ULUWATU

  Uluwatu proper is a small village on the west coast, south of Jimbaran, but for most visitors it refers only to the famous temple of the same name, several kilometers further south. Many people also use it to refer to the area south of Jimbaran. The entire area is also called the Bukit Peninsula or just The Bukit, while Pecatu (peh-CHA-tuh) refers to a small village inland.

Uluwatu Temple (Pura Uluwatu) is one of Bali's six directional temples and Uluwatu's only site of significance. More remarkable than the temple itself is its location, perched on a steep cliff 70 meters above the roaring ocean waves. There are more steep headlands on either side, and sunsets over Uluwatu are a sight to behold.

Entrance fee is 3000 IDR, sarong rental is free. As usual, you need to be properly dressed to enter, sarongs and sashes can be rented at the entrance. Guides, once famously mercenary, hassle visitors less than they used to. Note that, while you are free to walk around the edges of the temple, the central courts can only be entered during special rituals.

The temple is inhabited by large number of monkeys, who are extremely adept at snatching visitors' belonging, including bags, cameras and eyeglasses. Keep a very close grip on all your belongings and stow away your eyeglasses if at all possible. If you do have something taken, the monkeys can usually be induced to exchange it for some fruit; needless to say, rewarding the monkeys like this only encourages them to steal more.

BALI MAP

Map of Bali Showing the Major Cities of Bali and Places of Interest

 

Kuta Travel Guide 2

Surfing — Kuta is an well known destination among surfing enthusiasts. Sandy beaches and a lack of dangerous rocks or coral makes the areas an attraction for beginners and more advanced surfers alike.

a)3-day surfing course in an accredited school costs approximately 100 USD. Bali learn to surf is one of good schools, that offers equipment in good condition and premises for surfing introduction in calm water (swimming-pool). The lesson lasts 2.5 hour, the students are offered transfer from/back to hotel and fresh water. 5-day course includes also "surfari" to some other surfing spot.

b)It is also possible to rent the equipment from locals on the beach for anywhere between Rp20,000 and 80,000 per half day. If you rent from the same guys for a few consecutive days you will almost certainly get a better price. The equipment quality is worse than in surfing-schools. These guys can also give you some basic lessons and look after your stuff while you are in the water.
ARC Anti-aging Beauty clinics [1] with clinics in Jakarta and Bali, Jl By Pass Ngurah Rai No 1 Kuta (Simpang-siur). +62 361 767- 543. Australian-managed and staffed with Australian-trained cosmetic physicians providing popular anti-ageing treatments. Fully licenced. Offers Botox, Aquamid, and APTOS stitch face lift among many other treatments. Offers free cosmetic consultantion. Clinic hours 10am-6pm, Monday-Friday, and 10am-3pm on Saturday.

Enjoy the sunset. In the evenings plenty of people come to the Kuta beach or seaside cafes to watch the wonderful sunset

Buy
- There are a lot of shops of popular surf brands Volcom, Rip Curl, Rusty, Billabong, Quiksilver selling surfing clothes, accessories and other stuff.
- A lot of brands (such as Levi's, Polo, Rip Curl etc.) have outlets on the island.
- Kuta Square, Jl. Kartika Plaza. A shopping complex that is so popular. There are small shops on both sides of the street and a big Matahari department store, with a cheap and utterly wacky collection of T-shirts on the 3rd floor.
- Discovery shopping mall located across from Waterbom Park on busy Jl. Kartika Plaza in Tuban is a big mall with plenty of shops of international brands and cafes/restaurants with wonderful seaview.
- Be aware that if you buy things from people on the beach, you will attract dozens more pushy vendors who'll try to make you feel bad for not buying something from them also at a special "good luck price" or "morning/sunset price". The trick is to not look them in the eye and respond to their offers with a stern "no thank you". Always stay polite!
- You can buy shirts for 30.000. Just keep telling them that you want them for 10.000.

Eat :

Budget
Beach-stall food is delicious, filling and very cheap. These are dotted along Kuta and Legian beach beneath trees or awnings near the road.
- Aromas Cafe, Legian St. (near the Rip Curl shop). Some of the best vegetarian food in Bali.
- Warung Indonesia between Poppies 1 and 2 is popular with locals and long-termers and is packed out most nights - a good sign. The best food is not on the menu but stalled out behind a glass display from where you can pick any ingredient you want and are charged Rp1000 - 2000 per ingredient.

