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Denpasar covers 125,42 square
kilometers of land with an elevation ranging from 12 to 75
meters above sea level , and consisting of 3 kecamatan. The
Kecamatan of East Denpasar, South Denpasar , and West Denpasar.
The population of Denpasar is about 360,000 people. Even thought
the town is relatively busy, especially its crisscrossing
traffic, the atmosphere in this town remains pleasant because
of the relaxed Bali influence. The average temperature in
this town is 28 degrees Celsius, the humidity varies between
60 and 97%
SAKENAN TEMPLE
Is built in the 13 Th Century by a holy priest namely : "
Dang hyang Dwijedra " on a small island very close to
the Benoa Harbour and Nusa Dua Local outrigger sailing canoes
can be hired from sanur for an hour's scenic sail down the
coast, or motorized canoes . Now, it can be reached through
a roadway in approximately 15 minutes to the east of Kuta
JAGAT NATHA TEMPLE
One of the most beautiful temples of Denpasar is the Central
Pura Jagat Natha, at the Northeast corner of puputan Square.
This temple comes alive at the full moon ceremony, when worsppiers
from all over the city gather to bring offerings and devotions.
On the main street of Denpasar, its restful sahede and gnarled
frangipani trees offer a welcome contrast to the hubbub of
city traffic. Also, you'll find the market temple, Pura Melanting,
where busy vendors pause to make their offerings for a prosperous
day.
MUSEUM BALI
On the eastern side of the historic Puputan Square in Denpasar
is the Museum of Bali, built by the Dutch in 1932. The Original
collection was put together with the assistance of a German
painter. Well apportioned exhibition halls display an excellent
collection of Balinese artifacts from prehistoric to contemporary
times, including weapons, dance costumes, Ming ceramic, cloth
and paintings.
BENOA
Just north of the Nusa Dua complex, takes one on to the narrow
peninsula of land, which terminates in the small village of
Benoa. From the concrete pier, you can see over the Serangan
Island, lying low on the water. From this fishing village,
people can depart daily by the Cruise ship. Out in the bay,
is an anchorage for ocean - going yachts and The Bali International
Yachts also has a base here.
SANUR
On the Eastern coastline, sheltered by the coral reef, the
waves here are much gentler than other areas of Bali. Sanur
is a multitude of contrasts. As in the past, Fisherman still
wander the beach and the colourful outrigger canoes can be
hired for sailing trips along the coast and outlying island.
In the last two decades the once sleepy village of Sanur has
become an elite international resort with huge hotel complexes
offering first class accommodations and every modern facility
to visiting tourists.
WERDI BUDAYA
Was built in 1973 to the design of the prominent Balinese
architect. Ida Bagus Tugur, as a showplace for Bali's performing
and fine arts. Strategically situated on Jalan Nusa Indah,
Abian Kapas, Denpasar, the Art Center has three art galleries,
including one permanent pavilion, including the huge open
stage and arena, Ardha Chandra. Local artist,dance and drama
groups, and the music school, STSI , all utilize the seminar
and exhibition halls on regular basis. Since 1979, the Festival
pf the Arts has been instigated as an manual fixture at the
Art Cente.
Denpasar is the bustling commercial
heart of Bali. JI. Gajah Mada is the main street, running
east-west. It changes names to JI. Dr. Wahidin to the west
and JI. Surapati to the east. The center of commercial activity
is on JI. Diponegoro and JI. Teuku Umar. Prices in US dollars.
AC = Air conditioning. Telephone code is 0361.
The airport taxi co-op counter
is outside customs, near "left luggage". The set
fare is Rp35,000 to Denpasar. Buy a ticket at the counter
for the sedan taxis. To take a bemo, walk out to the main
road as far as the impressive white charioteer statue on the
corner (about 1.5 km). From there, flag down a blue bemo van-it
will take you down to "bemo corner" in Kuta for
Rp1.500, where you can get another bemo to Denpasar. Metered
taxis operate outside the airport-make sure they start the
Argo meter before you take off.
DENPASAR
Traffic is heavy and streets
are often jammed during peak season. The four-wheeled bemos
serve the inner city, while the four-wheeled versions serve
the suburban terminals. Fare for a terminal to terminal journey
is Rp 1,000. Bemos can also be chartered for jaunts around
town, but it's easier and more economical to take the Praja
(orange, phone 289090), Pan Wirthi (green, Phone 723366) or
Bali Taxi (blue Phone 701111), Kowinu Taxi (Brown 773030)
metered taxis. Fare at flag fall is Rp3,000; minimum fare
for ordering by phone is Rp6,000. Taxi-motorcycles (ojek)
are available. You can hire a dokar (horse cart) for about
Rp.10,000 per km. However, the best way to get around Denpasar
is on foot. The city is relatively small and you'll want to
look in the shops anyway. For tourist services see Travel
Advisory.
