It is no wonder that Bali is the most popular tourist destination in Indonesia. Not only for domestic tourist, but also for foreigners. Bali has been popular for a long time and the number of tourists who come to Bali increases every year. Every year, there is always something new that makes Bali become more famous than before. Tourists come to Bali not only for vacation, but also to update their social media content, especially through the Instagram platform. They visit that place and then they captured it on their smartphone and then they upload it on their Instagram, whether it's a post on their Instagram feed or just uploaded as an Instagram Story content that can be viewed within 24 hours after the photo being uploaded. Thanks to the habit of today's tourists who always post everything on their social media, there are more and more new things that can be done in Bali which are packaged in such a way and attractively as possible to make it look attractive when photographed and uploaded on the uploader's social media. In the past, Bali was popular because of its beautiful beaches, but now Bali is not only about beaches, but also its beautiful natural attractions. There are also other tourist destinations and activities that are as interesting as the beaches and natural beauty. Here I will show you several unique things that I’ve done when I visited Bali recently and I think I can share it with you here and maybe you can consider it to put it on your wish list to be fulfilled when you visit Bali in the future.
1. Hot Air Balloon
It’s not only Cappadocia in
Turkey which have the hot air balloon. Bali also has its own version too which
operated by Tanah Gajah Resort in Ubud, Gianyar, Bali. By paying around IDR
2,000,000.00, you will get the opportunity to fly for 10 minutes to enjoy views
of the rice fields and plantations of local residents in Ubud. This hot air
balloon flies in the morning and afternoon when the wind is not blowing hard. The
sensation of riding this hot air balloon is incredible. You will feel the
breeze air while enjoying the natural scenery below you. Although the price is
quite expensive, the experience gained is worth the cost and when else you can
try to ride a hot air balloon in Indonesia instead of having to go all the way
to Cappadocia in Turkey. The IDR 2.000.000,00 that paid is included with a
complimentary meal at the hotel’s restaurant with choice of Western or
Indonesian meal, so it’s worth the price.
2. Bali Jeep Tour
Still in the Ubud area, there are
tour packages where you can get around the countryside of Ubud using a classic
jeep! A unique and pleasant sensation where you can enjoy the beautiful
traditional Balinese village atmosphere in Ubud while riding a jeep that is
quite old, but very well maintained. You will be invited to tour from one
village to another and then stop at a rice field owned by a resident which
offers a very beautiful view. You can also greet and interact with the
villagers who are very friendly and open to tourists. The duration of this tour
is about 30 minutes with prices that vary depending on the selected operator. The
average price is set in the range of IDR 500,000 – IDR 2,000,000.00 depending
on the type of car selected. The older the car you choose, the more expensive
it will be.
3. Tegalalang
Tegalalang is a rice field that
uses a traditional Balinese irrigation system called 'Subak' which interestingly
has recognized by the UNESCO since 2012. This 'Subak' allows water to flow
perfectly and besides that, the pattern of structuring the fields like this can
also prevent the soil from landslides. Of the many 'Subak' rice fields in Bali,
Tegalalang is the most popular among tourists. The location is north of Ubud
and during the holiday season, this place will be filled with tourists, both
domestic and foreign. Not only enjoying the view of the 'Subak' rice fields, but
you can also try to play the swing on the edge of the cliff that will stimulate
your adrenaline. You can also try the sensation of flying using the flying fox
to cross the rice fields from one side to the other. This flying fox is not
scary at all, in fact I think it provides a wider view of the entire rice field
area in Tegalalang.
4. Pura Tirta Empul
Bali is known as the island of
the gods and the island of a thousand temples considering that the majority of
Balinese people are Hindus. Because the majority of Balinese people are Hindus,
in Bali you can find thousands of temples or places of worship for the Hindus
in Bali. The temples themselves have various sizes and architectures, but all
of them have the same function, namely as a place of worship for the Hindus. One
of the most famous temples in Bali is Pura Tirta Empul which located in Tampak
Siring, Gianyar, Bali. The uniqueness of Tirta Empul Temple is the presence of
natural springs in the temple which continuously flows without stopping and
never even dries up even though it is in the dry season. Tirta Empul Temple is
considered one of the most sacred temples in Bali and the water from this
spring is considered sacred by the Hindus. Not only famous among Hindus in
Bali, but also among domestic and foreign tourists. Many foreign tourists learn
to follow the Balinese Hindu worship procedures at this temple and this worship
procedure is called 'Melukat'. The
point is to clean and purify yourself and get rid of all the bad luck that was
in you in the past. If you don't intend to carry out the 'Melukat' tradition, you can look around this temple and see how the
Balinese Hindus pray at the temple.
5. Trunyan
This place is a bit unique
and different from the others. This is not a place to enjoy the beauty of
nature, but a place to get to know traditional Balinese culture which is unique
and different from other Indonesian cultures. Trunyan is a village on the
shores of Lake Batur in Kintamani, Bangli, Bali. This village has a unique
cemetery where the bodies of the recently deceased are placed on the ground
without any need to be buried and residents aren’t afraid at all that the
corpses will emit a foul smell. In fact, the corpses really didn't smell bad at
all. This is all thanks to the existence of a "Taru Menyan" or the locals just
simply called it 'Terunyan' tree which is believed to be able to suck in and
remove the stench of the corpse that was laid in this cemetery. Once inside,
you will be greeted by piles of skulls of corpses that have rotted many years
ago. The atmosphere may be a bit spooky because this is a cemetery area, but on
the one hand this cemetery is unique and here you can get to know the unique
Balinese culture. To reach the Trunyan cemetery, you must take a boat from Kintamani
across Lake Batur. If you dare, please take a picture while bringing the skull!
To enter the tomb area is free of charge, but it would be nice to give a
sincere tip to the local residents who are guarding the entrance of the tomb.
So those are the unique
destinations and activities that you can do when visiting Bali. So, going to
Bali is not only going to the beach, but you can also enjoy its natural beauty
and learn about its unique culture. As COVID-19 pandemic is currently under control in Indonesia,
travelling to Bali is now easier and safer. So what are you waiting for? Just
pack and go to Bali and let you enjoy the uniqueness of Bali!