Mid-range
- Made's Warung, Jl. Pantai Kuta (near intersection with Jl. Legian), [2]. The first restaurant in Kuta, now on two floors and still doing a roaring trade. The menu covers Indonesian, Balinese and Western food, try the pork ribs with green papaya. Rp. 50,000.
- Yut'z Place, Jln. Werkudara 521,Legian. Good european food, tasty steaks.
- Belgian cafe on Jalan Pantai Kuta, not far from the beach offers good coffee and ice-cream.

Splurge
- Macaroni, Jl. Legian, [3] near the Bombing memorial. Italian restaurant & lounge with good Italian food and some Asian influences. Excellent service and lushious desserts

Drink :
Kuta is the party center piece of Bali but after the bomb blasts in 2002 & 2005 security increased at nightspots. Indonesia has imposed an alcohol import ban that slightly affects the accessibility but you are able to buy high quality spirits & wine at slightly increased prices.
Jl. Legian is the main party area between Poppies Gang I & II. The biggest three clubs are:
- Mbargo, Jl Legian. Airconditioned, security is tight and they hire models to serve you drinks. Fashion show at 1230am Thursday nights.
- Bounty, Jl Legian. Looks from inside like a torn ship with several different areas + pool tables. Party every from 10pm but really starts at midnight. Mostly Oz
- Paddy's, Jl Legian & next to Bounty. Irish pub with TV corner (ESPN). Several special parties (e.g. all-inclusive drink & food for 250 kRupees etc.) every week
There are (in-)numerous smaller bars etc. in Poppies I & II and very touristic places like Hard Rock Cafe.

Sleep :

Budget
There are a lot of cheap guesthouses (10-20.000RP PPPN) on Poppies 2, but you can find nicer places on the lanes between Poppies 1 and 2. Always see room first & haggle!

Mid-range
- Fat Yogi, Poppies Gang 1. Jan Vleeming sleep here.
- Masa Inn [4], Poppies Gang 1. 400 meters of Kuta beach, McDonald's, Hard Rock Café and KFC. Rooms are clean, quiet and the staff friendly. Two wonderful pools. Small breakfast. 175,000 Rp, sigle, 250,000 Rp double (they have rooms for until 6 persons with good prices). Booking can be made on the website by mail. This service works very well and you don't need to send credit card number or payment order.
- Sorga Cottages, Sorga Rd.
- Sri Ratu [5] The hotel is situated behind the All Seasons hotel, 10 minutes walk from the ocean. It consists of one building with rooms, patio and small swimming-pool and a bungalow complex. It is better to choose rooms upstairs far from the swimming-pool and dining area sounds. The staff is helpful, by booking for more than 10 days you'll get a discount.
- Sari Bali Cottages , between Poppies 1 and 2 has spacious rooms with double bed, a nice communal swimming pool and basic breakfast from Rp 60,000 for cold water and Rp 80,000 for hot water.

Splurge
- Bali Mandira Hotel, Jln. Padma, Legian, Kuta. tel: +62-361-751381. Luxurious hotel and spa. Located on the beach front, it is a quieter surrounding area yet just a 10 minute walk into the heart of Kuta.
- Hard Rock Hotel, Jln. Pantai, Banjar Pande Mas, Kuta. tel: +62-361-761869. Worldwide chain, offers nothing but fun. The hotel has the largest free form pool in Bali which offers an array of activities for anyone and everyone to enjoy. Just across from the beach, the hotel is also in the heart of the tourist filled district. The hotel also has 6 places where you can get food and drinks, whilst being entertained by the hotel's very own radio station! From USD100 (superior room).
- Bale Bali, Jl. Pendidikan no. 86 Sidakarya Denpasar - Bali, tel +62-361-7400442 [6]. This private villa agency provides a wide range of private staffed villas for rental. From budget private villas to luxury villas. All private villas are fully staffed and feature private swimming pools.
- Poppies Bali Poppies Gang I [7]. Undisputed flagship in central Kuta with lush tropical garden just 24 bungalows, excellent service and very calm. An oasis next to shopping & parties. Book in advance and haggle hard (60 USD++ single/70 USD++ double)

Contact :

Stay safe
- In the ocean it is prohibited to swim near the special flags, that are put by beach staff near the places where the currents are very strong. Always swim between the red and yellow flags, where the lifeguards have deemed it safest and will be the most patrolled area.
- The water in Kuta can be filthy. Stay healthy and try not to swim in the polluted areas.
- Touts and scammers will constantly look for their chances. Be wary for deals to good to be true, the probably are.
- At night drunk driving & big potholes in the streets are a problem, so be careful in the dark.
- When changing money either go to an official money changer or ask always for the biggest 100.000 Rp. notes. Otherwise scammers give you small 20.000 Rp notes and make you tired of counting. When asking you for a small note to match the calculated amount he will try to very quickly take back some money from the bunch of notes.

