3-Bali

Basic Info:

• Bali is an island and province of Indonesia. Its capital, Denpasar, is located in the southern part of the island.
• Currency:Indonesian Rupiah(IDR) 1 EUR =17,000 IDR ,1 OMR = 35,790 IDR .Consists of coins from 100 rupiah up to 1000 rupiah and banknotes of 1000 rupiah up to 100,000 rupiah.
• Place in the world:
  

• Languages spoken:Balinese and Indonesian widely spoken followed by English and Chinese.
• Visa required:Bali does have Visa on Arrival facility for Indians.This visa is valid for up to 30 days stay in Indonesia and extendable for another 30 days. The passport though should be valid for at least another 6 months and should have enough space for the visa sticker.
• Geographically significant structure to keep in mind:Mount Batur and Mount Agung
• Best months to visit:April, May, June and September
• City card:Yes!But more of discount cards and not to get around.
• Flag of Bali:

Random trivia:

1. Nyepi day is a festival of silence celebrated only in Bali every Isakawarsa or new year(Hindu calendar).On this day,the whole island shuts down, and no work, traveling or even noise is allowed.
2. The Balinese usually have one of the following four names: Wayan, Made, Nyoman or Ketut. They simply mean First born, Second born, Third born and Fourth born and it doesn’t matter if the child is a boy or a girl!
3. Bali Flags called Umbul Umbul.

Top things to see:
Bali is known for its forested volcanic mountains, iconic rice paddies, beaches and coral reefs.
1.Tegalalang rice terraces-These are  Ubud’s iconic rice terraces and the trip can be combined with the monkey forest trip because of their proximity.the best views are from panoramic balconies and cafés close to Tegalalang village.Why is this one so interesting?Read up!
2.Mount Batur at Pinggan Village-
3.Goa Gajah-This is an archaeological site of significant historical value.Takes less than an hour to descend to its relic-filled courtyard and view the rock-wall carvings, a central meditational cave, bathing pools and fountains.The cave is best known for its statues in the form of six women carrying water pots that are also fountains.You can drink the water that comes out of the pots and it is said to have healing properties and will keep you looking young for years to come.
4.Pura Lempuyang-the oldest Hindu temple in Bali.Perched on top of Bisbis Hill or Mount Lempuyang at Karangasem, this Hindu temple stands out due to its succession of 7 ascending temples along the mountain side.You will need to climb 1,700 steps to reach for the glorious views of valleys, a volcano, and the distant seas.
5.Uluwatu Temple-Perched high atop a 70-metre cliff, with sweeping views of the Indian Ocean, the Uluwatu Temple is one of Bali’s best sea temples and one of the six key Balinese temples that help to ward off evil.Every day during sunset, crowds gather at the temple for a breathtaking view of the orange ocean reflecting the setting sun. And at that time, don’t forget to catch the Kecak dance performance at the temple.
6.Tirta Empul-literally means “holy spring water” in Balinese, referring to the spring that supplies water to the many baths and pools throughout the complex.There are firm rules that go along with self-cleansing (“melukat” in Balinese), so please ensure that you are aware of the proper rituals before you go. You can consult either your guide or ask a temple authority for instructions.
7.Pemuteran hidden underwater temple-maybe something to keep if I finish my PADI certification by then(fingers crossed!!)
8.Arma museum-tickets  needed plus lots of workshops.
9.Rumah Pohon Desa Batu Dawa Tulamben Karangasem- the Tree House at Batudawa Karangasem.With its branches wrapped around the little house, the tree looks like it pushed the house up in the air as it grew out of the ground!Entrance fee: Donations.
10.Green Village-This was designed in 2006 by jewellery designer John Hardy, and later finished by his daughter. The result? A collection of bespoke, luxury bamboo homes all seamlessly integrated into the Ayung Valley nature.Tickets needed.
11.Eco Tour (Denpasar)

Additional not to be missed within the city:
1.Take a cooking class
2.Cycling tour in Ubud
3.Spa day for the entire family at Jiwa Spa at The Conrad (Tanjung Benoa)Check here for price list.
4.Devdan Show
5.Bali swing  
6.Bas de Atayana- This is the first agrotourism spot of Bali, located in the village of Sribatu, Susut, Bangli Regency, Bali.features a swing in a heart,you will have opportunity to walk around into the local coffee, vanilla, fruits, spices, clove plantations, and also you can try various types of coffee for free.

