One of Bali's Best Kept Secrets (Hint- Balifornian can get you there)

Bali’s Best Kept Secret

ed- The following article discusses a spot on most of Balifonian Tour's itenerary.  In fact Balifornian will take you to th real Bali, not the tourist Bali so you will discover idealic places like this everyday!

Tasa Nugraza Barley  

Many say Bali has everything a tourist could ever want — beautiful scenery, exotic culture and plenty of sunshine — but those coming to Indonesia’s most famous island for a peaceful getaway may find themselves disappointed. Finding a quiet place on the Island of the Gods is not an easy task. Due to rapid development, hotels and resorts have already infiltrated many of Bali’s best and most remote locations.

Last month, I visited the island for the fourth time this year. Having already been to all the popular locations such as Kuta and Ubud, this time I just wanted to chill out on a white sandy beach and read a good book without being disturbed. Lucky for me, I had a tour guide on my last trip — my friend Bowo Hartanto, who lives in Bali but proudly calls himself a backpacker —who was able to help me find just what I needed.

Bowo’s love of traveling has already taken him to remote places in Sumatra, Java, Western and Nusa Tenggara, Borneo and Papua. “I want to go to the most beautiful beach in Bali, a place that most tourists still don’t know about,” I told him when he asked where I wanted to spend my holiday. “Then we must go to Menjangan Island,” he said, with a smile.

Located about 10 kilometers north of Gilimanuk Harbor in northwestern Bali, Menjangan is a 175-hectare island, which is part of the West Bali National Park. The journey from Denpasar to Labuhan Lalang, a small traditional port that connects tourists to Menjangan Island, takes around four to five hours.
We arrived at the port around 4:30 p.m. and although we felt exhausted after hours of driving, we decided to get on the boat immediately so as not to miss the sunset. It cost us around Rp 300,000 ($33) to go to the island on a traditional boat. The boat, which can fit up to 10 people, can wait around three to five hours while you and your friends explore the island. Bowo’s promise of undiscovered beauty proved true. When we finally arrived on the island 30 minutes later, there was only one boat tied to a small dock and several foreign tourists hanging out on the beach.

Besides its natural beauty, the island is also home to a unique species of deer, called Menjangan, for which the island was named. Those wanting to soak up a bit of culture as well as sun can visit some of the Hindu temples on the island, including Kelenting Sari and Segara Giri. There is also a large statue of Ganesha, the Hindu god with a human body and an elephant head, which was recently erected on the island. Bowo and I decided to spend an extra Rp 150,000 on two snorkeling masks and two pairs of fins. Bowo assured me that going to Menjangan Island wouldn’t be complete without enjoying the beauty of its coral reefs and fish. Accompanied by our guide, Bowo and I were in the water within minutes. You don’t have to dive very deep to be immersed in Menjangan’s marine beauty. As I was floating in the water, I could clearly see the coral reef and a plethora of colorful fish.

Not wanting to let me miss anything, Bowo eagerly pointed out each interesting thing he saw. At one point, he showed me a group of small yellow fish with black and blue stripes. The best moment came after our swim, when we decided to simply lay on the pure white sand, look straight at the sun and do nothing. Bowo assured me that it was the best way to enjoy the sunset. Half asleep and completely relaxed, I tried to focus on the sunset and forget all the stress I had brought with me from Jakarta. As if he knew exactly what I was thinking, Bowo said, “Don’t go back to Jakarta. You should live here.”

