Tips How to visit Bali

Bali may be small in size – you can drive around the entire coast in one long day – but its prominence as a destination is huge, and rightfully so. Ask travellers what Bali means to them and you’ll get as many answers as there are flowers on a frangipani tree. Virescent rice terraces, pulse-pounding surf, enchanting temple ceremonies, mesmerising dance performances and ribbons of beaches are just some of the images people cherish.

Small obviously doesn’t mean limited. The manic whirl of Kuta segues into the luxury of Seminyak. The artistic swirl of Ubud is a counterpoint to misty treks amid the volcanoes. Mellow beach towns like Amed, Lovina and Pemuteran can be found right round the coast and just offshore is the laid-back idyll of Nusa Lembongan.

As you stumble upon the exquisite little offerings left all over the island that materialise as if by magic, you’ll see that the tiny tapestry of colours and textures is a metaphor for Bali itself.

And those are just some of the more obvious qualities. A visit to Bali means that you are in the most visitor-friendly island of Indonesia. There are pleasures of the body, whether a massage on the beach or a hedonistic interlude in a sybaritic spa. Shopping that will put ‘extra bag’ at the top of your list. Food and drink ranging from the freshest local cuisine bursting with the flavours of the markets to food from around the globe, often prepared by chefs and served in restaurants that are world class. From a cold Bintang at sunset to an epic night clubbing in Kuta, your social whirl is limited only by your own fortitude.

Travel Alert: High level terrorism-related warnings have been issued by Western governments concerning travel in Bali. Travellers are advised to check their local consular information and monitor the situation in Bali closely before making travel plans. Check out Safe Travel.

Bali Rental Car and Traffic car in bali

Cars Rental in bali
If you are flexible with your time and schedule you may want to rent a car. Click here to rent a car in Bali
When driving on the road make sure you are aware that;

* it can be very congested at times
* some roads start out wide but turn into narrow lanes
* police may stop you and you will be required to produce your international license.
* if fined, you may have to pay a fee (bribe) then and there
* ceremonial processions are frequent and roads may be closed for periods of time

Buses and Bemos
The buses and Bemos can take you anywhere in Bali. They are very cheap (from 3000 Rp.) but they are usually overcrowded and difficult to know where they are going. To catch a Bemo just wait at the edge of the road and raise your hand, there bus stop is where the passenger is standing!

Taxis
There are taxis everywhere in Bali and usualy they will toot there horn to get your attention. If using a taxi, please make sure that;

* you state your destination and get a price.
* the taxi uses the meter
* the taxi is part of a registered company
* you have change, as the drivers (for convenience sake) rarely seem to have change!

Bicycles
Bicycles are readily available but beware that there are many holes in the footpath and road and traffic conditions can be quite heavy in areas such as Kuta, Legian and Denpasar.
Bicycles are ideal in country areas like Ubud. There are several companies that offer mountain bike excursions.

Motorbikes
If you are feeling brave you may want to hire a motor bile. Please note you require an international license and a special permit from the police statnion for renting a motorbike ( the rental agency can assist you with this).
Helmet are compulsary, but make sure you pick out a sturdy helmet (full face) as most tend to look like skate board helmets.

Driving in Bali

Characteristics;

* Get use to bikes and cars swerving into your lane without indicating.
* Watch out for large holes in the road or obstacles such as small trees to indicate where holes are.
* Many food carts and salespeople operate off the side of the road.
* Merging traffic only give way if they are smaller than you.
* Every man for himself when entering a round-a-bout.
* There are many one lane roads and you may have to go quite a distance to return to the same location.
* Balinese are not use to drivers driving with there parking or head lights on during the daytime.
* Watch out for drivers, including trucks and buses overtaking on busy roads.



Car Rentals

Bali is not a large island, but a car comes in handy when you are want to plot your own course and see what Bali has to offer.

When it comes to rental cars in Bali, - 'you get what you pay for!'. The age of the car tends to be between 1-5 years depending on the rental agency. If you are looking for a budget priced rental, make sure you check the brake and clutch pedals and the hand brake!

Insurance is not necessarily included, so don't forget to ask the rental agency about their insurance policy.

