Ubud is located 35 km northeast of Bali's International Airport. It is attractive to tourists for a variety of reasons. On a relatively small island with a horde of attractions, Ubud is centrally located, and even the closest beach is only 15 minutes away.

Ubud is arguably the best place to use as a base if you're visiting Bali; if you're looking for culture, comfort, nature and inspiration. Ubud is surrounded by most of the things that bring people to Bali -- scenic rice fields, small villages, art and craft communities, ancient temples, palaces, rivers, cheap accommodation and unique luxury hotels. And it's central location makes it easy to get from Ubud to the mountains, beaches, and major towns.

Ubud is popular in part today because it is the best place in Bali to break out of the tourist mode and get off the beaten path, although far from undiscovered. Hotels are plentiful; home stays and Indonesian guesthouses (losmen) are easily available to the foreign tourist. Many tourists simply base their entire stay in the city and travel to other destinations from Ubud.

Accommodations in Ubud are also somewhat more reasonably priced than in the beach towns of Bali. But atmosphere is perhaps the major attractions. One visitor summed it up this way: Kuta is madness, Sanur is sterile, and Nusa Dua is culturally isolated; Ubud is the place to go.

Nusa Lembongan is a small island, 20 km off the east coast of Bali. Its local population is less than 4000 people whose major industry is that of fishing and seaweed farming. Have you ever wondered where the seaweed of your sushi might come from?

Known for its great surf, the excellent crystal-clear waters also make it a perfect place for snorkelling and diving. It’s still a basic place, but interesting, and there are some lovely places to stay.

After a 50 min ride on the Bali Hai II, where you can have snorkeling and scuba diving demonstrations, you arrive at the floating pontoon where you are shuttled by smaller boats to the island of Nusa Lembongan

There are 5 main breaks in Nusa Lembongan:
1. Shipwrecks – a fun, workable right that breaks on the mid to high tide.
2. Razors – a rarely makeable, left barrel, that on it’s day is a long full suck turbo tube.
3. Lacerations – A high speed, hollow right barrel.
4. Playgrounds – a mellow left and right peak that provides a wave when the swell is small and the tide is low.
5. Cheningan’s – a rarely surfed left off the temple on Nusa Ceningan that is surfed when the swell is small and the winds light.

Trunyan Village is located between Lake Batur and the outer crater rim of Mount Batur, and only accessible by boat. It is a Bali Aga village, inhabited by descendants of the original Balinese, the people who predate the arrival of Hindu Majapahit Kingdom in the 16th century.

Trunyan Village is well-known for its Pancering Jagat Temple, but visitors are not allowed to enter. There are also a couple of traditional Bali Aga-style houses, and a large banyan tree which is said to be more than 1.100 years old. In Kuban Village, close to Trunyan Village, there is a mysterious cemetery, separated by the lake and is only accessible by boat.

Unlike the Balinese people, the people of Trunyan do not cremate or bury their dead, but just lay them out in bamboo cages to decompose, although strangely there is no stench. A macabre collection of skulls and bones lies on the stone platform and the surrounding areas.

The dead bodies don't produce bad smells because of the perfumed scents from a huge Taru Menyan tree growing nearby. Taru means 'tree' and Menyan means 'nice smell'. The name of Terunyan was also derived from these two words.

You can visit the village of Trunyan by chartered boat from Kedisan. Sadly, nowadays the boat trips are now blatant tourist traps, as touts and guides strongly urge you to donate your cash to the temple project or leave a donation for the dead. These touts ruin an otherwise fascinating experience.

Cool and sometimes misty are predominant features of the place where Ulundanu Temple, one of Kahyangan Jagat or universal temple locates. It nestled on the side of lake Beratan, Bedugul in Tabanan regency, some 48 km from Denpasar. Actually this temple lies at strategic destination among the Candikuning agro market, botanical garden and the route to some fascinating destinations in northen Bali. Uniquely, one compound of temple is located on the land of the lakeside and another within the lake. However it is still within the reach of a temporary bridge or by a transfer of an outrigger. Devotees find no difficult accessing the latter.

In terms of its function, Ulundanu temple is a house of worship to honor the Lord of Vishnu along with his consort Goddess Danu or Sri that considered administering fertility and the agricultural field. Subak or Balinese irrigation cooperative members consequently also pay homage at this temple.

Ulundanu temple as well features harmonious life between Hinduism and Buddhism during the period. In front of the temple or outside the main temple complex, there is a stuppa (a buddhist shrine). This indicates high tolerance or harmony of both religions as could also be found during the previous ages in Majapahit Kingdom in East Java.

