Indonesia - Bali - Balian - 4 to 7 April 2010

I turned off the main North West road at Balian. At the turnoff, there is a small village with a number of shops, small supermarket and market area.


The turnoff road is narrow and leads pass a number of guest houses/hotels until it reaches the sand at Balian Beach. Along the road there are a number of places to stay from fan rooms to air conditioned rooms. Some places have a small pool.

There are a number of places to eat from restaurants to the warungs at the night market at the main road turnoff.

I stayed at Ayu’s which is at the top of the hill overlooking the beach. The food is good and cheap here. The rooms are fan and the price varies according to the state of the room. Breakfast is included in the room price.

Ayus telephone 08123993353

On the hill leading down to the beach there are a number of spots to sit and view the coast and the surfing. It is nice to sit in these spots at sunset while having a beer.

The beach is black sand with a river emptying out in the middle of the beach. There is also another river emptying into the sea at the southern end of the beach. The beach is nice for walking and sitting. Swimming is not the best due to strong currents and murky water.

Balian is a great place to stay. there are good waves and good coastal walks and scenery. The local people are very friendly. I stayed for a few days before travelling on to Sumbawa, Indonesia. It is a great place for meeting people from all over the globe.

During my time there, I met Tony and Ross. Ross and I met a number of times later in this trip throughout Indonesia.

Accommodation
(prices are 2009)

Balian beach house
http://www.balianbeachhouse.com/
house two storey double and single up and single down air con upstairs $35us

pondok pisces bungalow 250 000 single
http://www.pondokpiscesbali.com/
250 000 to 300 000 double

villa tranquil - $50 aud room – 400 000
http://www.academyofsurfing.com/surftravel-balian.html

balian breezes 380 000 double
http://www.balianbreezes.com/
08 1734 4520
350 000 450 000 pool hot water air con breakfast with interconnecting rooms
(too far back)

gajah mina beach resort - $95 double - pool
62 81 2381-1630
http://www.gajahminaresort.com/index.htm

balian surf bungalows/homestay
ayu’s warung and homestay
08123993353

balian segara homestay

made’s homestay

Kubu Balian Beach bungalow
081558011707
08164711167
http://www.kububalian.com/
email: kubu.balian@yahoo.com

Things to do

Walks along beach, cliff top and crossing rivers
Sea cave
Serpent rock
Klating Beach – black sand
Taman Kupu Kupu (butterfly park)
Blayu _ monkey forest at pura alas kedaton
Sangeh monkey forest at Pura Bukit Sari
Yeh Panas – hot springs

North of Balian
Medewi – surf, walks, restaurants
Pura Rambut Siwi – small temple on cliffs – nearby caves – get a blessing
Follow coast road to Pura Perancak
Perancak - buffalo races 2x a month – planned crocodile/turtle park
Negara –in south of town there are stilt houses
Rening – beach
Candi kusuma – beach
Belimbingsari and Palasari – Christian villages towards mountains – churches - dam
Gilimanuk – gateway to Bali
possible to trek from Teluk Terima
Kendang Mebarung – ceremony
Bunut Bolong – tree over road
Jegog dance
Taman Nasional Bali Barat - Cekik headquarters of park – trekking walk or boat