Bali in 2 days: Soaking up culture and history - Rappler

A FEAST FOR YOUR EYES. Bali is home to beautiful, ancient architecture and warm people. All photos by Alvin C. Malasig.

BALI, Indonesia - For a tourist destination that has a little bit of everything, the usual problem for its visitors is not whether they will have enough places to see and things to do, but whether they will actually have the time for everything.

That is the case for Bali, an island in Indonesia that made me think twice about going home.

My husband and I chose Bali as our last destination for our honeymoon and it did not disappoint. Coming from the hustle and bustle of Singapore (our first stop), Bali was such a welcome change with it's relaxing atmosphere and smiling people.

Beaches

Known for its beaches, Bali attracts a lot of tourits that come from places with cooler climates. However, during the month of October, beaches in Bali tend to be more apt for surfing than swimming as waves tend to be strong. Still, it is rather nice to lounge on a beach chair or on the sand to do some sun bathing or relaxation as the sound of the waves do have that calming effect.

CALMING WAVES. The huge waves in Bali during this season are not just for surfing.

Beaches in Bali are also often advertised as having white sand. Don't expect the powdery white standard that Boracay has set, as the sand in the beaches of Seminyak and Kuta tend to be on the fine but browner side.

Temples

Though the Angkor Wat is arguably the most famous ancient temple in Southeast Asia, Bali's Hindu temples scattered all over the island can give Cambodia's world heritage site some healthy competition.

Also branded as the "island of a thousand temples," Bali boasts of beautiful, intricately designed Hindu temples that date back to as early as the 10th century.

It's impossible to see all of Bali's temples during a short stay so it's best to pick the ones you want to see before your trip to save you some time. Don't forget to consider the temples' distances from each other as some can be hours away.

BY THE SEA. The Tanah Lot provides such a dramatic backdrop for picture taking.

The Tanah Lot temple is one of the most popular attractions on the island. It sits on top of an offshore rock formation shaped by waves through the years, and is only accessible during low tide.

It's believed to have been built during the 15th century when the traveling Hindu priest Nirartha chose the area to rest. Legend has it that he asked the fishermen living in the nearby village to build a shrine on the rock for the sea gods.

Before he left, Nirartha left his scarf to protect the temple which locals say turned into a giant snake. These days, locals and tourists sometimes spot sea snakes near the temple which are branded as the structure's protectors.

BY THE LAKE. The Pura Ulun Danu Bratan sits on the edge of Lake Bratan, basking in its tranquility.

Between the mountains of Bedugul is a temple overlooking Lake Bratan – the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan. Believed to have been built in the late 1600s, this temple is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the Balinese Hindu goddess of water.

Lake Bratan is located 1,200 meters above sea level and has a cool, tropical climate. The lake is also called "Lake of Holy Mountain" due to the abundance of nature in the area.

HOLY WATER. Devout Hindus and even tourists bathe themselves with water that is believed to have healing powers.

The sacred springs of the Tirta Empul located inside the Tampak Siring Temple attract not just the devout Hindus, but tourists with different beliefs as well. Believed to have healing powers, the fountains were built over a natural spring in the year 926 A.D. under the rule of the Warmadewa dynasty. It has shrines for Hindu gods Brahma (creator), Shiva (destroyer, transformer), Vishnu (preserver of life), and Indra (lord of heaven).

ANCIENT. The structures inside the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud look like an image straight out of Temple Run.

Inside the Sacred Monkey Forest are hundreds of crab-eating Macaque more than happy to be taken photos of. They jump around and ask tourists for food. If you're visiting the forest, do be careful as monkeys have the tendency to grab and take small items away like sunglasses, cellular phones, and food you intend to eat yourself.

Within the forest, you can also find a holy spring water temple and the Padangtegal Great Temple of Death where you can let your inner Indiana Jones out.

PRIME ATTRACTION. They are very much used to humans feeding them and taking their photos.

Other places to see and things to do

Have lunch at a buffet restaurant over looking Mt Batur. The village of Kintamani which is about 1,500 meters above sea level offers a breathtaking view of the active volcano and the serene Lake Batur.

BREATHTAKING. The view in Kintamani over lunch.

In Bali, art is a way of life. Paitings, scupltures, carved driftwood, prints – they're everywhere and they come in affordable prices. But it's always best to keep your haggling skills in tow. Though the art capital remains to be in Ubud, Seminyak also has beautiful art shops.

EVERYWHERE. Art is found in every nook and cranny of Bali but its art capital remains to be Ubud.

Go visit a local coffee farm. Want to see how coffee is made? You can, in Bali. They have numerous coffee plantations on the island where the farmers can give you a tour and teach you the process of making coffee.

They will even let you try grinding coffee beans the local way. After the tour, you can taste different types of coffee grown on the island — vanilla, Balinese, ginseng, coconut, and even Civet coffee (Kopi Luwak), among others.

LOCAL BREW. Try out different types of coffee from coffee farms all over the island.

Travel tips

• Hire an English-speaking personal driver. This will save you time and money as most of the tourist attractions in Bali can be hours away from each other. Taking multiple cab rides might also hurt your pocket. But hiring a driver can also be tricky as (from what I read on the Internet), there are different types of scams being pulled off on tourists by some drivers. My husband and I were lucky to find Ketut Suwendra who proved to be a safe driver and took us to all these awesome places. He also gave us tips on where to shop and where not to go.
• Shop for souvenirs and pasalubong in the Tanah Lot area. Don't buy your souvenirs in bazaars as chances are, you'll be paying for them 3-4 times the normal price. Shops that offer fixed prices can be found outside the Tanah Lot complex. No need to haggle, and the prices are amazingly cheap.

SHOPPING. Look for places with fixed prices.

• Avoid traffic jams. Do this by leaving your hotel early and going against the tide of tourists that go to spots at a certain time.
• Do not buy a sarong. Most temples have vendors outside who will tell you that you need them to enter the temple and will convince you to buy from them. It's true that most temple administrators will not allow you to enter without a sarong. However, most of the temples' entrance fees already include sarong rental so there is no need to buy your own. Unless you want to bring one home as Balinese sarongs do have beautiful designs.
• If you're in Bali for some relaxation, stay in Seminyak. For partying and wild drinking nights, Kuta is the place for you. High-end hotels can be found in Nusa Dua. If you're looking for a more artistic type of retreat, it will be best to stay in Ubud.

For every type of tourist, Bali certainly has something to offer. For us, our almost-3-day affair with the island was short and sweet, but we did get to soak up enough culture, history, and sun to make us want to return. - Rappler.com

via bali - www.rappler.com/life-and-style/travel/42157-bali-travel-culture-history