Accessed via an inclinator that traverses the cliff-face, the Rock Bar is a spectacular feat of architecture and engineering. Designed by Yasuhiro Koichi of Japan ’s Design Studio SPIN, whose works include NOBU Tokyo and NOBU Hong Kong, it offers uninterrupted, 360-degree views from every single vantage point.

“The Rock Bar is the only venue of its kind in the world, and is sure to become a must-see destination in Bali ,” said Marc Dobbels, AYANA’s Food and Beverage Executive Assistant Manager. “Yasuhiro Koichi has created a true masterpiece using the natural formation and location of the rock, providing million-dollar views of Bali ’s famed sunsets from a dramatic and unforgettable venue. You couldn’t get any closer to the horizon without setting sail!”

The bar’s minimalist, inspired design maximizes the natural beauty and layout of the rocky outcrop on AYANA’s Kisik Beach . Small sets of stairs lead up either side of the rock to the split-level ironwood platform, with a 1m-high glass wall around the entire perimeter. Long counter-tables flank the illuminated, glass bar, a stunning piece of artwork created by Japanese glass artist Seiki Torige.

There is no roof; the bar is open to the elements with nothing to block the fresh sea air and the changing colors of the sky above. As the waves break onto the beach and the base of the rock below them, guests enjoy 360-degree views across the ocean and back to the beach and cliffs, as though they were approaching from a boat.

The venue is not the only thing ‘on the rocks’. Guests are offered a small selection of fresh seafood tapas served on natural rock ‘plates’, for a unique dining experience. However, the menu’s focus is of the liquid variety, with a comprehensive list of classic and contemporary cocktails that makes The Rock Bar the ultimate destination for a pre- or post-dinner beverage.
Either side of the rock, two timber platforms featuring comfortable sofas provide additional viewing points. One is accessed via a natural cave, a unique entrance that leads to a ‘secret’ garden over the beach. Just another of AYANA’s hidden treasures.

For more information, please contact:

Marian Hinchliffe

Director of Public Relations

AYANA Resort and Spa

marian@ayanaresort.com

Telephone: (62) (361) 702 222

Borkmarks:

Known as a French bistro-style restaurant serving international gourmet cuisine, Le Spot Restaurant at Bali Deli is the right place to have this type of beverage. Mostly full with expats chatting, discussing business or taking a break at lunch time, Le Spot is now become a must-to-visit eatery in the short-listed tourist guide book - simply a favorite amongst local and international clientele. Managed by Bali Deli, Le Spot provides various types of mocktails. From ten varieties of mocktails, Flying to the Moon is one of Le Spot special daily menus that most people request. Refreshing and sugar free, this beverage is a merge of mango, orange concentrate, and strawberry, where all fruits used is fresh and imported. Served in cold, it is worth for Rp25k. Affordable and healthy, anything else is a compromise.

Bali Deli & Le Spot Restaurant

Jl. Kunti 117 X Seminyak Kuta 80361

P: 0361 738686 – F: 0361 738687

Open daily: 7.00 am to 11.00 pm

Email: balideli@balideli.net

Borkmarks:

Specializing in one and three-bedroom retreats for honeymooners, couples and families, the villas themselves are as spacious, refined and private as many of the more attractive private homes of Bali. The Kunja Hotel comprises of; Kunja Spa, Santi Wedding Chapel, 4 spacious three-bedroom villas and 14 one-bedroom villas; each villa appointed with a large central living area, oversize private swimming pool with sundeck, full-service kitchen, in-suite bathrooms and large tropical garden.

Designed with luxury, privacy and comfort in mind, every villa boasts a generous amount of space in all areas and includes all the refinements and amenities you would expect from a villa hotel of this caliber. The Kunja offers an outstanding level of personalized service within each villa including a fiber optic fed internet connection, on-location in-villa dining staff and private chef on-call, and a vehicle dedicated to take you wherever you need to go. All this is coupled with a high level of privacy to ensure guest stays are as enjoyable as possible.

New to the Property is “Kunja Spa”. The Spa offers guest treatments by Studio5-SALON CURE Spa’s professionally trained staff with services offered in the privacy of the villas or in The Spa. Massages and body treatment programs offered provide therapeutic, relaxing and rejuvenating experiences using all-natural products, enhancing well being and reducing stress.

Private, stately, and grand are just a few of the words that best describe The Kunja Hotel’s impressive offerings. For those discerning traveling couples who are looking to experience the “wow” effect from the moment they walk in the door, The Kunja Hotel is the place for them.

The Kunja Villa-Hotel & Spa

Jl. Lebak Sari no.8 Seminyak Bali 80361

P. 0361 733130 – F. 0361 733128

www.thekunja.com

Borkmarks:

Names
Basically the Balinese only have four first names. The first child is Wayan or Putu, the second child is Made or Kadek, the third is Nyoman or Komang and the fourth is Ketut. The fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth will be another Wayan, Made, Nyoman, Ketut and Wayan again.