Cope :
The weather is hot & humid so ensure you drink enough. At dusk & dawn mosquitos are painful so better have a repellent.

Kuta Travel Guide 1

With a long, broad beach on the Indian Ocean, Kuta was originally discovered by tourists as a surfing mecca. Long a stop on the classic backpacking route in Asia, back in the 80's they used to talk about the three Ks (which were Katmandu in Nepal, Khao San road in Bangkok and Kuta). Alas, today's Kuta is a showcase of excessive development gone wrong - a chaotic, tightly packed mass of concrete and congestion, the beach is overrun with touts and most serious surfers have headed elsewhere.

The 5km long arcing white sand stretch of Kuta is still arguably the best beach front on Bali. The beach is safe, partially clean, well-maintained, although the vendors remain annoying. Kuta is far from the fishing village it once was: it is now a Pacific resort and its streets are clogged with traffic, particularly during the peak seasons of July and August. The northern beach resorts of Petitinget (within the greater Seminyak area) and Kerobokan are in many ways more laidback versions of Kuta, less crowded and more suitable for longer stays. Further north still, Canggu and Dalung offer even more tranquility.

Kuta is now the party area of Bali and most clubs are lined up on Jl. Legian. Also it's the base for every backpacker who starts his/her tour around Bali


Get in :
By Plane
The misnamed Denpasar Airport is in fact directly south of Kuta, just 10 minutes away by taxi. The fare from the airport to Kuta should be around Rp50,000. If you don't have too much luggage you can save a lot of money by walking 200 meters to the right out of the airport area and take a taxi from a company that does not pay the commission to the airport mafia (and therefore is not allowed to enter the airport for picking up customers. They are however allowed to deliver you to the terminal at your departure). For example, the metered Taxi from Bali Taksi (Tel. +62-361-701111) or Bluebird charges just around Rp20,000 for the same trip.

By Taxi
The airport taxi counter is immediately to the left as you emerge from customs outside in the International Arrival Terminal and the Domestic Arrival Terminal. And tourists can buy a ticket from the counter for the sedan taxis, prices are clearly marked on the notice board behind. Metered taxis operate outside the airport just beyond the entrance. Make sure they start the meter before you take off, or agree on a fare before you get in (only the Bluebird Taxis always run on meter but check if its on). If you want to take a bemo, just walk out to the intersection past the entrance and flag one down making the turn north (left) down Jl. Kartika Plaza through Tuban and beyond to Kuta.

By Bus
Bemos (public minibuses) still ply the streets of Kuta but they can be hard to recognise. Shuttles from Denpasar's bus stations should be approximately Rp. 10,000-20,000 per person.

Get Around :

By Taxi
Taxis are ubiquitous on the streets of Kuta and the best way of getting around, especially at night.
Some taxi-drivers charge you more than you should pay, especially when the meter is off. Be sure to bargain before you get in if it is not a metered taxi.
The 'Bali Taksi' from the 'Bluebird group' always uses a meter and will not overcharge you. There is a bit of envy from other taxi-companies because of the good service from Bluebird. You don't see Bluebird taxis parked at night near the discos in Legian, Seminyak etc, as other companies have exclusive contracts with these business. However they can be found by walking up the street. The taxis outside the clubs do not use meters at night, offering a fixed price, although this is negotiable. There are plenty of others if one won't play ball.
WARNING: Traffic jams occur some days around lunch and dinner. It can be better to park your car just before you reach Kuta area and walk. Kuta area is only about 1,5 kilometer length by half kilometer wide. But when stuck in traffic, you might spend 30 minutes to travel the 1,5 kilometer. However there are car parking areas in the middle of Kuta (usually Rp5000 for an unlimited stay) including a large one on JL Legian near the top of Poppies II. Kuta Beach has plenty of parking most days.

