Bali has become the ultimate tourist destination for anyone looking to travel in the last few years. It has become the vision of perfection due to the several celebrities that have spent their vacations in Bali. Advertised unintentionally through every tabloid magazine, Bali has come into the lime light as one of the the best places to vacation in the world. It seems to be the ultimate combination of relaxation and tranquility. I’ve never been to Bali, but from what I’ve seen it is one of the most gorgeous places to be. As a sanctuary for meditators and a hot spot for celebrities, I can’t wait to see what Bali has to offer.
In my opinion, one of the most beautiful things to see in Bali are the rice paddies. Rice paddies are essentially rice fields, but in Bali they are tiered. One of the prettiest locations in all of Bali is The Jatiluwih Rice Fields. It has been quoted in several travel books as one of the top ten sites to see, however, people still seem to skip over it. In fact the rice fields are actually a UNESCO world landscape sight. As quoted by travel blogger Nomadic Matt, “…these rice terraces are stunning. They give new meaning to the word green. They crawl up the sides of the hills like steps leading you towards the sky.” He also mentions it is a must see if you go to Bali. You may be surprised to hear that if you go, you’ll find the fields to be mostly empty, but that’s part of the beauty. You get time to just be alone with nature. The terraces use the Subak irrigation system, which is a system that has been used for centuries. They span an entire mountain from the tip of the peak down to where it meets the sea. It’s so big it would take you days to hike through all the rice fields.
According to Travel and Leisure magazine and CNN travel, Tanah Lot Temple, is one of the best temples to visit in all of Bali. Bali is known for its beautiful architecture when it comes to its temples, and Tanah is one of the best examples. The temple is located on the Tanah Lot. The lot is a rock formation that is actually located of the island of Bali. The lot has been a part of balinese mythology for many centuries. I thought I would share the story that accompanies the myth.
“Legend has it that the site was founded by a roaming 16th century Brahmin priest from the Majapahit Kingdom in Java named Dahyang Niratha. According to the tale, during his travels along Bali’s coastline Niratha saw the rocky outcropping known presently as Tanah Lot and decided to stop there in order to rest and meditate. He was later spotted by some local fishermen, who brought the priest gifts. Niratha decided to spend the night on the little island, and subsequently told the fishermen that they should build a shrine to the gods and goddesses of the sea there because he felt it to be a holy place. Locals believe that small, poisonous black and white sea snakes (along with one very large snake) abound in the waters around the temple, protecting it from evil spirits and intruders. These snakes are said to be Niratha’s sashes, which fell into the sea when he left the sacred spot.”
Now there is a beautiful temple built on this island. Tourists flock to this sites every year to see the famous temple on water.
Many people believe that Bali has lost its charm and become too popular, but the natural beauty and architecture of Bali is still unsurpassed in many ways. It is an amazing place to escape to if you know where you’re going. I thought this would be a nice way to finish off my passion blogs, because Bali is a reminder that sometimes you just have to escape and explore, which is what travel is all about. It also enforces the fact that we need to relax, and as finals come up, remember one week will not be the end all be all of your life. So just breathe and think about the beautiful fields in Bali!
http://www.departful.com/2014/07/pura-tanah-lot-bali/
http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/escape/destinations/what-to-do-in-bali-641181
http://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide/bali
http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/the-jatiluwih-rice-terraces/
I know this is quite late, but if I had to pick, the first place I would go is New Zealand. I really want to see where I spent some of the first few years of my life!
This post was a good way to wrap up your blog. I like how you talked about the benefits of travel in general. I have a final question for you about your blog: if you were to travelt to one of the places you wrote about, which one would you choose first?
I love how the locations you blog about each week vary so much in location. You had a great mix of places all over the world, some of which I’ve never heard of before. Bali sounds like a really cool place that is much different than the typical vacation spot. Overall, great blog! I enjoyed reading it each week.