Nice Places around the World

Bali's water

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One of the problems with Bali is that the water found in Bali is sighty greyish and is not very clear and shoud not be drunk without filtration or boiling. Unless you are in a famous or well-known hotel, you should not try to drink the tap water there.

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8. Spot some playing dolphins

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In Lovina, the north of Bali

Most of the tourist areas are located in the south of the island. When you're on a holiday here, consider if you want to see more of the island and plan a two-day trip (or more) to the north (Lovina) for example. On your way here (and on the way back) you can choose to do some sightseeing, so the long trip is easy to do.

Make sure you arrange the full trip and location before, so you can just relax and know that it's all arranged. You can plan your trip with a driver and/or a tourist information point / adventure kiosk.

When you arrive in Lovina, relax and get to bed early, because you have to be awake by five again to leave at six in the morning with a local fishing boat to spot some playing dolphins.

It's really an amazing trip and I think every tourist should do it. While searching for dolphins (this can take a while) you see the gorgeous sunrise in the back.

Please note that those dolphins are fast and it's more like a hunt to see a glimpse of a dolphin then a relaxing trip where the dolphins just play beside you. This was my thought before, but it's pretty hectic. But fun! And to see those animals is pretty amazing. Get your camera ready and be fast! For me it was impossible to take a picture of them.

For me, I had to wake up early too, but in my group, with most of us as students and teenagers ... well ... we woke up late. However, the silver lining to this was that we saw dolphins playing around the area! There was plenty of them and according to our teachers, this was perhaps a rare sight as they hardly saw one the last time they came ! LOL lucky us.

A word of warning though, be prepared if u get seasick easily, he ride to where dolphins go is not smooth .... its actually quite rough and do be prepared to get wet .... very wet ...

7. Eat, eat and eat

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MY FAV!!! Food in Bali is good and cheap if u know the correct place to go. For only a few dollar/euro you can eat a meal that's really satisfying.

There are some good spots at the island where you can get a good Indonesian meal. Just take a good look around; some restaurants can be a little less focused on the western stomach, so the "Bali Belly" is not unknown.

One where it is good and safe to eat is Warung Murah (meaning Cheap Restaurant) located on Jl. Double Six (Seminyak). You can order from the menu, but I recommend ordering from the buffet. Pick your type of rice (like plain white, or yellow) and choose your meat and vegetables. Enjoy the food and the price you pay (yup it's cheap).

Next to the Indonesian kitchen, there are of course a lot of other options. Visit Jl. Laksmana (a.k.a Oberoi) for a wide range of different restaurants. There's something for everybody!

Well, when I was in Bali, i ate a deep fried duck that was extremely crispy and had a group of us who wanted to eat more. Too bad i forgot whats the place called .... We had to learn the kacak dance there too ..

6. See a beautiful sunset

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The days are quite hot in Bali. Everyday it's around 30 c / 86 f. The sun sets just after six o'clock and it's the time to sit back, relax and get ready for a cooler evening (around 24 c / 75 f).

There are lots of places in Bali to see a great sunset, like the wide spread beaches. One of my favourite places is also located at the beach, but the setting is quite unique. Tanahlot, located 30 minutes from Kuta, is a great place to hang out around sunset. It's a sacred place for the Balinese and you really can understand why. There's an ancient temple right on the top of a big rock and the tide decides if it's accessible.

Tanahlot is a touristy place, so make sure you're there on time and grab yourself a spot on a rock. Enjoy the magic and the colourful sky, preferably with a loved one.

5. Laugh at some cheeky monkeys

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mThe animal kingdom in Bali is still quite impressing. Monkeys still live freely and you are able to spot them in the wild. There are several places in Bali where you can see the monkeys, but most famous is the Monkey Forest in Ubud.

The Monkey Forest is the home of hundreds long-tailed macaques and the forest is a beautiful place to see. There are no gates, so you can already spot the monkeys on the streets of Ubud.

Right before the entrance you can buy some bananas. This is a fun thing to do, but please not that the monkeys can be a bit aggressive in grabbing those bananas. So if you're scared, just watch other people feeding the monkeys.

The macaques are quite funny; watch them playing around or acting crazy, but please don't bother them. You're the guest in their home, so they can be really angry when you're disturbing them.

Make sure you bring a camera, because there can be some funny situations, but please watch out for your camera and other materials. Some monkeys can be little criminals and there are many tourists who have lost their (expensive) jewellery or glasses there.

4. See a (Kecak) dance

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Well, for a teenager, the kecak dance is .... really boring. The only thing that i feel that it is actually nice about is how the dancers, usually very close to each other (as neighbors in a village) make sound of different patterns which combines to what I call an imba sound. The chak chak sound made by them is really fast and leaves u to wonder how thay managed to do it in the first place.

Also, another interesting thing about it is how theyusually protray the characters. As I did't recognize most the costumes, I'm not sure what story they are telling and didnt actually understand the dance at all.

There are several locations where you can witness a Kecak dance, but one place is quite spectacular; at the cliff of the Uluwatu temple. The dance starts right before sunset, so the setting is great and on your way you probably will spot some monkeys. Be aware of your personal belongings; these monkeys can be quite naughty. Enjoy the dance, sounds and sunset and make sure you don't forget your camera.

3. Go shopping

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When you go shopping in Bali, it's a fact that you have to deal with bargaining. When you're asking for the price, you'll probably be shocked by the amount. But don't worry, the Balinese expect you to bargain. Personally, I prefer to bargain in groups, as in I don't try to bargain first but look at the final price offered. I then bargain for a much lower price like that. This is quite effective in order to get lower prices. Don't bargain if u dont want that item though. Its quite rude.

