Kuta Beach Activitties

Most of the activity in Kuta is related to the beach. The options are endless – you may try surfing, swimming, wakeboarding, sunbathing or kite flying, or heading into neighbouring Tuban for some waterslide action. If you just want to have fun or relax, you can try kite flying or employ a team of masseurs while you sunbathe.
You will know the massage ladies immediately from their cries of ‘Hello, yes? Massage?’ and if you aren’t accosted by a team of them offering pedicures, manicures and hair-braiding alongside a massage as soon as you step onto the beach, you will easily spot them sitting along the beach, waiting for their next customer.

Kite Flying

Here is an idea for a safe, fun activity on the beach with your family – kite flying! Wondering where to buy one? You can easily find a line up of small shops and vendors selling traditional Balinese kites ranging from small to giant size, such as Bebean (fish-shaped), Janggan (bird-shaped) and Pecukan (leaf-shaped), the prices vary according to size and the material. Now, find a deserted windy spot and away you go!

Slingshot

Care for a little bit of adventure? Kuta has its own way to slake your adrenaline thirst. At a spot in front of Kuta Paradiso Hotel, there is a giant slingshot that can catapult you 52 metres in the air. The forked Y-shaped frame has two rubber strips attached to the uprights, leading back to a pocket for holding two safely designed seats. Open every day 11:00 – late.

Waterbom Waterslide Park

Waterbom is a sprawling 3.8 hectare tropical adventure park of thrilling water rides. It has 15 high-speed slides, some reaching up to 50kph, dizzying trails, cardiac-pounding rides and wall climbing. Even for the faint hearted, there are a lot of facilities; try the river raft that leads you down a lazy river where you can enjoy drifting along in a tube raft through cascading waterfalls, languid ripples and even luxuriant tropical foliage to screen you from the flurry of excitement, not to mention the spa facilities for an even more relaxing option.
On top of that you can sunbathe in the grassy gardens, relax in a gazebo or swim along to the Poolside Bar, to quench your thirst before a second round of adrenaline-charged adventure! For children, the park features a Kiddy Park, which is designed for child safety and is supervised at all times. If you get hungry during all the activity, head to the food court in the centre of the park as it is forbidden to bring any food or beverages in from outside.

Surfing

Kuta Beach is famous for its breaking waves and waist-deep water, making it such a perfect beach for surfing beginners. To get some basic knowledge of surfing, sign up for lessons with one of the well-known surfing schools located just in front of the beach such as Odysseys, Rip Curl Surf School or Surfer Girl Surfing School.
A three-day surfing course in an accredited school costs approximately US$ 100. The next time you come back, as long as you keep in practice, you’ll be able to explore the hidden surf beaches on the island, for sure! For more advanced surfers, you can choose from over 30 other surfing breaks, all within 30 minutes drive from Kuta.

Sunbathing

If you are coming from more temperate countries, sunbathing must be tempting. Kuta Beach is a magnet for beachgoers, especially for those who are keen to get that much-coveted tan. Lying on the beach wearing your bikini or shorts and sunglasses could be an effortless way to spend the day in Kuta or you can rent a sun-lounger for only around IDR 30,000 a day.
However, beware of the harsh rays – you will be very uncomfortable the following day if you don't apply sunscreen! Choose protection with a high SPF content and avoid the intense midday heat to be sure you get a beautiful glowing tan before you return to your home country. To avoid dehydration you are advised to drink plenty of water and soft drinks – all available from vendors patrolling the beach, also selling snacks, ice cream and fruit.

The Borobudur Candi Temple

The  Borobudur temple is the world’s biggest Buddhist monument, an ancient site widely considered to be one of the world’s seven wonders. Built in the 9th century during the reign of the Syailendra dynasty, the temple’s design in Gupta architecture reflects India's influence on the region, yet there are enough indigenous scenes and elements incorporated to make Borobudur uniquely Indonesian. This awe inspiring monument is truly a marvel. After a visit here you will understand why it is Indonesia’s most visited tourist attraction and a famous icon of Indonesia’s cultural heritage.

