Tradition vultures, this one’s for you! From historical temples and age-old rituals, to conventional recipes and native flea markets – that is the very best of Bali’s tradition…
From historical and epic works of artwork, structure and delicacies, to the mesmerising spirituality and faith on the island, we’ve put collectively the entire fab issues to see and do on this tropical paradise that’ll offer you some perception into the day-to-day lifetime of the Balinese. Whether or not you wish to dig a bit deeper into Bali’s great historical past, values and beliefs, otherwise you wish to study a factor or two about Balinese meals, dance and artwork – tradition vultures, this one’s for you. Welcome to the Island of the Gods!
Issues to do in Bali: Expertise the perfect of Balinese tradition
1. Go to a sacred temple
Bali is residence to an limitless array of historical temples, with a number of of them being the island’s most iconic landmarks due to their magnificent centuries-old structure set towards unique backdrops. Although you’ll discover temples throughout Bali and on each road nook, with a number of stand-out and must-visit temples that’ll actually offer you a style of the island’s fascinating spiritual beliefs and dedication to the Hindu Gods.
One of the crucial visited must be Tanah Lot Temple, due to its offshore location that sees jaw-dropping sunsets each night. The very best time to go to is in the course of the holy day of Kuningan, when pilgrimages often happen, and on the temple’s anniversary 4 days after Kuningan when 1000’s of Balinese flock to the positioning to wish and lay their choices.
One other beautiful temple is Pura Luhur Uluwatu, set on prime of the Uluwatu cliffs with the browsing seashores under. Cultural performances such because the Ramayana ballet or the fiery Kecak dance happen right here, in a specifically designated amphitheater in the course of the golden sundown hours for a completely superior vista.
For a temple go to that’s a bit off the vacationer observe, there may be the Besakih Temple, also known as Bali’s ‘mom temple’, situated within the village of Besakih. Right here, an enormous complicated of temples and shrines await, with Besakih Temple sitting 1,000 metres above sea degree on the south-western slopes of Mount Agung, Bali’s energetic volcano.
Final however actually not least, Ulun Danu Temple within the hills of Bedugul is among the most photographed, due to its magical location in the midst of Lake Bratan. When the early morning or late afternoon mountain fog creeps by, the temple really seems as whether it is floating – it’s pure magic!
2. Strive a Balinese cooking class
Meals is a giant a part of the Balinese way of life, so fortunately for us sambal-aholics, the native communities are more than pleased to welcome guests into their properties to get a style of genuine village cooking. There are actually numerous culinary adventures on the island that assist to unlock the secrets and techniques to Bali’s completely addictive flavours, guiding you thru native markets to search out conventional herbs, spices and farm-fresh substances, earlier than demonstrating the prolonged preparation and cooking strategies that generally take days to finish.
Get able to get your arms soiled, as a result of if you wish to attempt the ever-succulent Ayam Betutu staple, you’ll quickly end up rubbing and massaging an entire plucked hen in basa gede (Bali’s signature base paste) earlier than wrapping it in palm leaves and cooking it over coconut husks for hours till smokey and tender! With loads of time to attend earlier than you get to pattern your scrumptious Balinese creation, the cooking lessons typically provide the possibility to talk to the locals, make easy choices, communicate to the rice farmers and find out about genuine coconut-oil processing – till it’s time to dig in!
3. Scale the island’s iconic landscapes
Few locations on earth are as various as Bali. The place else on the earth are you able to climb a volcano at dawn, scuba dive by lunchtime, stare upon emerald inexperienced rice paddies within the afternoon and dine beachfront by sundown? So to take advantage of the island’s iconic landscapes, signal as much as a tour or end up a information to discover Bali’s most sacred spots. You’ll wish to scale considered one of Bali’s majestic energetic volcanos, like Mount Batur for a dawn vista above the clouds, or for avid hikers, tackle Mount Agung – probably the most sacred of Bali’s peaks – for a 10-12 hour trek.
You possibly can’t go to Bali with out seeing the well-known lush inexperienced rice paddies both, and the Tegallalang rice paddies in Ubud are by far probably the most splendid! Cease on the prime of the valley on the street for a panoramic emerald vista for miles. A farmer who owns the land is often there to ask you to pattern his inexperienced coconut drink, and you should purchase Balinese woven hats that he hand-makes from coconut leaves. This historical valley is a superb perception into the standard Balinese cooperative irrigation system (named subak).
Other than the long-lasting emerald rice paddies, Bali is residence to quite a lot of agro-tourism locations the place you get to study in regards to the vegetation, and the processes concerned in getting them to the market. The northern areas are blessed with strong lands and an appropriate local weather for rising espresso beans. Cease by the espresso plantations, and also you’ll get to tour the plantations, and style the espresso and distinctive infusions with substances like coconut, avocado, mangosteen and extra. We advocate going to one of many largest espresso plantations within the space, Segara Windhu Espresso Plantation, for a style of native Arabica and Robusta espresso. You can too discover a number of strawberry farms round North Bali, the place you may go strawberry-picking with the entire fam (and naturally, style the freshest strawberries the island has to supply).
