BALI: A DESTINATION TO DIVE WITH THE MANTA RAYS AND OTHER ADVENTURES

When you perceive the name of the paradisiac island of Bali, located in Indonesia, in Southeast Asia, surely come to your mind the wonderful natural landscapes, brimming with endless beaches of fine white sand, where you have the opportunity to rest while having some exotic drinks, the beautiful waterfalls, lost somewhere in the jungle, from which it is a little scary to jump since they impress with their height even the bravest and the inexhaustible temples, where the beauty of the architectural construction meets to the decorative splendor, created with the excellent paintings and sculptures, and flowers that are very colorful and give off a pleasant aroma. That’s right, its exactly as you imagine it, the island of Bali offers an unusual adventure to visitors, including scuba diving with manta rays, incredibly fascinating animals.

A PLACE WHERE VOLCANOS EXPLODE

The island of Bali is located in Indonesia, the fourth most populous country in the world, whose geographical area comprises no more than 17.508 islands, much more than even in the Philippines, the neighboring country about which I wrote in an article on my Blog. I had the opportunity to visit this beautiful island while living in the Philippines, honestly I was not sure what to expect from this place, so popular especially among instagramers, and I did not feel like becoming another person who travels to a fashionable place. However, I must admit that the beauty of this place left me very impressed, I am not surprised that the island of Bali is so trendy. To get to the island I ran into some problems, since at the end of 2017 the Agung volcano erupted. During this year and the following, the Pacific Ring of Fire was very disturbed, later, already in the Philippines, I had the possibility to contemplate the eruption of the Mayon volcano, seeing the “fury of nature” up close was one of the more exciting things than I had ever seen. By the way, the Pacific Ring of Fire is the area of ​​the coasts of this ocean that gathers the main subduction sites, where one lithospheric plate sinks below the other, causing strong seismic and volcanic activity.

DIVING WITH MANTA RAYS

The island of Bali is a paradise for diving enthusiasts, since it offers many unique places to immerse yourself in its waters and discover its full of life fauna and flora. To be able to swim with the manta rays, whose size reaches up to three meters long, by the way, next to them you will feel very insignificant, the best place are the areas near the southwest of the island Nusa Penida and also around the island Nusa Lembongan. On the first island there is even a place called Manta Point, where you surely will have the opportunity to admire this great animal up close. Do not be scared, manta rays are animals, whose size is considerable, however, it is important to note that they are usually harmless to human beings, although this characteristic does not give us permission to disturb them, so keep your distance and respect another life, especially since it is impossible to know how they might react. Manta rays also appear in other areas of the globe, their home is also located in the Philippines, Argentina or the Gulf of Mexico, but in the 1990s their population was decimated due to a very exorbitant hunting. In reality, we currently do not have enough data to say whether manta rays are in danger of extinction or not. On the other part, one thing more that I would like to highlight is the fact that the water could be cold, at least it was for me, in this way I recommend you to use a long suit, 3 or 5 mm is enough, on the contrary, the shorty could be quite unpleasant by reducing your fun and being unnecessarily cold.

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THE FASCINATE BALINESE CULTURE

Although Bali attracts travelers mainly for its dreamy beaches, I recommend you to spend a couple of days exploring the interior of the island and in this way you have a excellent opportunity to get in touch with the Balinese culture that is mainly Hindu-Buddhist. On the island, artistic activities such as dance and theater stand out. During the great festivities the traditional dances performed by the men who imitate the ancient warriors are represented. It is very curious that the music is different for each event, whether it is a birthday, a wedding, a funeral, festivities, etc. On the other hand, what I really love about the island of Bali is its great development of the visual arts, among which sculpture stands out. Did you know that Balinese sculptors do not mind being unrecognized? Since they consider their work as a kind of offering to the many gods in whom they believe. They are also the best imitators in the world.

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The interior of the island is repleted of different temples, below I will mention in more detail the names of my favorites. The excursion can be done by renting a car with the guide or by yourself. It is possible to rent a motorbike, however perhaps the island is too big to cover the whole of it on the motorbike in a single day, maybe you should think about spending the night in different areas and from there tour its surroundings.

• The Hindu Temple of Tanah Lot: it is only possible to visit it at low tide, since it is situated on a large rock. It is better if you can get visit it during the sunset, the show is really wonderful during the golden hour.
• Ulun Bratan: is located on the shores of Lake Bratan and surrounded by very beautiful mountain views.
• The sacred sources of Tirta Empul: is dedicated to the goddess Indra, the waters that run through the temple have healing qualities, so don’t forget to immerse yourself in its waters to be blessed.
• Goa Lawah: or also known by the name of Bath Cave, it was built in 1007 BC., inside a cave inhabited by bats.

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TIPS:

• The best thing to do is to spend the night in different parts of the island and to explore its surroundings little by little by motorcycle.
• If you are going to explore a large area of ​​the island, perhaps it is better to opt for the service of the guide and the car. The guide recommends the best places in the zone that you want to visit, although the route is flexible.
• To dive with the manta rays I recommend you to use the long thin suit.
• Do not forget to buy some of the Balinese artistic works and their wicker bags, currently very famous.