New Year in Bali

Every country, every village, every religion and every community of people has its own celebrations. Some are more widespread and shared by more people, and others are more exclusive and hardly known by their own celebrities. There are few celebrations that can be said to be universal, perhaps even none, but the New Year is the one that is most similar. When we talk about the new year, it is not the one that everyone knows and celebrates, like ours is every first of January, but that date that every community or group of people understand as , that moment of tearing off the last sheet of the calendar to place a new calendar.

The Western style New Year is the one we have most assimilated, since it is the one most of us celebrate. However, Chinese New Year has gained quite a bit of popularity in the world today, especially since Chinese populations have become regular settlements in most countries. The Jewish New Year, called Rosh Hashanah, is also quite popular, especially since takes us a few thousand years ahead.

The New Year in Bali

There are smaller communities that also have special celebrations and it is somehow considered their new year. As with the Nyepi or day of silence, which would be the new year in Bali. This date is very special for the Balinese because immersed in a total silence and isolation, they dedicate the day to reflection. For the travelers of heart, who enjoy to know these so special and so intimate celebrations, is a very beautiful date to visit Bali, on the other hand for the tourists who only choose a destination because it is fashionable, it can be a date of any kind or perhaps even uncomfortable, because that day neither the airports work normally and it is considered a holiday and for some not working.

You may decide to receive the New Year or to say goodbye to New Year\’s Eve in Bali , even if you don\’t like to know how they celebrate the day of silence, either way it is an equally good option, because having the opportunity of to receive the New Year in several different countries is a magnificent experience. Also including Indonesia we can say that each region of the country has its own customs and traditions. So we may like them more or less but, in the end, what makes that date special is the company.

Bali, in addition, is an incredible island to know; in a small piece of geography is possible to find an unimaginable variety. Also religious temples of great architectural and historical attraction, the so called rice terraces, which is something definitely worth seeing. Also if you are lucky enough to catch someone planting or harvesting rice, the lakes that it has, among so many things that the island offers.

Where to go on New Year\’s Eve in Bali?

To begin with, you should know that although Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world, Bali is characterized by being mostly Hindu. There are many differences between this island and the rest of the Indonesian islands (Indonesia is an island state, that is to say, it is made up only of islands, although there are thousands of them, a fact in case you don\’t know) However, if you have the opportunity to visit several places, you will see that also has many similarities.

Although the new year does not have the same meaning for them as for us, that does not mean that you will have a bad time, on the contrary, you will be able to enjoy with good weather, delicious food and a totally different celebration than the one you are used to. The problem is not where to spend the new year, but where to go on New Year\’s Eve in Bali Fortunately, and this is a widespread use in almost all the world, in most hotels you have the possibility to book a table in a restaurant and take the last dinner of the year there.

Where to spend the new year in Bali

Denpasar is the capital and most populated city of the island, but Kuta may be the best option where to spend the new year in Bali This city, besides being the spa of many Australians, has a wide range of restaurants, shopping centers and entertainment venues. Therefore the offer of night places is good, but you also have several options of activities to do during the day. Starting with a visit to the incredible beaches, if you like surfing, you will find there incredible spaces where you can practice this water sport.Besides, if you haven\’t mastered it yet, maybe it\’s time to give it a try.

As far as gastronomy is concerned, there are restaurants of international cuisine and of course, the delicious local dishes. Asian food has become popular all over the world and that\’s because their flavors are, in many cases, extremely different from ours and very appetizing. Rice is the basis of their diet, but you can eat it in an unimaginable amount of ways, the most popular the Nasi Goreng. (Fried rice), that you can not fail to try on the island of the gods.

Bali at Easter

The high season in Bali is between May and October, although on dates like Christmas or New Year, when there are usually peaks in tourism. Because many Australians cross over to celebrate there or because others (those from the northern hemisphere) want to escape the winter. In any case, the high season is characterized by being drier and therefore is usually the preferred one. However, Bali at Easter can be a good option because for the Balinese it is not as important a time as for us. Therefore it is not such a crowded date and not only makes it cheaper, but also less crowded and more comfortable to walk and meet.

Easter in Bali

If you have 4 or 5 days free and you decide to spend Easter in Bali , the recommendation is:

• Book your accommodation in advance
• Visit at least 2 or 3 temples. Because they are an important part of their culture and history, we mention some of them to you: the Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, the Taman Ayun, the Pura Kehen, the Mother Temple or Pura Besakih and the Brahma Vihara Arama, just to mention some of them.
• Eat in a typical restaurant and discover some of the infinite ways they cook rice (try not to overdo it with the spice and be very careful with the water, only drink the water that you buy).
• Visit typical shops and buy batiks. Their fabrics and designs are spectacular and you will regret it if you don\’t bring at least one as a souvenir (although if you listen to me, you will end up using a lot of them).