Located on the island of Java, the temple sits majestically on a hilltop overlooking lush green fields and distant hills. It covers an enormous area, measuring 123 x 123 meters. The monument is a marvel of design, decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The architecture and stonework of this temple has no equal.  And it was built without using any kind of cement or mortar! The structure is like a set of massive interlocking Lego blocks held together without any glue.

The temple has remained strong even through ten centuries of neglect. It was rediscovered in 1815, buried under volcanic ash. In the 1970’s the Indonesian Government and UNESCO worked together to restore Borobudur to its former majesty The restoration took eight years to complete and today Borobudur is one of Indonesia and the world’s most valuable treasures.

The Borobudur Temple's is decorated with stone carvings in bas-relief representing images from the life of Buddha. Commentators claim that this is the largest and most complete ensemble of Buddhist reliefs in the world, unsurpassed in artistic merit.

This monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The ten levels of the temple symbolize the three divisions of the religion’s cosmic system. As visitors begin their journey at the base of the temple, they make their way to the top of the monument through the three levels of Budhist cosmology, KÄ�madhÄ�tu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). As visitors walk to the top the monument guides the pilgrims past 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades.

The whole monument itself resembles a giant stupa, but seen from above it forms a mandala. The great stupa at the top of the temple sits 40 meters above the ground.  This main dome is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

Historians suggest that the name of Borobudur comes from the Sanskrit ‘Vihara Buddha Uhr’ or the ‘Buddhist monastery on the hill’.

