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Lovina Beach is generally considered as the most well-known area in the North of Bali, however there are many lesser known areas and places in the North that are of interest too to visitors of Bali, like Singaraja, Seririt, Pemuteran, Banjar, Bedugul, Munduk, Mayong, Rangdu, Air Sanih and Lemukih to mention a few.
The nature of North Bali offers the interested visitor a wide range of opportunities to indulge in leisure and activities.
North Bali's natural environment is diverse and surprisingly spectacular. There are quiet rural beaches, green rice terraces, plantations of all kinds such as coffee, cocoa and tobacco; it has mangrove forests, rainforests, and dozens of high waterfalls, volcanoes and idyllic mountain lakes.
The wildlife of North Bali, including the sea life, is very varied. In the child friendly, shallow water of the Bali Sea you can still find hectares of beautiful coral reefs with a rich marine life, excellent for unconcerned swimming, diving and snorkeling.
Experiencing the nature of North Bali is very easy. Wherever you stay you will always be either in the midst of nature or close to it.
The unique culture of North Bali is in many respects different from that of other parts of Bali. The high, volcanic mountain range that divides Bali from east to west has through the ages secluded the northern areas from the south. It was not until good roads were constructed that the north of Bali came 'in reach'.
In historical respect the earliest settlements are found along the north coast of Bali, in particular the area east of Singaraja. Where the dangerous reefs and strong currents along the south coast always prevented the safe landing of ships, seafarers from Southeast Asia were able to land in the calm water of the Bali Sea to establish trade posts on the North coast of Bali.
Experiencing the culture of North Bali can be done in many ways. You could visit a temple festival, be invited to a family ceremony, watch a wayang kulit puppet play, join in a jogged dance or visit an ikat or gamelan instrument factory. Some places regularly organize evenings with Balinese music and dance.
In Northern Bali you can experience spirituality in various ways. The most common forms to us Westerners are found at yoga or meditation centers. You can find these in different areas of North Bali.
However, also more obscure forms of spirituality blossom in Northern Bali, methods of alternative healing that are specializations of the 'holy men' of Bali, usually referred to as balian. These specializations may be based on traditional Balinese homeopathy or massage techniques but also on other, less understood methods that involve trance, mantras and power objects.
KALIBUKBUK - CENTRAL LOVINA
Kalibukbuk is a small village at the north coast of Bali, located ca. 10 km west of Singaraja. Kalibukbuk, originally a farmer's village, is generally regarded as 'central Lovina' as it is here, mainly north of the main road, where you will find the largest concentration of restaurants, hotels, shops and money changers.
Most of the local people of Kalibukbuk live in traditional kampongs that can be found south of the main road, the Jalan Raya Singaraja-Seririt.
Central Lovina - The beach area of the village of Kalibukbuk is general regarded as the 'center' of Lovina as it was here that the first accommodations were built. Traditionally, you will therefore find the highest concentration of restaurants and bars in this area, in particular along the Jalan Binaria (Dolphin Street), Jalan Pantai (a boulevard) and Jalan Rambutan.
Restaurants of Kalibukbuk - You will find a range of good, western-oriented restaurants with national and international cuisines in Kalibukbuk. To mention just a few, there are Warung Aria, Kakatoa, Café Lumbung, Jasmine Kitchen, Bali Apik, Tropis restaurant and bistro, Waru Bali, Astina restaurant, The Duke, Warung Made, Barclona, La Madre and Barakuda.
Nightlife of Kalibukbuk is found mainly along the Jalan Binaria and the T-junction of the Jalan Binaria with the main road, Jl. Raya Singaraja-Seririt. There are several bar-disco's in this area, among others the 'icons of nightlife' Poco Bar, Zigi's and Kantin 21. Other places to go are Pasha nightclub, VIP Bar, Café Lumbung, Small Bar and, more traditionally, the night warungs of Binaria square.
Binaria Square is located at the end of Jalan Binaria in Kalibukbuk and is landmarked by a Dolphin Statue. You will find some souvenir shops, restaurants and warungs here. Binaria Square is a popular meeting place for local people and, traditionally, a 'must-see' for tourists. Every day as from ca. 4 pm several kaki lima (foodstalls) can be found along the edges of Binaria Square selling food and drinks. These foodstalls stay open until late at night and are frequented by both local people and westerners. The food that is sold here is good and ranges from gado-gado, lumpia's and satays to bakso and nasi campur to fruits, cakes and sweets. Drinks: cool Bintang beers, lemonades, tea, coffee, mixed iced fruit and sweet local drinks. Food prices here range from Rp. 4000 - 8000 per portion.