Childhood
The Balinese certainly love children and they have plenty of them to prove it. Coping with a large family is made much easier by the policy of putting younger children in the care of older ones. After the ceremonies of babyhood come ceremonies marking the stages of childhood and puberty, including the important tooth-filing ceremony.

Marriage
Every Balinese expects to marry and raise a family, and marriage takes places at a comparatively young age. Marriages are not, in general, arranged as they are in many other Asian communities although strict rules apply to marriages between the castes. There are two basic forms of marriage in Bali - mapadik and ngerorod. The respectable form, in which the family of the man visit the family of the woman and politely propose that the marriage take place, is mapadik. The Balinese, however, like their fun and often prefer marriage by elopement (ngorod) as the most exciting option. Of course, the Balinese are also a practical people so nobody is too surprised when the young man spirits away his bride-to-be, even if she loudly protests about being kidnapped. The couple go into hiding and somehow the girl’s parents, no matter how assiduously they search, never manage to find her. Eventually the couple re-emerge, announce that it is too late to stop them now, the marriage is officially recognized and everybody has had a lot of fun and games. Marriage by elopement has another advantage apart from being exciting and mildly heroic-it’s cheaper.

The Household
Many modern Balinese houses, but there are still a great number of traditional Balinese homes. The street of Ubud; nearly every house will follow the same traditional walled design.

Men & Women
There are certain tasks clearly to be handled by women, and others reserved for men. Social life in Bali is relatively free and easy. In Balinese leisure activities the roles are also sex differentiated. Both men and women dance but only men play the gamelan. Today you do see some women painters, sculptors, and woodcarvers.

Community Life
Balinese have an amazingly active and organized village life. You simply cannot be a faceless nonentity in Bali. You can’t help but get to know your neighbors as your life is so entwined and interrelated with theirs.

Death & Cremation
There are ceremonies for every stage of Balinese life but often the last ceremony-cremation-is the biggest. A Balinese cremation can be an amazing, spectacular, colorful, noisy and exciting event. In fact it often takes so long to organize a cremation that years have passed since the death. During that time the body is temporarily buried. Of course an auspicious day must be chosen for the cremation and since a big cremation can be very expensive business many less wealthy people may take the opportunity of joining in at a larger cremation and sending their own dead on their way at the same time. Brahmans, however, must be cremated immediately. Apart from being yet another occasion for Balinese noise and confusion it’s a fine opportunity to observe the incredible energy the Balinese put into creating real works of art which are totally ephemeral. A lot more than a body gets burnt at the cremation. The body is carried from the burial ground (or from the deceased’s home if it’s and ‘immediate’ cremation) to the cremation ground in a high, multi-tiered tower made of bamboo, paper, string, tinsel, silk, cloth, mirrors, flowers and anything else bright and colorful you can think of. The tower is carried on the shoulders of a group of men, the size of the group depending on the importance of the deceased and hence the size of the tower. The funeral of a former rajah of high priest may require hundreds of men to tote the tower. A long the way to the cremation ground certain precautions must be taken to ensure that the deceased’s spirit does not find its way back home. Loose spirits around the house can be a real nuisance. To ensure this doesn’t happen requires getting the spirits confused as to their whereabouts, which you do by shaking the tower, running it around in circles, spinning it around, throwing water at it, generally making the trip to the cremation ground anything but a stately funeral crawl. Meanwhile, there’s likely to be a priest halfway up to tower, hanging on grimly as it sways back and forth, and doing his best to soak bystanders with holy water. A gamelan sprints along behind, providing a suitably exciting musical accompaniment. Camera-toting tourists get all but run down and once again the Balinese prove that ceremonies and religion are there to be enjoyed. At the cremation ground the body is transferred to a funeral sarcophagus-this should be in the shape of a bull for a Brahmana, a winged lion for a Satria and a sort of elephant-fish for a Sudra. These days, however, almost anybody from the higher castes will use a bull. Finally up it all goes in flames-funeral tower, sarcophagus, body, the lot. The eldest son does his duty by poking through the ashes to ensures that there are bits of body left unburnt. And where does your soul go after your cremation? Why, to a heaven which is just like Bali!

Borkmarks:

There are 4 basic surfing regions in Bali:
West Bali (Medewi, Balian)
South Bali (Canggu, Gado Gado, Padma.
Bukit (Bingin, Balangan, Nusa Dua, Sri Lanka)
East Bali (Ketewel, Keramas, Nusa Lembongan (Playgrounds, Shipwrecks, Lacerations).

For a new beginner in surfing, Kuta Beach is the best choice. Complete with long sandy beach, plenty of people on hand as well as a surf recuse tower and jet-ski. Competition isn?t too fierce either making this beach a good learning environment.