‘I want to go to the most beautiful beach in Bali, a place that most tourists still don’t know about.’

~~~~~

See it all with Balifornian Tours.  Balifornian Tours offers the best custom holiday experience on Bali and all of Indonesia.  Balifornian Travel Blog is your source for news and fun information on travel, vacationing, upcoming events and much more.  We are a hospitality tour company and when you travel with us, you are our family.  Because Maryam is from the royal family, we have access to parts of the island that other tour operators simply can not visit.  Dont be a tourist, be a Balifornian! http://www.balifornian.com

Indonesian Boxer Chris John retains WBA title for 13th time. #Bali

John retains WBA featherweight title for 13th time

Bali and Indonesia is proud today.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian Chris John retained his WBA featherweight title for the 13th time by beating Fernando David Saucedo of Argentina in a unanimous decision on Sunday.
The victory at The Tennis Indoor Senayan improved his unbeaten Indonesian's record to 44-0-2.

John, 31, became the WBA interim champion in 2003 by defeating Oscar Leon in Bali. He then became a super champ after drawing with American contender Rocky Juarez in March last year. Six months later, he outpointed Juarez in Las Vegas.

The country celebrated his newest victory.

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Balifornian Tours offers the best custom holiday experience on Bali and all of Indonesia.  Balifornian Travel Blog is your source for news and fun information on travel, vacationing, upcoming events and much more.

See it all with Balifornian Tours.  Balifornian Tours offers the best custom holiday experience on Bali and all of Indonesia.  Balifornian Travel Blog is your source for news and fun information on travel, vacationing, upcoming events and much more.  We are a hospitality tour company and when you travel with us, you are our family.  Because Maryam is from the royal family, we have access to parts of the island that other tour operators simply can not visit.  Dont be a tourist, be a Balifornian! http://www.balifornian.com

Help for Bali's Sea Turtles

Quiksilver on board to help Bali's troubled sea turtles

Sea Turtle conservation spot : photo Tim Hain Balifornian supports environmental causes such as... Environment News- Bali Tours, Holidays and Vacations Quiksilver Gives Donations to Support Sea Turtle Preservation  |  Indonesian version below Surfersvillage Global Surf News,  -  Quiksilver gave a donation to support the conservation of Sea Turtles. The donation was given to the Kuta Beach Sea Turtle Conservation (KBSTC),  which will be used to preserve the existence of Sea Turtles in the area of Kuta Beach, Bali. The amount of the donation Rp. 25,014,338,- was handed over to Mr. I Gusti Ngurah Tresna, as representatives from KBSTC, by Simon MacGregor, Quiksilver Marketing Executive SEA and Bruce Waterfield, Business Services Director, Coca Cola Botling Indonesia. The hand over ceremony was done at the office KBSTC in Kuta Beach area. "This is a part of our awareness to support sea turtle conservation in Kuta Beach area. Quiksilver is very proud to have participated for several years, and we will continue the donations in the years to come. "Said Simon MacGregor. After the hand over ceremony, the crowd was doing the Sea Turtle release at Kuta Beach led by Simon MacGregor and Bruce Waterfield, as well as Quiksilver and Coca Cola Balinusa region teams. www.quiksilver.com Bahasa Indonesia Quiksilver Memberikan Donasi untuk Mendukung Pelestarian Penyu Laut Surfersvillage Global Surf News, - Kuta Bali, 26 November 2010. Quiksilver memberikan donasi untuk mendukung pelestarian penyu laut. Donasi diberikan kepada Kuta Beach Sea Turtle Conservation (KBSTC) yang selanjutnya akan digunakan untuk melestarikan keberadaan Penyu Laut di wilayah Pantai Kuta, Bali.   Donasi sebesar Rp. 25.014.338,- itu diserahkan kepada Bapak I Gusti Ngurah Tresna sebagai perwakilan dari KBSTC oleh Simon MacGregor, Marketing Executive SEA Quiksilver dan Bruce Waterfield, Business Service Director Coca Cola Botling Indonesia. Penyerahan dilakukan di kantor KBSTC di kawasan Pantai Kuta. “Ini adalah bentuk kepedulian Quiksilver untuk mendukung pelestarian Penyu Laut di wilayah Pantai Kuta. Kami sangat bangga telah ikut berpartisipasi selama beberapa tahun terakhir ini, dan kami akan terus memberikan donasi di tahun-tahun mendatang.” ungkap Simon  MacGregor. Setelah acara penyerahan donasi, dilakukan juga acara pelepasan Penyu Laut di Pantai Kuta dipimpin oleh Simon MacGregor, Bruce Waterfield, serta team dari  Quiksilver dan Coca Cola wilayah Balinusa. Balifornian Tours offers the best custom holiday experience on Bali and all of Indonesia.  Balifornian Travel Blog is your source for news and fun information on travel, vacationing, upcoming events and much more. What's your take on this? Let us know



Bali's Airport to finally get solid renovation

Long overdue...Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport Renovations Finally Begin

By Barrie      


No doubt many could name a few things that are badly in need of change at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport; those things that really annoy you. I could name quite a few – the hard seating in the departure lounge that make your bum ache, the lack of budget-priced eateries, the early closure of shops when you are on a late-night flight and the high prices. But hey, it’s Bali and they gotta make a buck!
And, we have all seen the disruptions in the airport of late caused by minor renovations. There is a reason for all of that. Extensive renovations of Bali Ngurah Rai Airport are now set to commence next month. Apparently it is considered a top priority for this development considering the increasing amount of air traffic.
The article in the Bali Discovery explains further and according to it, the renovations are sorely needed due to rapidly expanding tourism arrivals and the under-capacity of Bali’s airport that now handles more than 10 million travellers each year.
