Isala Nusa Penda

Isala Nusa Penda, is Muslim. The rocks are over 200 mtrs high and have spectacular sheer drops to the sea. The water is crystal clear and populated by many species of fish. There’s a high chance you will meet sharks, Manta and turtles here.

Isola Nusa Lembongan

Isola Nusa Lembongan is a tiny island of fishermen. The sea bed and its variety of corals and fish makes for ideal snorkelling and diving. At low tide you can reach the little island of Caningan by foot. Over here you will be able to spend a few days of tranquillity away from it all.

Sanur Beach

Sanur Beach, is one of the most beautiful beaches in Bali. Situated half way between the international airport and Denpasar, it is also very close to one of the best excursion destinations on the island. For the whole length of this beach is a market where you can go crazy and shop ‘til you drop! In Sanur all hotels are of excellent quality and are located along the beach.

Padang Bai Beach

Padang Bai Beach, is situated in a white inlet protected all around by hills. From here ferries set off for Lombok. Padang Bai has 3 beaches, the biggest has many colourful boats and is suitable for snorkelling. You can reach the beach of Bias Tugal by walking down a track for about 10 minutes. This beach is beautiful. The sand is white and inside a charming inlet the sea is quiet and suitable for snorkelling. Be careful because at times two currents cross each others route and it can be very dangerous. I myself have witnessed people been thrown onto the beach by it. On the beach there are many shops where you can buy drinks and food. All around Padang Bai is very pretty with green hills and enchanting beaches.

Lovina Beach

Lovina Beach, is a 12 km long stretch of sand in north Bali that goes through many fishermen’s villages. Around this area you can often admire dolphins passing by. The sea is generally very calm and so not really suitable for surfers. The beach appears to be dark because of the volcano. Lovina is very well served with Hotels and restaurants; this side of the coast isn’t crowded as the south of Bali and if you wish to immerse yourself into the real local atmosphere then you should visit the near town of Singaraya.

Tulamben Beach

Tulamben Beach, reef is 10 km long, rich in wildlife and flora and brilliant for diving and snorkelling. At about 25 meters deep you’ll be able to admire a relic of an American ship completely covered in corals. Manly tourists visit this area.

Candidasa Beach

Candidasa Beach, although one of the main holiday sites it still manages to conserve its own identity with colourful boats on the beach surrounded by fishermen ready to take you out to the coral barrier. Candi Dasa lost almost all its beaches to the sea and the walls which were put up to contain it did not bring the results hoped for. From Candi Dasa it is very easy to get to Tenganan. Here you can find the firs descendents of Bali called Bali Aga. This town still conserves its old look and in order to do so a small toll needs to be paid to access the town - and it is really worth it!

Amed Beach

Amed Beach, A few years ago this area was completely destroyed by the explosives used for fishing. After government intervention compensation was offered to all fishermen in return for the cessation of this type of activity. The sea beds have now returned to their natural state making it one of the most beautiful diving spots in Bali. As in Tulamben, in Amed you will only find tourists practising diving.

Balinese Food

Bali
Real Balinese food is not readily available to tourists unless a Balinese family invites the tourist to a meal or he goes to a temple. Restaurants catering for tourists do not serve authentic Balinese dishes, nor do hotels. The reason is that there is too much preparation, large quantities have to be prepared and it has to be eaten when it is fresh. It is often spicy and very tasty. The Balinese traditionally used banana leaves as plates.

Balinese chickens are much healthier and have the taste of real chicken, but can be tougher than Western battery-fed chickens. Battery-fed chickens only live for 41 days, specially and artificially bred to produce large chunks of breast and short legs. The rush is now on to reduce the period of 41 days.

Etiquette
There are a number of rules concerning food, drink and behavior. Cake is always served with coffee or tea, nuts and krupuk with rice wine, and tea, water or tuak with the meal. The host does not usually eat with guests

The Balinese eat with their right hand, as the left is impure, a common belief throughout Indonesia. The Balinese do not hand or receive things with their left hand and would not waive at anyone with their left hand.


Famous Balinese dishes
Famous Balinese dishes are:

Lawar
traditionally cooked by men, who chop up strips of turtle or mango or coconut, add various spices and mix it with uncooked blood, so that it is red.

Babi Guling
roast suckling pig is a great favourite amongst the Balinese, although the pigs are usually too old to be suckling - from three to six months old, they are stuffed with spices, impaled on a wooden pole and turned over a fire of coconut husks and wood for one or two hours. Bebek Betutu
duck stuffed with spices and vegetables, wrapped in a banana leaf, and cooked for three or four hours, this dish is eaten on special occasions.

Rujak
a refreshing sweet and sour salad containing unripe fruit such as mango or papaya, mixed with sugar, chill and salt.
Sauces
There are some common sauces:

Sambal very spicy chili seasoning.

Kecap asin sour soy sauce.

Kecap manis sweet soy sauce.

Desserts
There are a number of desserts:

Black rice pudding also known as tofu: soy bean curd.

Jaja crunchy shelled soy beans that have been mixed with a special strain of yeast to form a small flat cake, which are then friend - it tastes a bit nutty. Snacks
Very tasty, but not spicy, dishes or snacks are:

Tahu or beancurd also known as tofu: soy bean curd.

Krupuk prawn crackers.

Tempe crunchy shelled soy beans that have been mixed with a special strain of yeast to form a small flat cake, which are then friend - it tastes a bit nutty.

Sangeh, Bali's popular monkey forest

The keepers of the forest have their hands full, feeding and caring for roughly 600 macaques who make their home in Sangeh monkey forest, located about 20 kilometers north of Denpasar, Bali's capital.

Tourist arrivals coincide with feeding time, which is around noon or early evening and has become a major attraction for visitors from home and abroad.

Close contact with these human-friendly animals is an experience to be cherished while staying in Bali. The macaques, in turn, have become accustomed to these visits and do not hesitate to sit on tourists' shoulders, munching peanuts, a banana or whatever else is given to them.

Accompanied by guides, visitors enjoy walking in the 10 hectares of monkey forest, canopied by a thick foliage of pule trees (Diterocorpus sinervis).

The trip offers an opportunity to see how the macaque colony has enjoyed an undisturbed life in their natural habitat since the 17th century.

While in other areas this species has been hunted and harassed to near extinction, it's quite comforting to know that at Sangeh they are at ease in their own environment.

Legend has it that the Sangeh monkeys were once guardians of a princess. Their legendary status is still upheld by the residents, allowing the macaques to live an undisturbed life in their protected natural habitat. The forest is also home to several temples, the oldest one being Pura Bukit Sari, dating back to the 17th century.

An impressive statue of Kumbakarna at the entrance gate reminds visitors of the role monkeys play in the Ramayana Hindu epic.