Riau

Riau

Description

Riau, which includes a large part of East Sumatra, is homeland to Malays and the source of Indonesians Malay-based national language. The first book of Malay grammar, called Bustanul Katibin, was written and published here in 1857.

Pekanbaru became the provincial capital in 1959, taking over from the former capital of Tanjungpinang on the Island of Bintan. About 160 kms upstream on the Siak River you can find a number of buildings in the traditional style. Among them are Balai Dang Merdu, Balai Adat and Taman Budaya Riau, or Riau Cultural Park.

History

Riau Islands were ruled by Malay kingdoms in the 16th century. The kings found it difficult to maintain their power because aside from fighting sea pirates, they also had to fend off attacks from Portuguese, Dutch and English who were keen in controlling this southern entrance of the Strait of Malacca--a strategic place for trade with China and India back then.

Oil was found near Pekanbaru, the capital of Riau, before World War 2. The first oil well was drilled in Minas, about 10-15 kms away from Pekanbaru. To this day, oil has become one of major sources of wealth in Riau Province.

Entry

Simpang Tiga Airport is a busy visa free entry point. Pelangi flies to Kuala Lumpur and Silk Air flies to Singapore. Domestic airlines direct flights are available from Jakarta as well as from Medan and Batam. There are frequent departures from the bus station. Agencies all around town sell tickets for the boats to Batam.

People & Culture

The people inhabited Riau provinces are mostly Malays. They are known for their geniality, warmth and affection, also diverse styles of language. There are several protected tribes too in Riau province, most famous perhaps Sakai tribe, that still lives and thrives on the woods.

Cuisine

Traditional Malay cuisine is normally spicy, however you can always find other types of food here. Most famous perhaps for its kare--some kind of curry--based dishes, Malay dishes offer fabulous recipes made of sea food ingredients. Due to its proximity to neighboring provinces, Riau also boasts collection of Western Sumatra and North Sumatra dishes. Western food and fast food are available virtually everywhere so tourists without strong stomachs will be able to get their fills here.

Tourism Office

Jl. Jend. Sudirman No. 200, Pekanbaru Phone. (62-761) 31452, 40356, Fax. (62-761) 40356

www.riau.go.id

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Bunaken: Breathtaking Underwater Life

Overview

Ever fancy yourself being a mermaid? Being able to swim along with other creatures of the sea , moving to the rhythm of the waves? In the Bunaken Marine Park, you will encounter a real “mermaid”, and you can also get a glimpse of sea life here.

Bunaken is an 8.08 km² island in the Bay of Manado, situated in the north of the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bunaken forms part of the administrative city ofManado , capital of North Sulawesi. The marine Park around Bunaken is part of the  National Park that also includes the ocean around the island of  Manado Tua – or Old Manado, Siladen and Mantehage. 

Within the Bunaken Marine Park, visitors can see various strange and colourful marine life along its sea bed. To reach this park, you can take a motorboat. The journey from Manado takes around 40 minutes.  Entrance fee is 25,000 rupiahs per person per visit.

The translucent waters of the Bunaken seas enable people to clearly view numerous sea biota. There are 13 species of coral reefs in this park, dominated by edge ridges and block ridges of rocks. The most attractive view is the steep vertical sloppy coral reef that plunges down as deep as 25-50 meters.

Feast your eyes on 91 types of fish found in the Bunaken National Park, amongst which are the locally known gusimi horse fish (Hippocampus), the white oci (Seriola rivoliana), yellow-tailed lolosi (Lutjanus kasmira), goropa (Ephinephelus spilotoceps and Pseudanthias hypselosoma), ila gasi (Scolopsis bilineatus) and others.

Divers may also meet mollusk like the giant kima (Tridacna gigas), goat head (Cassis cornuta), nautilus (Nautilus pompillius) and tunikates/ascidian.

For those who enjoy scuba diving, this is a great place to be. With about 20 dive spots to choose from, divers will have the chance to swim below the sea, and frolic joyfully while admiring the sea creatures.

Make sure to visit Bunaken during its best season between May to August. That way you can explore the Park  to its fullest.

