JOIN USThis beautiful temple island is not just known for its wide and diverse landscape but also for its lovely pristine beaches. This gem called Bali shows natural beauty in all its splendour.
We started exploring the place after a relaxed day in our private villa. Our first visit was to the Pura Taman Ayun temple and then to the temple at Tanah Lot which stands at the shores. It is one of the seven sea temples around the Balinese coast. On our way back, we tasted some coffee. There is a special coffee called Kopi Luwak or the civet coffee indigenous to Bali.
The next day we visited Mount Batur, famous for the Kintamani volcano, which is an active volcano. One can get a spectacular view of the volcanic mountain along with Lake Batur during clear weather. Then, there is the Pura Ulun Danu temple nearby.
Enroute Ubud, we saw the most amazing scenery of Tegalalang rice terrace fields winding the road. Ubud is the centre of art, heritage and culture. One of the best places to buy paintings, wooden carvings and interior home decor pieces is at Ubud.
The Goa Gajah, near Ubud, is an elephant cave temple which features a statue of Ganesha and a sacred bathing pool. Going down a flight of steps, one can see a broken Buddhist rock-cut statue.
We also visited the Lembongan Island close to Bali. There are many swift boats to ferry people to and from Bali to Lembongan, especially from Sannur. My favourite place in Lembongan Island is the Devil Tears. It is a rocky outcrop on the coast which has a sudden drop down. The crashing of waves and water plumes left us spellbound. We spent the day around Lembongan Island indulging in activities like snorkeling, banana boat ride and visiting the other beaches of the island.
Our next visit was to the stunning cliff temple of Uluwatu. It offers the most amazing view of the beautiful blue ocean from the cliff, which makes it a must-visit in Bali. Later, we headed to Padang Padang beach and Dream beach.
We watched the fascinating Kecak dance at Uluwatu, a type of fire dance wherein no musical instrument is used, and the sounds are made only from the mouth. It gives a great insight into Balinese culture. Tales from the Ramayana were depicted in the dance.
The nearby Jimbaran Bay has many good restaurants to enjoy seafood. Nusa Dua is an all-inclusive tourist destination with world-class hotels, beach clubs, golf course and white-golden beaches. It offers one of the best water sports activities.
We visited Turtle Island in Nusa Dua and learnt how turtles are taken care of for conservation. Seminyak and Kuta give you a cool city feel with lots of restaurants, pubs ,shopping areas and hotels.
And before we knew it, it was time to leave. Even after exploring so much, I felt one can never really get enough of this charming island!
(The author can be contacted at soumya_mansoor@rediffmail.com)