The beaches of Kalibukbuk still breathe a rural atmosphere. The beaches are largely rimmed with palm trees and rice fields, with here and there traditional small, grass-roofed warungs under the trees that border the beach. It is not unusual to encounter chicken at the more quiet parts of the beaches. The sand of the beaches is of a unique, dark color because it is of volcanic origin. Due to the coral reefs the water of the sea is shallow and free of dangerous undercurrents. The water is of an agreeable warm temperature throughout the year, which makes this part of the Bali sea extremely suitable for unconcerned family holidays with safe swimming and snorkeling. There are four main beaches, Binaria Beach, Rambutan Beach, Kartika Beach and Banyualit Beach.
Binaria Beach is located at the end of Jalan Binaria, the center of Kalibukbuk's nightlife. Binaria Beach is one of the most popular beaches to watch Lovina's famous, romantic sunsets. The best spots to watch the sun set, apart from the beach itself, are Sea Breeze restaurant (west of the Dolphin Statue) and Santhi Bar (east of the Dolphin Statue).
A beachside boulevard runs through a treed area and connects Binaria Beach from Binaria Square with Jalan Rambutan and Rambutan Beach.
Rambutan Beach, located at the end of the Jalan Rambutan in Kalibukbuk, is landmarked by dozens of blue-and-white, traditional outriggers. At the edge of the beach, next to a small parking lot near Bintang Bali restaurant and the Tropis Club restaurant-bistro, is a volley field for those who like sports. To the left of the parking lot is a treed area with a walking boulevard which leads to Binaria (Dolphin Square).
A small walking track to the right leads to Kartika Beach. Jalan Rambutan is a quiet street with a number of hotels and goods restaurants.
Kartika Beach is bordered by trees, rice fields and farm land, and is certainly the most rural in character. This beach is secludedly located at the end of Jalan Kartika, a small street which runs seaward at the stopping lights that are located at the main road next to the Lovina Bakery. Visitors of this quiet beach not seldom get invited by the friendly, local farmers and fishermen to visit their traditional beach side homes to have some tea or coffee and a chat. Rambutan Beach is reachable from here via a small walking track.
Banyualit Beach is located at the end of the Jalan Laviana in the most eastern part of Kalibukbuk. Banyualit Beach is one of the more quiet beaches of Lovina. Enjoy a relaxing time at this beach having a tan, a refreshing swim, and have a chat with the friendly locals over a cup of Bali coffee (or a cool beer) at a traditional beach warung.
Things to See & Do in Kalibukbuk
LOVINA BEACH
Lovina (or rather Lovina Beach) is the name for a stip of beaches with a total length of approximately 12 km, centrally located at the north coast of Bali just west of Singaraja and within easy reach of most of Bali's natural and cultural attractions. The beaches of Lovina belong to the fisherman's villages of Pemaron, Tukadmungga, Anturan, Kalibukbuk, Kaliasem and Temukus. Lovina offers a wide choice of accommodation, ranging from backpacker homestays to boutique hotels to private villas, with a growing number of restaurants with national and international cuisines.
The beaches of Lovina and around are characterized by its rural nature and its unique, dark colored sand which is of volcanic origin. The child friendly, shallow water of Lovina's reef protected beaches is free of dangerous undercurrents and is of an agreeable warm temperature throughout the year, which makes it very suitable for unconcerned family holidays with safe swimming and snorkeling.
Central Lovina, Kalibukbuk - The beach area of the village of Kalibukbuk is general regarded as the 'center' of Lovina as it was here that the first accommodations were built. Traditionally, you will therefore find the highest concentration of restaurants and bars in this area, in particular the area of Jalan Binaria (Dolphin Street), Jalan Pantai and Jalan Rambutan.
Located at the end of Jalan Binaria in Kalibukbuk, and landmarked by a Dolphin Statue at Binaria Square, Binaria Beach is one of the most popular beaches to watch Lovina's famous, romantic sunsets. The best spots to watch the sun set, apart from the beach itself, are Sea Breeze restaurant (located west of the Dolphin Statue) and Santhi Bar (located east of the Dolphin Statue ). A beachside boulevard runs through a treed area and connects Binaria Beach via Binaria Square with Jalan Rambutan and Rambutan Beach.
Food stalls at Binaria - Every day as from ca. 4 pm several kaki lima (foodstalls) can be found along the edges of Binaria Square selling food and drinks. These foodstalls stay open until late at night and are frequented by both local people and westerners. The food that is sold is good and ranges from gado-gado, lumpia's and satays to bakso and nasi campur to fruits, cakes and sweets. Drinks: cool Bintang beers, lemonades, tea, coffee, mixed iced fruit and local sweet drinks. Food prices here range from Rp. 4000 - 8000 per portion.
Things to See & Do in Lovina
SERIRIT
Seririt is a 'sleepy' old market town and the former commercial center of Buleleng, located about 16 km west of Singaraja near the villages of Banjar and Dencarik at the north coast of Bali. Seririt lies at a T-junction with Pemuteran and Gilimanuk to the west, Lovina/Singaraja to the east and Pupuan/Tabanan to the south. Seririt is the third town of Bali. Although an earthquake in 1976 destroyed many of its buildings, the Dutch colonial past of Seririt is still apparent by the architecture of the buildings that survived the quake.