To observe some of the fascinating images of Bunaken Marine Park, you can visit our photo essay: Bunaken&Derawan Underwater Paradise

Similarly stunning are the sceneries of Kalasey seas,at the outskirt of Manado in:The Deep Water Paradise of Kalasey Seas off Manado

To Do

Most diving takes place near Bunaken and Manado Tua, because of the many excellent sites. The following are representative of  dive spots in the area.

Lekuan Walls (I, II, III)
This long wall at Bunaken is divided into three sites: the Lekuan I, II and III. Together they are the park's best. Steep walls are marked with deep crevices, sea fans and giant sponges. The shallows are filled with fishes. The wall, often protected from stronger currents, is frequented by bumphead parrotfish, turtles, and Napoleon wrasses.

Mandolin
Mandolin has a knockout reef crest and a wall that attracts thousands of fishes like schooling fusiliers, surgeonfish, unicornfish, and bannerfish. They are used to divers and are easily approachable.

Bunaken Timor
There are strong currents and lots of fish on this long wall. The shallow reef isn't as spectacular as some but there are turtles, sharks, eagle rays, and other big fish in the blue. Overhangs and small caves mark the wall.

Tanjung Kopi
Tanjung Kopi is a nice wall with a small school of barracuda and lots of sweetlips. Visibility in the shallows is not terrific but the numbers of fishes make up for it. Nudibranches and fire gobies are easy to spot here.

Siladen Island
Siladen has a beautiful wall of soft corals that bloom when the current is running. The shallows are nice with lots of fishes and schooling snappers.

Muka Gereja
Muka Gereja is a pretty site with thousands of fishes in the shallows and deeper canyons that lead to the wall.

Barracuda Point
Barracuda Point, on northwest Montehage, is one of the furthest sites. A school of giant barracuda are regulars along with jacks and tuna.

Manado Wreck
This 60m (200ft) long German merchant ship sank near Molas Beach in 1942. It sits upright with the bow at 23m (78ft). The ship is split near amidships back to the stern, exposing the wheelhouse and cargo holds. Dives finish up on a nearby shallow reef. Expect 10-15m (30-50ft) visibility.

Other than diving-enthusiasts, ornithologists and amateur bird-watchers might find visiting Tangkoko Dua Sudara Nature Reserve entertaining.

Get Around

You can also  explore the island on foot or you can take a boat to move from one dive site to the other  Just walking around the beach is already a most enjoyable experience.

Get There

The island of Bunaken is easily reached from Manado by motorized boat, departing from Manado harbor, Molas, Kalasey and Tasik Ria beach. Ferries from Manado to Bunaken leave daily around 2 p.m (depending on the tide), except on Sundays, when they leave from Pasar Jengki near the Manado harbor. The return journey from Bunaken to Manado usually leaves early in the morning, at around 7-8 a.m

There are also charter boats that depart in the morning and return in the late afternoon. These are usually reserved for travel packages organized by agents or hotels.

To Stay

On the island you have a choice amongst a number of homestays, with rates starting at Rp40,000 for one person a day, including full board. Some of the dive operators on Bunaken are offering more upmarket accommodation that has running water.

You can also stay in the hotels in Manado and then book a daily package to Bunaken, usually leaving in the morning and returning in the late afternoon. See our Travel Directory for starred hotels in Manado (North Sulawesi --> Kota Manado)

To Buy

Sea-related products, such as items made of seashells, corals, etc. The city of Manado also has many kinds of souvenirs to bring back home, such as signature food, shirts, cloths, handicrafts and trinkets.

To Eat

There are several restaurants and cafes throughout Manado and the islands. Try their specialties: seafood, bubur manado and food made of coconuts!

Tips

Entrance tags and tickets can be purchased through marine tourism operators based in Manado and in the Bunaken National Park, or can be purchased from one of three ticket counters in Bunaken and Liang villages on the islands of Bunaken and Siladen .

You should be aware that during the absolute peak season months of July and August it usually gets VERY crowded. Many of the better resorts and dive operators will not be able to accept walk-ins during that time since they are already fully booked. Better make a reservation beforehand.