The Overview Of Bali

Bali is part of the Indonesian archipelago, and every aspect of this island is fascinating. Formed millions of years ago by volcanic action, the Bali landscape is dominated by mountains, coastal lowlands and limestone outcrops that drop from great heights into the sea. Beside the spectacular landscape, Bali is better known for its rich culture, surf and sparkling beaches.
The mesmerising sounds of the gamelan, the countless sacred and secular dances, beautiful textiles, the wayang style of painting are among some of the elements of Balinese culture that have long captured the hearts of visitors. Sometimes, tourists will stumble upon a parade of people in stark gold, pink and purple costumes, carrying baskets of fruit and flower arrangements as offerings.
There are also ample opportunities to ride the most exciting surf in this part of the world, take leisurely walks in peaceful jungles, go diving, shop, trek volcanoes and enjoy lip smacking food. Eating and drinking should definitely be an unforgettable experience in Bali. The seas around the island are abundant with marine life, some of which ends up in the kitchens of restaurants. Fertile soils and heavy rainfall coupled with abundant water from mountain springs have allowed rice, vegetables, fruit and many other crops to grow. This cornucopia of ingredients allows a great variety of dishes to prepared.
The Indonesian archipelago stretches from the islands of Sumatra in the North West to Irian Jaya in the East, and Bali is situated between highly populated Java and idyllic Lombok. In a way, Bali captures much of the soul and identity of Indonesia yet it has evolved a unique culture of its own, making it a very special place.
Amongst the 13,700 Indonesian islands (900 of which are inhabited), Bali is the only Hindu province, and the rich blend of tradition and culture has an incredible impact. Moreover, Bali is the last island running east to have a distinctly tropical Asian environment. Any island east of Bali lies east of the Wallace line and the people and life forms show signs of having a greater Australian and New Guinean influence. Strangely enough, it is also considered to be the most western of the Lesser Sunda Islands, which stretch as far as New Guinea.
Geographically, Bali is the ideal location for such a colourful and deeply spiritual culture. In fact the rich geography of the island has actually been responsible for extensive and fascinating cultural development.
Even though it is relatively small, approximately 5,000 square kilometers in all, Bali boasts a whole range, of different environments. This compact landscape centers on a line of active volcanoes with alluvial slopes that spill down to coastal plains. Tropical rainforests fringe the mountains, eventually giving way to carefully cultivated rice fields and crop growth. Further down on the plains, water logged mangrove swamps lead to the ocean. A number of different rivers and streams, in turn, wind their way through a cross section of these environments and down to the coast, carving deep chasms as they go.
Bali enjoys a consistently warm climate, which is particularly mild in the dry season, and the mountains ensure there is a steady rainfall to periodically cool the island down through the rainy season. The mountainous regions maintain a refreshing temperature all year round, and can provide a great break from the greater heat and humidity of the plains.
The people of Bali, as diverse as the geography of the different regions and yet united by their strong religious beliefs, draw their strength and their meaning from this wonderful environment.
The mountains are the focus of all daily activities, with holy Mount Agung as the great heavenward inspiration. All villages, temples, family compounds, houses and furniture arrangements are designed to face "kaja", or towards the mountains. The seaward direction "kelod", on the other hand, is considered to be less sacred and at times impure, although the sea itself is not considered profane.
Mountain slopes provide the ideal setting for the luminous terraced rice fields, which then transform into vast paddied fields. The Balinese have an ingenious irrigation system controlled by village organisation called the subak that keeps these paddies well watered, and the rich nutrients from the volcanic ash ensure these fields are also well fertilized.
Rice is the staple food for all Balinese people, and sampling the steamed rice (nasi putih), red rice (nasi merah), or even coloured yellow rice (nasi kuning) is a must. Or try a mixed rice dish served with different condiments (nasi campur) or fried rice (nasi goreng), even some sticky rice patties. Rice also has sacred significance, and it is offered back to the gods in the form of brightly coloured cakes, or even simply as a few grains sprinkled on a banana leaf. Dewi Sri, the Balinese rice goddess, features strongly in local mythology and religious observance, and she often appears as a "cili" figure cut and bound from rice stalks.
The rivers are a focus for rural village life, as they are a source of water for both work and domestic activities. You'll often find whole villages bathing in the rivers, washing their clothes, washing their cars, fishing from them, or simply splashing around and having a great time. Further down the river path, many of the mud flats near the sea continue to be used by small family groups for making salt, an essential condiment in Bali.
At the edges of the land, the oceans are a source of holy water and the channel for preparing the dead for their afterlife. But there is still a great fear of the sea as the unknown, so even though fishing and seaweed farming are reasonably widespread and many activities revolve around the surrounding ocean, it is treated with great respect.
As a visitor, it is difficult not to be drawn in to the inherent magic of a place where the people and the land interact so closely, where the people draw so much meaning from the land and its spirits. You can see this magic in the long processions of flower and fruit laden villagers on their way to the temples, or in the glittering dancers acting out an ancient Hindu story. You can hear it in the lively clashes and clangs of the gamelan orchestra, or the quiet whispers of continually offered prayers.
It is easy to sense the magic in the tastes of an island with an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the aromas of sweet incense. And, naturally, the magical feeling is palpable.
While in Bali, you may choose to participate in this magic by visiting one of the large number of temples, with ancient Hindu symbols carved in huge slabs of stone. Or you may be lucky enough to have the opportunity to observe a temple festival or public cremation. You will, most likely, want to see at least one of Bali's famous dances.
Grab the opportunity if you can, to see the graceful welcoming dance, in which young girls tilt their heads and move rhythmically to the gamelan beat, sharing their flower offerings with all.
Another must see is the kecak dance, a hypnotic chant performed by scores of men circled around a large coconut oil lamp, where scenes from the Ramayana are re enacted. Or the legong dance, which includes a series of different dance scenes and styles, is always worthwhile.
The more adventurous can go trekking, fourwheel driving, white water rafting, and ride elephants or camels! There is nothing quite as exhilarating and spectacular as rushing down a river canyon or trekking through thick matted forests. It is always possible to feel some of that tribal Balinese magic when you venture out into the more wilderness of Bali.
Or you may just be satisfied to enjoy the beautiful beaches and countryside, knowing the spirits are with you. How can you miss it when there are constant reminders of their presence?
Wherever you are, and whatever you choose to do, enjoy the warm smiles and open embrace of a people who appreciate their whole way of life and would love to share some of its magic with you.
The traditional prayer position of the hands and bow from the heart are welcoming gestures designed to recognize and honor your soul, and they are a true indication of your importance as a visitor to Bali.