Driving in Bali is a 'real experience' we advise you to check out our driving tips before you adventure on to the roads.
Agung Rent Car CV.
Nusa Dua Tel. 772 275
Hertz
The Grand Bali Beach, Sanur
Arca Cottages Arcade 50
Telp : 288 511. Ext : 1341
Fax : 286 967
Hotel Putri Bali, Nusa Dua
Telp : 771 020. Ext 7186

Alex Company
Sanur Tel. 288 611

Kuta International CV
JL. Legian Kuta
Tel. 751 002
Ardisa Rent Car CV.
Jl. Jempiring No. 1, Denpasar Tel. 224 064
Mega Jaya Rent Cars
Kuta Tel. 753 760


Bali Trip Car Rental
Jalan Raya Sayan No. 1X, Ubud Tel. 976 640


Norman's
Sanur Tel. 288 328


Bagus Car Rental
Sanur Tel. 287 794


Opel/Eklimo Prima PT.
Jl. Raya by pass I Ngurah Rai 2 Jimbaran
Telp : 755 . 836

Bakta Rent Car CV.
Denpasar Tel. 223 498


Sindhu Merta (Rent Car & Taxi Driver)
Jl. Danau Tamblingan 20 Telp : 288 354

Bali Beringin Car Rental CV.
Jl. Raya Airport, Tuban Tel. 751 282

Star Rent Car Tour & Travel
Jl. Legian Belakang Goa 2001 Telp : 730 565 Surya Rent A Car Jl. Ksatria 10 Telp : 754 020

Bali Happy Rent Car
Jalan Raya Kuta 72X, Kuta Tel. 751 954


Toyota Rent A Car
Sanur Tel. 755 003


Bali Sapta Pesona Car Rental
Kuta Tel. 754991

Wirasana Rent A Car
Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai 545 X Sanur 286 066 Jl. Danau Tamblingan 126 Telp : 288 706

Bali Setia Rent A Car CV.
Denpasar Tel. 288 979

Golden Bird Bali
Jl. By Pass Nusa Dua 4 Telp : 701 621
Jl. Pulau Batanta Gg III a/1 Telp : 264 073

Candra Kencana Rent Car CV.
Nusa Dua Tel. 771 858


Garlic Car Rental CV.
Kuta Tel. 730 196


Darma Guna Car Rental
Kuta Tel. 758 179



Fantastic Bali
Sanur Tel. 289 171

The Balinese Girl

This tourism advertising image shows a young Balinese girl wearing an elaborate floral crown headdress. Such crowns are characteristic of Balinese classical dance costumes. The girl’s portrait is shown on a black circle within a purple background, and the word “bali” is written above the girl’s head in white letters.

The Background on Ballinese
The Balinese Island in eastern Indonesia is most widely known as a tourist paradise offering exquisite tropical landscapes, luxury beaches, fantastic shopping, ancient Hindu temples, wonderful arts, and beautiful smiling people. Bali also is a place of great social and historical complexity, much of which remains unseen by foreign tourists on brief holiday visits.

With a population of about 245 million, Indonesia is the fourth most populous nation in the world, after China, India, and the United States. Geographically, Indonesia is an archipelago comprised of over 17,000 islands, only about 4,000 of which are inhabited. Indonesia extends across the Pacific Ocean for about 3,500 miles along the equator between the mainland of Asia and Australia. Most of the population live on just a small number of main islands, especially the densely populated islands of Java, Madura, and Bali.

Bali is a very small island, located just east of the most populous island, Java. Only about 50 by 90 miles at its greatest diameters, Bali can be circumnavigated during a single day’s drive. Yet Bali’s unique tourist attractions and artistic products have led this small island to be a major economic powerhouse within the Indonesian economy.

Part of Bali’s fascination for Western visitors stems from the fact that, whereas most of Indonesia now is Muslim, Bali remains Hindu, with contemporary residents practicing colorful public rituals at carved stone temples. Bali also is a compact center to observe a wide range of talented local artists: musicians, dancers, painters, carvers, goldsmiths, and weavers, to name just a few of Bali’s well-developed arts idioms. Bali is particularly attractive to Europeans and Asians interested in Hinduism and Buddhist history, as well as to young Australian surfers who live only a few hours away by plane.

During the first millennium C.E. most of Southeast Asia, from the regions of Burma in the west to Vietnam in the east, came into contact with Indian religious ideas and material culture. While there were no major conquests by India in the region, and no large migrations, Southeast Asian traders and rulers adopted Hindu and Buddhist religious practices, temple structures, art styles, epic literature written in Indic scripts, and the idea of kings as reincarnations of gods.

