best authentic experiences to have in bali

Category : Adventure | Posted On Nov 04, 2019

If you have been to Bali before and came back thinking something is missing from that trip you are not wrong. You may have done all the activities a tourist could do but still there is a feeling that is telling you that you missed out on a lot and indeed you did. Best way to enjoy Bali is to blend with the locals and their culture. To experience the real authentic experience of Bali, you have to get a feel of how locals enjoy their life. So here are some of our recommendations for you to make the max out of your authentic Balinese experience.

Enjoy Local Cuisines

You can enjoy all kind of fast foods in Bali that you can enjoy in any part of the world but we recommend that you take it up a notch and wander in unknown territory of local foods. Here are the must try foods in Bali.

Warung Babi Guling Ibu Oka

You can find countless spots of warung serving Babi Guling but this spot is indeed the most famous of them all. Conveniently accessible located just beside the famous Ubud Hall. You will always find it crowded with locals and the tourists. Their standard serving consists of juicy roast pork strips served with rice and topped with veggies, shredded coconut, sliced pork sausages and crackling skin with chillies. However as it may seem delicious the herbs are strong enough so make sure you have the stomach to enrich the richness of the flavors.

Warung Ibu Oka|Jalan Suweta, Ubud| Call +62 361 976 345

Nasi Ayam Kedewatan Bu Mangku

Nasi Ayam (Balinese version of Chicken Rice) is as mandatory to try as Babi Guling. This popular eatery is located at Kedewatan main road and always filled with local and foreign customers. This is dish is indeed a party for your taste buds with fish wrap-style satays,, deep fried crispy chicken skin, spicy strips n chunks of chicken, half of sliced boiled egg and a salad mix of shredded coconut, chopped long beans and salted roast nuts. Eating experience can take you to your home's alfresco dining room with beautiful ponds and garden surrounding you. Limited parking option due to the busy street and shops is the only down side here.\

Spice level here is higher than your usual so make sure you have the tolerance.You can always ask for a non-sambal serving, if you like.

Nasi Ayam Kedewatan Ibu Mangku| Jalan Raya Kedewatan, Ubud| Call : +62 361 974 795.

Crispy Duck

This restaurant is actually named ‘Warung Eropa’ but it is famous for its crispy duck. Located in the Seminyak, the heart of Bali it is definitely a must try. You will love the crispy duck served with Sambal matah, rice and vegetables.

Warung Eropa| Jl. Jalan Petitenget No. 9D|Seminyak| Call: +62 361 7471771

Nasi Goreng & Nasi Campur

Established in 1969, Made Warung is one of the most sought after place for locals, tourists and expats for social eating and gatherings. Grown from a traditional warung now into a cosmopolitan restaurant it does serve one the best authentic local cuisines and international food in Bali.

Made’s Warung|Br. Seminyak, Kuta, Bali, Indonesia| Call: +62 361 732130

Explore, Experience and See The Traditional Villages.

If you have been to Bali and have not explored or experienced the culture of the Traditional villages, you have not seen Bali at all. We recommend that you do visit the following villages on your next trip.

Penglipuran Village

Located in Bangli Regency, Central Bali, Penglipuran Village is a traditional Balinese Village just half an hour away from Gianyar. The visit to this beautiful village 700 meters above sea level will give you an entirely different cool breezy weather from the Island hot weather. You will absolutely love the freshness and cleaniness of this state. This Island was named recently as one of the most cleanest villages in the world featuring alongside Giethoorn in Netherlands and Mawlynnong in India.

The best time to visit this beautiful village is around Galungan when they line up Penjor (bamboo poles with weaving of coconut leaves and offerings suspended at the end) to decorate the village.

Trunyan Village

Located on the eastern shore of Lake Batur, Trunyan or Terunyan is a Balinese village in Kintamani Regency, central Bali, Indonesia. Other than being the home to famous Aga People of Bali, this village is notoriously famous for treating their dead. Instead of burying or burning the bodies as per Hindu Balinese people, Trunyan people leave their dead bodies placed on the ground, covered with cloth and bamboo canopies for decomposition. The plantation of nearby trees is said to incense the smell of corpses. It is located at the foot of Mount Agung on the west of Lake Batur at the peak of eastern rim of the large caldera. The best and easy access to reach here is by boat.

Tenganan VILLAGE

This village in 1970's was considered as one of the most secluded societies of archipelago by the anthropologists. Desa Tenganan is now one of the very few villages in Bali with well preserved Aga culture. They still practice and hold the original ancient ceremonies, traditions and rules of Balinese culture. The architecture and the layout of village is unique and so is its Gamelan selunding music and double ikat textiles. We recommend that you visit it in July to enjoy Mekare-Kare tradition every June and Perang Pandan ceremonies.

Visit The Museums

Neka Art Museum

Established in 1976 by a Wayan Suteja Neka, a famous Balinese Art enthusiast, it is one of the most famous museums in Bali. This museum presents ever growing collection featuring paintings, sculptures, traditional tools, and weapons that directly gives you the insight into the culture of Bali. Many people visit this museum to get their old or new Keris daggers to be examined by Neka since their traditional Keris Dagger collection is one of the main attractions.

Neka Art Museum, Kedewatan, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia, +62361 975074

Bali Museum

Bali Museum is one of the oldest museum in Bali, built in 1930's are the four pillars from the main structure. This museum is located centrally in Denpasar and truly depicts the heritage collection that shows the history of Bali.

Tabanan complex features musical instruments, paintings, sculptures and theatrical masks. Buleleng complex features some of the best historical works of local textile and art.

The collections stored in this museum can be classified as prehistoric object collection.

Museum Bali, Jalan Mayor Wisnu, Dangin Puri, Denpasar City, Bali, Indonesia, +62361 222680

Be A Part of The Ceremonies

You can participate in the local rituals and ceremonies but we strongly advise that you consult with the Balinese friends about the rules and obligations so you do not end up offending or disrespecting the locals unintentionally.

Nyepi Day

Nyepi day is also known as the day of silence, it comes during the month of March and locals spend the whole day in silence. Nyepi is the New Year's day according to Balinese lunar calendar. It is one of the most holy ceremonies in Balinese culture which they spend by staying in, resting, switching the lights off and keeping the silence for 24 hours. In this ritual they avoid all the worldly temptations including watching tv or listening music.

The rules of Nyepi are enforced by the law, no businesses operate or transport is allowed on the road except for the emergency services even the airport shut downs for 24 hour. It is believed to be a ceremony that cleanses your spirit and the soul. Nyepi is a six day festival, the day of silence is celebrated on 3rd day. It is also a public holiday for the rest of Indonesia.

Galungan and Kuningan

Galungan is the day when they celebrate the victory of Dharma over Adharma in the battle (the triumph of good over evil). Balinese people also believe it to be the time when the spirits of deceased ancestors visit the earth. The last day of this ceremony is known as Kuningan, they celebrate this day as the departure of those spirits as they leave the earth. You will see different offerings and prayers throughout every Balinese home as the people welcome the spirits with full hospitality. The most common sign of the celebration are the Pejor (Bamboo Poles) with offerings of food suspended at the end of the road lines.

Odalan

Odalan is one of the most common ceremony which take place almost every day of the year in the temples of Bali. There are over 4500 temples in Bali and Odalan is the celebration of the anniversary of the temple. Odalan normally last for three days but there are bigger celebrations which they celebrate after every 5,10,30 or 100 years of the temple and can last normally from 11 days to longer periods. In Odalan Balinese people honor their sacred deities that rule the temples by offerings, dance/music and gemalan performances.