Bali

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The explorers have done it. The tourists have done it over. The terrorists tried to finish it. So how to say something new about Bali?

There hasn’t been a terrorist hit for very nearly five years, and Bali’s not Hindu for nothing. A religion of regeneration if ever there was one. It’s the same, yet not the same. We avoided the southern beaches, still pretty full of tourists, although we were tourists also. We stayed in two hotels, one in Ubud and one in Lovina. In Bali - as elsewhere, - you get what you pay for, and we got a lot more of everything - except simplicity - at the Bali Spirit Hotel. The trip was just ten days of R and R, so there’s no story to tell. Inter alia, I was surprised to find:

• That Ubud had expanded so much that I couldn’t find the losman where I stayed in 1994.

• That the beachside seafood stalls at Jimbaran have all turned into proper restaurants.

• That the description of the dolphin-view trips in the Lonely Planet guide were so gross I’d decide not to join in this exploitation of the big fish.

• That there is a Buddhist temple near Lovina, where one can go and stay at any time to do vipassana meditation.

But it’s better to let the pictures show the holiday: Artistic Bali … Tourist Bali … Rural Bali … Religious Bali … Commerical Bali: there are forty-seven more photos below the comment window below.

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Travel Tips

We stayed at the Bali Spirit Hotel, Ubud and Nirwana Seaside Cottages, Lovina. Although there was a marked difference in standard, neither hotel is as posh as it appears on its website. We travelled by air and hire car: routine and comfortable.

How I’ve been In a word: lazy. This trip was May 2009 and I’m only writing about it in February 2010. Later this month I’ll definitely get to writing up my September/October visit to Argentina. I must do that before I set out to drive from Darwin to the Central Coast of NSW during March.

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Photos

Artiistic Bali
Stone carving near Ubud.

Artiistic Bali
Detail of a painting. 1940s. Neka Art Museum.

Artiistic Bali
Shadow puppet from the Ramayana. 1990s. Neka Art Museum.

Artiistic Bali
Wooden carving. Neka Art Museum.

Artiistic Bali
Another painting. 1970s. Neka Art Museum.

Artistic Bali
Old stone dog near the Monkey Forest, Ubud.

Artiistic Bali
Bamboo decorations signal a ceremony is on.

Artiistic Bali
Close-up of bamboo art.

Artiistic Bali
Fresh flowers every morning ...

Artiistic Bali
... are frequently changed.

Artiistic Bali
Wall mural, seen between Ubud and Denpasar.

Artiistic Bali
Detail in a concrete paving stone.

Tourist Bali
This is the lovely reception desk of the Bali Spirit Hotel in Ubud.

Tourist Bali
At the Bali Spirit there is careful attention to detail ...

Tourist Bali
... and wonderful service.

Tourist Bali
The Nirwana Seaside Cottages, Lovina, are much more laid back ...

Tourist Bali
... but still have good facilities.

Coastal Bali
Lovina Beach, N Bali.

Coastal Bali
Gateway at Pura Pulaki, N Bali.

Coastal Bali
Coast seen from Pura Pulaki, N Bali.

Coastal Bali
Lovina, N Bali.

Comments

[meelien]

tq
thanks, Gillian.Look forward to 'Argetina'. Best regards.

[Ali]

Amazing photos!
I love that the travel blog is continuing with your trips made from your Australian home base. These photos are incredible. I´m also waiting for the Argentinian and Uruguayan instalments.

[An Erratic Traveller]

Reply to Ali!
Glad you found the photos interesting. Argentina is in the pipeline, but there are no photos of Uruguay. Remember I had my camera pinched?

[ray]

Thanks for sharing some pics
It was pure luck today that I found your entry....guess I should be more diligent about reading my e-mails. Thanks for sharing the pictures of your trip to Bali. They remind me that Bali is in Asia and temples in Asia always look old and worn.....and that the natural beauty is outside the city.

[Honey]

Kacak Dance
What lovely pics - makes me want to go back. Last year, we stopped by Bali on the way to Flores to see some Komodo dragons. While in Bali, we went to a temple by the seaside and watched the most amazing acapella dance based on one of the episodes in the Ramayana. It was held at sunset, there was a 'bonfire' in the middle of the open air dance area and a cool breeze blowing. Even a year later, as I am writing this, I can hear the chanting...

[Lee]

Bali outside Ubud
I will be staying in Ubud for most of my trip to Bali and making excursions from there. For a few days at the end of my 2 weeks, I'd like to stay at a different location. What would you recommend?

[An Erratic Traveller]

Reply to G. Lee
If you want something different, go along the east coast. Or stay at Lovina as we did. If you want the maddening crowd then head for Kuta.