When you think of Bali, you think of beaches, right? Bali has the most magnificent beaches in the world but most of the people just pass the idea of going to Bali, because if you have to go to beaches only then you can visit any nearby beach, right? Wrong! I bet your near by beaches can’t even compare to what Bali has to offer to you. But, is it all about beaches? Well, no! There are a lot of things to do in Bali other than just going to beaches. I think Bali is a kind of place that should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Here are a few things you can do in Bali. .
Goa Gajah
Goa Gajah, the Elephant Cave was built in 9th century and it served as a sanctuary. Don’t go to Goa Gajah expecting to see elephants because there are none. It was named elephant cave because elephant is the symbol of knowledge in Bali, and back in the day this cave was used as a school for local kids.
Don’t miss out on drinking water from the fountain of youth. You will find 6 statues of women in Goa Gajah each holding a pot of water which is known as the fountain of youth. Originally there were 7 of these statues but one of them collapsed during an earthquake. What’s best is that you can actually drink this water and take a shot at eternal youth. Well, why not? Please note that since this is a holy place, you need to cover your legs before entering Goa Gajah.
Ubud Monkey Forest
Monkey forest is one of the most popular destinations of Bali. It is Hindu temple complex which is full of monkeys and has three temples standing since the 14th century. You can walk around this forest with more than 500 monkeys and feed them bananas. Please be sure that if you’re getting bananas with you, then you feed them to monkeys because otherwise they will jump on you and snatch them right out of your hands. These monkeys are very friendly but still, they are known to snatch whatever they can from the visitors. So, make sure you’re not wearing sun glasses or scarfs and not carrying food items with you. We promise these monkeys are chilled, until you irritate them.
Sacred waters of tirta empul
If you’re a Hindu, or you’ve watched Eat, Pray, Love, you probably know about this place. For everyone else, this is a hindu temple complex outside of Ubud. It has a number of pools which are continuously filled by fountains. People from all over the world visit this place as these waters are known to be sacred. It is not just for Hindus, but anyone can bathe and swim in these waters. If bathing in this water is not something that excites you, then you can also walk around the complex and witness thousand years old architecture and temple ruins.
Mount Batur
This is definitely one of the best thing you can do in Bali. If you’re in Bali, you must witness sunrise from Mount Batur. As difficult as it sounds, you will have to wake up at around 3 am to get on top of the mountain before sunrise, but you must do it. I bet this will be one of the best experiences of your life. The mountain is encircled by a stunning lake which makes this view all the more beautiful. If you’re up for a little bit of adventure, then this is worth a strong look. Of course there are many larger mountains in Bali that you can climb, but if you prefer something easier, still adventurous, then Mount Batur is perfect for you.
Balinese Cuisine
While there are many restaurants offering a variety of cuisines, the local food is something you must try. Balinese cuisine is not totally different from what you can have in Singapore or other neighboring places, but it is always good to experience something new, right? If you’e a seafood fan, then you can visit Sanur which is famous for its seafood restaurants.
Go Snorkeling
Bali is literally like heaven for people who love scuba diving or snorkeling. There are a number of beaches that offer great visibility for snorkeling. Some of the famous snorkeling spots are Nusa Lembongan beach, Padangbai beach, Nusa Dua, and Amed. We suggest you to go to Amed if you want excellent visibility. The best thing about Amed is that it is not crowded because technically it’s not a town, but a few villages packed together. Also we recommend snorkeling in Amed because it is relatively cheaper than other places.
