Things To Do

Ecotourism tours founded on the spirit of responsible travel features places, activities and culture to see, enjoy and appreciate.

Relax and swim! Those wary of the sometimes treacherous Bali Ocean may swim to their hearts’ delight as the offshore reef provides protection from crashing waves.

Pura Ulun Siwi, at Pemelisan, Agung Street and Uluwatu Street intersection – an 18th century temple.

Peninsula Hill, south through Uluwatu Street, this 200-meter elevation allows a panoramic view of the Ngurah Rai Airport and south Bali

Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue (GWK) - west of Peninsula Hill, at Uluwatu street Bukit Unggasan, Jimbaran, stands one of the largest statues in the world by I Nyoman Nuarta, and 75 meter-high and 60-meter wide Lord Visnu sculpture. Totaling a towering height of 146 meters, taller than New York’s Statue of Liberty, it marks a famous cultural park and, even in its unfinished state can take your breath away.

Dreamland Beach – Jimbaran Bay, on Bali’s south side, Admission: Rp 5000 – on a huge deserted property next to a cliff, a good swimming beach, about 30 to 40 minutes from Kuta. After a walk down a stairway, you land on the shore filled with umbrellas and beach benches to rent and local cafes serving European food. After the pleasurable sunset show, you’ll find bonfires alighting. This is strictly a wholesome affair, for by 10pm electricity is out. A moonless night brings on early bedtime. A moonlit night is sheer magic! Peak season (July and December) brings more company.

The Barong Dance – a play of good vs. evil. Good, represented by Barong, a mythical creature with long swayback and curved tail, the protector of mankind, defeats evil, represented by Rangda, the widow-witch. The glory of the high sun, and the spirits associated with white magic all signify the positive or good in life. Evil includes the spirits and witches who do late night graveyard haunts, darkness, black magic, and the destructive force of the left. Of the same earthly substance, both have powerful mystic prowess. Somewhere in a mythical past, humanity won over the Barong to their side. The dance depicts the battle for mankind against Rangda’s death forces.

Taken from the renowned Hindu epic the Mahabharata, the dance depicts the story of Kunti Sraya where Dewi Kunti, the mother of the five Pandawas, for some reason, promises to sacrifice one of her five sons Sadewa, to Rangda.

The Kecak Dance, (pronounced ke-chak), an episode from the Ramayana is retold in this electrifying, most stunning of all the Balinese dances. More than a hundred shirtless men vibrate the background syncopated rhythm, “chak-chak,” the same chanting sounds in the ritual Sanghyang trance ceremony. The men form a flower-like configuration seated on the ground, perfectly synchronising head, arms and upper body gestures to a unified breathing, undulating movement, the living backdrop to the dancers’ depicting the story with sways, soars and torchlight, as a story teller chants the tale.

The story tells of one of the epic pastimes of Lord Rama, the king of Ayodhia Dasaratha’s favorite son and rightful heir to his throne, who was exiled to the Dandaka forest so his younger brother Bharata may take the throne, as desired by his father’s wife. With him went his wife Sinta, and his younger brother Laksamana and the monkey king, Hanoman.

While they were living in the forest, the demon Rahwana, the king of Alengka, by devious trickery snatched Sinta and took her to his kingdom, Alengka Pura. This dance re-enacts the story of Sinta’s abduction, the ensuing battle of Lord Rama against Rahwana to rescue her, the final defeat of Rahwana and the return of his wife home to Ayodhia. Lord Rama’s team included his ever loyal brother Laksamana, Jayatu, Hanoman and his entire monkey constituency.

Jenggala Keramik Bali - Jimbaran, Jalan Uluwatu II - New Zealand-born designer-potter Brent Hesselyn opened this shop 20 years ago and has been producing fine hand-made high-quality ceramics on display at their modern factory. Added features are antique and new Indonesian art, a demonstration area of Jenggala's potters’ skills, and a branch of the popular Kafe Batu Jimbar serving light meals and a choice of coffee, tea and other beverages.