Bought a candy tooth? You’ll wish to go to among the cocoa plantations. A well-liked one is the Chocolate Village, AKA Desa Coklat. You get to study in regards to the cocoa bushes grown proper right here on the island, and participate in processing the natural cocoa beans to make your individual cup of cocoa.
4. Watch a standard dance efficiency
For the Balinese folks, dance is extra than simply an historical custom, however an integral a part of spiritual and inventive expression that brings collectively the group. There are lots of several types of Balinese dances, and most contain the Balinese model of the Hindu Ramayana epic. If you’re heading to the Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple, you’ll get to take a look at the Kecak Dance within the amphitheater, the place 100 males (carrying solely a loin-cloth every) kind rows of circles round a coconut oil lamp within the centre. First, they transfer their our bodies rhythmically, chanting the phrases cak ke-cak ke-cak ke-cak constantly, in excellent concord. Progressively the rhythm quickens and in flip, they every raise their arms, trembling, into the air. You gained’t overlook this expertise in a rush – it’s fairly a spectacle!
For a much less dramatic however equally breathtaking efficiency, make a journey to Ubud for the standard dances on the Ubud Palace. Right here, lovely Balinese women in ceremonial apparel dance hypnotically, contorting their eyes and fingers to inform age-old chronicles by motion. These dances will be seen throughout Bali, however are largely present in and round Ubud the place they’re placed on frequently for travellers. Fancy getting concerned your self? Head to Denpasar the place a number of cultural centres and dance faculties will train you the methods of the commerce.
5. Store ’til you drop at a standard market
There are tonnes of markets throughout Bali promoting all types of goodies and conventional tidbits – and each is price a go to to get an perception into native Balinese life, in addition to grabbing your self a discount! From late night time snacks to conventional homewares, spiritual ritual gadgets and artwork items – there’s a marketplace for every part. Strive the Badung Market in Denpasar for the true deal – Bali’s largest market that’s like an infinite Storage Sale of island items, from sarongs and sun shades (that’ll later be trebled in worth and bought on Kuta Seaside), to fruit and greens, artwork items and kitchenware – this market hums virtually 24/7.
For one thing rather less chaotic, attempt the Sanur Night time Marketplace for hot-off-the-grill road meals, the Ubud Conventional Artwork Marketplace for artisan work and sculptures, the Jimbaran Fish Marketplace for fresh-from-the-net delicacies, or the Flea Market in Seminyak for presents and that all-important Bintang singlet… Try all of the deets and extra in our information to native markets in Bali.
6. Pamper your self with age-old magnificence therapies
The normal magnificence rituals of Indonesian ladies date again 1000’s of centuries, handed down by the generations for his or her miraculous beautifying properties (have you ever seen how youthful the Balinese at all times look?!). In reality, these rituals are so revered, many are actually used broadly in trendy spas. You possibly can’t come to Bali with out sampling a standard Balinese therapeutic massage, and in native tradition, it’s thought of a routine staple of on a regular basis life – massages on a regular basis sounds fairly candy to us! A Balinese-style therapeutic massage incorporates conventional strategies from India and China to loosen up strain factors, stimulate nerve endings, and rejuvenate drained muscle tissue with lengthy strain strokes.
One other on a regular basis therapy most Indonesian ladies swear by is a hair cream bathtub, which is what the locals use for his or her lengthy, shiny, wholesome hair! It begins with a head, neck and shoulder therapeutic massage and is adopted by a selfmade masks produced from avocado, ginseng and different pure substances which might be gently rubbed into the hair and scalp. It’s left on for half-hour underneath a steamer when you proceed to be pampered. There are lots of conventional therapies to select from, and most spas in Bali will provide them. Try our roundup of the very best spas and locally-inspired therapies, and take your decide!
7. Uncover the facility of Balinese therapeutic
‘Eat, Pray, Love’ turned the highlight on Balinese conventional therapeutic, however these practices, mixing pure herbs and spices, holistic therapies and historical knowledge to remedy bodily and psychological sicknesses, have been a protracted custom in Bali. The Balinese dwell equally in two worlds: the seen (or acutely aware) world known as sekala, and the unseen (or psychic) world, known as niskala. If somebody falls sick, each of those worlds have to be addressed with the intention to heal them. A Balian (conventional Balinese healer who works with divine vitality) will likely be consulted, and they’ll use jamu (natural medicines derived from the plush Bali panorama), therapeutic massage and vitality therapeutic to assist remedy the sick. If you’re wanting to go to a standard Balinese healer, take a look at our roundup of Bali’s finest healers, and say goodbye to despair, stress, and bodily pains.
