Bali

Tourism on Bali began here in 1966 with the Bali Beach Hotel, a Japanese reparation. The ugly concrete... block is the only eyesore on the island because a law then prevented the erection of buildings exceeding palm height. Europeans came to Bali much earlier: in her must-read novel "Love and Death on Bali", Vicky Baum describes everyday life in Sanur and the Belgian artist Adrien Jean Le Mayeur founded a cosmopolitan art colony here in the early 1930s. His house at the northern end of the beach is now a museum. The beach is wide and protected by a coral reef, which makes swimming safe for children. The downside: when the tide is low, everything comes to a stop. Water skiing and paragliding are possible. Diving excursions to the reef are offered as well. Sanur is a quiet seaside resort with nice accommodations, often directly at the beach, good restaurants and shops – perfect for a relaxing (family) holiday. more

Bali's second most important tourist center represents a wonderful symbiosis between nature and culture.... Amidst rice fields, surrounded by small villages such as Campuan, Peliatan and Pengosekan, you are invited to go for a walk, a hiking or a bike tour. Ubud is the artistic center of the island, where most painters, wood carvers, dancers and Gamelan musicians reside. The dance performances that are presented here every evening are among the best of the island. The German painter Walter Spies and Dutchman Rudolf Bonnet founded the art school Pita Maha here in the 1930s, strongly influencing the Balinese art of painting. Pictures of various styles by European and indigenous artists are exhibited in the museums of Ubud: Puri Lukisan in the center, Neka Museum north of Campuhan and the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) in Pengosekan. Center of shops and restaurants is Monkey Forest Road – often the only thing short-term visitors get to see of Ubud. more

The capital of the Indonesian province of Bali has about 400,000 inhabitants and accordingly it is busy,... noisy and hectic. But still the museum, art center and market are worth a visit. Even the buildings of the Bali Museum in traditional palace and temple architecture are worth seeing. The collections in the interior give a good overview of Bali's history. The dancing masks and shadow puppets are particularly impressive. In lush gardens, Werdhi Budaya Art Center on the eastern edge of town combines Balinese architecture with exhibitions of paintings and carvings. In addition, there are dance performances and every year in June/July the Bali Cultural Festival attracts many visitors. Balinese everyday life can be experienced in Pasar Badung, the multi-storied market hall, where the Balinese buy everything they need. A large selection of arts and crafts can be found at Pasar Kumbasari, where a night market is held in the basement starting from the late afternoon. more