The popular night market of Seririt is located in the center of the town. During the day time Seririt is a sleepy little town but during the nightly hours this rural town comes to live when hundreds of mainly local people frequent the busy night market of Seririt.
According to the local people, the market is during the nightly hours sometimes visited by wong samar, invisible beings that every now and then appear in the physical world as people without an upper lip, clothed in rags. An encounter with a wong samar may result in a gift, which should always be accepted.
Things to See & Do in Seririt
SINGARAJA
Singaraja is an old harbor town, centrally located at the north coast of Bali. It is the second largest town of Bali (approx. 100,000 inhabitants). It was once the former colonial capital of Bali and now the capital of the Buleleng regency. The Dutch colonial past of Singaraja is still apparent by the architecture of many of its buildings, especially those that are located in the old harbor district. White plastered warehouses still breathe the atmosphere of the old days when the harbor was still busy and trade in spices, vanilla and tobacco flourished.
Since colonial times Singaraja has been an important educational and cultural center, with nowadays two universities in town. Singaraja is an attractive town to many, thanks to a lingering colonial 'feel' and some well-preserved colonial architecture. Mainly in the southern part of the town one will find tiny, winding backstreets which make for pleasant wandering. In 1995 Singaraja won a nationwide award for the cleanest and best maintained town in Indonesia. People here are extremely friendly and helpful. The center of the town lies at the intersection of the Jalan Gajah Mada and the Jl. Jen. Ahmad Yani. Here you will find banks, a post office, some accommodation, a number of small restaurants and the local market Pasar Anyar, which turns into a night market with food stalls after sunset.
The harbor district of Singaraja can be found directly north of the center of the town. However not in use any more, there are still many old warehouses in the harbor district that date back to the Dutch colonial times.
Before the opening of the international airport Ngurah Rai at Denpasar/Kuta in the 1970's, Singaraja was the main entrance port for tourists to Bali, where cruise ships with adventurous tourists used to land regularly.
In addition to the Dutch heritage there are remnants of Chinese and Muslim influence. The descendants of the Chinese, Arab and Bugis settlers still live in the harbor distict in areas nicknamed Kampong Arab and Kampong Bugis.
A beautiful Chinese temple (klenteng) named Ling Gwan Kion can be found just off the Jalan Erlangga, close to the ocean in the harbor district of Singaraja. This temple is one of the few Chinese temples on Bali. It can be accessed via a bridge over a lotus pond and it has magnificent golden Buddha statues. The temple was founded in the year 1873 and has been renovated several times, the last one in 2004.
A unique lontar museum annex library, the “Gedong Kirtya”, can be found at the Jalan Veteran near the center of the town. The Gedong Kirtya collects, copies and preserves thousands of “lontar” (manuscripts made of palm leaf), "prasati" (transcriptions on metal plates) and books that deal with various aspects of human life such as religion, architecture, philosophy, genealogy, homeopathy, "usada" (medical manuscripts), black magic, etc., in the Balinese, Kawi (old Javanese), and in the Dutch, English and German language. The museum and library are open to visitors during weekdays but it is closed in the weekends and during national holidays.
The Royal Palace of Singaraja "Puri Agung Buleleng" is located close to the lontar library 'Gedong Kirtya', at the Jalan Mayor Metra. The Puri Agung, which has been renovated several times, is now softly open to public who are interested in the history of Buleleng – North Bali. Visitors can see a number of pictures of Raja (Kings) of Buleleng in the old house where the Raja and his family used to live. The descendants of the Raja's still live here and chances are you will meet with H.R.H. Crown Prince Ngurah Ugrasena, grandson of the last Raja of Buleleng, Anak Agung Pandji Tisna, who ruled until 1950 and who also was a well-known novelist and the 'founder' of the tourist resort of Lovina when he decided to build (the first) accommodation in the area.
The city statues of Singaraja are many and are certainly very varied. You might decide to do a city tour with a traditional dokar (horse cart), which is a perfect way to see most of Singaraja's statues and to absorb the atmosphere of the old town in an old fashioned way.
A dokar 'station' can be found in the center of Singaraja near the Pasar Anyar II Market, at the Jalan Gajah Mada.
The night market of Singaraja, "Pasar Anyar II", is located at the Jalan Gajah Mada in the center of the town. This market certainly is worth a visit, especially during the cool morning hours around sunrise. The market has two floors. Every morning hundreds of local people visit this rural market to shop for vegetables, fruit, fish, meat and offering flowers. You will also find a section here where you can buy clothes for real bargain prices (also open during day time).
Things to See & Do in Singaraja
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