10 Sights You Shouldn't Miss

10 Sights You Shouldn't Miss

  00.08    sources of knowledge

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1. Ubud The centre of Balinese painting, Ubud's Museum "Purl Lukisan" has a permanent collection of modern works of Balinese art dating from the turn of the century. There are also several art galleries and homes of famous artists here, including that of Dutchborn Hans Snel and American Antonio Blanco. The "Young artist" style now popular in Balinese painting was introduced by the Dutch painter Arie Smith. In the past, other foreign painters inspired Balinese artists to adopt western techniques but traditional Balinese paintings are still made and sold another museum called "Neka Museum" has a wide collection of paintings both by Indonesian as well as foreign artists who used to live in Bali. Ubud has several small hotels. Located on a higher altitude with a pleasant climate. 3. Nusa Dua The Nusa Dua tourist resort is part of the Bukit Peninsula in southern Bali. Some of the most beautiful and luxurious hotels are found here. The resort is known for its clean white beaches and clear waters. The surf is gentle along the northern side of the peninsula, bigger along the south. The most convenient form of transportation to and from Nusa Dua is by taxi. 5. Batubulan Driving northeast from Denpasar, stone figures on the roadside mark the village of Batubulan. Divinities and demons are carved from sandstone for ornaments of houses and temples. Workshop can be visited to watch artists at work.	2. Kuta Once a lonely village on the road from Denpasar toward the Bukit Peninsula, Kuta is now a thriving tourist resort, popular mainly among the young. It is a popular beach for surfing although currents make it less suitable for swimming. Coast guards, however, are on constant duty during the day. Kuta faces toward the west offering beautiful sunsets. Accommodation ranges from international hotels to home stays. The village abounds with restaurants, shops, discotheques and other tourist facilities. It is easier to find regular performances of Balinese music and dance in Kuta, staged specially for tourists, than anywhere else in Bali. Some performances are staged nightly. The village is ideal for meeting and mixing with other people, locals as well as visitors from abroad. 4. Tanah Lot One of Bali's most important sea temples, the temple sanctuary at Tanah Lot is built atop a huge rock which is surrounded by the sea. Built by one of the last priests to come to Bali from Java in the 16th century, its rituals include the paying of homage to the guardian spirits of the sea. Poisonous sea snakes found at the base of the rocky island are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruder. The best time to see Tanah Lot is in the late afternoon when the temple is in silhouette. 6. Gianyar Once the capital of one of Bali's more powerful kingdoms, the town of Gianyar is today a centre of the textile industry. The specialty here is the ikat weaving the Balinese use in traditional wear. A number of factories hold informal tours.
7. Pura Besakih Known as the "mother Temple of Bali, the sanctuary of Besakih on the slopes of Mt. Agung is the biggest and holiest of all Balinese temples. Over a thousand years old, steps ascend through split gates to the main courtyard where the Trinity shrines are wrapped in cloth and decorated with flower offerings. Around the three main temples dedicated to the Trinity: Shiva, Brahma and Wisnu, are 18 separate sanctuaries belonging to different regencies and caste groups. To the Balinese, a visit to the temples sanctuaries is a special pilgrimage. Each has its own anniversary celebration or "Odalan". The sight of the temple against the background of the mountain is impressive and during festivals, coloured banners add a touch of gaiety.	8. Terraced rice paddies Whether it is bright and sunny or rainy and gloomy, the trip through the landscape of terraced rice paddies between Candidasa and Amlapura is one of remarkable scenic beauty. Allow plenty of time for photo stops.
9. Pura Kehen Pura Kehen is the religious heart of Bangli's many temples. One of the largest religious complexes in Bali, its origins can be traced back to the beginning of the eleventh century. A huge banyan tree shades the first courtyard.	10. Gunung Batur The still-active Gunung Batur volcano, at an altitude of 1,717 meters (5,635 ft), is revered by the Balinese as the sec-ond-holiest mountain on the island (after Gunung Agung) and symbolises the female element next to Agung's male.