to mats to window blinds! The villagers are really good at making use of Bamboo for their crafts. You'll be amazed at their talent and creativity!

Tenganan

This is where the native Balinese are located. The "Bali Aga" village in Karangasem, is the only village in Bali that produces the sought-after Balinese Geringsing textile. The materials for Geringsing are all acquired from the surrounding nature. To process Geringsing fabric, traditional methods rooting back to the old Balinese times, are used. The fabric is very delicate, durable and long-lasting thus the expensive price tags! No chemicals are used in the process and great care is taken to ensure the "natural" process.

To ensure you enjoy your Bali Holiday

You can actually read up "Bali Travel Guide For Newbies" or Bali Holiday Kit which are must reads for first-timers to Bali to ensure that you have an enjoyable vacation in Bali. 11 Essential Bali Travel Tips is also a good read with useful tips for Bali's visitors.

Shopping In Bali

Bali And It's Art Of Shopping

In Bali, shopping is not simply going into a shop, choose something off the shelf and paying for it. In every traditional market, art shops or simply clothing shops around Bali, bargaining is a must! In fact, in Bali, we call shopping an art and bargaining a skill that we have to master!

Even if you're not a seasoned negotiator, be prepared to enjoy the bargaining process. It is definitely fun! Just be patient and for sure, you'll find good buys with the best prices! If you're lucky, you may even get away with cheaper prices than what the Balinese normally gets! In some places you can bargain until you get 50% discount. Always start by bargaining at 30% of the price. Yes 30%! It's the norm so don't be shy. Walk away if they don't want to bargain, until you get the price you want or at least 75% of the price they quote at the beginning.

Shopping and bargaining this way makes your shopping in Bali very fun. You can feel the warmth of human value in all your shopping transactions. However, do take note, before you embark on your shopping adventure in Bali, please have cash with you because most places do not accept credit cards unless you're in shopping malls.

I recall seeing a Dutch lady negotiating for an umbrella on Kuta beach. She did extremely well in the bargaining process. Instead of paying Rp 30,000, she paid only Rp 5000! Yes at only 1/6 of the initial price quoted. She was so happy and walked away smilling gleefully. Isn't that the main quintessence of bargaining? To be happy with your purchase and satisfied with the price. So where can you go to spend your Rupiah?
Do read my article on "Bali Shopping Destination" and "Bali Travel Guide" to ensure you enjoy shopping in Bali and you have a blast in Bali!

Bali Discount Hotels | Bali Travel Deals | Bali Hotel Reviews | Bali Culture Shock | Bali Vacation Information | Bali Holiday Contest | Bali Balinese Food | Bali Dream Villa | Bali Shopping Destination | Bali Shopping Guide | AlamKulKul Boutique Resort Bali | Bali Photos | Bali Balinese Culture | Bali Holiday Information | Murni Ubud | Bali Rainy Season | Bali Travel Tips | Tanah Lot Bali | Bali Travel Guide | Bali Bombings | Uluwatu Bali | Balinese Dance | Balinese | Amed | Cheapest Bali Hotels | Bali Travel | Bali Villa | Bali Resorts | Bali Price Information | Bali Culture Shock | Bali Flight Coupons - use coupon code 'LASTMIN10'! | Cheapest Bali Flights Guaranteed | Bali Surf