Try to hire equipment from larger firms as these are more reliable, but remember: the responsibility of checking the equipment is ultimately with yourself.

If you're the more adventurous type, you can try diving in Raja Ampat and Wayag Island. In Papua.

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Amed Beach

Overview

Amed Beach East Bali is everything you dreamed it would be: a rare and special paradise of outstanding exotic beauty, vibrant culture and friendly people. Here you can finally find peace and quiet, enjoy great food and take advantage of comfortable and inexpensive accommodation.

From the beach, Amed offers an excellent site for training dives. It has a flat bottom lagoon for instruction and a coral reef only 5 minutes swim away.

This location is highly recommended for introductory dives. By boat, Amed has a nice wall dive just a few minutes away. It is a fun, easy dive for everyone. Snorkeling and diving off the black-sand beaches here is exceptional, the variety and numbers of fish on display are among the best on Bali and the water temperature is a constant 28 degrees. Schools of cardinal fish, triggerfish, black snappers, pyramid butterflies, banner fish, and damselfish can be seen on the sand slopes, while table corals, big fan gorgonians, and magnificent stag horn Acropora and Dendronephthya trees, dense growths of sponges, crinoids, and sea fans are commonly found within 20 meters of shore.

Cemuluk, on a protected bay, is an ideal place to begin snorkeling. Four kilometres further south along the coast is Banyuning, where there's a small wreck and some of the most beautiful coral gardens to be seen anywhere in the Lesser Sundas. The water is a little deeper here and sometimes there is a slight swell, so this area suits people with experience.

Get Around

You're free to explore Amed beach on foot.

To Do

You can visit the fish market early in the morning when the tuna come in, And you can also enjoy the views surrounding Amed village.

Get There

It's located North East from Amlapura. You should reach it within thirty minutes by car.

If you want to use a public transportion, take a bus (medium-sized) from Denpasar, Batubulan Terminal to Amlapura, for two hours. Then change to a bemo (a three-wheeled motoped) to Amed, for 30min. The bemo will usually stop at the village, but you need to state it clearly otherwise the driver may take you directly to Jemeluk Beach.

To Stay

Amed is actually the name of just one village and not the place to base yourself; the villages to the south are more attractive. There are dozens of places to stay along this coast, from homestays to modest but comfy hotels.

To Eat

You can find food stalls (warung) whose sell snacks and "nasi campur". The best restaurant in the area is the Baliku, approximately one kilometer south of the Blue Moon. And restaurants in the Lipah area serve good Indonesian food.

Tips

• Most hotel staff can also arrange sailing or fishing trips so you can catch your own dinner. Your hotel will most probably have snorkeling gears for hire.
• If you're on the Amed coast and want to dive, steer clear of the dive operators and check the prices at the other operators. Just make sure you take a look at the dive operator's equipment to make sure it's up to snuff before you decide to dive with them.

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Ubud: A Place of Peace and Serenity

Overview

If you’re looking for peace and quiet, then Ubud is the place to be. Steeped in culture and enhanced by magnificent vistas, Ubud offers a respite from the humdrum of your busy life. In the past, Ubud was just a small village, but now it has grown into a thriving yet laid back cosmopolitan community. Ubud pampers visitors in body and soul. Fine dining restaurants and spas here will delight and relax the senses. A walk through the lush paddy fields, watching colourful processions of women gracefully balancing piles of fruit offerings on their way to the temple, are lasting impressions and simply breathtaking.

The best way to observe Bali’s traditions and culture is through mingling with the locals and watching their daily routine. In this town, you can visit the temples and villages that have remained relatively unchanged through the years.

Art galleries are also abundant. Masterful paintings and sculptures are waiting to be admired and appreciated, for who knows you may find the perfect painting or statue to grace your own living room?

This region is steeped in history and culture. Many remains from the old kingdoms of Bali can be found here, and unique arts and crafts are just waiting to be discovered. Known for its tranquillity, Ubud offers several natural retreats. The lush, green views and cool atmosphere makes morning and afternoon strolls most pleasant.

