Jimbaran

Once upon a time, there was a sleepy fishing village in a cove on the western site of Bali's southern peninsula. It had a remarkable bay with a proud stretch of white sand gently contrasting its crystal blue water. Today the sleepy village has awakened to the spur of the Intercontinental, Four Seasons and the Ritz-Carlton, its beautiful bay never emptied of visitors mesmerized by wonderful sunsets, its warm azure waters of swimmers, windsurfers, and others, its glowing shores of seafood restaurants, joggers or merchants renting out water sports equipment.

Jimbaran still has much rustic behind the glitz, with its postcard pretty shallow shores speckled with vivid colored fishing boats transforming into flickering diamonds on the ocean on black nights, and the bustle of native fisherfolk negotiating their fishkill. Traditional rural life at its best may still be experienced at the daily market, through a village walk removed from the tourism buzz. Be not surprised to find bare breasted old women at work while undisturbed fishermen build wooden boats, and young and old females go about their daily offerings.

The Jimbaran area of Bali’s Bukit Peninsula covers an area as big as the airport with a population of around 12,000. It is conveniently located midway between the airport and Nusa Dua, very close to Kuta, famous for its seafood cuisine, and a popular romantic dinner venue where locals serenade diners with their favorite tunes.