Joanna James
Every trip is made to create lasting memories while you have the most fun-filled times possible, whether it is a place just two countries away or just two towns away. For Bali, here are the things to do below.
Perched atop an outcrop with waves crashing all around it, Tanah Lot Hindu temple is a sight to behold. If you go on a tour of the Western and Central regions of Bali, don't miss the Tanah Lot Temple. Visit the onshore shrines before you make your way to the main temple. If you are in the mood for a bit of shopping and grabbing a bite to eat, the area provides ample options. Try and time your visit to the main temple near sunset as the view from there alone is worth your while. Once you return ashore witness a dance performance at the cultural park.
Yet another temple built on top of a cliff, Uluwatu Temple also presents visitors with glorious sunsets. The temple is a great example of traditional Balinese architecture and the ancient sculptures are worth discovering. Archaeologists have found out that the temple dates back to the 10th century BC and they have found several artefacts that testify to its megalithic origin.
A sacred site to the Balinese, Besakih Temple comprise of over 80 temples blessed with a soulful surrounding filled with lush rice fields, hilly areas and waterways. The temples themselves bear the seal of artistic design and an incomparable majesty of their own. However, some of the central temples are closed to visitors and only pilgrims are allowed to enter those.
Tegallalang Rice Terraces in Ubud gifts visitors with stretches of gold or green that slope across a beautiful valley. An ideal photo opportunity, the area is a favourite with landscape painters as well. The rice terraces are the result of an ancient, yet effective method of rice cultivation passed down across generations by an ancient holy man called Rsi Markandeya.
Seminyak is a veritable beach town with a number of boutique shops, resorts, clubs, restaurants and an overall vibe of laid-back fun. Many travellers opt to browse through a number of eateries to choose Tanjung Benoa restaurants that suits their meal requirements and plan to wrap up their Balinese holiday in this part of the nation. Whether you choose a beachfront property such as the Holiday Inn Resort Bali Benoa or accommodation further inland, you can enjoy the pulsating vibe of this town from dawn to dusk before heading home.
A sanctuary for grey long-tailed macaques, Ubud monkey forest is located near the Ubud town centre. Travellers can walk the shaded pathways of the monkey forest flanked by nutmeg trees and watch the monkeys frolic around. Don't wear loose jewellery as you walk along the monkey forest as these little mischievous souls might find the glimmer of a loose accessory all too tempting.
Ubud Art market is famous for its exquisite offerings of vibrant silk scarves, woven bags and hats, ethnic baskets and many more handcrafted items. Many people living in villages that surround the area make their living creating handicrafts to be sold at the market and it is a great place to purchase authentic Balinese goods to take home.
Mount Batur is a scenic stopover that many visitors dare not forego. This trek allows visitors to view the breath-taking view of the caldera lake while the adventurous amongst them tend to go down a winding path to set foot on the lake shore.
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