Here’s the Bali Indonesia travelogue written by traveller Jayanthi Chandrasekaran. Discover her amazing experiences in Bali, Indonesia and learn from her experiences of exploring Bali’s beaches, waterfalls, temples, and interesting tourist spots!
The air vibrates with the perfume of flowers and the aroma of grilled satay. A small group of people dressed in their best and flowers adorning the women’s hairdo are intently watching the traditional ‘Pendet’ dance where the young girls perform a floral-offering-ritual meant to purify the place. I am soaking in the serenity of the surroundings in the ornate temple in Bali, a mesmerizing Indonesian island, which has moved with times yet nurtures its precious heritage.
Among the 17000 plus islands of Indonesia, Bali’s unique charm is not only the best coastline but also the cultural magnificence of its main religion, Balinese Hinduism. About 90 percent of Balinese are Hindus making Bali a religious enclave in a country that contains the world’s largest Muslim population. According to historians, during the first millennium CE, Hinduism took root in this archipelago when Shaivite priests from India joined the sea-faring merchants who were part of trading networks that connected India, China, the mid-east and Europe via the islands.
Beaches
Bali beaches have a magnetic effect on tourists worldwide, be it white, golden or black sand. The five-star waves relentlessly churn out the best surf making them every surfer’s dream. Seminayak-Canggu Beach with black sand and views of verdant green rice paddies evokes the exhilarating experience of rural living. Padang Padang Beach offered Julia Roberts her sense of calm in ‘Eat, Pray, Love’. Jimbaran beach with its crescent of white sand surrounding the turquoise ocean is dreamy. Amed Beach is home to technicolour reefs for keen divers.
Waterfalls
One of the attractive waterfalls on the island, Tegenungan Falls is truly a paradise on earth. The stunning panorama of roaring waters, and steam blowing in the wind amidst dense vegetation tingle your senses and at the same time bring about a tranquillity of the mind.
Sekumpul waterfalls (the highest), Banyumala Twin Falls and Gitgit Falls amidst the jungle are a few of the other hidden gems of Bali.
Temples
The iconic Tanoh Lot (meaning, land in the sea) temple perched on top of an off-shore rock amidst constantly crashing waves honours the Sea god Varuna. We visited the place in the evening and witnessed the epic sunset while listening to the music of roaring waves. The power of nature is such that in spite of the cacophony of the crowd everyone can find their own zen space to relax.
Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, a 17th-century Temple at the edge of Lake Beratan is a sight for sore eyes. The splendid architecture draws elements of Hindu and Buddhist design and is dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and the goddess of the lake Dewi Danu.
The sea temple in Uluwatu, built at the edge of a cliff projecting into the sea is breathtaking in its view. We witnessed the beautiful “Kecak’ fire dance outdoors on the cliff-side, with the backdrop of a metaphoric sunset.
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Volcano and Lava field
Mount Batur or Gunung Batur is the most active volcano in Bali, the last eruption being in 2000 CE. Most visitors start to hike up the mountain soon after midnight with guides to reach the top just in time for sunrise and enjoy the spectacular view of the Mount Batur Volcano and the inner crater. The Black lava fields, looking like a beautiful scar down the side of the mountain, beckons you to walk on them. The humongous Batur Lake (16 km wide) situated on the south-eastern slopes of Gunung Batur is the main source of irrigation water for most of Bali. The various natural hot springs at the shores of the lake offer spectacular views while having a soothing dip in the many pools.
Bali offers easy-going vibe, spa treatments and never-ending adventures in their beach clubs, clifftop bars and surf shacks dotted along the shores of the beaches. The iconic terraced rice fields, stunning vistas, trekking trails, delicious food in local warungs (street stalls) to suit all palettes, shopping for artefacts to suit all pockets and last but not least the spiritual energy makes Bali a tourist haven.
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