Best waves in Bali:
The most famous wave in Bali is Uluwatu on the tip of the western Bukit. This is actually 5 breaks that combine to draw the top surfers from around the world. Padang Padang on the western Bukit is known to be one of the best performance waves in Bali. Balangan is a reef break, but at high tide is suitable for beginners. Great sand beach and long fun ride. When people think of surf spots in west Bali, they think of Medewi. Balian is located on the SW coast of Bali west of Soka Beach, not as far as Medewi. Balian offers a tranquil setting with ever increasing accommodation options. Bingin is one of the famous surfing breaks of the Bukit Peninsula. The short, fast barrel is a joyride for those who dare. Exactly what is out there at Bingin and who is it good for? One place that is ideally suited for surfers who have to be close to the water is Chocky?s Place. This guest house is run by Australian Kenny Cole and offer decent accommodation right on the beach at Bingin. For surfers who are planning their first trip to Bali, Bingin is a short fast left-hander. The take-off point is often crowded, but when you catch a wave there, you?ll see what all the fuss is about. Ketewel is no Kuta Beach when it comes to beauty. This black sand beach is littered with driftwood and the remains of offerings. Tourist don?t come to this beach to sunbathe, they come to surf. When I showed up today, there were about 20 people in the water, the sun was shining, winds were down and there was some swell. Access to the beach is easy and there is a limited amount of parking right at the beach. The one warung serves simple snacks and drinks. A teh panas ( hot tea cost Rp 1,000). Asking the warung owner about accommodation in the area for surfers, he’ll say ‘ tidak ada’ (don’t have). Most people either stay in Kuta or Sanur, coming out to surf then heading back. The surfing crowd at Ketewel usually consists of locals and Japanese, including girls on body boards. Sitting next to 2 Japanese guys admiring the view the atmosphere seemed quite civilized. Another 12kms east along the Bypass and you?ll come to Keramas, another wet season surf spot. Ketewel seemed like a place beginners / intermediates might enjoy, not people looking for epic surfing. Surprisingly WannaSurf describes it as a ‘regional classic, pro’s and kamikazi’s only. Beach access has improved. Driving time from Kuta 30 minutes. The next best wave location is the Green Ball. You head up the hill onto the Bukit, from Bypass Ngurah Rai (heading to Nusa Dua), then at the 4 way intersection (Nusa Dua, Uluwatu, Balangan), turn left towards Nusa Dua. You will see a sign for the Bali Cliff Resort, and the surf beach at Green Ball. Arriving at Green Ball you?ll see a dirt parking area, with an old guy selling drinks. A small water was 3,000rp, so best to bring your own drinks if price in a concern. There are a couple of hundred concrete steps leading form the cliff, down to the sand beach. For us non surfers, Green Ball is an okay beach to relax on. Devoid of trees, the cliffs provide some shade. The water is relatively clean and to the right of the beach is a large cave with bats.

Tips when you start learning to Surf in Bali

Renting a surfboard in Bali
Do not rent from the guys on the beach. All those boards are snapped, and will snap again at some point, in the same place. When that happens, the owner will demand $300. Australian Palu from Byron Bay, has 3 shops in the Kuta area selling boards, as well as a surf school. He also has a selection of used boards for rent of sale. Palu does a range of boards, focusing on the learner end of the market. Ollie did find a fish type board, ideal for an experienced surfer in small swell. The prices for the brand new rental for a week was 600,000rp. The price to buy its was 2.5m rp. Short term rental include 20,000rp per hour, 150,000rp, 600,000rp, deposit or passport required. Day surf trips can be arranged, including lunch for $100.

Buying a surfboard in Bali
The Kuta area offers plenty of choice for those wishing to buy a new surfboard. Epoxy boards are available in the Kuta area as well as brand name boards in the big surf shops such as Rip Curl. Bali surfing local resources Magic Wave is a local community newspaper available for free in the Kuta / Seminyak area.

Find your surf gear
Surfer Girl is one of Bali?s most well known shops. Located on Jl. Legian in Kuta, the shop offers bright, fun beach wear for ladies. Surfer Girl is owned by an Australian guy, who is a great supporter of local charities, and helps out at the Kuta Karnival.

Borkmarks:

Bali is a volcanic island and as such has a selection of black sand beaches, most notably on the east coast, the north coast and the west coast. White sand beaches can be found on the Bukit Peninsula, Sanur, Nusa Lembongan and a few select places in East Bali, such as Padangbai and Candi Dasa.

South Bali Beaches:

Sun, sea and surf, or whatever triple combo tickles your fancy, is easily available since hotels in Tuban, Kuta, Legian and Seminyak are built on the beach. Crazy vendors may not be your kettle of fish, or maybe you are looking to meet a Kuta Cowboy, whatever your goals here is a quick look at some local beaches.