Eating out in Denpasar
Denpasar is
a great place for all styles of Indonesian and Chinese food.
Prices are very reasonable. Many good restaurants are found
on JI. Teuku Umar, JI. Sumatra and on JI. Veteran, near the
Satria bird market. Also check out the night markets and food
centers.
Ayam Baker Taliwang JI. Teuku
Umar. Spicy hot Sasak (Lombok) style cuisine. Specialties:
plecingkangkung(swamp spinach) and grilled chicken.
Bundo Kanduang JI. Diponegoro 112 A, near Kerta Wjaya Shopping
Center. Best Padang food in town: open 24 hrs.
Rumah Makan Sumatra is another Padang option, JI. Teuku Umar
88X.
Hong-Kong Restaurant JI. Gajah Mada 99. The local favorite
for Chinese food. Or, try Rasa Sayang on JI. Teuku Umar, a
popular place for great Chinese fare, including seafood.
Kak Man JI. Teuku Umar. Authentic Balinese food in a Bali
kitch setting.
Gula Lunak, JI. Teuku Umar 120, for Balinese food in a nice
atmosphere and outdoor seating option.
Balinese chicken is a specialty at Warung Satria, Jl. Kedondong
11A, Phone 235993, and JI. Tunjung Sari 65. They open at 9am
and 10am respectively.
Or, try the suckling pig at Warung Nasi Gemah Ripah, JI. Supratman
118.
Ikan Bakar Rica on JI. Teuku Umar is known for its seafood
and Manadonese menu.
Mie Ayam Jakarta JI. Veteran. Famous for its Chinese mie (noodles)
and bakwan (meatball) soups.
Prambanan Restaurant JI. Hayam Wuruk 30XX, next to the RRI
radio station. Great Javanese food in a beautiful wooden building.
Soto Ayam Suroboyo JI. Veteran, near Satria bird market. Specializes
in soto (chicken soup) and other East Javanese dishes, such
as ayam kampung goreng and ayam kampung bakar (free range
fried and grilled chicken). And go to Warung Sate Muslim on
JI. Thamrin for the best sate in town.
There are three good restaurants on Jalan Sumatra (near the
Corsica newsstand). Betty, at no. 56, serves Indonesian favorites
such as mie goreng and frogs legs for a couple of dollars.
Mie 88, at no. 88, has delicious Chinese meat balls and the
Depot Kikel at no. 40-42, has good Javanese soto soup. |
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Night Markets and Food
Centers
For an authentic local experience check out one of Denpasar's
night markets (pasar malam), where you sit out under the stars
and eat at small food stalls. Open from sunset to 10 pm. The
biggest is at Kereneng terminal, another is outside the Kumbasari
shopping center. The food is mostly Javanese and Balinese.
For the whole range of local food in a cleaner, if less exotic,
environment try the food centers, located in the city's supermarkets
(see below).
Shopping in Denpasar
: Denpasar is where Balinese villagers come for all their
day-to-day necessities. Most shops close at 1 pm, re-open
6 pm-10 pm.
Markets and Supermarket
Pasar Badung is Bali's biggest traditional market. Located
on the eastern bank of the Badung river, it is in the heart
of the city. The first floor has fresh produce, flower offerings
and spice vendors. The third floor has textiles, dance costumes
and traditional accessories. At Denpasar's supermarkets and
department stores prices are fixed and cheap, and quality
is high. The main ones are: Tiara Dewata, Ramayana at Bali
Mall, Matahari, Libi, Siwa, Kerta Wijaya, Atfa, Dharma, and
New Dewata Ayu.
For a good one-stop-shop, visit the Indonesian Export Gallery
on the 3rd floor of Bali Mall Ramayana on JI. Diponegoro for
paintings, handicrafts, home furnishings, batik and souvenirs.
Textiles -
Check out our Bali products page
Modem textiles. Kampung Arab, JI. Sulawesi; or Toko Yadnya,
JI. Gajah Mada. Tailored clothes at Alus, JI. Gajah Mada;
or Adhie, JI. Sumatra.
Traditional textiles. Lestari on the ground floor of the Lokitasari
shopping center, JI. Thamrin, sells traditional songket fabric
directly from the loom. Danar Hadi, at the same shopping center,
sells fashionable batiks from Java. Take a look at Surya Jaya,
JI. Gajah Mada 128, for ikat. Kumbasari market, on the west
bank of the river, also has a wide variety of songket and
batik materials.