It’s no surprise that many people come to Ubud for a day or two and end up staing longer, drawn in by the culture and activities on offer. Ubud is where famed Elizabeth Gilbert found peace and her love as written in her best selling memoir “Eat, Pray, Love”, which is now made into a film featuring Julia Roberts. Indonesia’s ownn celebrity Christine Hakim plays Wayan, the local alternative healer.

To observe the magnificent images of the cremation ceremony in Ubud, you can visit our photo essay:  Pelebon of the 9th Raja of Puri Agung Peliatan.

Get Around

Since Ubud is relatively small, you can explore the town on foot or hire a bicycle or motorbike. Bear in mind that as this is hilly terrain, so do ask locals first which places are easier explored on foot, by bicycle, motorbike or by car.

To Do

Go back in time and see the heritage of Bali’s ancient kingdoms with a visit to the temple of Tirta Empul, only 15 km away. Here, in the temple complex, are the holy springs of Tirta Empul. Some 8 km from here lies Pejeng, where you can visit the museum and temples and the “Moon of Pejeng” the huge prehistoric kettledrum. While here why not complete your tour visiting the archaeological sites of Bedulu which is only 3 km away.

Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) is also worth visiting. Located about 1 km from Teges, legend says that it was created from a giant’s fingernail. It was probably built in 11th century, during Majapahit occupation of Bali. Dutch archaeologist rediscovered Goa Gajah in the 1920s but the bathing area was not found until the 1950s. It’s interesting to note that the entrance of this cave is carved in the shape of a demon-like creature. The statue of Ganesha adorns the inside. Bathing pools with water spouts are found nearby, and it is believed that the water will make you look younger.

Ubud is the perfect place to enjoy cultural events and performances. The Kecak, Legong and Barong dances are performed weekly as are the classical Ramayana and Mahabharata dance-dramas, gamelan recitals (orchestra comprising traditional musical instruments) and the wayang kulit (traditional Indonesian leather puppets)  performances .

If you are too tense and caught up in the humdrum of daily life, indulge in the spas around Ubud that use exotic spices to tease your senses, and ensure complete relaxation.

Stroll through the cool and dense jungle of the sacred monkey forest where there are three ancient temples to explore. The Pura Dalem Agung (Temple of the Dead) is an like something out of an adventure movie. Look out for Rangda figures devouring children at the entrance to the inner temple.  

Adventurous folks may want to try white water rafting down the Ayung river. Other outdoor activities including golf are equally available, contact the local tour agencies. Why not pump up your adrenaline while your spouse relaxes in the spa!

If the artist in you just yearns to rise to the surface, then why not take an art class. Ever wondered how batik is made, or how rare masterpieces can be created? Or perhaps you would love to design and create your own silver jewellery. You can learn these here. For those who are more interested in culinary skills, cooking classes are also available.


FESTIVAL & EVENTS

Ubud is the home of the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (www.ubudwritersfestival.com) where book enthusiasts, writers and readers around the world gather annually and share their experiences and of course, stories. This festival is usually held in October every year.

Get There

Various modes of transport are available from all over Bali. If you decide to visit Ubud directly from the airport, you can hire prepaid cabs but the fee may be quite hefty. You can also take regular taxis or rental cars. Public transportation such as buses can also take you to Ubud.

To Stay

From simple bed and breakfasts to beautifully laid out luxury hotels, all types of accommodation can be easily found here.  Modest accommodation or even homestays are available for those who would prefer to watch Balinese daily life up close. For hotels, check :find a hotel

To Buy

For keepsakes, make sure to visit South of Ubud. You can find hundreds of craft shops offering art products and handmade souvenirs, especially made of stone or wood. If you are planning to stay for a while, ask the artists to custom make your order. If shopping is your middle name, then Pasar Seni (Art Market) at Jalan Raya Ubud, the Monkey Forest Street, Jalan Hanoman and Jalan Dewi Sita must be included in your itinerary.

To Eat

On the Monkey Forest Street and Jalan Hanoman you’ll find many choices of restaurants, from western cuisine to Balinese dishes. Sample authentic Balinese dishes made from fresh ingredients at the local warungs (street stalls). Or indulge in a gourmet meal at one of the classy cafes or restaurants.

