The Republic of Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia known for being the largest island country in the world with more than thirteen thousand islands. Both culturally and naturally, the country has much to offer to its visitors and is widely regarded as a beautiful and unique tourist destination. Indonesia’s forests cover about 57% of its land, it has the world’s longest coastline with a stretch of more than 54,000 miles and it also houses 20% of the world’s coral reef.
In this beautiful place that holds eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, we can find Bali, one of the world’s most beautiful, diverse and enigmatic islands.
Bali is an island and a province of Indonesia that includes the island Bali itself and a few other small islands as well. As of 2014, the population of Bali is 4,225,000 as of January 2014. The island is a very popular tourist destination; famous for its artistic culture, music and the yearly Indonesian International Film Festival they hold here. Agriculture is second only to tourism that encompasses about 80% of Bali’s economy, but still is the island’s largest employer.
The island’s biodiversity and ecology are unmatched. Bali holds about seven times more marines species than the entire Caribbean. This is due mostly to the strategic geographic location of the island, making it part of the famous Coral Triangle; an area that while only covering 1.6% of the planet’s oceanic area, holds about 76% of all known coral species in the world.
Places to see.
Seminyak
Seminyak is an area on the west coast of Bali that some of the most wonderful beaches in the island. The place is great to witness Balinese ceremonies on the beach, magical sunsets and the breathtaking beauty of the local scene. The place has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bali mainly because of its great restaurants, bars, shops and traditional stores.
Klungkung Palace
Officially known as Puri Agung Semarapura, this historical building compound situated in Semarapura, the capital of the Klungkung Regency on Bali, Indonesia was built at the end of the 17th century but the Dutch mostly destroyed it in 1908. Today, two of its buildings remain along a museum. They are the Kertha Gosa and the Bale Kambang.
Image courtesy of Jelle Oostrom at Flickr.com
Ubud
The group of small villages known as Ubud is located amongst rice paddies and sharp ravines in the central foothills of the Gianyar regency. The place has developed a large tourism industry based on culture, yoga and nature. Opposite to the main tourist area in southern Bali, the Ubud area has forests, rivers, cooler temperatures and less congestion. The town also has a number of art museums like the Blanco Renaissance Museum, the Puri Lukisan Museum, Neka Art Museum, and the Agung Rai Museum of Art.
Kuta
Kuta has what most people believe to be the most beautiful beaches in all of Bali. The place is a five-mile stretch of white sands alongside the most impossible blue waters. Kuta’s nightlife is vibrant and amazing; you can find it something for everyone in its many bars and nightclubs and the restaurants are to die for.
Gunung Kawi
Gunung Kawi is an 11th-century temple and funerary complex in Tampaksiring, north east of Ubud. The complex consists of 10 rock-cut candi (shrines) memorials cut out of the rock in imitation of statues. They stand in remarkable 8 meter-high sheltered alcoves cut into the cliff face. Be ready to walk up long climbs of stairs, as there are more than 270 steps. The views as you walk through ancient terraced rice fields are as fine as any in Bali.
Sanur
Sanur is a coastal stretch of beach of Denpasar city of southeast Bali; about 30 minutes drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport. Sanur is the perfect place for those want to get away from the party, nightlife, loud tourists and crowds and recharge their batteries. Traditional fishing boats can be seen on the beach of Sanur offering a scenic view of the island Nusa Penida. The place holds a great deal of modern history as well as the northern part of Sanur beach was used as the landing site for the Dutch invasion during the 1906 intervention. Also, during World War II, Sanur was once more the entry point through which the Japanese forces landed to occupy the island.
Our very own Karma Royal Jimbaran and Karma Royal Candidasa are located at prime spots in Bali, ready to offer you an amazing place to stay. Both are near some of the most amazing beaches in Bali and offering unique ambiance to ensure that your trip is your Balinese dream come true.
Visit our blog at Royal Holiday cruises for even more amazing destinations waiting to be discovered and make sure you check our deals on hotels, cruises and more. Let us be part of your next adventure.