Handicrafts end Antiques
Check out our Bali products page
Pasar Kumbasari and Pasar Badung have all sorts of Balinese
crafts for reasonable prices. Satria Art Market specializes
in handicrafts. Also try the craft shops on JI. Sulawesi and
JI. Gajah Mada. For genuine antiques, visit Arts of Asia,
behind Lokitasari shopping center, JI. Thamrin 27-37 .
Gold and Silver
Check out our Bali products page
JI. Hasanuddin and JI. Sulawesi are full of gold shops. Prices
are comparable to Singapore or Hong Kong; the gold is 22-24
carat. Check out the Balinese jewelry made of beaten gold
on the second floor of the Kumbasari market. Mega Art shop,
JI. Gajah Mada 36-38, has silver jewelry.
Coffee
Balinese coffee makes a great souvenir. Toko Bhinneka Jaya,
JI. Gajah Mada 80, is the biggest producer and distributor
of coffee in Bali. $3 per kilo for Robusta; $4 per kilo for
Arabica.
Banks. These banks process advances
against your credit card for 5% commission. Take your passport.
Bank Central Asia (MasterCard), JI. Hasanuddin 58, Phone 431012;
Bank International Indonesia is the Western Union agent, Jl.
Dewi Sartika (Phone 234306).
Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs). These machines are abundant
and found in front of nearly every bank. Shopping centers
typically have several different banks' machines. Most accept
banking cards linked to international networks.
The Balinese swarm to Denpasar
for cultural attractions, so be prepared to be caught in a
big crowd of locals. On the eve of the Nyepi day (Balinese
new year), usually in March, hundreds of ogoh-ogoh peppier
mach monsters are carried along the streets of the city. This
extraordinary torchlight cavalcade is reminiscent of a small
scale South American carnival.
Bali's annual arts festival is held from mid June to mid-July
at the Art Center off J1. Hayam Wuruk. A month of dance, discussions
and exhibitions. The Art Center also holds daily kecak dances
at 6:30 pm. Barong performances at Kesiman at 9:30 pm.
Museum: Beautiful collections
of terracotta, carvings, painting and ceremonial costumes
are found at the Bali Museum (Phone 222680), on the eastern
side of Puputan Square. Open Mon-Thurs 7:30 am-2 pm, Fri till
11 am, Sat until 12:30 pm. Closed Sunday.
Hospitals - Medical. Sanglah
General Hospital, JI. Kesehatan Selatan 1, Sanglah, Denpasar.
Switchboard / Emergency, Phone 227911/5. Kasih Ibu, JI. Teuku
Umar 120 Phone 223036. Surya Husada, JI. Pulau Serangan 13
Phone 233787. These smaller hospitals are a little less daunting
than the enormous general hospital and tend to provide a quicker,
more personal service.
Pharmacy. Apotik Kimia Farma,
JI. Diponegoro 123-125, Phone 227811.
Opticians. International Optical,
J1. Gajah Mada 133, Phone 426294; Lily Kasoem, JI. Teuku Umar
74XX, Phone 238405; Optik Seis, JI. Thamrin 52, Phone 437467;
Tiara Optical, JI. Mayjen Sutoyo 55 at Tiara Dewata shopping
center, Phone 235733.
Postal services. The central
post office is on A. Raya Puputan, Renon. Open 8 am-8 pm.
Other post offices: JI. Diponegoro, near Teuku Umar crossroads;
Jl. Kamboja, near Kereneng terminal; JI. Supratman.
Telecommunications (Wartel).
The main telecommunications (telkom) office is at JI. Teuku
Umar 6. Open 8 am-8 pm. Other telkom offices: JI. Raya Puputan
in Renon and JI. Kaliasem, near Puputan square. Smaller wartels
are scattered throughout the city.
Massage. Masseurs in Denpasar
are more professional than those at Kuta. Sari Ayu, JI. Nusa
kambangan 35XX is a traditional salon.
Movies and Nightlife. Wisata
Cineplex, JI. Thamrin (Phone 423024) has 5 screens. Galeria
cinema 21 , phone 0361 767021 for the most up to date movies
playing. Check out their web site with movie schedules, you
will love the midnight movies -playing saturday nights.. I
just love to watch Midnight in this cinema - click here
There's also the Kumbasari, J1. Gajah Mada. Check the Bali
Post for details. The Citra discotheque is on the top floor
of the Kumbasari building. Filled with local youth.
Photo Processing. Tati Photo
at JI. Sumatra and Fuji Image Plaza at J1. Thamrin are quite
professional. Have your portrait taken wearing a Balinese
outfit at Tati or Fuji Professional Photo, JI. Diponegoro
89 (Phone 226965), which is also the best slide processor
on the island, with one-day service.
Newspapers. The Jakarta Post
and Indonesian Observer are widely available English language
dailies. |