Kuta Beach:
Good for getting a taste of the Bali vibe. Busy with vendors, tourists and locals. Food and drinks widely available, shade under trees close to the street and nice sandy beach. Perfect place to learn to surf. This is the place where foreign females hook up with local guys. Not a good beach if you want peace and quiet.

Kuta Halfway:
Located straight up the street from the main part of Kuta beach. Way less people, less service and less shade. Good for more peace and quiet without walking too far. Sand still decently light colored.

Blue Ocean Beach:
Located at the end of Jl. Double Six, takes 15 minutes from Kuta. Very busy afternoon scene. Plenty of bars and decent places to eat. This area features people playing bat and ball games. There is a gay volleyball pit and this is the beach where foreign guys come to hook up with local ladies. The sand is a brown color. Best food Zanzibar, best beer, Blue Ocean, best place to meet ladies on the beach under one of the drinks stands.

Pantai Gado Gado:
At the end of Jl. Dhyana Pura is Gado Gado restaurant. A high end place with a beach front patio. If you have money to spend and want an elegant environment, Gado Gado will work. For a cheaper option close by, go 100 meters back up Jl. Dhyana Pura to Cin Cin restaurant (part of Puri Cendana hotel). You can get a club sandwich for 35,000rp. Keep going down Jl. Dhyana Pura towards Jl. Legian and you?ll hit a slew of places to eat, including Santa Fe (western food), Warung Mimpi (Indonesian food) and C?Bo (Italian food), all cheap / mid range. A north distance to the west in Ku De Ta restaurant, located at the end of Jl. Oberoi, another great place to enjoy a beach-side breakfast or sunset drink. Pantai Gado Gado is popular with locals and expats for playing with the family and walking.

Echo Beach Canggu:
Takes 35 minutes from Kuta. Beach is virtually deserted, very few vendors, good surf and a great place called The Beach House serving good beer and food. Great Sunday night bbq’s. Don’t swim on this beach because of the rips.

Pantai Seseh Canggu:
Pantai Seseh is reached by following the main road Jl. Raya Canggu) towards Canggu. Reaching the big tree at the intersection in Munggu, with the sate sellers camped out and attracting locals, you hang a left towards the coast. The next 10 minutes are a dream come true as far as lovely quiet sawah. Looking around you’ll see no villas, few shops and views of the coast. The beach itself is nothing to shout about and locals with gather before sunset to gaze at the waves and the setting sun. Pantai Seseh is rugged and windswept, with dark volcanic sand.

Pantai Berawa Canggu:
Pantai Berawa is a local beach that is reasonably close to Kuta. Sand is a light brown, fairly clean. There is low scrub and trees at the back of the beach, but not the swaying palms some people associate with paradise. Pantai Berawa, and the whole Canggu beach area is windy and part of the attraction is watching the waves crash in. Sipping an iced tea at Legong Keraton is very pleasant and relaxing. Souvenir vendors hang around the entrance to the beach, but on the beach its pretty deserted.

Jimbaran Beach:
Jimbaran Bay lies just south of the airport in Tuban and the Four Seasons hotel. Jimbaran beach has yellow sand and the waves are not too big for swimmers. Although this beach still has a sleepy fishing village feel there are great food places and more springing up. A friend of mine was there recently and recommended the excellent food that is available on the beach.

Sanur Beach:
Located 2 miles SE of Denpasar, Sanur Beach has a lagoon that makes it ideal for swimming and snorkeling. There’s a mixture of traditional village life and tourist accommodation which varies between traditional style and luxury. This place is way more relaxed than Kuta.

Semawang Beach:
Semawang Beach in the southern part of Sanur is protected from waves and offers a safe place for families. Located at the beach is Stiff Chili restaurant.

Bukit Beaches:
The Bukit is a limestone plateau and the beaches are a pale yellow / white sand. The largest beaches on the Bukit are in Nusa Dua on the eastern side of the Bukit. Dreamland has the largest beach on the western side. One of the best Bali beaches, is at the very southern end of the Bukit. Looking at a map, you ride up the hill from Jimbaran, heading to Uluwatu. Instead of turning west, you keep going straight south, towards Pura Masuka. This temple is tiny and is perched on a cliff-top, overlooking the ocean. Directly in front of it is a hiking trail that leads you down to the beach, which is usually empty. The hike takes about 15 minutes.

Ulu Watu & Padang Padang:
Hang around surfers and these two places will come up often. Ulu Watu was Bali’s first famous break and although isn’t developed for luxury tourists is getting more crowded. Located at the very south of the island on western edge of Bukit Badung (that bit that sticks out) Ulu Watu is a chill place to relax, visit the temple and watch the surfers.

Dreamland Beach:
Located on the Bukit peninsula, takes 25 minutes from Kuta. Good for low end surfers who like a beach break, people who like the simple beach-side warungs and a lower stress scene. There are about 20 warungs serving food and drinks, surf board rental in the high season. Vendors generally leave you alone. No shade other than inside a warung. Lovely sandy beach.

