Bali is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Asian region due to her lush natural landscapes and beautiful white sandy beaches. However, if you are not a beach lover, there are still many places to visit in Bali that will pique your interest and make your vacation to this island worthwhile. In Bali, you always have a choice whether to go to the tourist hot spots or to explore parts of the island that is not necessarily popular with visitors but still beautiful nonetheless. Don’t be fooled by the island’s minute size because there is definitely more to Bali than meets the eye.

If you are a history lover with a passion for arts, one of the places to visit in Bali is the region of Ubud. This small town is the hub for all local arts including sculptures, dance, music, handicrafts and architecture. Ubud has been developed tremendously but still maintains its charming traditional villages and relaxed environment. Cultural shows are regularly performed for visitors. You will also get the chance to mingle not only with the friendly locals but also with the majestic Sumatran elephants. This provincial town is also known as a detox centre on the island due to its endless source of medicinal herbs and plants. So you can choose to be pampered at a number of spas available at very reasonable prices.

If you are a nature lover, there are many places to visit in Indonesia but none could probably compare to the lush panorama of Kintamani in Bali. Mount Batur is a famous active volcano located in the region along with Lake Batur, the biggest lake in Bali. The villages in Kintamani such as Kedisan and Sukawana Villages are all unique in their own way. The one similarity they share is the traditional and ancient architecture as these villages have probably been here since any local could remember. Expert travellers may advise you to be out of your hotel room early in the morning to view the sun rising between the slopes of the volcano and enjoy the panoramic view of the paddy fields at its best.

If Hindu temples are on your must-see list, the one temple you may not want to miss is the Pura Tanah Lot (Tanah Lot temple). Made up of rock formation, the location and physical outlook of the temple gives the impression of a mystic and sacred place. The temple itself is surrounded by water and all access is cut off during high tide due to the rocks. Pura Tanah Lot is still visited by the locals during any Balinese celebration. If you are lucky enough to witness these celebrations, you will get to see the locals in traditional costumes performing traditional songs and dance as an offering to the gods.

A trip to Bali is incomplete without visiting the beaches. Legian beach is one of many places to visit in Legian Bali. This particular beach may not be as popular or crowded as the beach in Kuta but you can still enjoy the same activities such as swimming and surfing without anything lacking. Sunset on the beach may also be one of the most memorable things you will ever experience at Legian. Of course, like any other places in Bali, Legian also has its own share of spas and retreats where patrons can rest and relax while being pampered by their trained masseuses.

From the top of the cliff that towers above the legendary surf breaks of Southern Bali, I could see the turquoise water smash on the rocks and enter the caves which were used by the Japanese to defend Bali from the allies military attack at the end of world war II. Dramatic and soundless as the waves are so far below.

Uluwatu (ulu means land’s end and watu means rock, so it is not to hard to see where Uluwatu came from), is about 45 minutes drive from Nusa Dua or one and half hour drive from Kuta. And comprises jungles, cliffs, and the vast deep blue ocean. The southern tip of Bali is rightly famous for its magical sunset at the temple located right at the edge of the majestic sea cliffs.

I arrived at the temple around five in the evening, my mission to see its famous sunset. There is an official entrance fee to enter, sarongs are available for rental next to the ticket-window and must be worn to comply with the temple rules. I followed the track till the end then turned right to the edge of a cliff, and there it was the temple perched on the edge of the cliff on my right side. The sky was overcast but there was some rays of light streaking out from narrow gaps between the dark grey clouds. Hundreds of meters below, the Indian Ocean reflected the dying sun light, on its soundless waves. As the sun went down, the scene became even more dramatic.

Uluwatu temple, its correct name is Pura Luhur Uluwatu, is one of the Sad Khayangan the six most important temples in Bali. It is dedicated to Rudra, the God of the Storm, the Wind, and the Hunt, and is one of those that Pedanda Sak’i Wawu Rauh, a priest from Java who came to Bali in A.D. 1546, built The temple and its surroundings are considered as one of the very sacred sites in the island.

The deep blue ocean surrounds the majestic cliffs on the sea side but the natural forest is also still there on the land side. When I walked through the jungle path, I was struck by really bad smell, nauseating in fact, later on I found out that the jungle is home to a number of Rafflessia arnoldii, giant flowers which grow close to the soil and spread the smell of rotting flesh when it is blooming. Little did I know how privileged I was!.

The natural jungle is also home for some families of monkey. Precautionary signs have been put at a few places to remind visitors about their aggressiveness.The ticket officer and even my driver also reminded me of the same thing. I didn’t experience any problems with the monkeys because I hid my glasses and accessories in my bag, but I did see how the”monkey scam”works. One Japanese tourist was concentrating to get shots of the temple when a monkey came and quickly snatched his specs. A local man came to help, approaching the monkey with fruit to be exchanged with the specs. He didn’t ask for anything from the unlucky Japanese but another approached the tourist and told him to give the “hero”some money for his services. Could it be this wasn’t a real accident but a bit of monkey business? The reason I am telling you is just to remind you to be careful.

But now the real action starts on this marvelous spot. It is the Kecak Fire Dance. The performance started at 6pm. the half circle wooden theater was full of people, the evening sunlight was peeping from behind the dark grey clouds, and part of the sky not covered by cloud slowly turned fire red itself. It was a marvelous sight. Then more then twenty men entered the stage while creating a mesmerizing chant. Cak..cak…cakcakcak…! The magic had started.

The southern part of Bali with its dramatic rocky peninsula, remains a must visit site, even though the thick grey cloud hung on the sky covering the sun through the evening, my visit was still wonderful.The darkness of the night finally fell when the show over. Mission accomplished.

Goa Gajah or Elephant Cave Temple is located in the eastern part of Ubud, Bedulu countryside Gianyar. This cave is built at crevasse edge from the federation of 2 rills that is called Pangkung River , where the irrigation is mixed with Petanu River flow. The federation area of two rivers is called Campuhan/Mixture. It owns the magical energy on the basis of Rwabineda Concept/two different matters on this basic concept hence Goa Gajah is intentionally built among two rivers. The word of Goa Gajah is anticipated coming from the word of Lwa Gajah, the name of Buddhist Temple or hermitage for Buddhist monk.

The Goa Gajah name is written on Negarakeertagama papyrus which is compiled by Mpu Prapanca on 1365 M. Lwa or Lwah/loh mean the river and it reflect to the meaning that the hermitage is located at Gajah River or in Air Gajah. In the year inscription 944 Saka, it is mentioned with the name of ‘ser ring Air Gajah’ that is meaning the Subak leader in Air Gajah. The word has mentioned that the hermitage of Lwa Gajah is located in Subak Air Gajah. There is a relief which is almost looking like the form of mountain on the entrance of this cave. It was carved many designed on the relief like grove with the stick, close leaf, animal for example forest pig, tortoise and specters.

The cave mouth is decorated by the bas-relief with the eye turn around to the right or west side. There is an article letter of Kediri type from the early of 11 century was written on the wall left side or east side. There is a pool (Patirthaan) as a place to take the holy Tirtha water for Hindu ceremony which is located in the middle of the cave courtyard. This Holy Pool is previously piled up by land and it has been found on 1954 by Krijgsman from the Ancient Department. The Holy pool is equipped by the statue douche which is parallel arranged in two groups.