Kids might like:

1. The Monkey Forest at Ubud.
2. Bali Butterfly Park
3. Pod Chocolate Factory and Cafe-
4. Waterbom-A water theme park located in Kuta.
5. Upside down world-Pretty close to waterbom
6. Bali Safari and Marine Park-
7. Bali Seawalker-10 and up
8. Bali Treetop Adventure Park
9. Underwater scooter :)

Food not to be missed!

1. Mie Goreng-fried noodles is often served with vegetables and a choice of chicken, shrimp or pork. Sometimes it served with a fried egg on top, chicken sate sticks, prawn crackers and peanut sauce
2. Babi Guling- Pork is rubbed with turmeric, stuffed with a spice paste (usually coriander seeds, lemongrass, lime leaves, salam leaves, chillies, black pepper, garlic, red shallots, ginger and lesser galangal) and then roasted on a spit over coconut husks or wood until super tender.
3. Bebek Betutu-Smoked duck rubbed and stuffed with a mix of spices, wrapped in an areca palm leaf or betel nut bark and smoked with the embers of rice husks.
4. Sambal Matah-It’s made by finely chopping raw shallots, lemongrass, garlic, chilli and lime, then kneading it all together with hot oil, salt, sugar and a dash of shrimp paste. It’s best enjoyed on fresh fish or chicken, or if you’re like us, you can just dig in with a spoon.
5. Lawar- a Balinese meat salad made of minced pork (or sometimes even dragonflies and turtles), offal, young jackfruit, coconut, galangal, chilies, spices, and fresh blood!!!If you can’t, you can request lawar without the blood in the mix, but it’s just not the real deal.
6. Pie Susu- Soft,sweet,creamy milk pies,wrapped in dough.Supposed to be a famous and iconic treat, one can also buy these as souvenirs but that is for another list!The best Pie Susu in Bali is reportedly at Pie Susu Enaaak, the original Pie Susu maker, which has been around since 1989.What makes this specific shop so good is that the pies are freshly made everyday by hand, without added preservatives. This is also the reason why there is only a limited daily stock available, of which most are reserved upfront.It is best to make a reservation one day before. You can pay online or at the shop when you pick up your box.
7. Coffee Luwak

Restaurants not to be missed:

1. Keramas Aero Park- It's a restaurant inside abandoned planes found in the middle of the paddy fields not too far from the Keramas beach.
2. Gabah Restaurant & Bar
3. Cloud Cakes, Denpasar(especially for Tanisha)
4. Temega Tree House, Karangasem
5. Hard Rock Cafe-But ofcourse!!
6. Big Garden corner.Link 

Souvenirs to look out for in Bali:
Krisna Oleh Oleh is the shop to go to!
1.Pandora's boxes-wooden boxes with hidden chambers.Buy these puzzle boxes from local roadside stalls along Campuhan Ridge in Ubud, while enjoying a stroll through the emerald rice paddies. You can also buy them at the Sukawati Art Market.
2.Indonesian wine and Arak-at Dewi Sri in Sanur.Another great source to get a good bottle of Bali-produced wine is at Sababay Winery
3.Chez Monique Jewelry
4.Taru Cendana Handicraft Wholesale-the coconut carved monkeys is something I would definitely bring back for the garden.Check this out.
Sounds like a pretty interesting country.I'm sure I just touched the tip of the iceberg with these notes but something to google if and when I do go here!

Vive valeque♡

Kay