Padang Padang:
Around the point to the left is Uluwatu, around the next point is Padang Padang. You could actually walk around during low tide. For this article we’ll refer to the beach as Ulu-Padang. The beach has decent sand, with a coral reef protecting the beach from big waves. When the tide is out it might not look so great, but when the tide is in you?ll be able to swim. This is Bali so remember to proceed with care as currents can be strong. Bring plenty of sunscreen and a hat. The only shade is the densely packed trees at the back of the beach.

Nusa Dua:
Great lagoon and white sandy beaches. There is a heavy build up of luxury hotels and resorts but there are also local warungs offering cheap food.

Pantai Geger:
Pantai Geger is located on the eastern side of the Bukit Peninsula. Pantai Geger is ideal for families with young kids, as the beach is protected from waves and is comfortable.

Pura Tegalwangi:
Adding to the ever growing list of ’secret beaches’ we can find in Bali is the secluded white sand beach at Pura Tegalwangi, on the Bukit peninsula. You?ve probably never heard of that temple and it’s certainly not one of the most famous in Bali. The great thing about the beach, which is adjacent to the temple, is that tourists don’t go there. This is for a couple of reasons including
1) they dont know its there
2) there are plenty of other beaches closer to Kuta.
So if you are looking for a quiet, unspoilt beach with no one else around the beach at Pura Tegalwangi might work for you.

East Bali Beaches:

Padangbai:
Padangbai is a fishing village located on the SE coast approximately 40 miles from Kuta. The snorkeling is quite good and there are locals offering jet skis and other water sport activities. Padangbai sits at the end of a road running off of the Klungkung-Candi Dasa main road. There is a busy main beach and 2 much quieter beaches. The first, Blue Lagoon, is accessed by heading to the far left of the main beach and hiking 10 minutes up and over the hill, dropping down onto a white sand beach with a couple of warungs. This is a good place to snorkel and dive boats come here. You might want to hire a boat to take you snorkeling for safety. The second beach, Biastugal is also called Pantai Kecil (small beach), and is located on the other side of the ferry terminal. You can?t see it from the main beach, and the only way I knew it was there, was by taking the ferry to Lombok, looking back and seeing it. Pantai Kecil is accessed by walking through town round the back of the ferry terminal, up the hill and down to the beach. From downtown it takes 15 minutes. Here you will find several warungs, a pleasant beach with yellow / white sand and some beach vendors. Pantai Kecil is easily the best beach in Padangbai and the level of harassment isn?t too bad.

Candi Dasa:
Candi Dasa used to have a good beach, but it washed away, because the locals destroyed the reef for lime. That is a well known story. Between Senkidu to the west and Candi Dasa, there is a small section of beach. The main road runs very close to the shore in this part of Bali and its easy to stop and take a look. In the evenings, young Balinese like to park their bikes and chat here, its the local hangout scene. The Lotus Restaurant has a nice little chunk of beach next to it, a low tide anyway. Lotus Restaurant is right there at the entrance to the Candi Dasa main street. At the far end of the main street, Forest Rd. curves to the left and heads off into the boonies. If you keep going straight, you will drive down what feels like a quite lane, but one that is lined with small hotels. There is also a sign saying ‘The Beach’, which you follow. The sign directs you through a nice boutique hotel. No problem to walk through and access the beach, which is very nice.

Pasir Putih:
What Pasir Putih offers is an almost pristine white sand beach, with little development, in a tropical setting. Drive East from Kuta towards Sanur. Take the Kusamba Bypass to East Bali. Follow the coastal road past Candi Dasa. When you come to Perasi, slow down and ask locals for ‘Pasir Putih’. Driving time from Kuta: 2.5 hours.

Lipah Beach Amed:
East Bali is probably the closest thing a tourist will got to the ‘real Bali’. To be honest, tourists aren’t looking for the ‘real Bali’ anymore than they would want a ‘deserted beach’. We’re looking for postcard landscapes, with elegant locals… and enough creature comforts to keep us happy. East Bali has all these and the Amed area, location the far SE coast is a very laid back, tranquil area.

Location: East Bali, far south east coast
Travelling time from Kuta: 4 hours
Accommodation: Budget and boutique
Restaurants: Budget / mid range
Nightlife: None to speak of except the occasion joged dance.
Activities: Snorkeling / diving
Internet access: Yes. Slow.
Closest big town: Amlapura
Closest western location: Candi Dasa

Lipah beach is the most developed beach in the area (although still very peaceful), located around 10km from Culik. There’s accommodation at Hidden Paradise and slightly after this, Coral View. Both places have large, well-furnished bungalows in lush gardens with pools next to the beach.