In what is now Indonesia, Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms flourished on the islands of Sumatra and Java from the sixth to the fifteenth centuries C.E. Beginning in the 1200s, however, the newly arriving religion of Islam attracted royal interest. Southeast Asian city states trading with Muslim India and the Middle East began to challenge the rulers of Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms. Hindu and Buddhist temples in many areas were abandoned or fell to ruin. In 1527, the Hindu-Buddhist Javanese kingdom of Majapahit was conquered by a Muslim center on Java’s north coast. Balinese tradition claims that Hindu Javanese royalty under attack fled to Hindu Bali, which then was able to remain Hindu until Dutch invaders arrived to conquer the island in the early 1900s.

Dutch military attacks resulted in the death of most members of Bali’s royal families, but the Dutch quickly became intrigued with the island’s beauty and the artistic skills of its population. Bali has attracted foreign artists from the 1930s to the present although many Balinese remain rice farmers as well as skilled craftsmen. Like Java, Bali’s soil is volcanic and very fertile, producing two crops per year from irrigated rice terraces.

Although tourist guides will describe the island as a perfect tropical paradise, Bali also has experienced troubled times, especially during the Dutch colonial period, the anti-Communist purges of the late 1960s, and the 2002 and 2005 bombings by Muslim jihadists.

Large-scale tourism, beginning with an expanded airport in the 1970s, put heavy pressure on native Balinese to cope with rapid development as well as their own self-identity in the face of millions of foreign visitors.

Tourist development uses many valuable resources, including scarce land and water, and it generates much plastic garbage. Not all Balinese benefit equally from the tourist influx, and tourism can be an unreliable source of income. The nightclub bombings of October 2002 and 2005 brought great financial hardship to many Balinese although it was outsiders who exploded bombs to target foreign tourists.

In the face of repeated social, political, and economic challenges, the Balinese historically have proved resilient in re-assessing and adapting their cultural identities. Despite intense contact with outsiders, they have preserved many facets of their ancient architecture, Balinese-style Hinduism, village social organizations, and the artistic creations and performances that they understand as offerings to their gods and community.

History Bali culture

History of bali

(Bali - Indonesia )Although there are no artifacts or records dating back to the Stone Age, it is believed that the first settlers in Bali migrated from China around 2,500 BC, and by the Bronze era, around 300 BC; quite an evolved culture existed in Bali. The complex system of irrigation and rice production, still in use today, was established around this time.

History is vague for the first few centuries. A number of Hindu artifacts were been found dating back to the 1st century (AD), which suggests that the main religion, around 500 AD, was predominantly Buddhist.

It wasn't until the 11th century that Bali received the first strong influx of Hindu and Javanese cultures. With the death of his father around AD 1,011, Airlanggha, a Balinese prince, moved to east Java and set about creating unity. Having succeeded, he then appointed his brother, Anak Wungsu, as ruler of Bali. During the ensuing period there was a reciprocation of political and artistic ideas, and the old Javanese language, Kawi, became the language used by the aristocracy.
With the arrival of Islam in neighboring Java during the 15th century, a large number of courtiers, artists, musicians and craftsmen fled to Bali. As such, the Balinese have always been creative.

With the spread of Islam throughout Sumatra and Java during the 16th century, the Majapahit Empire began to collapse and a large exodus of the aristocracy, priest, artists, and artisans fled to Bali. For a while Bali flourished and the following centuries were considered the Golden Age of Bali's cultural history. The principality of Gelgel, near Klungkung, became a major canter for the Arts, and Bali became the major power of the region, taking control of the neighboring island of Lombok and parts of East Java.

The European Influence
The first Dutch seamen set foot on Bali in 1597, yet it wasn't until the 1800's that the Dutch showed an interest in colonizing the island. In 1864, having had large areas of Indonesia under their control since 1700's, the Dutch government sent the troops to northern Bali. In 1894, the Dutch sided with the Sasak people of Lombok to defeat their Balinese rulers. By 1911, all the Balinese principalities had been defeated in battle, leaving the whole island under Dutch control. After World War I, Indonesian Nationalist sentiment was rising and in 1928, Bahasa Indonesia was declared the official national language.

