Mentawai Islands, One of Excellent Surfing Destination

Mentawai Island is one of the most fascinating and thrilling island in south sea. The island is the favorite destination for the people who love surfing. The perfect waves, warm water and the incredible atmosphere make this place the paradise of surfers. People from all over the world do not mind to come to this part of main Sumatra Island.

Mentawai island is surrounded by the corral reefs. Deep-water flows up onto these coral reefs that protect the continental shelf. Siberut, Sipura, North Pagai (Pagai Utara) and South Pagai (Pagai Selatan) are the four main islands, which make up the chain of Mentawai Islands. Siberut Island (4030 km²) is the largest island among these four Mentawai Islands. The position of these islands makes them an outstanding location for surfing.

Mentawai Islands contain one of the most enthralling and best-preserved indigenous cultures of the world, but, due to the unrestricted tidal wave of Indonesia’s modernization this culture is dangerously close to being extinguished.

Mentawai Islands rain forest accommodates numerous endemic species, including four endemic primates, such as Mentawai leaf-monkey (Presbytis potenziani), Mentawai Macaque (Macaca pagensis), snub-nosed monkey (Simias concolor), and Mentawai Kloss Gibbon (Hylobates klossii).

The Mentawai Islands is located in the Indian Ocean, about 150 km west of West Sumatra Province, Republic of Indonesia.

Surfing near Spectacular Uluwatu Temple in Bali

The Pura Luhur (literally ‘high temples’ or ‘ascension temples’) Uluwatu is famous not only for its unique position, also boasts one of the oldest temples in Bali. This Uluwatu temple is a Bali's most spectacular temple located high on a cliff top at the edge of a plateau 250 feet above the waves of the Indian Ocean. Dedicated to the spirits of the sea, the famous Uluwatu temple is an architectural wonder in black coral rock, beautifully designed with spectacular views. This is a popular place to enjoy the sunset.

Uluwatu temple is one of Bali's directional temples and it guards Bali from evil spirits from the southwest, God of the elements and of cosmic force majeures, Bhatara Rudra. Empu Kuturan, a Javanese Hindu priest who built the tiered meru, founded the temple in the 10th century and a shrine here as well as at other key locations longs the Balinese coast. In the 15th Century the great pilgrim priest Dhang Hyang Dwijendra, who established the present form of Hindu-Dharma religion, chose Pura Uluwatu as his last earthly abode. According to local records, Dwijendra achieved ‘moksa’ while meditating at Uluwatu. The temple is regarded, by Brahman's island wide, as his holy tomb. Legend also tells us that Dwijendra was the architect of the beautiful temple, as well as many other major temples on Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa. In the 17th century, Niratha, also from Java, came to Bali and built temples, adding to Uluwatu.

Uluwatu temple is located on the cliff top close to the famous surf break on the southwest of the Bukit peninsula. So Uluwatu Beach is also known for its surf and, in nearby hostelries, its full moon rage parties. It rages at the temple too but in an orderly way, thanks to the royal house of Puri Agung Jero Kuta, Denpasar, who are the temple's hereditary pangemong (custodians). Hundreds of nobles from this family, and many 'devotees' (pengayah) and village ‘pemangku’ priests from nearby hamlets, ensure that every seven months the festival is run efficiently, and most elegantly. The palace is proud of its ancestral role. It manages the awesome logistics with fitting dignity.

Being a popular surfing spot for the very experienced, Uluwatu offers a wonderful vantage point to view a spectacular sunset. Small restaurants perched on the cliff offer a comfortable spot to survey the vast Indian Ocean beyond and below the 100-meter-high cliffs with panorama on three sides.

Uluwatu lies in Badung Regency, southern of Bali Island, Republic of Indonesia.

Kuta – Most Popular Beach in Bali

Kuta is the most popular beach and the number one party zone in Bali. It is the center and the largest tourist resort on the island of Bali. Kuta beach is also known as one of the first favorite beaches for tourists from all over the world.

Surfing in Kuta is a very well known destination among surfing enthusiasts. The beach is overrun with touts and most serious surfers have headed elsewhere. Kuta is also one of Bali's best surfing beaches and a great place to enjoy a beach lifestyle. More advanced surfers can choose from over 30 other surfing breaks within 30 minutes drive from Kuta. This place is also often become the arena of surfing competition at the national level and the level of world. Nevertheless, Kuta Beach is also suitable for beginners to learn surfing.

Kuta Beach has a different attraction with the Sanur Beach, a more desirable because of the beauty of the sunrise. Plenty of people come to the Kuta beach or seaside cafes to watch the wonderful sunset when it towards dusk. For domestic and foreign tourists, have not fully enjoy the twilight time on the island of Bali, if not watching the sunset at Kuta Beach.

In addition of surfing and enjoying the sunset, it's the shopping, nightlife and party vibes that attracts thousands of visitors. There's a huge choice of accommodation, restaurants and entertainment. At night, Kuta is alive with night life. Western influences create discotheques, dance clubs, and pubs for people from all over the world in Kuta. Various Balinese dance performances are staged in Kuta every night. One of the best Kecak performances is found in Kuta.

The accommodation in Kuta range from a modest home stay for a few dollars a night to luxurious, five star, international hotels costing several hundred to several thousand dollars a night. On the street behind the row of hotels that face the beach, is lined with shops of all varieties. It also can be found any Balinese handicrafts here, from the least expensive to the most exquisite; or unique stores.

Kuta Beach is located 11 km southwest City of Denpasar, capital of Bali Island, Republic of Indonesia.

Nusa Dua – Bali’s Prestigious Beach

The most prestigious resort area, where the tourists will find international world class luxury hotels elegantly lining beautiful white sands in Bali Island, is Nusa Dua. Some of the most sumptuous and luxurious hotels in the world find their home in Nusa Dua, Bali. It is quiet and exclusive with superb facilities. Nusa Dua is really about taking it easy and relaxing in total luxury. As most of the hotels are 5 stars, every comfort is at our disposal as well as a gorgeous white sand beach. Nusa Dua was designed for the luxury conscious with a heavy concentration of big name hotels lining the beautiful white sand beach. Some of the resorts have private beaches but most areas are accessible.

Crystal clear water and stretches of white sandy beach of Nusa Dua makes Nusa Dua a perfect spot for luxurious resorts, after a Barong performance at Batubulan and a long climb of the steps of the Temple Besakih. Visitors can tee off into the sunset, while watching the gentle waves come from the blue sea and caress the banks surrounding the luscious greens. Tranquil swimming pools under the coconut trees seem to be one with the distant blue sea. Stroll to the northern end of Nusa Dua for parasailing, jet skis, snorkeling/diving trips or better still, head for Tanjung Benoa.

The other popular places around Nusa Dua are Turtle Island (Pulau Penyu) and Dreamland Beach. Turtle Island is a turtle conservation area. The local people keep the turtle eggs in each traditional conservation houses individually owned them until the baby turtles born, and they will release the turtles when they are grown. Besides turtle, they also have birds, snakes, bats, etc. By Penyu Island visitors can get on glass boats where they can see the under water view from the boat. Dreamland is a beautiful beach with excellent surfing conditions, especially for intermediate surfers, and on big days when other breaks are too big to surf.

Nusa Dua provides a venue for traditional entertainment including arts festivals like the Nusa Dua Arts and Culture Festival. Art galleries and numerous shops surround them.

Nusa Dua is located in the southern Bali approximately 10 km from Denpasar City, Bali Island, Republic of Indonesia.