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Ubud Monkey Forest

Overview

The Ubud Monkey Forest is a nature reserve and temple complex in Ubud, Bali. It houses approximately 340 monkeys which are known as long-tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis). There are four groups of monkeys each occupying different territories in the park. The Sacred Monkey Forest is a popular tourist attraction in Ubud, and is often visted by over 10,000 tourists a month.

The Monkey Forest is owned by the village of Padangtegal and village members serve on the Monkey Forest's governing council. The Padangtegal Wenara Wana Foundation manages the Monkey Forest and serves to maintain its sacred integrity and to promote the sacred site as a destination for visitors.

Get Around

Walking around Ubud is an experience of its own. There's a famous story told by Janet DeNeefe, initiator of the Ubud Readers & Writers Festival, that once, a speaker had a block before his event and decided to went out for a walk around Ubud. He was so fascinated by the beautiful landscapes that he forgot to return for his talkshow.

You can also rent a bicycle or a motorbike. A lot of visitors prefer bikes for environmental reasons. However, since Ubud's located on a mountainous area, the roads tend to be steep. If you have something against sweating, motorbike's a more logical choice.

Cars are usually only used when you want to to go outside Ubud.

To Do

Walk around. Enjoy the serene atmosphere.

The forest comprises approximately a tenth of a square kilometer (approximately 27 acres) and contains at least 115 different species of trees. The Monkey Forest contains the Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal temple (shown on the left) as well as a "Holy Spring" bathing temple and another temple used for cremation ceremonies.

Get There

Ubud is about an hour and a half drive from the airport. Taxis are available in the airport. Any travel agent in Denpasar will also be able to get you there. If you stay in a hotel, the management usually provides a shuttle service for a reasonable fee.

The sacred forest is situated at the Monkey Forest Street (shown on the right), which is the main street of Ubud, so you won't miss it. Shops and restaurants line up the streets, so you might as well check them out while you're there.

To Stay

Various lodgings are available in Ubud, from a simple bed & breakfast to resorts or private villas.

Good choices for comfort and services at Monkey Forest Street are Komaneka Resort and KajaNe Mua Villa. A bit far, but worth the distance are Maya Ubud Resort & Spa and Four Seasons Bali (at Sayan, Ubud).

To Eat

The Monkey Forest street provides many choices of restaurants, from western cuisine to Balinese dishes. Remember to visit Bebek Bengil about 500 meters from there. It's a popular restaurant at Jalan Hanoman (Phone: +62 36 197 5489), known for its specialties: fried/roasted ducks. Do also try the ribs. They'll leave you wanting more.

Tips

In Monkey Forest Sanctuary, even if you really admire Robert Frost, stay on the path. The forest is lest travelled for a reason: it may provoke the monkeys into thinking you're trying to invade their home.

Treat the monkeys with respect. Don't feed them unless you're accompanied with a guide to supervise you. And do realize that they're creatures of a curious nature. So keep your possessions in check. If they "borrow"  one of your items, just go to the nearest guide and ask for his help.

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Uluwatu: The Most Famous Wave in Bali

Overview

Uluwatu is the most famous wave of Bali. There is always some swell here so it's also always crowded. The spot offers several waves which are working with different swells and tides:

The Peak: best at mid and high tide. Closes out at low tide. In front of the cave. it's the most consistant. Short and powerful waves, tubes. The take off is moving. It works from 1ft to 8ft. The most crowded. One of the sections closes more than the others.

Racetracks: 100 meters further. fast wave, a lot of sections with easy tubes. Best at low tide and at 6ft. Can hold bigger swell. On the right tide and the right swell, "The Peak" connects with "Racetraks" (you need to be a good tuberider). Over 10ft, Racetracks breaks until "The Corner".

Inside Corner: best at mid and low tide with a 6ft swell. At first, it's a fun wave and the final bowl is a tube. Don't do a cutback just before the bowl! Take plenty of speed, stay high in the face and trim. You will pass the tube.