Bali Building

Bali building information af price and the building quality
If you are looking for a HOUSE in Bali, to live in, to spend your holidays around it, to secure an investment, to rent it out and get some return – Our TEAM assists you in the whole process, from planning to legal paperwork, design and construction.
We offer very reasonable prices: From 20 000 U$ to 80 000 U$ you can have your own home in Bali. Good quality building material, fine craftsmanship, and a western supervisor guaranty for a satisfying result.
We are a team of swiss-german-indonesian partnership, and experienced builders.
We have been building homes for foreigners in Bali, since 1992, in a wide range of models and budgets. From bamboo cottages, to wooden structures , to two-story brick houses, fine Villas, and concrete constructions.
We landscape the garden, according to your taste, and build you a swimming pool. A complete pool with filter system and pumps costs from 8000 to 15000 U$
We assist you in finding the right location. We have several properties to choose from: On the slopes of the mountains, at the beach, in the rainforest regions, or at a strategic location for your business in Bali.
We provide you with secure and proven contracts, that secure your property in Bali, and we connect you with efficient lawyers to process your ownership.

Practical steps to your HOUSE IN BALI
When you are in Bali, we would like to show you houses that we have built in the past, and show you models to choose from. When you are ready to get started on realizing your dream, we do the design of your house, and go over it with you.
We show you possible locations, in case you are looking for the right property. When we start building, you pay the first instalment: 50% of the total.
When the roof is on, and the water pipes are installed inside the house, you pay the second instalment: 30% of the total, and when the house is completed, you pay the final 20%.
The building process is documented to you by email or Fax, so you can see the stages of development. Then we have an appointment with one of our local attorneys: you sign the papers that entitle you to own the house, and get the keys to your home.
The building process takes, according to the size of your home, from 4 to 8 months. The payments are made in Euro or U$, and paid directly to the builder, or transferred through the Bank Internasional Indonesia, or to the account of our notary. For maintaining your property, calculate with these monthly fees:
$ 30.00 Legal fees,
$ 60.00 For gardener, cleaning service
$ 30.00 For electricity and water

Bali Museums

Bali Museums Guide
This is Everything you need to know about Bali's Museums
Most of Bali's museums and galleries are centred in Ubud, but culture and history rich Bali is peppered with museums and galleries - all individually interesting! These museums and galleries offer paintings, wood carvings, textiles and all kinds of souvenirs for viewing and also purchase.
The Museum Puri Lukisan in centre of Ubud, the Neka Museum in Campuhan, Seniwati Gallery and Agung Rai Museum in Pengosekan are a must, to see the difference between creative art and more commercial products.
Central Bali
Museum Puri Lukisan, Ubud
Founded by Rudolf Bonnet and Cokorda Gde Agung Sukawati, Ubud's Museum Puri Lukisan houses a permanent collection of Balinese painting from the turn of the century; displaying fine examples off all schools of Balinese art. This museum has a collection of 150 painting and 62 pieces of sculptures. The first fine arts museum in Bali, it has a valuable aim of culturing Bali's very aesthetic art and culture for its next generation.
Museum Neka, Ubud
The superb Neka Museum, in Campuan, is another excellent museum, with marvelous collections of traditional Balinese paintings by local artists and foreign artists who lived in Bali; and items of modern Balinese art. The museum stores art from the Kamasan style of the 16th century to modern 20th century paintings. The whole collection is displayed chronologically, to provide an overview of Bali's history of fine arts.

The Neka Gallery on Jalan Raya , and the Agung Rai Gallery in Peliatan are some of Bali's largest and most important.
Museum Nyoman, Ubud
This three storey museum in Mas village follows the conception of Tri Angga, that is, the three parts of human body; head, body, and legs. The museum's art collection is a mix of works of painters from the olden days of the ancient Klungkung Kingdom to this very day.
Museum Agung Rai, Ubud

Sprawling all over six hectares, the Museum Agung Rai was built based on the concept of a "living museum". It displays paintings and holds stage presentations for various art forms; and is a place for karawitan. It comes complete with an arts library and book gallery, hotel, restaurant, cafe, and coffee shop. One of the museums main specialty is its terrific views of Ubud, with rice fields and trenches integrated into part of the museum.
Seniwati Gallery of Art by Women

