Capture the mystique of Bali in 5 days - 5 not-to-miss attractions!

Bali is one of the 17508 islands belonging to the Indonesian Archipelago in the Java Sea. 

Contrary to the popular misconception of most Indians, it is not as close to India as Thailand or Singapore, for instance. I was quite surprised to learn that Darwin, Australia’s westernmost coast is just a little over an hour from Bali. It’s a good 9-hour long flight from New Delhi to Bali and no direct flights are available. Cheaper travel options include flights run by Malindo Air.

Let me start by saying that there is a lot to do in Bali. A vacation to Bali can give you an excellent taste of the beautiful Balinese beaches, an insight into the architectural marvel of their temples, water sports, their traditions and culture,  cultural performances, lively shopping streets and much more!

What struck me the moment we landed at

At the Arrival lounge in Bali

the Ngurah Rai International Airport was an artistic display of Balinese life and culture everywhere starting from the precinct of the airport. 

Bali is predominantly Hindu and the island is replete with old Hindu temples with breathtaking architecture and locales, Tanah Lot Temple, Uluwatu Temple, Besakih Temple, Goa Gajah, Tirth Empul Temple to name a few. 

If you’re visiting Bali as a regular tourist, then it would be wise to plan ahead and take your pick on which temples you would like to visit during your stay in Bali, depending on your interests, their location and popularity. The same is true for the many other attractions depending on which part of Bali you plan to stay at.  

The island of Bali is divided into many regions and each region is radically different from one another with a different vibe to it. If you're a compulsive shopper, then the upscale Seminyak is the place for you. It has the exotic Seminyak beach, luxury restaurants and beach bars that exude vibrancy as the sun goes down each day. If you like fancy clifftop resorts and vast walking stretches all around, then Uluwatu should be your place to stay. For serenity, you could try Ubud with its beautiful rice paddy fields and lush green landscape. If you’re a party animal, then Kuta will cater to your needs. 

The distance between these regions is a lot but travel by cab is really cheap. You will need to watch out for the traffic during rush hours though. Cab drivers are very polite and are more than willing to help resolve your touristy curiosity about the place. My husband complimented one driver for this, he told us that the economy of Bali was hugely dependent on tourism for its sustenance and how the bombing in Bali in 2002 had adversely impacted tourism and their livelihoods.   

Sightseeing begins from not just the airport, but the moment one steps out into the street. Display of the Balinese way of life is so beautifully depicted anywhere you go. 

In the heart of the main city is the stunning statue of Ghatotkach, the powerful asura-son of Bheem, the strongest of the five Pandavas.

                    

A Stunning piece of art right in the heart of the city

We were in Bali to celebrate our 25^th wedding anniversary, so we started our vacation with an upscale resort called ‘Nyuh Bali’ in Seminyak. The resort has independent cottages with a private swimming pool and is extremely well maintained with excellent room service and great food. The breakfast in the morning is made to order, so indulge your taste buds if you're staying here. 

Don't miss the bamboo straws and the
wicker bread basket!

I can’t help but notice that a lot of bamboo and wood has been used as a part of the décor which gives the rooms a rustic yet cosy feel. Bamboo straws are used throughout Bali, I notice, which I found to be a wonderful variant to the conventional paper or plastic straws.  

Day One, we have only the second half of the day at our disposal. We start with the Tanah Lot Temple. 

The temple is built on a huge rock and is dedicated to the God of the Sea. The temple is surrounded by seawater and one can walk right to the base of the temple when the tide is low over a makeshift bridge of small rocks and stones. The scenery around Tanah Lot is beautiful and one can spend a whole evening looking at the sights. 

Entrance to Tanah Lot
The split doorway or 'Candi Bentar' is
typical of all Balinese temples!

Tanah Lot Temple

    

Batu Bolong Temple from faraway
Can't afford to miss the sunset!

There is also another small temple called Batu Bolong Temple near Tanah Lot overlooking the Indian Ocean conspicuously located on top of a cave. 

If you plan to visit this area, then you should plan to go in the early evening to be able to catch the sunset. The temples' views in the setting sun's backdrop are mesmerizing.    

 

Day two starts with a morning at the Seminyak beach. It's quieter in the mornings but comes alive as the evening descends. If you go in the mornings, you can find children taking surfing lessons and flying kites. There is a 500-meter stretch of golden white sand on the beach called the Double Six beach. One can stroll along this beautiful coastline that is lined with amazing eateries and bars and the whole place comes alive around sunset. There are coconuts that contain at least a litre of coconut water.  

Giant coocnuts...one is enough for the entire family!

