Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TUBAN
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400 m
INFORMATION
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Bank Commonwealth..............................................
Klmia Farma............................................................
Periplus..............................................................(see 16)
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1
THE BALI BOMBINGS
On Saturday, 12 October, 2002 two bombs exploded on Kuta's bustling Jl Legian. The first blew
out the front of Paddy's Bar. A few seconds later, a far more powerful bomb obliterated the Sari
Club. The blast and fireballs that followed destroyed or damaged neighbouring clubs, pubs,
shops and houses.
Close to midnight on the busiest night of the week, the area was packed. More than 300 people
from at least 23 countries were injured. The number dead, including those unaccounted for, reached
over 200, although the exact number will probably never be known. Many injured Balinese made
their way back to their villages, where, for lack of decent medical treatment, they died.
Indonesian authorities eventually laid the blame for the blasts on Jemaah Islamiyah, an Islamic
terrorist group. Dozens were arrested and many were sentenced to jail, including three who
received the death penalty. But most received relatively light terms, including Abu Bakar Bashir,
a radical cleric who many thought was behind the explosions. He was convicted of conspiracy
and sentenced to 30 months, a term that enraged many, especially in Bali and Australia.
Although it took three years, Bali had largely bounced back in terms of tourism by 1 October
2005. On this busy Saturday, three suicide bombers blew themselves up: one in a restaurant on
Kuta Sq and two more at beachfront seafood cafés in Jimbaran. It was again the work of Jemaah
Islamiyah, and although documents found later stated that the attacks were targeted at tourists,
15 of the 20 who died were Balinese and Javanese employees of the places bombed (the others
were tourists: four Australians and one Japanese).
Those who suffered the most were those whose livelihoods depended on tourism. The local
economy plunged as visitor numbers fell by half and stayed low for months afterwards. However,
whereas the Balinese collectively went into a sort of shock after the first bombing ('How could
somebody do this to our island?'), after the second the reaction was much more angry. Said one
long-time local observer: 'They're pissed.'
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SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES
Teluk Kuta
Amazone............................................................(see 16)
Le Speed Karts........................................................
Mandara Spa Waterbom Park..............................(see 4)
Waterbom Park.......................................................
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SLEEPING
Tuban Beach
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Bakung's Beach Cottages........................................
Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel..................................
Hotel Santika Beach................................................
Patra Bali Resort & Villas.........................................
Rama Beach Resort.................................................
Sandi Phala.........................................................(see 13)
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Tuban
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EATING
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Atmosphere Café...............................................(see 16)
Bread Talk..........................................................(see 16)
C-Line Restaurant.................................................
Food Court.........................................................(see 16)
Golden Lotus........................................................
Kafe Batan Waru...................................................
Ma Joly................................................................
Pantai Restaurant.................................................
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ENTERTAINMENT
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DeeJay Cafe..........................................................
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SHOPPING
Discovery Shopping Mall.......................................
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Ngurah Rai
International Airport
nuts, coconuts, papayas and more, often in
fragrant baths.
There are many
Mandara Spas
(www.mandar
aspa-asia.com)
in top-end hotels, including the
Hotel Padma Bali
spa
(Map pp96-7 ;
north or south. Sunsets are a time of gathering
for just about everyone in south Bali. When
conditions are right you can enjoy a fuchsia-
coloured show that photos just can't capture
properly.
Tubes Surf Bar & Restaurant
(Map pp96-7 ; Poppies
Gang II;
8am-9pm)
. The vast, sinuous
pool features two water slides and a sandy
beach island. There are lifeguards, and if you
need a snog, you can rent private cabanas for
100,000Rp.
50,000/250,000Rp;
h
10-2am) The surfers' hang-out, it shows
surfing videos and publishes a widely circulated tide chart.
Also keep an eye out for free surfing magazines such as
Magic Wave
.
School of Surf
(Map pp96-7;
h
752111; Jl
%
10am-8pm)
. This
divine spa is decorated with water features
and impressive stone sculptural reliefs.
Waterbom Park (opposite) also has a Man-
dara Spa where parents can find their own
aquatic joy.
As stylish as its host hotel,
Spa
(Map pp96-7 ;
%
Padma 1; massages from US$30;
h
750123; www.schoolof
surf.com; Jl Padma 51; classes from US$39) This surf school
is associated with the Da Nui surf shop in Legian.
%
Sur fing
The beach break called Halfway Kuta, off-
shore near the Hotel Istana Rama, is the
best place to learn to surf. More challenging
breaks can be found on the shifting sandbars
off Legian, around the end of Jl Padma; and
at Kuta Reef, 1km out to sea off Tuban Beach
(see p78 for details on these surf breaks).
Several shops on Jl Legian sell big-brand surf
gear and surfboards. Smaller shops on the
side streets hire out surfboards (for a negoti-
able 30,000Rp per day) and boogie boards,
repair dings and sell new and used boards.
Some can also arrange transport to nearby
surfing spots. Used boards in good shape
average US$200.
Quicksilver Boardriding School
(Map pp96-7;
Massages, Spas & Salons
The sybaritic pleasures of a massage or an
interlude at a spa are an important part of
many people's visit and choices are aplenty
(see p84 for details). Scores of women offer
massages on the beach. A reasonable price
is about 20,000Rp for a half-hour massage
and 40,000Rp for one hour, but you might
have to bargain hard to get near this price if
things are busy. Professional massages in your
room or in a small massage establishment
cost a negotiable 65,000Rp per hour. Most
spas also offer facials, waxing and numerous
indulgent services.
In the typically calm setting at
Jamu Spa
(Map
pp96-7 ;
Waterbom Park
This popular theme park
(Map p103 ;
755676;
www.waterbom.com; Jl Kartika Plaza, Tuban; adult/child/
family US$18.50/9.50/50;
%
751946; Bali Niksoma Beach Resort, Jl Padma Utara; tra-
ditional massage 270,000Rp;
9am-6pm)
, south of Kuta,
is set on 3.5 hectares of landscaped tropical
parks and has assorted water slides, swim-
ming pools, play areas, a supervised park for
children under five years old, and a 'lazy river'
ride. Other indulgences include the 'Pleasure
Pool', a food court and bar, and a Mandara
Spa (opposite). There are lifeguards and it's
well supervised.
9am-9pm)
offers private
suites where you can indulge, from a pamper-
ing Bali coffee scrub to Shiatsu.
The delightfully relaxed spa at
Putri Bali
(Map pp96-7 ;
h
h
755987; Wisata Beach Inn, Jl Padma Utara;
massage from 50,000Rp;
%
10am-9pm)
offers a cream
bath that has sent many spa-o-phile's heart
a-twitter with delight. Located just off the
main street, this lovely spa has very competi-
tive prices.
Run by stylish hipsters,
Kudo's
(Map pp96-7;
h
752520; www.jamutraditionalspa.com; Alam Kul
Kul, Jl Pantai Kuta; traditional massage US$40;
%
Swimming Pools
9am-9pm)
h