For visitors, this destination is something like an “all in one� destination. Outside the complex of temple there are myriad of attractions that will make the journey more memorable and refreshing in a short break for the next journey. Those who like water spoerts can rent a jukung� outrigger or speed boat to experience the stunning view of the lake under cool temperature. Similarly, enjoying fishing is available to take out white water fish in the Lake. For this purpose, visitors are not necessary worry about the bait or angle. Just order and the equipment needed are already prepared at sufficiently reasonable rental.

On the other area of the complex, visitors will find a portrait painting service. Guests, who would like to have self-portrait painting, just make a reservation on the pavilion near outrigger jetty, or kid playground. There are many spectators at all times who want to see curiously the expertise of the painter and order self-portraits to bring home. Last but not least, some tame animals like big snakes, birds, and iguanas are available for rent for some minutes if visitors would like to have their photograph taken with them. Prices usually can be negotiable accordingly.

Tanah Lot, one of the most popular places of interest in Bali, is located on the coast of West Bali, at the village of Beraban in the Tabanan Regency.It is also called Tanah Let which means ancient land and also Tanah Lod, which means the land to the south.

The temple Pura Tanah Lot, simple in its construction, is dramatic in its ocean-front location and is one of the main temples in the worship of Balinese gods.

From the village of Marga, the trip west returns to the main route leading to Tabanan. At the crossroads of Kediri, a side-road branches to the sea, ending on a green hill which slopes down to the beach and to the remarkable temple of Tanah Lot, suspended on a huge rock offshore. Set apart from the land by a stone basin, the rock has been carved by incoming tides. Tanah Lot, with its solitary black towers and tufts of foliage spilling over the cliffs, recalls the delicacy of a Chinese painting. If hearsay is to be believed, there dwells inside one of the shrines at Tanah Lot a huge snake, discreetly left undisturbed by the Balinese.

In the story of Dang Hyang Nirartha (a Hindu high priest), when he traveled around Bali, he came upon tanah lot which is located in tabanan and here, he decided to stay the night. It is said that this very important priest came to bali in about 1411 according to the balinese icaka calendar, or 1489 AD by the western calendar.

After pending some time in the temple of Siva's Hair, he moved on going further east. The esteemed priest and his devoted followers followed the southern coastline of Ball on their journey. For the entire trip along the shores of Bali, he was accompanied by the sound of the crashing waves in his ears and the sharp breeze penetrating his body. It was through this closeness with nature that, he thought of the power of God and God's power to create all of nature and all the contents of the world. It also occurred to him that, as God had created humankind, humans should give thanks and pay respect to God. The priest Dang Hyang Nirartha always carried a special carving knife, with which he could carve Inscriptions and notes on the long "lontar" palm slabs, and wrote what he saw, felt or thought of as important.

The recordings were made in verse form. This priest was such a great man, that when he was totally involved in something. he forgot about all else and never tired in his journey. His feet virtually floated above the ground he traversed. It wasn't long before he arrived at a small Island almost, Joined to the shore that was made of coral. Here he stopped a moment to rest. The people here were all fishermen and they gathered together to pay their respects. The fishermen wanted Dang Hyang Nirartha to stay at their modest homes, but he refused their invitation. He wanted to spend the night on the small island because the air was cool and fresh. He also had a wonderful view from this vantage point.

That evening before he retired for the night, he was able to teach the people who came to see him moral ethics, religion and welfare. Dang Hyang Nirartha advised the people at this time to build a Parhyangan (temple) at this place where he had chosen to stay for the night. Because of the feeling this holy man felt in his inner soul, and other strange, mysterious and miraculous happenings that occurred there, the priest knew that this was the right place to praise God (Sanghyang Widhi Wasa). From there on the Balinese would have a place at which they could praise God and request salvation and safety for the world.

When Dang Hyang Nirartha finally left this place, the people with whom he had spoken, indeed built the holy temple and gave it the name "Pura Pakendungan" which nowadays is better known as "Tanahlot". This temple is well know throughout not only Indonesia, but the entire world. Why is this temple one of the favorite tourist attractions for people from around the world ? You should go and see for yourself - it is beautiful and unique. You will have to arrange to travel 31 Km from Denpasar and that will take about an hour. Ran port is no problem as tourist buses go there all the time if you won't have some other private transport arrangement.

The best time to see it is in the afternoon when the sun setting in he west splits the shore line in half along a north-south axis. His spectacle will live on long in your memory. There is a religious ceremony coming up on the 7th of August 1996. The atmosphere will be even further enhanced as the Balinese Hindus in their ceremonial rests go to the temple to pray.