West Bali Beaches:

Candikusumah:
Driving east from Gilimanuk towards Kuta, one will pass through the kecamatan (municipal border) of Melaya. Along this stretch of road are many small potholes so one is advised to stay alert, as each 20 meter section of road appears to be made by a different person. On the beach side of the road is a sign indicating the beach at Candikusumah. This is accessed by a narrow lane just 100 meters long. The black sand beach here is nothing to shout about, but might be good for a rest stop or a quick dip in the ocean.

Pantai Rening:
Around 15km east of Candikusumah heading into Negara, is a junction sign pointing the way to Cupel. On this corner are various local warungs offering masakan Muslim (Muslim food) and sate ayam (chicken satay). Take this road south to the first junction and head right to the end. Around 4kms away from the road is Pantai Rening, another sweeping black sand bay. There is a sizable local hotel (Hapel Beach Resort) at the end of the road, with security and what appears to be decent grounds. This place is off of the western tourist radar, and might be a change from Medewi for a place to stay on the coast in west Bali.

Yeh Gangga:
Yeh Gangga beach is 10km SW of Tabanan. The attraction of this area is natural beauty, with rice fields leading down to the beach, volcanoes in the distance and a rugged, empty coastline. Yeh Gangga beach, like many of the beaches on the SW coast, is not suitable for swimming, due to the currents and lack of any emergency services. When its low tide, the beach is quite wide and easy to walk on, there are not many places to buy food / drinks, although Yeh Gangga beach itself has a few very basic places. Places to stay in Yeh Gangga include Bali Wisata Bungalows , and the expensive Waka Gangga . Bibi?s (081 361 0914) is another small place, that is located at Pusat Beach, to the west of Yeh Gangga. This is the simplest and cheapest option. Staying in Yeh Gangga, renting a scooter and slowly exploring the countryside, meeting locals etc. would be a lovely way to go. This area has a touch of East Bali, slow paced and removed from the tourist scene.

Balian:
When people think of surf spots in west Bali, they think of Medewi. The quiet black sand coast at Balian can be a great location for some people.

North Bali Beaches:

Lovina:
Lovina is actually a string of small villages ( Kalisasem & Temukus, Kalibukbuk, Anturan, Tukad Mungga and Pemaron. Kalibukbuk also has a section known as Banyualit ) that have been dumped under the same name. Along this coastline is a quiet black sand beach, with the occasional Balinese fishing boat parked on it. The water is warmer on the north coast that down south and there is virtually on surf, making this a god area for snorkeling.

Tejakula:
Located on the NE coast of Bali, this section of the coast has to be one of the quietest. The black sand beach sits close to the road generally, the water is clear and unpolluted and there is the occasional development. The best place to stay in the area is Poinciana Resort in Tejakula / Tembok. The nearest place to go for supplies is Singaraja, around 1 hour.

Borkmarks:

Amed:
The dive starts in a flat area of about 3-8 meters in a wonderful coral garden, with a mild current the drop off falls down to 30 meters. It is beautiful and features soft coral and a range of reef fish. 2 hours from Kuta and 10 minutes by small boat to sites.

Nusa Dua / Sanur:
Soft coral and colorful fish can be seen in 3-20 meter deep water. The slow current makes it ideal for every level of diver. 15 minutes by boat to the site.

Nusa Penida & Nusa Lembongan:
Diving at these islands will give you a good chance of encountering larger fish. Barracuda and mantas are frequently sighted and occasionally, the weird Mola-mola (Oceanic Sunfish). 2 hours from Kuta and 30 minutes from the sites.

Padangbai / Gili Tapekong:
The drop off is grown with hard and soft corals. Many nudibranchs and some flatworms can be found here. The Blue Lagoon at the left side of Padangbai harbor, the reef drops vertically to 20 meters and continues in a sandy area. Gili Tapekong is known as Shark’s Point. Mixed reef and walls with gentle current. About 1.5 hours from Kuta and 10 minutes by boat from the sites.

Menjangan Island:
It is 1.5km long and 500 meters wide at Northwestern Bali. It also part of the Bali Barat Nasional Park. Coral walls are vertical down to 30-60 meters and then slope outward. 3.5 hours from Kuta and 30 by boat to sites.

Tulamben:
The most visited dive site has a 395 ft long wreck, the USS Liberty that is sleeping under a coral blanket at 5-28 meters. This is a beach dive and the wall starts from 1 meter and drops, almost vertically to 40 meters. 2.5 hours from Kuta.
Talking to an experienced diving instructor in Bali, I learned some tips that I have already passed onto one person. Bali / Lombok has some decent diving but it is not earth-shaking, like some of the spots in Eastern Indonesia. For someone who is looking to travel around Bali a bit and do some diving, here’s a plan.

Kuta / Seminyak / Sanur / Nusa Dua has plenty of dive operators willing to organize a trip around Bali for you. This is the most user-friendly way to go as they take care of transportation, give you a good recommendation on accommodation, provide equipment, tank refills and safety. You can drive yourself around, if you don?t want your trip to be entirely dive-oriented.

