Travel Indonesia Guide: The Bali Arts Festival 2009

There are many places of interest for visitors in Bali apart from its beautiful beaches along the coastline which offers every possible water activities including surfing, snorkeling, diving, cruises and sailing. When it comes to the mid-year period, the Bali Arts Festival is something that anyone shouldn’t miss.

Lasting for about four weeks from mid-Jun, the Bali Arts Festival is a wonderful spectacle and a great introduction to Balinese artistic traditions and culture. The Festival is a full month of daily performances, handicraft exhibitions and other related cultural and commercial activities during which literally the whole of Bali comes to the city to present its offerings of dance, music and beauty.

For this year, the 31st Annual Bali Arts Festival is being held from 13 June until 11 July in Denpasar. This month long revelry is unique as perhaps no other place in the world can put up on such a low budget as the Balinese. Not only is their traditional culture alive and well, but they have a tremendous pride in it.

During this year’s occasion, the festival will feature 180 art performances from 12 provinces in Indonesia and eight foreign countries - South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, India, China and Mexico and the United States. The five main agenda items of the Bali Arts Festival will remain unchanged to include the cultural parade, stage performances, competitions, meetings and seminars, and a handicraft exhibition of small industry and handicraft items. And of course, all the funs and great experiences will always be there.. Enjoy..

Travel Indonesia Guide - The experiences of sand and sea at Bali

As the temperature gets chillier in many Northern Hemisphere countries, tropical destinations such as Bali seem all the more attractive. With their bona fide friendly nature and ingenious for hospitality, the Balinese make the island an even more popular destination to beachcomers in seach of sun, sand and surf.

Bali also has a variety of beach options to suit every kind of traveler. There are the popular surf spots of Kuta and Legian, the luxurious and private shores of Nusa Dua, the chic and romantic Seminyak beach and the beautifully serene locale of Sanur.

With its clean break waves and lengthy golden shore, Kuta has been a favourite among surfers since the 1970s. These days, the area is something of a tourist Mecca, offering a prime nightlife and entertainment scene in addition to its vast array of beach activities and

hotels. The area is also brimming with shopping options, with everything from branded luxury clothes and accessories to bohemian beach wear.

The Kuta town and surrounding suburbs are suitable for all types of tourists including seasoned solo surfers, young groups of friends, couples and families. It is an epicenter for surf, sun and fun - but not necessarily peace and quiet. Not far from Kuta town is the trendy Seminyak beach. Quickly earning a reputation for being a sleek, boutique hotspot, Seminyak has a first-rate swimming beach and a number of designer accommodation and fine dining options. I recommend to include the Resor Seminyak Resort & Spa and the opulent Oberoi Hotel as one of the prior choices.

The luxurious beach cove of Nusa Dua is a favorite among those traveling to Bali, because of its calm, tranquil atmosphere and inviting turquoise waters. It is a perfect place for romancing honeymooners but also for those with a passion for underwater life - there are good diving and snorkeling spots to be found in this area.

Closer to Denpasar, the quiet beach of Sanur is a pleasant alternative to the highly developed and more popular beach spots of Bali. Everything at Sanur moves at a leisurely pace, and guests can experience a more traditional Bali, with local fishermen bringing in their catch of the day and the soothing sounds of the nearby temple, offering a unique atmosphere.