Wonderful Bali Hidden Beach

1. Balangan Beach

Hang loose with Bali's surf community at Balangan Beach.

When the neighboring Dreamland beach got taken over by bulldozers and chain resorts, the surfers drifted over to Balangan.

The long stretch of white sand is flanked by rocky cliffs while the shore is lined by an assortment of warungs (local cafes) serving plates of instants noodles and ice-cold Beers, and cheap non-air conditioned huts.

The agenda at Balangan is simple: surf (if you can), go swimming when it is high tide, build intricate sandcastles -- the sand here is exceptional for doing so -- and laze about in a hammock watching the surfers, young and old, catch the waves.

Reef shoes are highly recommended as the beach has a sharp rocky base and some of it covered in slippery green moss.

For the virgin surfers, there are surf schools and numerous freelance instructors who’ll be willing to take you out for a price.

2. Geger Beach

You won't get pounded by the waves at Geger Beach.

For sun seekers dismayed by some of Bali’s rougher waters, this is a beach you can actually swim in. Situated close to the Nusa Dua golf course, the sparkling green-blue water here remains relatively calm with gentle rolling waves. The sand is thick and soft, packed hard so you can play a game of volleyball or go for a leisurely beach run.

A string of restaurants make this a popular Sunday brunch spot, especially with the local expats and their young ones. There are touts hawking their wares but they’re relatively tame compared to other beaches and deck chairs can be rented from about 20,000 rupiah (US$2) a day. Go at the right time of the day and you’ll see seaweed farmers working between the area from Geger Cafe to Geger Temple.

Another big plus? This is one of the few beaches where topless sunbathing is allowed

3. Bias Tugal

Bias Tugal: Good luck tracking this spot down... here's a hint, it's close to Padang Bai.

Referred to as Pantai Kecil (Little Beach), this spot is often deserted, except for the odd adventurous tourist and a couple of the warung vendors.

Tucked away near Padang Bai, the beauty of this beach is that it is hidden, accessible only after a 500 meter trek down a rocky path.

What greets you at the end of your mini-hike is a glorious body of water in varying shades of blue and turquoise fringed by a strip of fine white sand and swaying coconut trees.

The current here can be strong, for the non-experienced swimmers, make do with playing in the waves and soaking up the sun in relative solitude as you watch the boats entering and leaving Padang Bai for Lombok and the Gili Islands.

4. Ungasan

Ungasan: Some of the best things in life aren't free.

This strip of beach situated on the southern most point of Bali is quite possibly the island’s prettiest.

The only catch is that it'll cost you to enjoy this little slice of paradise.

If you’re not staying at either the Karma Kandara resort or the neighboring Banyan Tree resort, the best way to access it is to spend a day at the popular Nammos Beach Club.

The entry fee of 250,000 rupiah (US$27) (fully redeemable for food and beverage) is a little cheeky, but the view from the inclinator that brings you 150 meters down the cliff-face to the beach is almost worth the fee alone.

Here, the sand is fine and delicate, the water, an intense azure color -- not too dissimilar from the Mediterranean -- and the waves roll in hard and evenly, forming pretty white patterns on the shoreline.

The best time to swim is before lunch when it is low tide and you can frolic at ease.

Later in the day, the waves become stronger, and the currents will sweep you across to the other beach, should you prefer a little more privacy and don’t mind the lack of deck chairs.

Warning: do not laugh off the yellow Wet Floor signs placed on the rocks, they’re placed there for good reason.

Go on a Monday when Nammos Beach Club screens a movie from 6:15 p.m., and if you really want to splurge, the Karma Kandara spa has a on-site beach sala.

5. Amed

Amed: A quieter, less touristy bit of Bali.

Situated about two hours drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport is Amed, where the sand is of the coarse black volcanic variety.

Instead of surfers and surf boards ott on the water, the beach is lined with traditional outrigger fishing boats.

Those who venture up to Amed are usually keen to get in some quality diving as there are a number of wrecks located at nearby Lipah Beach and Tulamben.

For snorkelers, the coral and underwater life in Amed is abundant.

While the prettiest bays are found at Jemeluk and Lipah, the whole stretch of coastline presents a different, more natural image of Bali where the locals' primary source of income lies in salt mining and fishing.

