Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tirta Ayu
0363 22503,
hoteltirtagangga.com
.
The classy, innovative food at this up-
scale restaurant gets rave reviews, with the vast, pricey menu ranging from Balinese
megibung
dishes (Rp195,000 for two) to
rijsttafel
(Rp125,000) and pizza. The location within
the Water Palace grounds is great, too, with views across the gardens and pools.
Daily
7am-9.30pm.
The Amed coast
The entire 15km stretch of coast
from Culik to Aas
in the far east of Bali is known as
Amed
,
although this is the name of just one village in an area of peaceful bays, clear waters and dra-
matically undulating topography. One of Bali's poorest regions, notorious for its dusty soil
and subsistence economy based around fishing and salt production, Amed is also blessed with
abundant reefs, many of them close to shore. As word spreads about the exceptional
snor-
kelling
and
diving
around here, tourist facilities are beginning to mushroom, with accom-
modation now available in every village bay.
Jemeluk
, with its dive centres and restaurants,
is a good choice if you don't have your own transport;
Bunutan
has some very nice places to
stay; and
Banyuning
is great for snorkelling. If you're not here for the snorkelling or diving,
you could enjoy some day-tripping possibilities, but be warned that the
beaches
are not Bali's
finest, being mostly black, stony and shadeless (though they do get paler and sandier east of
Lipah
), and generally busier with traditional wooden outriggers (
jukung
) than sunloungers.
The scenery, however, is magnificent: as the coast road crests one headland after another, the
scalloped bays and aquamarine waters sparkle beneath the folds of the stark volcanic hills
behind.
ZOOM
LEFT
ZOOM
RIGHT