Bali
runners-up

Each is a first-rate experience. Don't miss them if you have the time.

Klungkung

A former kingdom capital rich in cultural heritage. Klungkung is renowned for its classical style architecture and ceiling paintings of the House of Justice and Floating Pavilion (see photo) - and for the traditional Wayang style artists in the nearby village of Kamasan.

Museums

The best five:

Neka (near Ubud)
Bali's artistic jewel. Internationally acclaimed. Admirable presentation.  Features Bali-themed paintings by local, Indonesian and foreign artists. (See painting detail on left).

Puri Lukisan (Ubud)
Classical and contemporary Balinese art. Admirable collection. However, it's difficult to fully appreciate the artistic treasures when the lighting is turned down low, as is sometimes the case.

Classical Painting Museum  (Klungkung)
Outstanding classical Wayang style paintings.

Bali Museum (Denpasar)
Fine Balinese art collection, but the presentation needs improvement.

Agung Rai (near Ubud)
Traditional and modern Balinese art. Do not confuse the museum with the nearby gallery.

Shadow puppet performances

A single puppeteer manipulates an assemblage of flat leather puppets (see photo).

He controls them with mounted wooden sticks while he speaks the lines of the puppet characters in a play derived from epic Hindu stories that tell a moral. A lamp behind the puppets casts shadows on a translucent screen.

The audience (often village residents) sits on the other side, seeing the shadows but not the actual puppets.

A small gamelan ensemble sometimes provides background music.

Volcanoes

Bali has active volcanoes. The last disastrous eruption occurred in 1963 on Agung, Bali's highest and holiest mountain.

Batur Volcano is popular with tourists because it has 11 kilometer (7 mile) wide crater that you can drive into. And, it has a large crescent shaped lake, Bali's largest.

Sunsets

Bali is known for its sunsets. However, the awe-inspiring ones seldom occur during the high tourist season when skies tend to be clear instead of having the requisite cloud formations.

Shopping

Bali is known for its bargains in international designer clothes. And, the island's arts & crafts goods make marvelous take-home gifts and can lend a decorative touch in your home.

Other popular attractions

They include:

Bat Cave
Day time home of thousands of bats.

Bird Park
Exotic birds in pleasant setting.

Day and evening ocean cruises
Several choices.

Denpasar Bird Market
Where locals buy pet birds and other creatures.

Elephant Cave
The carved entranceway is the chief draw.

Monkey Forests
In both Sangeh and Ubud.

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