8. Stick round for a ceremony
Bali’s ceremonies are important to the Balinese for sustaining peace on the island, so understandably, these celebrations and rituals are taken very critically. Whether or not it’s a marriage, cremation, teeth-cutting ceremony, or probably the most outstanding celebration, Nyepi, whole Balinese communities will put their yr’s financial savings into following custom and spending massive bucks on extravagant temples, choices and processions. Maybe the most expensive is Nyepi, also referred to as Bali’s Day of Silence, and the New 12 months in response to the Balinese calendar. On Nyepi Day, everybody on the island should keep indoors in silence with no electrical energy or lights, but the night time earlier than is arguably the wildest of all of the Balinese ceremonies, the place giant, outsized demon buildings (known as Ogoh Ogoh) are paraded by the streets to maintain evil spirits away for the yr forward. Communities lay our a fortune on these buildings and celebrations, and there’s even competitions to guage the very best Ogoh Ogoh creation. Like all of Bali’s distinctive ceremonies, it’s a sight to see that you simply gained’t wish to miss.
Different main holy days in Balinese tradition are Galungan and Kuningan. Galungan, which takes place on a Wednesday, is the day when the Balinese consider that their ancestors return to earth for 10 full days to spend time with their family members. Think about in case your ancestors have been popping residence for a go to, what would you do? Make the place look spic and span, in fact! So for days on finish, the Balinese tirelessly beautify their properties, temples and even the streets with conventional choices and “penjor“, to welcome ancestors again to the island. On day 10, AKA Kuningan day, the ancestors would then return to heaven.
9. Strive a water purification ritual
If you happen to’re in search of normal rejuvenation or an enchancment in well being (all whereas experiencing Bali’s distinctive tradition), head to considered one of Bali’s pure springs for a water therapeutic ritual. Recognized domestically as Melukat, a Balinese water purification ritual makes use of holy water from pure springs, which usually takes place inside the grounds of sure temples (like Tirta Empul Temple in Gianyar). It’s believed that washing the physique with holy water can rid you of unfavorable ideas, nightmares and even sickness. Taking a dip in sacred pure scorching springs can also be nice for any pores and skin considerations, and it’s an expertise in itself – one which we extremely advocate making an attempt!
10. Study the secrets and techniques behind Bali’s beautiful arts
If you arrive in Bali, you may need noticed the beautiful mixture of flowers and leaves positioned everywhere in the streets and in temples – these fairly packages are known as canang, which interprets to “good intentions”. Canang are handmade choices for the Hindu Gods, utilized in each day prayers and non secular ceremonies. And fortunate for Bali’s guests, you may be part of canang making lessons everywhere in the island, to study extra in regards to the custom and make a few of your individual.
The abilities of handcrafting have been handed down from technology to technology in Balinese households, and right here on the island you may go to quite a lot of workshops to witness artwork within the making, and perhaps take some residence! Ubud is the island’s capital of arts, the place yow will discover loads of artwork galleries and studios. You’ll discover wood-carvings and sculpture retailers throughout the neighbourhood and in your manner from the south. Let your interior designer unfastened and check out your hand at crafting ceramics, natural-dyeing textiles, and even making your individual jewelry on the John Hardy Workshop & Kapal Bamboo Boutique (psst… this one is price a go to, in the event you’re additionally an structure fanatic!). One other distinctive must-try is conventional leaf-weaving, and Make A Scene runs leaf-weaving workshops the place you can also make artwork utilizing coconut leaves.
11. Go to the spookily distinctive Trunyan Village
For one thing completely completely different and genuine, a ship journey to Trunyan Village is a should – residence to the native Bali Aga tribesmen with a novel custom of laying out corpses beneath a sacred tree, the Taru Menyan. This tree is believed to masks any ‘undesirable scents’ – as soon as upon a time, you would even odor the tree’s beautiful aroma all the best way in Java. In response to the villagers, the previous king created the rule to put out the corpses across the tree to dampen its sturdy aroma. This fashion, nobody from exterior the village may discover the sacred tree. Our prime tip when visiting Trunyan Village: you’ll wish to go to with a information, to get the total rundown of this distinctive custom that you could’t discover anyplace else on the island.
12. Get a style of Balinese traditions at a Cultural Night
With its wild, great and otherworldly traditions, Balinese tradition may appear a bit formidable to a first-timer. So to ease you into this magical world, get a taster of Balinese tradition at a Cultural occasions and excursions, the place music, artwork, meals and dance collide. Our fave is the curated programme by Lodge Tugu – considered one of Bali’s first and solely wholly Indonesian luxurious inns that’s devoted to showcasing native tradition. The cultural experiences function superior actions, like conventional excursions and eco-tours, dance lessons and cooking and jamu-making workshops! It’s a enjoyable expertise presenting real Balinese tradition at its finest, wrapped up in an genuine Balinese ambiance.
Take pleasure in The Island of the Gods, Honeys!
kayu 
