Bali is a truly beautiful tropical island paradise where the passage of life is measured through elaborate rituals performed by artistic and hospitable local people. The Balinese maintain a precious heritage of unique arts and a dynamic culture amidst breathtaking panoramas of cultivated rice terrace, awesome volcanoes, pristine beaches and thousands of temples, augmented by an unrivalled range of modern leisure activities.
Bali is more than a tropical island paradise; it is a unique destination within Southeast Asia and any visit to its magical shores creates an enduring memory.
Nusa Dua
Developed as a luxury resort complex in the southern-most tip of Bali, Nusa Dua is home to the island’s most luxurious hotel and resort accommodation and conference facilities. Located in a secluded enclave with access controlled by private security, and just 10 kilometres from Bali’s international airport and 25 minutes from the chic and vivacious Kuta, Legian and Seminyak districts, Nusa Dua exceeds all expectations as a world class tourist destination.
Facts about Bali
Geographically, Bali lies between the islands of Java and Lombok. Stretching approximately 140 km from east to west and 80 km from north to south, Bali is one of more than 13,500 islands that make the Indonesian Archipelago. Lying 8° south of the equator, Bali boasts a tropical climate with just two seasons a year and an average annual temperature of around 28° C. The rich volcanic soil and healthy monsoon season make this island extremely fertile with a range of crops are grown here. Bali is famous for its terraced rice paddies - among the most spectacular in the world coffee, copra, spices, vegetables, and cattle.
Bali is also known as the "Island of the Gods", where temples and ceremonies can be found almost everywhere and everyday. The majority of Balinese are Hindu. Religious life in Bali is almost inseparable from cultural life. One of the daily rituals is presenting offerings. Offerings play a significant role in Balinese daily life as they appease the spirits and thus bring prosperity and good health to the family.
Climate
Located in the tropical zone, Bali enjoys an average year-round daily temperature between 20° - 33° Celsius. Fluctuations do occur but they are minimal. Because of abundant rainfall and high temperatures, Bali’s climate is also characterized by high humidity, around 85%. Here in Bali, only two seasons predominate, a dry and a rainy season. The rainy season lasts from December to March, whereas the dry season from May to October with the transition period between October and December, known as ‘Musim Pancaroba’, characterized by changing winds and inconsistent weather.
Weather report online, please visit:
http://www.baliguide.com/weather/index.html
Custom
The Island of Bali is known as the land of a thousand temples, although there are actually more than 5000 scattered throughout the island. Each temple celebrates its birthday every 210 days, so there are always festivals going on.
Travellers Cheques and Credit Cards
Travellers cheques are accepted by leading banks and hotels in principal cities. The use of travellers’s cheques in Indonesia is as popular as in any other county. Visa and Master Card are widely accepted at hotels, department stores, shops, restaurants and night clubs. According to the Indonesian banking regulations, payment by credit cards should be charged in local currency.
Airport Tax
An airport departure tax of Rp. 150,000 is levied by the airport authority for travellers on international flights and Rp. 40,000 for domestic flights. The tax must be paid in Rupiah.
Electricity
Electricity used in Indonesia is 220 volts.
Currency
Only Rupiah (Indonesian currency) is accepted at regular stores and restaurants. Certain foreign currencies and major credit cards are accepted by most hotels, restaurants and souvenirs shops.
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The New Paradise Island Of Eastern Indonesia, lies just 25 minutes by plane east of her celebrated sister island–Bali, Lombok Island offers a various charming unspoiled natural beauties that makes it often described as Bali in the past. Starting from the awesome volcano peak for hard trekking to the underwater sea world for diving or snorkeling, from the pristine white sandy beaches for sun bathing and swimming to the good breaks for world-class surfing, and from the scenic drive inland for day-trippers to the breathtaking hike for soft trekking. Lombok Island also has a range of fine handicrafts either wooden or earthen ones. They are crafted at exported quality and are sold at local negotiable price. Lombok’s sea breaded pearls are also getting more popular among tourists to bring home as valuable charms gift or souvenir.
Aside from all of the aforementioned beauties, Lombok has unique colorful culture and traditions as well. We might say “ YOU MIGHT SEE BALI in LOMBOK but not LOMBOK in BALI”. Gandrung – a social dance about love and courtship – and stick fighting dances – trial of both magical and physical strength in one-to-one contest – for instance, are among the most popular tourist’s attractions often shown at big hotels in Senggigi or Kuta Lombok. However, some of Lombok’s cultural shows are often performed incidentally, if not regularly, to celebrate important days, for example the Independence Day and the province of West Nusa Tenggara anniversary, and those aforementioned are no exception. Traditional and locally recognized law (ADAT) is still an underlying path of life and common practice; predominantly the traditions related to birth, circumcision, courtship and marriage.
Lombok has a various range of accommodation from the modest ones at very low rate for back packers to five stars rated hotel for those who are in search for more comfort and luxury. Most of the hotels are mainly based in Senggigi, the most developed tourism area in Lombok. Senggigi is situated just 20 minutes driving from the SELAPARANG LOMBOK airport. In addition, quite a few hotels set further north around Sire Beach, and many more selection based on the budget on the luring 3 Gili Islands. Drive on to South Lombok, Kuta Beach is now become more popular among investors and visitors following the first brick laying on the international airport nearby LOMBOK BARU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. There is a bunch of simple accommodation at very cheap price despite the slow moving development in the area. |
HOW TO GET THERE?
By plane
Lombok International Airport, (Bandara Internasional Lombok) (BIL), IATA: LOP, ICAO: WADL is the only current operational airport in Lombok. The new airport is located near the city of Praya on Jalan Raya, Tanak Awu Lombok Tengah in central south Lombok and is approximately 40 km south of Mataram, and 55 km southeast of the established Senggigi tourism precinct of West Lombok
Daily direct flights available from the neighbor sland Bali, also from Jakarta, Bima and Surabaya.
International flights are currently limited to direct services from Singapore (SIN) 3 times per week and daily from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) in Malaysia with a technical stop in Surabaya in East Java and limited seasonal charter services by Nordwind Airlines to Novosibirsk-Tolmachevo in Russia.
By boat
From Bali Padangbai Harbor and Benoa Harbor available daily boats departing to Lembar. Fast boats also available twice a day. Slow ferries from Padang Bai on Bali leave approximately every hour (24 hr) for the 4-5 hr trip. |
Komodo National Park is located in the center of the Indonesian archipelago, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores. Established in 1980, initially the main purpose of the Park was to conserve the unique Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) and its habitat. However, over the years, the goals for the Park have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both terrestrial and marine. In 1986, the Park was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, both indications of the Park's biological importance.
Komodo National Park includes three major islands: Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands creating a total surface area (marine and land) of 1817km (proposed extensions would bring the total surface area up to 2,321km2). As well as being home to the Komodo dragon, the Park provides refuge for many other notable terrestrial species such as the orange-footed scrub fowl, an endemic rat, and the Timor deer.
Moreover, the Park includes one of the richest marine environments including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, seamounts, and semi-enclosed bays. These habitats harbor more than 1,000 species of fish, some 260 species of reef-building coral, and 70 species of sponges. Dugong, sharks, manta rays, at least 14 species of whales, dolphins, and sea turtles also make Komodo National Park their home.
HOW TO GET THERE
While most visitors enter Komodo National Park (KNP) through the gateway cities of Labuan Bajo in the west of Flores or Bima in eastern Sumbawa, the departure point for your trip is actually Denpasar, Bali. |