Outside Corner: the REAL Uluwatu. Works only with big swells (>8 feet) and at low tide. The lower is the tide, the better is the wave. Take at least a 7' board. It is a succession of long walls good for carving and, sometimes, a beautifu

l final tube. The length is around 300 meters.

Temple: less surfed. Two waves in fact ("Outside temple" and "The Bombies"). Only for experts because the water is very shallow. For them, it is a incredible tube when it works.

To Do

 Spot information for surfing at Uluwatu:

• Type of break: reef break
• Type of wave: hollow barreling wave
• Direction: left hand
• Bottom: coral
• Average lenght of ride: long
• Suitable for : expert level

Detailed information:

• Crowd level: a big crowd
• Best tide: mid
• Ideal board size: 6'8-7'4 Mini gun
• Ideal wind direction: south-east

Wavesize & wetsuit:

• Spring - Summer - Autumn - Winter
• Overhead: 6'- 8' - Ok : 2'- 4' - Overhead: 6'- 8' - Overhead: 6'- 8'
• Boardshorts - Boardshorts - Boardshorts - Boardshorts

(Source: www.globalsurfer.com. Image credit: www.baliwaves.com)

Get There

Uluwatu is about one hour drive from the Ngurah Rai International Airport. You can use a taxi from the airport. Or you can go to Denpasar and to find a travel agent or auto rental. Many rentals also provide motorcycles.

To Stay

There are many accommodations from warung (warung is a traditional cafe), motels, hotels to villas. The prices range from $5 to $2000 for a day. If you stay in a warung you just need to pay for the meals. You'll find better accomodations like starred hotels near resorts. Just click the Find a Hotel button.

To Eat

Various restaurants and cafes throughout Uluwatu, from cheap food stalls to luxury restaurants.

To Buy

Naturally, the souvenirs around here are sea-related products, such as items made of seashells and corals. But of course, there are also the modern kind of merchandises, such as T-shirts. 

Tips

 Just a quick reminder, this IS a tropical island. Don't leave home without these:      

• A good hat and water-proof sun-screen
• Basic first-aid kit, antiseptic dressing, etc.
• Sand-shoes
• Board-shorts, 1 pair light-weight, long-pants and long-sleeve wind cheater
• At least two towels. Heed what the late Douglas Adams warned in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; never underestimate the power of towels. And sunglasses
• Personal toiletries, after-sun cream and insect repellent (because the only bloodsuckers you should befriend are the Red Cross)
• When you just want to lie under the sun: iPod and books
• Immortalize your moments: camera or handycam
• Booties, at least 2 surf-boards. Surf shops are easy to find though 
• Light-weight wet-suits, rash-vest, gate helmet and spare leg-ropes

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Bali

Description

Bali has been the favorite destination for locals and international tourists for ages. Bali has been the favorite destination for locals and international tourists for ages. Full of magnificent beaches, breathtaking sceneries, marvellous trinkets and interesting culture, Bali is ideal for people wanting to escape from daily activities, enjoy a honeymoon, or even, have a great time with family and friends.

Bali is an Indonesian island located at 8°25'23?S 115°14'55?E, the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east. It is one of the country's 33 provinces with the provincial capital at Denpasar towards the south of the island.

With a population recorded as 3,151,000 in 2005, the island is home to the vast majority of Indonesia's small Hindu minority. 93.18% of Bali's population adheres to Balinese Hinduism, while most of the remainder follow Islam. It is also the largest tourist destination in the country and is renowned for its highly developed arts, including dance, sculpture, painting, leather, metalworking and music.

History

Though no artifacts or records exist that would date Bali as far back as the Stone Age, it is thought that the very first settlers to Bali emigrated from China in 2500 BC, having created quite the evolved culture by the Bronze era, in around 300BC.  This culture included a complex, effective irrigation system, as well as agriculture of rice, which is still used to this day.

Bali’s history remained vague for the first few centuries, though many Hindu artifacts have been found, which lead back to the first century, indicating a tie with that religion.  Though it is strongly held that the first primary religion of Bali, discovered as far back as 500 AD, was Buddhism.  Additionally, Yi-Tsing, a Chinese scholar who visited Bali in the year 670 AD stated that he had visited this place and seen Buddhism there.