For just some clothing or souvenirs, you can stick around the tourist areas. For art, you are better of in Ubud or a small village nearby. For silver, you can go to Celuk. As you might notice, there's a village for every product. Ask around or read in a travel book to find out where you can buy your things.

2. Visit a temple

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The majority on Bali is Hindu and the place to practice this belief is of course in a Hindu temple. These temples are everywhere on the island; from small ones just on the street, to bigger family temples, to village-sized temples. To come to Bali without looking at one of the big temples is a waste

Do Visit the Pura Besakih a.k.a. The Mother Temple
This temple is definitely the "mother" of all temples; it's located on the hill of Mount Agung and it is made up of courtyards with altars and shrines devoted to a number of gods. Take a guide there to show you around, but make sure you bargain about the price for it.

1. Pamper Yourself

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One of the best way to pamper yourself in Bali is to go to a spa. One of the better places to go is the Prana Spa in Seminyak. It's a luxurious place and the treatments are well known and there are many to choose from.

Want to get healthier or more spiritual? The Bali Balance, also located in Seminyak, is your health spot. Here they offer you treatments like; Herbal Remedies, Massages, Acupuncture and many more.

Adapted from EzineArticles

8 Things to Do in Bali

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1. Pamper yourself

2. Visit a temple (or two)

3. Go shopping

4. See a (kecak) dance

5. Laugh at some cheeky monkeys

6. See a beautiful sunset

7. Eat, eat and eat

8. Spot some playing dolphins

Adapted plus personal experience from EzineArticles

Bali's Beach (3)

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Nusa Dua beach has a chain of hotels placed on the sandy shores and these hotels provide luxurious swimming experience in protected lagoons, as well as fabulous gourmet food served on site.

Sanur beach is easily reachable from Despansar. Sanur has calm, secluded lagoons, which are favorites for lots of activities like wind surfing, parasailing, and excellent for families.

Between Despansar and Gilimanuk, two wonderful beaches called Soka beach and Mediwi beach are present. Jimbaran attracts many local families and tourists with its beauty and superb seafood restaurants that line along the beaches. Jimbaran is placed on the way from Despansar to Nusa Dua, directly to the south of Despansar airport.

Lovina is the most inspiring beach in Bali that attracts large number of tourists, irrespective of the season. A number of people visit this beach to view schools of dolphins swimming and playing in the waters.

Kuta is home to the whitest beach in Bali, and is just a 5 to 10 minute drive from Despansar. Kuta could be very well called the tourist mecca, because of its shops, pubs, and fully equipped first class hotels. Kuta is famous among skilled swimmers and recognized for its unpredictable underwater currents - novice swimmers should use caution when swimming at this beach.

Bali's Beach (1,2,3) from EzineArticles by Eddie Tobey

Bali's Beach (2)

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The line of beaches on the island of Bali includes Sanur beach, Jimbaran, Soka beach, Nusa Dua, Medewi beach, Lovina beach, Kuta, and Legian beach. Locals and tourists popularly go after Legian beaches, which are famous for their magnificent view of sunset. Surfing is a major activity here and the best waves are a 5 to 10 minute drive from Despansar airport.

Bali Beaches (1)

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Bali's beaches attracts huge number of travelers from all over the world with its fun filled, palm fringed beaches known for having white sand. Bali has a many beaches, all of which are easily reachable from Despansar airport.

Culture of Bali

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Bali is an Indonesian island that is rich in indigenous culture. A lot pf people say that Bali culture is unique and that the people of Bali have always been contented with the “now.” If you ask a Balinese person what heaven is like, the probable answer will be “just like Bali”. This only goes to show that most Balinese people are happy to be where they are and never worry.

One factor that contributes to this laidback lifestyle is the culture of close family ties in Bali. In the Balinese culture, support is always available. Balinese extended families are so tightly knit that all members usually reside in the same complex.

Hinduism is one of the main religions in Bali. The Bali culture is based on a form of this religion, which is called “Hindu Darma”. This religion reached the island during the eleventh century. Most of the family customs and traditions as well as community lifestyles of the Balinese people are influenced by this. The religious influence even expands widely into the arts, which makes Bali distinct from the rest of Indonesia.

In spite of the influx of tourists to the island, Balinese people have managed to preserve their culture. Almost every native of Bali is an artist in some form or another. Parents and villagers have passed on their skills to their children, who all seem to have inclinations either to music, dance, painting, and decor.

Another remarkable mark of the Bali culture is the series of ceremonies and rituals known as the Manusa Yadnya. This marks the different stages of Balinese life. Cremation is very popular on this island – and unlike in the West, death is a joyous and colorful event for the Balinese.

Indeed, Bali has a rich culture, making it distinctive from the rest of the islands in Indonesia.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eddie_Tobey

Bali

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In my opinion, Bali is a very tourist oriented country. For the best experience, i recommend staying in Bali for at least one to two weeks in order to get a minimum experience of Bali. As in my previous post, Bali is for everyone. For the adventurous soul, visit mountains in Bali and other "wild" places. For the quiet, visit Bali famous beaches and relax in the sun. For animal loving people, visit places around Bali and observe lifeforms such as hermit crabs and other beach animals along Bali's beaches. You can also visit the famous Komodo dragons as well as wild horses, wild buffalo, deer and wild pigs on Rinca Island.For those who likes to shop, don't fear! Shopping centers are there for those who just want to shop and for those who are more adventurous, try bargaining with locals at the various local markets for paintings and wood carvings.

Introduction to Bali

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Bali Island is a perfect holiday destination for all ages as it offers something for everyone. This tropical paradise has a unique blend of modern tourist facilities with wonderful shopping opportunities and a rich past and a unique heritage.