Bedugul Again
There is Bali and then there is Bali. What is the difference between Bali and Bali? Well, it depends on what Bali means to you. To me, Bali is beaches, offerings, ceremonies, and quiet areas. To me Bali is not the party capital of Indonesia, nor is it the beach clubs or the shopping.
Of course, a little bit of all of that is part of living in Bali. However, Canggu and its overrun Caucasian and crazy Russians are simply not my thing. I prefer quieter places, such as Candi Dasa and even to a certain extent Bedugul, where I spend my weekends. So what is Bedugul like? For many locals and Indonesians, Bedugul is cold and is only known by many for its very beautiful temple near the lake. Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is a very beautiful location in Bali. Most visitors will scoot up there for the weekend and stay in one of many hotels or cottages.
But Wait, There’s More!
There are many beautiful hidden waterfalls and hidden caves within the crater that Bedugul sits in. Most tourists never get past the main attractions since the smaller ones take a bit of a hike. I only know this because my friend has a villa next to the Handera golf course and we have walked to the golf course before. Hidden deep in the finger-like outcrops of the forest, there are many tall waterfalls and they are usually surrounded by temples or temples on the way. These areas are not sought out yet by hikers or visitors. These areas are hidden away and usually only known by locals.
The amazing thing is that most of these areas are accessible by moss covered stairs that are covered by canopies of the trees. The paths’ hidden natural springs make for amazing photographs. These natural springs are used for offerings and drinking water. If you happen to find, one the water is drinkable, I am here, living proof of that. However, what the natural springs offer are great pics and a nice place to cool off. Most of the springs are decorated and have been there for decades if not centuries.
But The Farming
Yes, this is what Bedugul is known for and there are farms scattered all over Bedugul. Unfortunately, many of the farms are being bought up for villas and as Bali expands, everyone wants a piece of the beautiful scenery. While there is nothing wrong with some expansion, the cutting down and clearing of the national forest and park area should never be allowed.
Being up in Bedugul, one sees a different part of Bali. Farming, lakes, mountains, and of course farms. What is super cool is that, like clockwork, the rising sun creates a beautiful gold glow over the mountains in the morning. The clouds roll in and it may rain around 2-3 pm and a wonderful sunset is also visible. These few things make Bedugul very special. While I am not a fan of the cold, it does make for a refreshing outing if you get fed up with the hot beaches of Canggu and want to run away from the many foreign tourists and join the locals. I know I need the break sometimes and Bedugul is a great choice.