Nusa Lembongan & Nusa Penida
Starting out in the southern part of Bali, you might take a day trip out to Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida. One of the dive spots on Nusa Penida, ‘SD’ is known for its amazing soft and hard corals. On a day where the visibility is good, this site can compare with Komodo or other famous dive sites. The wet season tends to make visibility less than perfect, although Bali enjoys good marine visibility.
To get to Nusa Penida, you can take a boat from Sanur. In the mornings it’s always low tide, meaning you have to haul your your gear out onto the mud and walk through a mass of sea-grass. Could be a good option to drive to Padangbai, catch a fast boat to Nusa Penida then spend the night in either Padangbai (simple cheap accommodation) or Candi Dasa (better standard of modern accommodation). Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida get strong currents which mean experienced divers only.

Amed & Tulamben
Amed / Tulamben is only an hour or so away to the East, each place offering dive operators and places to stay. Tulamben is great because you can walk out from the each and live on the sunken USS Liberty.

Menjangan Island & Gilimanuk Bay
Following the coastal road round and heading west, you’ll get to the best dive spot on the north coast, Menjangan Island. A good idea is to spend at least 2 days at this location as the drive from Tulamben is 2-3 hours as is the drive back to Kuta. The best place to stay is the Waka Shorea on the mainland just down from Menjangan. For people who enjoy tiny marine life, Gilimanuk Bay has some unique varieties that may be of interest.

So for a newcomer to Bali, with very little pre-planning you can access amazing corals in fast flowing clear currents, dive a wreck straight from the beach, 40m-60m wall dives and tiny marine life. Not bad for a small island that is also one of the world’s top surf spots.

Candi Dasa:
If you hoping to do some snorkeling while in East Bali. Thinking about our options, Padangbai, Candi Dasa and Amed would all work.
For a better snorkeling experience, try Blue Lagoon, the small bay at the eastern end of Padangbai. The 3 little islands close to Candi Dasa (Gili Mimpang) are also good. You can organize snorkeling through your hotel, although it will cost more than going direct to the boat owner. also dive shops will take you snorkeling. The cheapest way is go with a local boat. East Bali has hundreds of boats parked up on the beach and running into someone saying “Hey Boss you want go snorkeling?” isn’t hard. You should always shop around and negotiate. Make sure you know where you are going, and that the equipment is included in the price.
Other places that will work for snorkling are Pasir Putih Beach in Perasi and many of the beaches in Amed. Nusa Lembongan has good snorkeling too, and can be accessed on a day trip from the port of Benoa.
Candi Dasa is located on Amuk Bay, which is a popular place to dive. The tiny islands in Amuk Bay (Gili Tepekong, Gili Biaha, Gili Mimpang) offer the best diving experience and that’s where the operators aim for.
As any dive operator will tell you, currents are strong and unpredictable, making some places unsuitable for beginners. The ‘washine machine’ effect can freak people out, so its necessary to wait for the right conditions.

Lovina:
Lovina has a selection of dive centers, offering trip to Menjangan island to the west and Tulamben to the east. Local watersports can be located at ‘Spice Beach’, owned and operated by Spice Dive, in Kaliasem. Services offered include banana boat rides, parasailing, waterskiing, wake-boarding and knee-boarding. The banana boat needs a minimum of 4 people. The restaurant on site is called Cafe Spice.

Senggigi:
Dive operators in Senggigi run daily trips up to the Gili Islands whih are only a few kms up the coast. Like a pizza menu, they offer the whole shabang of dive courses including Open Water (don’t watch the movie the night before) and Dive Master.
Diving in the Gili’s is supposed to be okay, but its far from the best in Indonesia. For more serious divers, Manado in Sulawesi, Komodo, Ambon, Banda and Irian Jaya (West Papua) are highly recommended.

Gili Islands:
The Gili Islands are never going to win any prizes for the quality of marine life, ask anyone in the diving business. If you are looking for spectacular diving, go to Manado in Sulawesi, Komodo, Ambon, or West Papua (Irian Jaya).
Still, there are dive operators on all 3 Gili Islands (Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, Gili Air), and there is a developed industry there, with well known dive spots and plenty of supporting infrastructure as far as transport, hotels and food places.
The Gili Islands are surrounded by reef and located on the northern side of Lombok, are sheltered from big swells. The depth is around 25 meters, with visibility around 15 meters, water temperature warm.
Gili Trawangan offers a white sand island, surrounded by turquoise water. There are no cars or motorbikes, no police, no nightclubs, but there are many restaurants, many showing evening movies and some having live music. Some of Bali’s most famous restaurants have branches there including Ryoshi and The Beach House. In all Gili Trawangan offers a good place to get a taste of diving in Indonesia, before moving onto more challenging sites.

