Bali Nightlife

by Celestine

Apart from sunbathing, surfing or treking, there are not a lot of entertainment here. Waterbom, on Jalan Kartika Plaza in Kuta is a cool amusement park, although very expensive for Bali, with half a dozen of pools, good waterslides, and a nice tropical garden (entry ticket: $17/adult; $9/child). Also, just before Ubud on the road coming from Kuta, Bali Bird Park (entry ticket: $8/adult; $4/child), presents an amazing collection of exotic birds, coming from all over Asia and Australia, in a beautiful forest with hidden aviaries.
At night, things are different. A two-week holiday in Bali is too short to try all the places there… Anyway, things begin to happen around midnight. You can choose to head for Paddy's, on Jalan Raya - Kuta, a big club with two dance floors, usually packed by twenty-somethings.

But serious party-goers will prefer to walk through Jalan Dyana Pura in Seminyak, THE street for night bars in Bali. There is a new bar opened nearly every month there, but the most famous are still the Q-Bar (very gay, big, and good house/techno music), the Santa-Fé (rock and reggae, with live bands, open 24h), the Café Del Mar (cozy and Mediterranean, with live DJs playing progressive and trance) or the trendy Spy Bar (trendy, really). Most bars - and Paddy's - will close around 2 o'clock in the morning, which is roughly when the night begins to start.

Most people will rush to Club 66, on Jalan Double Six - Seminyak, for techno and trance music till dawn, unless there is a trance party elsewhere on the beach or at Euro Club, also on Jalan Double Six. After Club 66, which generally closes at 5, the choice is more limited. The Scandal, on Jalan Dyana Pura, will allow you to finish the endurance race. It opens at 4:30 and will close at 8 in the morning. Don't forget your sunglasses.

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An Overview of Mount Agung and Mount Batur and Besakih Temple

by Celestine

Here, standing tall are some of the greatest mountains in Bali, such as Mount Agung (3142m) (3142m) and Mount Batur among other fascinating dive and surf spots on the coastal side. Back in the kingdom era, East Bali was the place of three powerful kingdoms, Klungkung, Karangasem and Bangli where till now some of the palaces still remain for visitors to explore. 'Contrast' is the exact word to describe the picturesque East Bali. From flourishing rice fields on the hill, standing side by side with the highest volcano mountain in Bali (Mount Agung) at the Karangasem regency, haunted temples in Nusa Penida, down to the coastal side where you will find Amed, Tulamben and Candi Dasa, where great waves await to be braved by enthusiastic surfers and divers.

o Besakih Temple
Freely translated as 'Noble Mountain', this stratovolcano is the highest point on Bali Island and one of the biggest volcanos in Indonesia. Its deep and grand crater despite rarely belching out smoke and ash, when it actually does erupt (last in 1963) it killed more than 1000 people and totally wiped out some of villages nearby. However that particular incident brought to pass a great phenomenon - its lava flows did not destroy the mother temple of Besakih, which was sitting at the slope of Mount Agung, causing firmer faith in the devotees and an increased number of visitors to the sacred place. Gunung Agung is considered a holy place as the Balinese believe that this is where the Gods reside and they think of this site as the Palace of the Gods. From the top of this mountain, you can even see the peak of Mount Rinjani over at the Lombok Island.

If you love hiking, conquering this mountain is a must. There are three ways to climb the mountain, from the south, south-east and west. The most common route is the one from the west side, starting from the Besakih temple where many local guides can help you with the path. It's a long hike (about 2000 vertical meters, total one way distance is almost 5 km), so you better start very early in the morning, and equip yourself with the proper footwear as you will find many loose soil and rock along the way. Prepare also your rain gear, flashlight (as you will mostly be in dark forests), and your own mineral water. The only source of water is a well and it is considered too sacred for casual usage like these.
o Mount Batur & Trunyan, Bali Aga Village
Mount Batur, another volcanic mountain sits mysteriously at the central east of Bali. Today, Mount Batur is still active and brings you unbelievable landscapes waiting to be explored. Located at the Bangli regency, this mountain is famous among tourists, both Indonesian and foreigners alike. With its fresh air and cold breeze this place will provide to you a brand new atmosphere on your Bali trip. Before the eruption in 1917, there was a temple called Pura Batur on the west side of mount Batur. But now it's gone. Besides that religious erection, mount Batur also has a blue-colored lake called Lake Batur.

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Benoa Harbour

by Celestine

This is the pit stop for Bali's cruises. Yes, spend your day by cruising alongside of coastal Bali with its many activities that you can participate in as well. Some of them even provide packages like a 4 days/3 nights trip from east Bali to Lombok, Sumbawa, and Komodo Island. If you feel that's just a little too long for your busy schedule, you can just enjoy a dinner with your love one on board the cruise while watching Bali's unbelievably beautiful sunset. The four-course dinner in itself is already splendid, what more with loved ones and great atmosphere… what could be more romantic than that?

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More Surfing Hot Spots in Bali

by Celestine

Menjangan Island
After diving at Amed and Nusa Lembongan Island, don't get satisfied… not just yet. You should go complete your diving trip with a journey to Menjangan Island, a small isle on the west side of Bali. It should take you about 20 minutes from the Labuan Lalang port to Menjangan Island. This island is especially famous for its diving and snorkeling being the home to hundreds of colorful little fishes and exquisite life corals, both soft and hard. On the north coast of Menjangan, you will witness Bali's oldest dive shipwreck, the Budak boat wreck. It is said that this wooden shipwreck is a Balinese slave ship from the 19th century.

Don't worry, though this is a small island, you will be able to find many hotels complete with great facilities at international prices.
o Medewi
Another great place for the surfer enthusiast, one of Bali's premiere surf spot and is the longest point break in Bali. Located just a few km west of the Jembrana coast, Medewi is a stretch of giant smooth grey rocks with some black sandy patches where most of the locals make their living by fishing. Do remember though, no sunbathing or swimming is allowed here due to the rocky beach.

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