Bali adventures begin and end in the country…far away from Kuta, Denpasar and the cities.
A glorious month of living and traveling on the little island of Bali proved our instincts were correct in staying away from the crowds.
Denpasar sports a major airport; great to get in and out of the country. But that's it!
If you want to get in touch with the true beauty of Bali, these are our 5 top picks of locations to visit:
- Ubud
- Lovina Beach
- Candidasa
- Tulamben
- Nusa Menjangan
Ubud
Our 'home base' was in a village just outside of Ubud.
If you truly want to see the artistry of Bali, Ubud will give you everything – bustling marketplace, jewelry and craft shops, ceremonies, paintings, woodcraft, dances, gamelan music, night life, wonderful historical museums and beautiful temples.
Accommodations are simple to find in Ubud, as there are many losmens and hotels on just about every street. Prices are low; you can get a decent place for as low as US$15. It's really not necessary to make advance reservations…there is almost always a place at the inn for you in Ubud!
If you want a most awesome home in the Bali countryside, you could e-mail Judy
to rent a beautiful home for only $35.00 a night - up to an entire month for only $550.
Judy & Surya's "house" is perched on the edge of a ravine overlooking a river and unending rice paddies…it's a true paradise.
Candidasa
You will want to spend at least a couple of nights in this little town on the ocean. Mask dances are performed in many little cafes and establishments – sheer pleasure!
A great place to stay here is The Water Garden…very romantic and elegant. Candidasa is a casual beach atmosphere and a great place to fall in love all over again!
Lovina Beach
At Lovina Beach we stayed at the Hotel Aditya (Fax: 0362 41342). Excellent place and perfect location for the Edwin the divemaster from Baruna Diving to pick us up each morning for the drive to Nusa Menjangan "Deer Island."
Edwin took us on many wonderful scuba diving expeditions there at Nusa Menjangan. The water temperature is always in the 70's and the sea life is incredibly beautiful.
Also, in the early morning at Lovina Beach, you can catch a boat out to visit with the dolphins, before your day seriously begins!
We found the people and businesses quaint and extremely hospitable to visitors in Lovina Beach.
Tulumben
This is a favorite spot for folks to scuba dive the old famous Liberty Wreck.
It's in shallow water, so snorkeling out from shore just a little ways will also yield great visibility of the wreck and tropical fish.
There's one little losmen right on the beach, good for one night stay – but probably not much more!
Bali…a most mystical and beautiful paradise…
Richard & Patti Redd