By Motorcycle
For those with a sense of adventure, try hopping on the back of a local's scooter, they are always looking for a rider and it just takes a quick negotiation on price. Much faster and cheaper transport than a car. You may even choose to rent a scooter for your stay. These can be as little as 50,000RP per day, and a lot of fun. Insist on a helmet for the motorcycle, for both your safety, and because police officers have been known to fine (read 'demand bribe') foreigners who do not wear one. The streets just outside Kuta, between major cities such as Uluwatu, Sanur and Denpasar, for example are chaotic and dangerous for unexperienced riders.

Museum at Depasar City and Badung - Bali

The Manusa Yadnya Museum

     This museum was part of the Mengwi Temple as one of the tourist attractions. The concept from this museum was the model's museum that put forward the ceremony activity manusa yad him that was carried out by Hindu group in Bali namely the ceremony from the baby still in the content of his mother to the death ceremony. This museum was established during 1980 and only exhibited the ceremony megedong-gedongan (the birth ceremony of the baby) up to the marriage ceremony. In June 1981 afterwards was increased with the audio-visual aid for the ceremony mamukur and Cremation.
The location : Badung

The Bali Museum

     Around 1910, when the Ship Dutch KPM came to Bali and dropped tourists off, Bali began in knew overseas. Afterwards began Bali the arrival of the tourists who caused many history things and prehistory that was lost or was taken by these tourists. Learned this condition for Mr. W.F.J Kroon, Asistant Resident Bali and Lombok ordered Mr. Curt Grundler to make the team of Museum planning with Balinese architecture. This team decided to build the museum with the blend between temple architecture and temple architecture (the kingdom in Bali). This building almost was finished but stopped being caused by the Mount Batur eruption during 1917 that destroyed many temples and the inhabitants's house, and destroyed also a partly the museum.

     Finally during 1932 the museum could be opened for the public, with 3 main pavilions that is the Tabanan Building, Gedung Karangasem and the Buleleng Building were based on the concept of Tri Mandala that is the arena insult jaba pisan (the exterior) middle-level the arena: Jaba middle (the exterior before entering the core part), and main the bowel arena (the core part). In the front corner right-hand in the middle was gotten a building that was mentioned bale in a dazed. In the front corner left-hand was gotten a building that was mentioned bale kulkul.
     The Tabanan building that was Pavilium with typical architecture the Tabanan regency that put forward the antiquities like kesenia, aksesories, domestic equipment, ceremony equipment and of all-kind the weapon traditional.
     The Buleleng building or Pavilium Buleleng with architecture Balinese Utara that put forward the equipment, the diligence equipment, the agricultural equipment and the fisherman of domestic equipment, the entertainment equipment, style statues simple and primitive that was made from clay, the stone et cetera.
     The Karangasem building or Pavilium Karangasem with architecture Balinese Timur put forward various exhibitions of the object- the prehistoric object, history archeology, ethnography and the fine arts as well as several paintings mordern.
     The number of Balinese Museum collections that was recorded and entered registerasi totalling 10,506, including the texts and the copy threw. All the collection kinds were obtained through bought from people in the community, shops and entrusted goods of art of gifts. Several collection groups that were inventoried among them the stupa collection with his seal that was numbering hundreds, 8,5 kg money kepeng, the foreign ceramics (Europe, China) and porcelain that came from Japan, China and Siam.
Lokasi : Jl. Letkol Wisnu, Denpasar
Telp. : (0361) 227271
Fax. : (0361) 227271

The Le Mayeur Museum    
     This museum was born was based on the love story between the Belgian Painter of Adrien Jean Le Mayeur de Merpres and the dancer's girl Balinese Ni Polok. Le Mayeur the first time came to Bali in 1932 in 52 years that his plan will only be kept for 8 months looking for the inspiration for his painting. Because of the attraction of the Sanur Coast that was very beautiful, then Le Mayeur decided to reside in Sanur by establishing the place to depict. Le Mayeur married his model girl who was named Ni Polok that also the dancer who was very famous in his time that came from the Kelandis Village. The Le Mayeur studio was full of the painting collection and his books that were very interesting, that was kept in the building that architectured of Bali. Several of his paintings used his canvas, that was made from impressive jute cloth that this painting was made in the Japanese time where to get canvas cloth was really was difficult. Le Mayeur died during 1959 in Belgi. Therefore his studio was handed over to the RI government to be made the Le Mayeur Museum.
Lokasi : Jl. Hang Tuah, Sanur

Tour Accommodation in Bali 2

     The development of means of the tour dwelling that trapped international finally was begun with the development of the Nusa Dua region to the international tour sub-area. Was managed by Balinese Tourism Developmnet Corporation, a construction body of the government, the Nusa Dua region was developed satisfied the requirement for quality tourism international. Several hotel operators entered the Nusa Dua region as the investor that in the long run this region could boost up the development of Balinese tourism.


