Kuta Beach

by Koentje3000 from Hamme, Belgium

Kuta Beach

Kuta is a very famous beach resort on Bali. Its decent surf beach, cheap accommodation, and great nightlife attract tourists from all over the world, but mostly from Australia. It's located only 5km from the Ngurah Rai international airport, even closer than the capital of Bali, Denpasar. People, many of them Australian, come here on cheap hotel deals, like a 14-night beach holiday. There are large hotels on the beach catering only to this kind of tourist. Nevertheless, it's easy enough to find a good room for a reasonable price (100,000 to 200,000 Rp) coming here by yourself.
Everything in the small town is focused on the demanding western people: there are surfboard-rental shops, a McDonald's, a Hard Rock Café, live music bars, discotheques, bikini beaches, massage parlours, etc. As such, it will probably resemble more Ibiza or Surfers Paradise than a normal Indonesian village. Local resentment with bikini tourists showing off their wealth was probably one of the reasons of the October 2002 bombing of the Sari Club discotheque, leaving 202 people dead, an incident that most locals, also the Muslims, will disapprove off as much as most western people.
The beach is decent and clean but lacks a bit of atmosphere. Be warned that the sun can burn your skin even when it is cloudy, which is mostly the case here, as it is a tropical climate. So use a high-factor sunscreen and get dressed or keep in the shadows.

Surfing, Kuta beach
by cosmic chris from leeds, United Kingdom
Surf is what Kuta is famous for. People have been surfing here for decades and one look at the sea will tell why. If you've come to Kuta for a quiet lie on the beach it'll be damn near impossible. There are surfers all over the place and if they don't spoil your relaxation the hawkers will. Even though the surfing season is from March 1 to November 30 there'll be surfers here the whole year round One thing the hawkers will be useful for is hiring a surfboard. The price is not important whereas the quality of the board is. Ask someone to help you with a few tips and obviously if the board looks knackered it probably is.
The currents can be dangerous at Kuta and so can surfing! The first time you get wiped out by a big wave and dumped on the your head is when you'll understand why the surfers all pump iron. Its not just so they can pose when they're not surfing!
Stay out if the swimming area. Its only a very small area on this beach but as the life guards will tell you "They'll put you in jail if you hurt someone in the swimming area"
How much does it cost to learn to surf in Bali? A Group Session: 2 hours USD30.00(insurance included). Individual Sessions can be arranged but bank on paying a lot more. Bali adventure Tours will give good info and can be contacted at Hard Rock Hotel Bali, Jalan Pantai, Tel: +62 361 761-869 (ask for Bali Adventure tours)

The Paddy Fields

Enjoy yourself and above all relax

by Marianne from Eindhoven, Netherlands

If you've recently been stressed by the relentless pace of life in the developed world, just look at the photos of the rice paddies. Even better go the Indonesia and and see them for yourselves.
If this is your first time visit to a third world country you may be a bit apprehensive. The Balinese look different from your friends, they react differently, but like you they have a family, have friends.
The pace of life in Bali is much slower than in most western countries and people take time to sit around and chat and just enjoy each other. I began to wonder why places like this are seen as backward or under-developed. They are simply different!

Ubud = Relaxation and no stress

If you head to Ubud directly from Kuta or Sanur you will probably at once notice the calmness and relaxed attitude af this golden spot. This place has no beaches, and does not attract the same kind of people as fx. Kuta beach does- where it can be hard to relax for one moment;-).

A lot of people come up to Ubud to explore the culture, the good shopping opportunities for textile, woodwork, jewelleries and art, and the Rice fields etc., But the majority of the people you see in daytime - dissapear in the evening. Most of them probably goes back to their beaches and resorts in Sanur and Kuta.

The place is a bit cooler than further south, and the temperature in the evening is comfortable - and perfect for a pair of light long pants - to avoid moscitto bites.

The town has a lot of god restaurants and caffes. In most restaurants they play the traditional Balinees music - Gamelan, which you come to like, if you don't do so at once. The sound of the Gamelan-Music has been described as "Moonlight twinkeling in in the sea" - and you can almost always hear a frog croaking or a Gekko clucking somewhere - IT IS SO NIIICE!!

You won't leave Ubud disappointed unless you're only into beach-life.

Tanah Lot & Kecak are Must-See in Bali

Tanah Lot & Kecak are Must-See in Bali
by travelwisdom from Mary Esther, Florida

Tanah Lot is the best known temple in Bali. Linked in a series of pagoda-like structures, it perches literally in the sea on a rocky outcropping. Caves beneath the temple are believed to be inhabited by black and white snakes protecting the holy site from evil. The best time to visit Tanah Lot is at sunset when the pagodas are silhouetted by dramatic colors of the sun as it drops into the sea…an exceptional photographic opportunity.

The story is a simple subplot of the Hindu epic Ramayana. In this version, Sita, the wife of Rama, is kidnapped by the evil king of Lanka. Rama recruits assistance from Sugriwa, a red monkey, and Hanoman, a white monkey, to find Sita. Hanoman finds Sita and attempts to destroy the palace of the evil king, but is captured and bound in a ring of fire. At the last minute, he is rescued by an army of monkey warriors (the chorus). Good once again triumphs over evil.

What makes the performance unique (besides the dramatic clifftop setting) is there is no Gamelan orchestra typical of other forms of Balinese dance. The only music is provided by a large chorus of 100-150 men and boys who sit bare-chested in a circle chanting a "chak-a-chak-a-chak" rhythm. The sun has set. In the deep night, the only light comes from the large bonfire in the center of the "stage." The combination of sound, light, and sight leave you feeling you have stepped into a National Geographic special.

I'M AN ALIEN

best place to watch tv indonesia

for many indonesians who live outside the country, sometime (rindu tanah air )want to know what's happen in their country and want to watch the real time television,
many website put the tv streaming on their pages, but I think this is the best place:
1 http://www.mivo.tv/
2 http://www.ayo-cari.com/
3 http://televisindo.blogspot.com/