march-2010

Bali fact fi le
HOW TO GET THERE
KLM fl ies direct to
Denpasar Bali Ngurah Rai
Airport four times a week from
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
THE BASICS
In Balinese culture, dance
and music are entwined with
religion and daily life. The best
performances tend to be in
Ubud, either at the Royal
Palace or one of the other
temples manned by the
banjars (community groups)
around town. Buy from the
traditionally dressed ticket
sellers in the street. Most
people in tourist areas speak
some English, although
outside Java, few speak Dutch.
People are generally helpful
towards strangers.
WHERE TO EAT
There are so many good
and eateries that to list them
all could fi ll an entire
magazine. Be sure to try some
local cuisine. The top
restaurants include:
Metis, Jl Petitenget No 6,
Kerebokan Kelod (+62 361 737
888). La Lucciola, on Kayu
Ayu Beach, is an Italian
restaurant that enjoys some
of the most sublime views on
earth (+62 361 730 838). Also in
Petitenget and near the
temple is Sarong, Jl
Petitenget 19x, Kerobokan (+62
361 737 809). And in Ubud,
there is Terazo, Jl Suweta (+62
361 978 941), Lamak, Jl Monkey
Forest (+62 361 974 668), and
Mozaic, Jl Raya Sangginan
(+62 361 975 768). For a
comprehensive check of Bali’s
best and quirkiest restaurants,
food stalls, and snacking, try
www.balieats.com. The
writer tests every restaurant
on the island.
Bali Sea
Bali
Jimbaran
Indian Ocean
Denpasar
Kuta
WHERE TO STAY
Kubu
Ubud Manggis
Ku De Ta in Petitenget
(www.kudeta.net) is a trendy
beach club for days of
pampering and .gentle
hedonism. Ayana Resort
and Spa (www.ayanaresort.
Indonesia
Bali
TRAVEL BALI
Australia
com) is a mountain-top
retreat in Jimbaran. Villa des
Indes in Semanyak (www.
villadesindes.com) has
carefully restored Javan
architecture for those seeking
tasteful seclusion.
WHAT TO SEE
See Barong dances in the
17th-century Ubud Palace
(www.ubudpalace.com),
bronzed bodies and big waves
along Kuta beach, cultural
workshops and contemporary
art in ARMA Art Museum
(www.armamuseum.com),
and the crater lake of Mount
Batur, the island’s second
largest volcano.
FAST Holland Herald 57
Photography: Jill Gocher; Robert Harding/Getty Images; Simon Marcus/Corbis; Frans Lemmens/Getty Images