Learning to dive in something that many tourists have on their agenda. A 4 day PADI course will get you your Open Water certificate, allowing you to rent equipment and fill tanks anywhere in the world. Gili Trawangan has several dive shops offering Open Water courses, many with their own training pool. It always pays to check out your dive opertaor and choose one you trust.

Borkmarks:

The Telaga Waja, which is considered hold by the local people, is located in perfect spot, flowing 12 kilometres continously through one of the island’s most spectacular rural sceneries. With river categories from class III to IV, there is no doubt that Telaga Waja offers you the real meaning of ADVENTURE which means excitement that you had never imagined during your stay in Bali.

Other advantages that you can get only from our services are the 5-minutes rice paddy walking from the starting point to the river and the short and easy access to the finish point.

NOTE : Air Conditioned Hotel Transfer, Hot Buffet Lunch, All safety equipment; Professional Guides, International Safety , Standard Instruction, Insurance Cover, Shower & Change Rooms, Waterproof Bags.

PICK UP TIME TABLE :

Rafting

Borkmarks:

Experience the excitement of riding a powerful Semi Automatic 250 cc ATV in central of the most stunning countryside Bali has to offer. The trips are suitable for everyone including, small groups, individuals, families, stag and hen parties, corporate events, management and staff gathering or a group of friends getting together to have a fun day out.
The location is in Tengkudak Village, Penebel District in Tabanan Regency. Well known as Bali’s Rice Bowl, this region boasts the most fertile soil on the island and complemented by the most picturesque of views.
The tracks, throughout the area that we use dependent on weather, ground conditions and the kind of experience that you looking for. We offer you a high quality of service and fun ATV Riding trips. Our experience instructor will carry out a full safety briefing before riding through the cocoa plantation compound, Balinese villages, crossing back road tracks, rice terrace fields and take in the breathtaking views.
If it’s more of a challenge that you crave, our instructor will guide you through some of the most technical terrain our site has to offer, traverse seemingly impossible slopes, down hill and then use the full power of the bikes to ascend back to the up hill. You’ll be amazed at the ability of this incredible vehicle with you at the controls. Join us for a true self experience or just listen this story from someone else.
So whatever the weather, give us a call or send the message to book your self ride experience journey to the secret soul of Bali.

What Inclusive?

• Pick up service in Air Conditioned from your hotel as above area
• Welcome drink on arrival
• Professional Instructors
• Well Maintain bikes and safety tools
• Free use clean bath towel
• Private showers facility
• Hygienic Rest Rooms facility
• Delicious meals
• Free first drink (non alcohol drink)
• Free Exclusive T-shirt Souvenir
• Insurance USD. 50,000 coverage

What to bring?

• Sun block or sunscreen
• Sneaker/ Sport Shoes
• Socks
• Long pant/ trouser
• Change of clothes
• Voucher/ Payment *
• Extra cash for photo/ souvenir

Note: *

• We do not accept any credit card for payment because we don’t have wire phone line installation at our location at the moment.
• Please prepare the payment in some currency such as: US Dollar, AU Dollar, Euro, Japanese Yen or event Indonesian Rupiah (at current exchange rate)

Pick up Service Schedule

Pick up Area	Early Birds	Morning	Afternoon
Nusa Dua	07.00 – 07.15	10.00 – 10.15	13.00 – 13.15
Kuta	07.15 – 07.30	10.15 – 10.30	13.15 – 13.30
Kerobokan & Seminyak	07.30 – 07.45	10.15 – 10.30	13.15 – 13.30
Sanur & Denpasar	07.45 – 08.00	10.30 – 10.45	13.30 – 13.45
Ubud	07.45 – 08.00	10.45 – 11.00	13.45 –14.00

ATV Riding Trips

Borkmarks:

Massage:
Relaxing Aromatherapy massage
Based on traditional relaxation massage, combined with shiatsu and swedish techniques and lomi-lomi to rejuvenate your body, spirit and mind with pure blended essential oils applied to the body and massaged through your skin. While enriching the skin you will obtain a physical relief, clear mind and induce relaxation.
Slimming massage
This body treatment is using slimming oil applied to all parts of your body. The isometric massage stimulates the blood and lymph flow, improving circulation. At the same time it softens the subcutaneous fat and then flushes it out of the body via the usual elimination channels. It is a natural, safe and painless method of enhancing your figure.
Warm stone massage
The healing power of stone touch combines with the energy of the earth in this relaxing, muscles melting massage. Smooth, warmed rocks glide across your body in long, flowing stroke. The head helps to relax the muscles and has a sooting effect on your emotions. Simultaneously, rocks are placed on the body’s various energy points to encourage the body’s healing potential.
Hair Treatment
Creambath
A popular treatment in Indonesia to loose tension on your shoulder and head as well as eliminate stress after your daily activities. It could fertilize and soften your hair. This treatment taken 1 hour.

Borkmarks: