Bali info, south of bali by palomabalitours.com

SOUTH OF BALI

The South of Bali
(Badung Regency)

This regency is the most heavily populated area of the island which an average density of more than 1000 persons per square kilometers. Partly this is because Denpasar, the island capital and principal metropolis is here. Also Bali's major tourist resorts are all in this regency, and tourist boom of the past two decades has fueled a rapid economic expansions and population influx to this traditional southern court center.

Denpasar		Kuta - Legian		Uluwatu
Sanur		Nusa Dua - Tanjung Benoa

DENPASAR

Denpasar is a capital of Bali with some 400.000 souls. This village-city is the center of administrative, commercial, and educative services. It's name literally means is north of the market. Denpasar has far out ground it's former boundaries, once defined by Pamecutan, Jero Kuta and Satria Palaces. Spurred in all directions by population pressures and motorized transport, urban growth is little by little enveloping the neighboring villages and obliterating the surrounding rice fields, leaving a new urban landscape in it's wake - housing estates. In the mid of rice field, and the rice field in the middle of the city. This unchecked growth has swallowed up many old village of the plain, yet in many ways they remain as the they were in the heart of Denpasar, just behind the main artery of the city. One can see many traditional compounds, which their gates, shrines and pavilions in among the multi-stores Chinese shop fronts. Denpasar is a fun place to shop, because this is where the Balinese villagers come to do their serious buying. While Kuta has the latest tourist fashions, Denpasar has the day-today necessities.

SANUR

Sanur is where the Bali's first beach hotel was built, over 50 years ago, and has traditionally been the spot for serene and luxurious beach side accommodation on the island. Today Sanur's pre-eminence is no longer what is once was, as luxury hotels are now found in other part of Bali as well. The main attractions here is the white sand beach. Bordering on a reef-sheltered lagoon. There is no surf, and one can not swim at low tide. But at other time, it is the best place in Bali for wind surfing, sailing, or simply sunning and splashing about the calm lagoon. Sanur is not nearly frenetic as Kuta, nor as well-mannered as Nusa Dua, But has a good variety of restaurant, shops, and tourist services.

KUTA & LEGIAN

Originally what drew visitors to Kuta was its broad, white sand beach, and pounding surf. This is still arguably the best beach front on Bali. The though now crowded with vendors and littered with debris. During the tourist seasons Kuta is clogged, with tourist and traffic, something unthinkable only a few years ago. Six kilometers up the beach to the north, Legian is a bit quiter and less crowded. Many changes good and bad have to come to Kuta over the past several years. This range from traffic jams and pollutions to excellent food, great shopping, and a vibrant night life. Australians was dominated the scene but to day is truly international. Kuta and Legian beach has become a major cross-cultural international meeting spot.

NUSA DUA & TANDJUNG BENOA

Nusa Dua and Tandjung Benoa are Bali's newest tourist resort. Making Nusa Dua into a tourist paradise was a consciously implemented government police, design with the help of World Bank. The main concept of the project: to developed, un up-market tourist resort, beautiful, secure, easy to access, with the most modern facilities, while keeping the disruptive impact on the local environment as low as possible. The principal of advantage of Nusa Dua, is its isolation from the rest of Bali. All facilities are self contained with in the hotel grounds, surrounded by vast, expanses of groomed lawns. Meanwhile Tandjung Benoa, north of Nusa Dua on the Benoa peninsula existing beach hotel. This fishing village with its white sand beach is a popular place for water sport: parasailing, wind surfing, water skiing, snorkeling, and diving.

ULUWATU

The temple stand on a head land above of a pounding surf 90 meters bellow. This temple was built by the architect priest Mpu Keturunan, around the 11th century as one of six major territorial temple of the island. The reformer priest Batara Wau Rauh, rebuilt it in its present state in the 16th century. The priest then has attained his moksa. The temple is also home of a small colony of monkeys. Just be careful to them, because of their aggressively. Please take off your brightening stuff before visiting this temple.

Credits:
This reference provided and wrote by: Ketut Sheko, a Spanish Bali Tour Guide
e-mail: sheko@palomabalitours.com homepage: http://www.geocities.com/shekobali