7 Wonders of Indonesia

 

Indonesia is an exotic purpose with attractive scenery and remarkable culture. It is located in Southeast Asia, on the Malay Archipelago among the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is also the country with the fourth largest population in the world. Indonesia is an incredible and exotic world in which it has collected impressive volcanoes, thick equatorial forests and various cultures.

The country extends over 17,508 islands and has 128 active volcanoes, more than anywhere in the world. Between the islands of Sumatra and Java, Island Krakatau is located on the same name which raises the volcano, whose eruption in 1883 is considered one of the worst natural disasters in human history. Indonesia is one of the countries with greatest biodiversity in the world as it is located around the equator in the zone of equatorial rain forests and the 2 bio geographical areas, Asian and Australian-Papuan Language. as a result, in the western islands are found plants and animals typical of Asia and the eastern and those also typical for Australia and New Guinea.

See the biggest attractions of this exotic country, which may be called the "7 Wonders of Indonesia" though the list of amazing places does not end with them.

1.  Toba Lake

Toba Lake is the largest volcanic lake in the world, measuring 100 kilometers. 30 km in length and holds a depth of 505 m. It was formed by the eruption of a giant ancient volcano 75 000 years ago. Toba is located on the island of Sumatra and is located 900 meters above sea level and is surrounded by high mountains. Strangely is that despite the lakes enormous size, the entire area is located in the crater of an ancient giant mega volcano whose power, on eruption would be ten thousand times greater than that of Etna.

2. Raja Ampat Islands

 

Located in northwestern peninsula Bards Head is part of the island of New Guinea, shared between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, Raja Ampat. These islands are an archipelago consisting of over 1,500 small islands, coral reefs and shoals that surround the four main islands - Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo. Archipelago is known for its vast biological diversity, its waters are inhabited by over 1000 species of fish, 537 coral species and 699 types of mollusks. Raja Ampat islands are part of the reserve Bards Head, which covers about 183 thousand sq. km.

 

3. Mount Krakatau (Krakatoa)

As already mentioned, the island of Krakatoa has presented it in a volcano located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra islands. It was formed one million years ago, and its eruption on August 26, 1883 is considered one of the worst natural disasters in human history. Tatenat was heard only in Madagascar and far less remote in Australia, while two thirds of the island disappeared. In 1927 the region started with new volcanic eruptions, as a result of which appeared. Anak Krakatau, the child of Krakatau, which each year grows by five meters.

4. Komodo Island

Komodo is part of the eastern Lesser Sunda Islands (East Nusa Tengara). The island has an area of 390 square meters and a population of around 2,000 people and it is one of five sites (five Indonesian islands), which occurs the Komodo dragon. Residents of the island are descendants of former convicts sent here in exile, which were later mixed with the representatives of the people, boogie on the nearby island of Sulawesi. The island is part of Komodo National Park, including 3 large islands, Komodo, Padar and Rinko. There are numerous smaller islands with a total area of 1817 square km.

5. Jaya Peak (Jaya Wijaya Mountains)

 Jaya Peak, also known as Puncak Jaya and the Carstensz Pyramid, is the highest peak in Oceania. According to the most common data, it stands at a height of 4884 m. The tropical island of New Guinea is shared by two countries - Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

 

 

6. Borneo Tropical Rainforest

Borneo is the third largest island in the world as it is bordered by the Java Sea and South China and Sulu and Celebes Seas. Nearly three-quarters of the island fell of the Indonesian Kalimantan provinces, the vast majority of its remaining territory is occupied by the Malaysian and Sabah states Sarauak, while less than 1% is the domain of Brunei. On the island it extends dense tropical forests, which support over 15,000 species of humanity, known plants and animals (some of them unique), which makes them one of the places in the world with the greatest biodiversity. Because of intensive logging in the area currently only half of Borneo is still covered with forests, but they are large enough to provide homes and livelihood of a significant population of endangered species.

7. Bromo Mountains

Bromo Mountains is an active volcanic mountain, which offers a wonderful variety of natural treasures and landmarks. It is located in the eastern part of the Java Island and is over 2000 meters high. The mountain is located in a spacious plateau called Sand Sea and is best known for its beautiful views of the sunrise when the sun seems to rise from the crater of the volcano to the sky.