Day two also happens to be our 25th wedding anniversary. We had made dinner reservations at 'Bambu', a classic Indonesian restaurant in the quieter side of Seminyak. The restaurant boasts a modern twist to classic dishes. The restaurant is expensive but well worth the money.

  

It's Day Three and we move out of our cottage in Seminyak to Anavaya Beach Resort in Kuta. As I've mentioned earlier, Bali has very distinctly different regions and we wanted to stay in at least two of them. 

The route to the beach in a cab is a treat in itself. A tour of the city throws up some very interesting facets of Balinese culture, which is steeped in religious rituals even in this day and age and is very much a part of the people's everyday life. 

Along the roads, throughout the city are bamboo poles adorned with palm leaves and flowers and some fruits, even vegetables, tied to them. 

On asking around, I learnt that these poles are called 'Penjor' and these fruits are a way to thank Mother Earth for its many blessings.

At a lot of places, in front of trees and shrines, I notice this black and white checkered cloth tied around trees and even around small temples made outside houses. 

This is called 'Kain Polena', literally meaning two-coloured cloth. This cloth symbolises the two dual aspects of life, the good and the evil, darkness and light. I saw this even in front of houses and shops.

 

Apart from this, the Balinese people also keep offerings to spirits outside their shops and houses each morning, called 'Canang Sari'. These are small palm leaf baskets filled with rice cookies, sweets and flowers. Passersby ensure that no one steps on these while walking by.

After jostling through heavy traffic, taking pictures en route and chatting with our cab driver, we finally reach the Anavaya Beach Resort. This is a very popular resort for tourists in the centre of Kuta on the Islands of the Gods. The uber-luxurious resort boasts a private sand beach and walking platforms. The resort has beautiful water bodies all around. These musicians are playing the 'Rindik', an instrument made by suspending bamboo tubes on a wooden frame.   

At the entrance to the Resort...
musicians playing Rindik, a percussion instrument

We head to the Uluwatu Temple in the afternoon. The temple is a good 30 to 40-minute drive from the city centre. The highlight of the temple is the main temple complex and the absolutely riveting Kecak Dance. We had planned our day trip in a way to be around for the dance performance in the evening around 6 pm.

En route to the Uluwatu Temple one can see the mammoth statue of Garuda Wisnu in the Kencana Cultural Park. The statue is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the preserving deity in the Hindu Trinity and Garuda, his mount. The statue is huge, about 30 meters taller than the Statue of Liberty! A trip to the park can be exhilarating and informative. There are street performances, cultural events in the amphitheatre and many more activities for tourists to give them a full day of entertainment. Time was short, I had set my heart on watching the Kecak dance at the Uluwatu temple. I had read so much about it. So, we saw the statue from a distance and it looked just as majestic. 

You cannot miss this mammoth structure jutting out into the sky!

According to popular belief, Uluwatu temple is the place where the powers of the Hindu trinity of Brahma, the creator, Vishnu, the preserver and Siva, the destroyer come together and merge and the ensuing deity of Siva Rudra is worshipped here. This temple is also built on a rock and offers scenic views of the ocean. 

There are 3 things to keep in mind while visiting this temple, one, the dress code. Everyone is expected to dress modestly; a sarong is provided at the entrance itself. Visitors tie it around their waists, whether it's mandatory or optional, we honestly couldn't figure it out. We just did the same. While in Rome, do as the Romans do! 

And wear comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking involved in going around the entire temple complex including a lot of steps. 

 
 

Two, the temple is home to hundreds of monkeys. They live there and look quite happy in their habitat. So, visitors need to watch out for being nabbed by monkeys for their bags and sunglasses. We were extra careful with our belongings while on the temple premises. 

And three is of course the Kecak dance. It starts at 6, so plan the temple visit accordingly, keeping ample time to get to the dance venue on time. There is no fixed time for coming to see the dance, though. I saw visitors walking in even halfway through the show, but I wouldn't want to miss the entire performance for anything!  

I don't have enough words to describe the energy and electrifying atmosphere this dance created. No stage settings, no audio systems, no artificial lighting, no announcements, and no formal seating!! 

There is an open-air amphitheatre in the temple complex, a little before 6 pm, tourists start thronging that area and start occupying seats. They sit everywhere, on the steps, on the ground, on railings, every inch of space gets taken. And then the performance starts...and it's pure magic! 

The dance begins with dancers setting the stage by lighting the lamp...

Kecak dance is an artistic and symbolic representation of the story of Ramayana. The dancers, all men, bare-chested, clad only in checkered loin cloths chant 'chak chak chak' in total sync, sway their bodies in rhythm and form a circle sitting on the floor. The performers, representing characters from the Ramayana, don elaborate colourful costumes and enter the arena to play out their roles. 

The audience is left in rapture by the pure energy generated by the performers. There is a lot of interaction with the audience as well when the mischievous 'Hanuman', the monkey God enters the scene. The entire performance plays out in the foreground of the setting Sun casting its luminous glow on the amphitheatre. The final outcome is magical.      

  

Photo opportunity with the performers
at the end of the show is the icing on the cake!

It's Day four. After Watching the scintillating Kecak dance performance on the previous night, we decided to spend the morning at the Anavaya beach. The water is shallow and the weather is great for walking on the platform around the resort. 

In the evening, we decide to go to DMZ, Dream Museum Zone, Bali. The museum is not a very impressive structure on the outside but the artworks inside are fun. This can easily be the highlight of your trip if you're travelling with kids. This is a 3D Art museum with illusionist effects. One can take pictures against the backdrop of these 3D artworks. The pictures are embarrassingly childish but the experience was certainly enjoyable. 

 

 

This one looks real!

                           

Late evening we go to Jimbaran Bay. The bay is located in the south of Kuta and is a haven for seafood since it is the biggest fish market on the island. There are numerous luxury beach resorts in Jimbaran, it's called the Beverly Hills of Bali. The sea here is tranquil, and in the evening the beach comes alive with tourists wanting to taste the seafood delights. The barbeques are rustic and cheap but the experience is worth a thousand bucks!

 

It's Day five and the last day of our stay in Bali. We decide to go shopping in the morning. Kuta has some of the hottest shopping centres in Bali, Ubud Art Market, Guwang market and Pasar Badung Market are some of the markets to buy souvenirs, handicrafts and clothes. Don't forget to indulge in some bargaining before you actually go buying things. There is also Legian Street with luxury boutiques. Down the street is also a bombing memorial from 2002 located here.  

And finally, the long-awaited evening of our final day in Bali is here. This is a visit to the Nusa Dua Theatre in Bali for the Devdan Show. 

Nusa Dua is the most exclusive and upscale area of Bali. If you're looking for luxury resorts, golf courses and some very fine dining outings, then a trip to Nusa Dua is a must. The Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park is also located here. There are some great options for water sports here in Nusa Dua. 

The entire area looks like a tableau of Balinese art put on display for the passersby. As we approach the Nusa Dua theatre, along the side of the road, I could spot beautiful statues depicting tales from the Mahabharata and other Hindu scriptures. We were running late for the show, and I could not afford the luxury of getting down and taking a closer look at all this priceless art strewn along the road, but if you have time, then one must stop to see these statues closely.    

 

'Devdan', literally translating into the 'Grace from the Gods' is a spectacular stage show hosted by the Nusa Dua theatre. Devdan - Treasure of the Archipelago takes its audiences down an enthralling journey through the different regions of the island of Indonesia. 

They depict their tribes, their forests, their regions, Bali, Sumatra, Java and more, and their culture in a tightly scripted play lasting only 90 minutes. But in these 90 minutes, there is a riot of colour and activity on the stage as we gasp in awe at the sheer energy of the performers. 

The costumes, music, and dramatic entry and exit of performers will leave you absolutely speechless. There are acrobatics, both traditional and fusion dances against the backdrop of high-tech special effects. A forest scene created with light and sound and two acrobats, a man and a woman, dangling from a rope deserves special mention. The aura they created live on that stage was nothing I had ever seen before! 

We had booked premium tickets for the show that included the pick-up from our hotel too. The seats we got in the premium package were okay. It was only at the end of the show did we realize that with premium tickets, one could step up on the stage at the end of the show, take a close look at the performers and take pictures with them too.       

Filming or taking pictures during the show is forbidden, so I can't share any videos of this mind-blowing spectacle. 

Audiences are permitted to take pictures at the very end of the show. So, keep your cameras ready!

     

Posing with the performers on stage was fun!

So, this was our trip to Bali in a nutshell. I can enumerate 5 must-see attractions that are absolutely not-to-miss while in Bali. 

One, Devdan Show at the Nusa Dua Theatre

Two, Tanah Lot Temple against the sunset

Three, Kecak Dance at the Uluwatu Temple

Four, a tour of the city in a cab to watch the free display of Balinese culture in the form of statues and their lifestyle. Sadly, this realization dawned on us a tad bit late otherwise we would have kept a full day aside for a trip through town only to look at sights. 

Five, a day at any of the beaches. There are loads of activities to choose from and many beaches, depending on your tastes. An evening of seafood at Jimbaran Bay will also be memorable.