I often ask myself why the sudden urgency as nothing is done in Indonesia without a cause. Indeed I was correct: an acceleration in the renovation of the airport is being done at the express orders of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who wants the work completed in time for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC) in 2013.
Let’s just hope they put in recliner rockers in the departure lounge and add a couple of kaki lima and cheap warungs while there at it!
Tags: Bali, Bali Daily, indonesia, Kaki Lima, Ngurah Rai International Airport, tourism, warungs

Balifornian provides fully customized guided tours of beautiful Bali and Indonesia.

More Praise for Bali as the Best Island Paradise...

Bali Baby!

By Bob Schiff

A scenic view in Bali. (Bob Schiff)

Editor's Note: Our roving international correspondent, Bob Schiff, has been traveling throughout Asia, reporting on the obscure and exotic. Here is his fourth of many communiques detailing his travels. Enjoy Shiff's musings on the locals, customs, accommodations, and certainly the visual and descriptive majesty of the sites he is visiting and documenting.

Bali
A three hour van from Ijen to the port on the western tip of Java, a half hour ferry ride across to Bali followed by a three hour bus ride to Denpasar and a half hour taxi ride and I arrived at my hotel in Legian. I think everyone has an image of Bali in their minds - idyllic tropical island with beautiful white sand beaches and an exotic culture unlike anything back home. Wrong - at least in the tourist area of south Bali. South Bali is a heavily overbuilt and crowded tourist scene. Australian is the predominant language spoken here, mate. There are a few areas that range from high-end Seminyak to the young and wild party enclave of Kuta. The beach runs all along the western shore but with all the development it's not very inviting. It does have killer sunsets though. Rip tides claim quite a few tourists; three people drown on Kuta beach the day I took my first surfing lesson.

Padang Padang beach, about 45 minutes south of the Legian/Kuta area.

Surfing is huge throughout south Bali. The breaks off the entire southern peninsula are legendary. Most of the rental motorbikes have u-shaped brackets to hold surf boards. Surfer shacks and guesthouses dot the cliffs of the southern Bukit peninsula.

There is a great beach near the southern end of Bukit called Padang Padang that runs true to my vision of Bali - tiny crescent of white sand surrounded by steep cliffs. Calm turquoise water with a surf break beyond the bay out in the Indian Ocean. Lunch is available from a traditional warang right on the beach. I went there three times during my week stay in south Bali.

Unlike the rest of Indonesia, Bali is primarily Hindu; a beautiful interpretation of Hindu unique to Bali. After weeks of traveling through Java during Ramadan it was refreshing to get to somewhere where there was pork and a vibrant nightlife. The Balinese dishes are a nice change from the rather bland and somewhat limited food choices in Java. My plan is to wait out the rest of Ramadan here in Bali. The holy month ends with the two day festival of Idul Fitri and a nine day holiday of Lebaran when Muslim people go back to their villages to celebrate with their families. It is a crowded time to travel in Indonesia. In Bali many of the workers (mostly from Java) go back home and many of the rich from Jakarta come to Bali with their families for holiday. Many hotels are booked during this period and prices are firm.

Padang Padang beach.

Now this is a magical place. Ubud is in the hills a little over an hour north of the south Bali tourist area. Steeped in the Balinese rendition of Hindu culture it exudes charm. Incredibly green rice fields and tropical mountain jungle everywhere. Many of the vistas are breathtaking. Unfortunately it is deservedly-so a major tourist destination. The roads were never designed to handle the larger vehicles used by the hotels and tour operators to move people around so traffic is a nightmare. Not unlike Rt. 27 in the Hamptons in August. On a motorbike with no visible enforcement of traffic regulations I easily skirt the worst of the congestion.

There are endless performances and religious celebrations and festivals. Every evening just after sunset one can hear a mix of many gamelan musical performances throughout the village. One can't help but feel the spirituality and ancient mysticism in this special place. One evening there is a parade from the main temple in town to another a few kilometers away. Most of the local townspeople, dressed in traditional costume, participate in the procession.

Tough to find good value with accommodations but I did luck into two great places for my week long stay. There are many four and five-star hotels and spas and plenty of great restaurants. Nightlife is limited. As I'm exploring the area by motorbike I'm distracted by the sweet smell of barbeque from a smoking grill on the sidewalk in front of a crowded warang - Naughty Nuri's Place. It's packed with Asian tourists. I strike up a conversation with a table of local expats and am invited to sit down. One of the guys, Brian, is a very funny New Yorker and immediately we hit it off. He and his wife, a local named Nuri own the place. It's the same scene as at Cyril's table in Amagansett - a group of middle-age guys sitting around all afternoon drinking and telling tales while the place just jams with business. I feel right at home and spend about five afternoons there with my new friends. Oh, and easily the best pork ribs for thousands of miles.

The Balinese architecture around Ubud is spectacular. Dozens of temples and traditional family compounds. There is a large artist community and many galleries. Crafts - wood carvings, stone carvings, architectural details, garden features, etc. - from all over Indonesia are presented to the wholesale export trade in the Ubud area. I'm tempted to try my luck at a container of goods but quickly come to the realization that I'd most likely loose my shirt. Plus, I'm not ready to stop traveling yet.

Finally I tear myself away from the beauty of Ubud and my new friends at Naughty Nuri's and head to Sanur to sort out transportation to Gili Trawangan island – my next port of call. 

Tours can be planned through Balifornian Tours- The leader in custom tours to Bali and Indonesia.  make the most out of your holiday vacation.