By the 11th century, Hindu and Javanese influences became very important to Bali.  In fact, when the Balinese Prince Airlanggha’s father died in about 1011 AD, he moved to East Java, uniting it under one principality and appointing his brother, Anak Wungsu, the ruler of all of Bali.  Following this time, there were many reciprocal political and artistic ideas that formed.  Javanese language, called Kawi, became the aristocracy’s preference, among other Javanese traits and customs that were worked into Bali life.

When Airlanggha died in the mid-11th century, Bali remained quite autonomous until 1284, when East Javanese king Kertanegara conquered Bali and ruled over it from his home in Java.  Kertanegara was assassinated in 1292, and Bali was once again liberated, until 1343 when it was brought back into Javanese control by Hindu-Javanese general Gajah Mada, of the Majapahit empire.

At this time, the 16th century, Islam was spreading throughout Sumatra and Java, and the Majapahit Empire started to fall, creating a large exodus of aristocracy, priests, artists and artisans to Bali.  This brought Bali great prosperity, becoming Bali’s golden age of cultural history for the following centuries.  Bali soon became the major power of the region, taking control of its neighboring country, Lombok, as well as pieces of East Java.

In 1597, Dutch seamen were the first Europeans to land in Bali, though they had no true interest in Bali until the 1800’s.  In 1846 the Dutch returned with colonization on their minds, having already had vast expanses of Indonesia under their control since the 1700’s.  The Dutch sent troops into northern Bali, and by 1894, they had sided with the Sasak people of Lombok to defeat the Balinese.  By 1911, all Balinese principalities were under Dutch control.

After World War I, a sense of Indonesian Nationalism began to grow, leading to the declaration of the national language in 1928, as Bahasa Indonesia.  World War II brought the Japanese, who expelled the Dutch and occupied Indonesia from 1942 until 1945.

The Japanese were later defeated, and the Dutch returned to attempt to regain control of Bali and Indonesia.  However, in 1945, Indonesia was declared independent by its very first president, Sukarno.  The Dutch government ceded, and Indonesia was officially recognized as an independent country in 1949.

Entry

Most international visitors will fly to Bali directly.

Flights
    * Numerous direct flights from Europe, America, Australia and most Asian Countries.
    * Domestic flights to and from major cities within Indonesia.
Sea
    * Regular passenger ferries from Java and Lombok.
    * Cruise ship stop-offs.
Overland
    * By car or bus from Java.

People & Culture

Bali's reputation as a tourist destination is already established in the minds of so many people around the world. It is known as a beautiful island with mountains, temples, palaces and visits of terraced rice fields.

It is known as a place where traditions of art and culture predominate, where the village way of life based on their strong religious beliefs is still in place.

But, it is also a place where modern sports such as diving, sailing, rafting and above all surfing have taken hold and are enjoyed by thousands of visitors every year. It is a place where the ultimate luxuries of life: fine dining, spas and massage have reached the peak of perfection.

Behind all of this is a single unseen premise; none of these practices, pursuits and pleasures are created as tourist industries in Bali, but are based on the talents, dedication and skills of the Balinese people in their normal course of life.

Cuisine

Like the food of other regions in Indonesia, Balinese food is rice as the central dish served with small portions of spicy, pungent vegetables, fish or meat and served almost always with sambal or chili paste. Bali is a few of the regions in Indonesia whose majority of its people are non Muslims, thus babi guling or roasted suckling pig is a specialty, as is bebek betutu, smoked stuffed duck wrapped in bamboo leaves.

In Jimbaran area, for instance, you can sample seafood dishes while sitting on the beach. Visit this place in the evening, the cool atmosphere and caressing breeze will make your dining experience remarkable.

Tourism Office

Bali Government Tourism Office Jl. S. Parman No. 1, Niti Mandala, Denpasar-Bali 80235, Phone (62-361) 222387, Fax (62-361) 226313 , Website :http://www.tourism.baliprov.go.id/ , Email: infotourism@baliprov.go.id

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