     Following periods, previous means of the tour dwelling grew with very fast in the centre of the tour of the dwelling especially in the Naughty area, Denpasar, and Gianyar. The region of Pantai Kuta, Jimbaran, and Ungasan became the region of the tour dwelling in the Badung Regency, Sanur, and the centre of the city during the Denpasar region. Ubud, Kedewatan, Payangan, and Tegalalang became the development of the tour of the dwelling in the Gianyar area.

     Controlled this very fast development, the Balinese Regional Government afterwards maintained 15 regions in Bali as the area of the tour of the dwelling along with means supporter him like the restaurant and the shopping centre. Up to now, Bali has own more than 35,000 rooms of the hotel consisted of the Wisata Hut class, Melati, as far as the Star 5. These means of hotels appeared in various form variations beginning with the house model, the standard of the hotel, the villa, bungalow, and boutique the hotel with the selling price variation. Religiused this gave added value for Bali because of offering many choices to the tourists.

     As resulting from from the development of tourists's visit, various means penunjang like for example the restaurant, art shop, the art market, entertainment means, and recreation grew fast in the centre of the tour of the dwelling or in the tourist attraction region.
The tourists who visited to Bali, had finally had many choices in enjoying their holiday in Bali, finally the organisation of tourism like PHRI (IHRA), ASITA, and the other tourism agency in Bali, that professionally managed and gave the service of the tourism service, as though giving the guarantee for travelling comfort in Bali.

Tour Accommodation in Bali 1

     Since the command by the Netherlands, Bali appeared to be opened wide for the foreigner's visit. Bali not only the arrival of the foreigner as tourists but not a little of the observers and the devotee of the culture that came to record the uniqueness of Balinese cultural art. From the devotees of the culture that consisted of the man of letters, the writer, and this painter the Balinese uniqueness increasingly spread in the international community. Information delivery went through various medias by the foreigner evidently could attract the interest of tourists in visiting Bali. Amazement would the Balinese land then awakened the interest of the foreigner in giving the degree to Bali. The Island of Gods, The Island of Paradise, The Island of Thousand Temples, The Morning of the World, and various names of other praise.

     In 1930, on the heart of the Denpasar city was built a hotel to accommodate the arrival of tourists at that point. Bali Hotel, a building was in an architecture style colonial, became the pillar of the history of Balinese tourism that up to now this building is still firm in his original style. Only did not accept tourists's visit, the Balinese artistic envoy from the Peliatan village carried out the cultural visit to several countries in the European region and America in a manner indirectly, this visit at the same time introducing the Balinese existence as the area of the aim of the appropriate tour was visited.

     The tourism activity, that began to blossom at that point, could be stopped resulting from the World War II occurrence between the year 1942-1945 that afterwards was followed with the increasingly violent struggle to seize Indonesian independence including the struggle that happened in Bali till 1949. The middle of the decade in the 50 's Balinese tourism began to be reorganised and during 1963 was built the Hotel Balinese Beach (The Grand Bali Beach Hotel) in the Sanur Coast with the multi-storied building of ten. This hotel was the only tour dwelling that had the shape of the high building whereas means of the tour dwelling (the hotel, home stay, pension) that developed afterwards only the building had one storeys. To the middle dasa warsa in the 70 's the Balinese regional government passed the Daerah Regulation that arranged the height of the maximal building 15 metre. This determination was determined by considering the cultural factor and the traditional Balinese layout so as Bali continued to have the values of the culture That could become the sector prop of tourism.

     Definitely, since being operated on by him the Hotel Balinese Beach in November 1966, the development of means of the tour dwelling developed fast. From the side of the quality, Sanur developed relative more planed because of being adjacent with Balinese Beach Hotel whereas the herd of the Kuta Coast develop naturally moved from the local dwelling model. The model homestay and pension developing more dominant compared to the standard model of the hotel. Equally his matter with Kuta, the Ubud region in the Gianyar area developed naturally, grew in the inhabitants's houses that continued to remain with nuances of rural areas.