This gallery was established in 1991 by Mary Northmore, the very personable wife of famous painter Abdul Azis; with the aim of helping Balinese women to be accepted as artists; and also to expose the long hidden and unrecognised brilliance of women artists in Bali. The gallery also serves to motivate, train and encourage young talented Balinese girls achieve their full potential in the world of arts.
Southern Bali
Museum Negeri Propinsi Bali, Denpasar
This museum in Denpasar was founded by the Yayasan Bali Museum in December 8, 1932. It has interesting exhibits of traditional tools, crafts, masks and costumes from all over Bali; and displays archaeological items and a collection of ethnographical exhibits.
Museum Le Mayeur, Sanur
This memorial museum immortalizes the memory and enduring love of a pair of lovers - Le Mayeur and Ni Polok. All displays and exhibits are from the collection of Le Mayeur's paintings.
Museum Manusa Yadnya, Taman Ayun
Just as its name implies, the Museum Manusa Yadnya details items regarding the process of a human's life from the womb to the tomb.
Northern Bali
Museum Gedong Kirtya, Singaraja
This wonderful museum in Singaraja is a display of thousands of ancient Balinese letters in chronological order; the kakawin, or old Balinese poetry; and the geguritan which written on the palm leaf. All these and more are stored in the original building that was built in 1928 and still standing tall today.
Western Bali
Museum Subak, Tabanan
Tabanan is a region popularly known as Bali's 'rice warehouse'. Hence, it is no surprise to learn that Tabanan is home to the Subak Museum, which houses a vast collection of, what else, but agricultural items. An interesting display to take note of is Bali's typical watering system, called Subak, the museum's namesake.
Museum Gedong Area, Gianyar
Located in the Bedulu Village, this museum's collection is dedicated to archaeological items reflecting the history of Bali's cultural development.
Eastern Bali
Museum Seni Lukis Klasik, Klungkung
This museum is owned by the talented Nyoman Gunarsa, and is used as an outlet by the man himself to exhibit his masterpieces, completing the museum's collection, which documents the classical paintings of Bali. The Museum Seni Lukis Klasik is located in the village of Banda village.
Museum Manusia Purba, Gilimanuk
The Museum Manusia Purba, at the western end of Bali, was established in 1990s. It all began with an archaeological expedition of Dukuh Cekik in 1962, by R.P. Soejoeno from the Bali Archaeological Service. The expedition estimated that approximately 2,000 years ago, the stone age man dwelled on the site of the museum.

Bali Culture

More about bali
bali culture is a combination of spirituality, religion, tradition and art. Religion is considered to be art and it seems that almost every on it is a devoted artist, spending 'free time' applying skills and images which have been passed down from generation to generation and grasped from a very young age. Expressed through beautiful and intricate paintings, extraordinary carvings, superb weaving, and even in rice decorations that cover the myriad shrines found in public areas, in paddy fields or in homes, the island is alive with art and religious homage.
Sekala and Niskala

Bali culture is a complex event characterised by diversity and adaptability. A central dictum in Balinese thinking is the concept of Desa - Kala - Patra, (time, place and situation), a dynamic notion holding that traditional thinking will blend in harmony with the new. The Balinese distinguish between Sekala, the material, and Niskala the eternal. Reality is a coincidence of the material and the eternal realms. One does not exist without the other. The world, therefore, is the product of the interaction of Sekala and Niskala.
Temple Festivals

Temple festivals are commonplace. Each village will hold some sort of colourful ceremony for each one of its own temples a couple of times a year. Add to this the rituals and celebrations for each persons' passage from birth, puberty, marriage, childbirth to death and the after-world, and include the major island-wide celebrations like Galungan, Kuningan and Nyepi; the day of silence when the whole island closes down in fear of evil spirits flying in from the sea, and you can begin to understand how important religion in Bali is.
Hindu Dharma

Art, culture and day to day activities for most Balinese are strongly bonded to a unique form of Hinduism called Hindu Dharma, which is widely thought to be the closest example to the religion and social framework that existed in Java during the zenith of its power and is now found nowhere else. Classical dance dramas based on the old Hindu epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabarata which arrived from Java, are like everywhere else in Indonesia, mixed with pre-Hindu animist belief and peculiar local folklore. Not all Balinese adopted the new Hindu religion though. The Bali Aga who now live in isolated groups in the mountains at Trunyan and Tenganan, for example, preferred their ancient animist beliefs, which are still practiced and remain largely intact today.
Balinese belief systems

The very soul of Bali and Balinese belief systems is rooted in religion and is expressed in art forms and skills that have been passionately preserved over the centuries. During the mid sixteenth century Bali reached a cultural climax, which encouraged and developed elaborate arts and customs, which are the foundations of what is practiced today. In a sense they have changed very little since that time, but as has been the case throughout much of the Indonesian archipelago, adaptation of new environments is absolutely essential for survival. It was at this time that the Javanese Hindu and the Balinese calendars were combined and a complex schedule of rituals and ceremonies was defined. Nine great temples, the Pura Agung, were also built, linking the structure of the new calendar with that of the gods. The most sacred being the Mother Temple, Pura Besakih, built high on the slopes of Bali 's most sacred mountain, Gunung Agung and batur mountain.