Bali

Bali
I only spent a few days in Bali, but had a terrific time. The people are wonderful, always friendly and helpful yet a bit reserved at the same time. The environment is gorgeous, with lush tropical forests virtually everywhere. The main exception is the gorgeous white sand beaches. The climate very pleasant, with warm breezy days and cool nights. Best of all, there is something for everyone. Whatever your interests, you can find something to enjoy in Bali. A trip to Indonesia is incomplete without a visit to this magical island.

Bali has been independent for much of it's history, and has a unique culture quite different from that of the other Indonesian islands. It was not brought under Dutch colonial rule until 1906, hundreds of years after the other islands had come under Dutch control. This lasted until 1942, when the Japanese invaded. With the defeat of Japan, control reverted to the Dutch, despite Indonesian opposition. Over the next three years, a military and diplomatic struggle between the Dutch and the Indonesian Nationalists ensued. The Dutch finally granted Indonesia independence in 1949.

The economy is largely agrarian, and the vast majority of Balinese work in the fields. Major crops include coffee, copra, and cattle, which are also the primary exports. The making of arts and crafts is also a major occupation. Many of the prints, painting and carvings that Indonesia is justly famous for originate in Bali.

I arrived a day later than the rest of my group due to a scheduling conflict. After checking in to our hotel, I headed out to find them. Unfortunately, I had missed my scheduled flight and arrived several hours later than planned. I tried to find them at the restaurant they had told me about, but to no avail. They were long gone by the time I arrived. So what was I to do? While the restaurant manager had said he remembered them mentioning another location, I had little desire to spend the evening chasing after them, with no guarantee of actually succeeding.

Instead I wandered into a bar with a large patio area. There were dozens of guys and girls in their early to late twenties. They were a mix of blondes and brunettes, all very well tanned and wearing Maui and Sons T shirts and shorts. In short, the group was identical to what you'd see on a Saturday night at a bar in Huntington Beach. I immediately thought to myself, "Great! I'll just spend the evening partying with my fellow country men." This idea lasted for about eight seconds, until I heard one of them speak. They weren't Americans at all. They were Australians! It was amazing. Bali is the destination of choice for much of the younger set of western Australia. They save their money during the year and then spend a few weeks in July and August surfing and having fun in Bali. Many were journeyman plumbers and electricians. They were a lot of fun. I met one group who had actually met the rest of my group early in the evening. It's a small world indeed. I ended up staying out with them until the wee hours of the morning. They had a bus that would come by and pick them up from time to time and take them to the next bar. It was a great big motorized pub crawl. We had a ball.

Kuta Beach is next to the Southern tip of the island, and is just a few miles from the airport. It is the main party place of Bali. There are probably more bars and restaurants in Kuta and neighboring Legian than on the rest of the island put together. It is over run with tourists, who vastly outnumber the Balinese. It's a bit like Waikiki in the 1960s. Kuta is a great place to work on your tan and have a few beers with some great people, but if you're looking for the tradition or native culture it isn't the place for you. Despite all of the tourists, there are some nice touches. Late at night small arrangement s of flowers are left out on the doorsteps of Balinese homes as offerings to the Gods. It's very impressive to see so many of them.

We stayed at Mutiara Bungalows, which was outstanding. The rooms were freestanding bungalows, each with its own verandah. The grounds were covered in gorgeous flowers and well tended bushes. It resembled a botanical garden.
There was a large heated pool, a large open patio, and a terrific restaurant. It was also conveniently located to the rest of Kuta. It's a terrific value and the staff was very helpful.

Ubud lies in the hills several miles north of Den Pasar. It is the artistic and cultural capital of Bali. It is a very pretty town, and much of the town is shaded by large trees. Ubud is quite small in scale, and one can easily walk to most of the major points of interest. There is much to see and do. There are two theaters offering daily performances of traditional Balinese dance. I've been told they're very impressive. There are several museums and galleries, where one can buy fine examples of Balinese arts. Wonderful carvings and paintings can be found at small shops throughout the city.

The pace of life in Ubud is relaxed, even sleepy, without any of the hustle and bustle of Kuta Beach. Yet there are some surprises. As we sat down to have lunch at a small restaurant on a little side road, we noticed that there was TV on in the corner. It was turned to ESPN. We may have been on a remote Pacific island, but we had not escaped the modern world.

The Monkey Forest is a nature reserve right in Ubud. For a few dollars you can spend an hour or two wandering through a gorgeous forest populated by several monkeys. The place is enormous, so I doubt you'll run out of room to wander. It's about a mile long and half a mile wide, and covers much of central Ubud. In fact, the major street through town is called Monkey Forest Road. There is a large temple of the dead deep inside the forest. The grounds are very nicely taken care of.

The monkeys are somewhat tame, and will allow you to approach within a few feet of them, leading to some neat photo opportunities. You don't get too many chances to have your picture taken with a (sort of) wild animal. The Monkey Forest provides many opportunities to do so.

The Monkeys certainly do not seem bothered by people. Food is sold at the entrance to the park , and can be fed to the monkeys along the way. I wouldn't recommend carrying it in your pockets. We saw one woman do this, and a monkey actually climbed up her leg, using her pockets as handholds, to get at the food. Fortunately, this was a rare exception. Most of the monkeys were quite well behaved. They're also a lot of fun to observe.

I spent four days on Bali and only experienced a tiny fraction of what it has to offer. I'd recommend a stay of at least a week and preferably two. There is so much to see and do! There truly is something for everyone. Those interested in surf, sand and the wild life can find it at the southern beaches. Those looking for an abundance of nature can find it on quiet hikes through the hills of the central areas. Several cultural and artistic Meccas are located throughout the interior. Those looking for beauty beneath the waves can find it off of the northern coast. In short, Bali offers many wonderful experiences. Enjoy!