Night Life

Western-style nightlife is overwhelmingly concentrated in the resorts of southern Bali, like Kuta that boasts the liveliest and most diverse nightlife on the island, with at least half a dozen major clubbing venues and lots more bars, many featuring live bands. The variety of nightlife possibilities is enormous and encompasses all musical tastes and age groups. Most places stay open till at least 1am, with several clubs continuing to churn out the sound until 2am or 3am and at least two that open till 6am. As most of the action is concentrated in Kuta, it’s quite possible to walk from bar to bar and then home again.

Nightlife in Bali starts late. The revelers of Kuta, Legian and Seminyak sleep late, spend a leisurely day on the beach, return to their hotel rooms, go back for the sunset at 19pm, wash up, then go out to eat at 20pm or 21pm. Visitors don’t even begin partying until at least 23pm or midnight. Many visitors wonder where crowds of expats come from at around 1.00 in the morning – even when all of Kuta has been very quiet during the whole evening, the IN-places often become crowded after midnight.

There’s a simple explanation: during the early evenings many of Bali’s night owls either still work, visit friends at home, or simply sleep. Many of them go to pubs, bars, or discos only in the early morning hours. Therefore, if you plan a night out don’t start your dinner too early. Between 9.00pm and midnight there are not many places to recommend.

If there is party somewhere, watch out for notices and small posters announcing special events such as Full Moon Parties, House Warming Parties, Body Painting Parties, etc, etc. If these “parties” are announced to the public (even if only by word-of-mouth), they are open for everybody. You’ll have to pay for your drinks, therefore, don’t be shy.

Safety
The main streets are well lit and usually pretty lively till about 3am at least. There are occasional reports of muggings though, so you might want to think twice about walking home unaccompanied. If you don’t fancy walking, or if you trying to get up to the clubs in Seminyak, there are always plenty of transport offers from drivers who wait around outside the bars and clubs. Expect to pay more than you would during the daytime, but bargain hard and fix the price before you get in. If possible, try to hail a metered taxi to ensure you’re getting a fair deal.

As a rule, the clubs and bars of Kuta-Legian-Seminyak are exceptionally safe and unthreatening places to be, and friendly enough towards lone drinkers male or female. Although women are unlikely to get serious hassle, you will get serious chatted up by the resident gaggle of gigolos who haunt the dance floors and bars in search of romance.

Prostitute
Visitors looking for company don’t need to worry. Wherever you go, there are many other single travelers with the same problem around – day and night. In Bali’s discos you’ll meet also many “kupu kupu malams” (“night butterflies”, or working girls) and young boys who compete with the females and service all sexes. There is some female prostitution in Kuta, but it’s mainly confined to a few well-known pick-up joints, though there is quite a public transvestite scene, which includes a group known as the “sucky sucky girls” who tout for custom outside McDonalds on Jalan Legian after the nightclubs close. All taxi drivers also know the more popular karaoke bars and massage parlors in Kuta and Denpasar, and the various Houses of the Fame in Sanur’s back lanes.

Kuta’s gay scene is very understated and to date, there’s not a single exclusively gay bar or club in the whole resort. But after midnight there’s nearly always a discernible gay crowd at Goa 2001, and then later at Double Six. Other bars and clubs rarely discourage gay customers, so you’re likely to find something happening somewhere.

The most popular cruising for male homosexuals has always been the beach, in particular stretch between the Maharani and the Natour Kuta Beach. As with the heterosexual gigolo scene, the local gay community thrives not on payment for sex but on the assumption that the richer man will pay for food and drink and accommodation.

Karaoke Bars
Some of these bars can be quite elegant and sophisticated; others can be dicey and working class, or slightly sleazy massage parlors along the Bypass. Some have Ladies’ Nights; others boast soundproof rooms, computerized automatic selection, competitions, Asian delicacies, or hire escorts who urge clients to sing. Asians are their most enthusiastic patrons and on most musical menus you’ll find popular Japanese, Taiwanese, Chinese, Korean, and Indonesian top-40 hits. Most close at 02am.

Movies
Most towns have small movie houses (bioskop), but most young people seize movie nights as an opportunity to stand outside the theater to talk rather than to see the movie itself. Movies are most apt to be of the swashbuckling kung-fu epic variety from Hong Kong. For current Western movies, a great number of restaurant/bars in Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Ubud, Candidasa, and Lovina show films to tourists starting at around 19pm most evenings.

Family Entertainment

Exciting Adventure
In recent years entrepreneurs in Bali have seen the need for family entertainment. This need has been realized through various theme parks which are sure to thrill and enchant people of all ages.

Waterbom Park is an excellent day out for adults and children where you can choose from different water slides such as the lazy River, Junglr Ride, raft river and the Race Track. Visitors can relax by the pool which features underwater music and a swim-up bar, the environmently friendly athmosphere, with pleasant garden settings give a peaceful and relaxing time for all guests.

For the stout-hearted, a wide range of exiting adventures and amusement are also available in Bali, with something new opening all the time.

Paradigling is a very thrilling way to see Bali. If wind conditions are right, you can view the island from a very different perspective. Skydiving is a new attraction in Bali. If you think you can jump from an aircaft flying at 3000 ft, go for it! Scared for heights? An adventure sport that requires you to be less lofty is bungy jumping. The craze has spread like wild fire in Bali, with no less than four companies offering you the chance to take the plunge.

You can jump in the heart of Kuta with the Bali Bungy Co. In addition to bungy jumps B.B.C. offers the new attraction of Sky Srufer. Orriginally developed by the U.S. Military as a training excersize for pilots, Sky Surfer combines the thrills of a roller coaster, paragliding and surfing.

The Ayung river is by far the most scenic and has the shorthest travelling time from most tourist destinations.

For mountaineers, Bali being a mountainous, volcanic island, offers some dramatic mountain climbing experiences. Mt. Agung is the highest peak at 3,142 metres. If you plan to climb, use a local guide for safety reasons. Mount Batur can be climbed in a few hours and if you want to see the sunrise, start early and don’t forget a torch.

Daily Trip
Bali has three main ports-Benoa in the south, Padang Bai in the east and Gilimanuk in the north. Several major shipping lines make Padang Bai and Benoa their ports of call on around-the world-cruises.

If you would like to explore the islands near Bali you have a wide range of choices for boating expeditions with anything from a few hours in a traditional jukung tody cruises or longer overnights trips on yachts or luxury cruisers.

A traditional Bugis schooner, is one of the most exotic ways to explore Indonesia islands, call ‘The Ombak Putih’. From now ’till October 1999, Ombak Putih operates the Volcanoes and Dragons Schedule, with 2 days, 3 days, and 7 days cruises, from and to Bali with visits to the lesser Sunda islands. See Safari cruises a;so offers a wide choice of cruises aboard its Sea Safari III (SSIII) and Sea Safari V (SSV).Built in traditional style of the type of schooners.