This was our second time on this wonderful island in Indonesia. Last time we were in the south island, but to be fair, both parts are equally fun. The south is definitely busier, but you can find more of the larger attractions there, and the nicer hotels. For more information on the south island visit our previous blog post HERE.

For those of you that don’t know, Indonesia is overwhelmingly Muslim. The Island of Bali is an exception to this, and is overwhelmingly Hindu (also, there are a few, but small, islands that are largely Christian). They also have a very unique blend of the Hindu culture, and incorporate older practices like how they believe that the spirits of nature are quite powerful. Because of this, Bali has a unique architecture for temples, homes, and more.

These are the top things to do in Northern Bali;

• Soak in the Banjur Hot springs. This is about 20 minutes from Buleleng, a larger city in the North. It is a very cheap admission, about $1.5 a person. The water isn’t super hot and is perfect for a soak. They also have massages and an eatery. This is a perfect relaxing spot, where you can enjoy hot thermal water in the jungle.

• Symon’s Art Zoo was a fabulous and crazy artist home. The whole place is a blend of colors and patterns. Symon, the artist, died quite recently, but he has given his house as a school for artists, who keep making pieces in his memory. Symon’s paintings are very, very colorful and have a couple of different styles. His whole house is bizarre, with a giant laying budda, interesting pools, and more. This is something you shouldn’t miss out on if you are an artist yourself or want to see some fun and interesting works.

• Near where we were staying was a Buddhist temple. It is the Brahmavihara-Arama Temple and is absolutely amazing. It has very interesting styles of temples, as well as some really cool statues. It blends a little of the Hindu and Buddhist styles together. It is a super peaceful place, and if you want, you could meditate under one of the huge banyan trees.

• Any Hindu Temple is worth seeing. A noticeable one was Pura Maduwe Karang Temple, which is also a 20-minute drive from Buleleng (although to the east). It is an old temple with a classic Balinese style. Inside the temple is a relief of a man riding a bike that has flowers for wheels. This is supposedly the man that brought the cycle to Bali, which is probably why the motorcycle is such a big mode of transportation there.

• Mount Batur is a huge volcano, somewhat in the center of the island. It is currently semi-active. There is a huge lake surrounding a large part of it, and many hikes to choose from. There is one morning hike where you get up very early to see the sunrise, but we heard that it is extremely crowded, and that really takes away some of the splendor. We did the same hike but later in the day, and still, we had stunning views of the mountains around and the lake.

• As part of my birthday, we went rafting! This was an amazing experience, and my first time doing it. The rivers there are very fast, but the rafting is totally safe. There are many companies, but the one that was very responsive, good pricing and had great reviews (and which we ended using is THIS ONE. They also offered lunch at the end. The great thing as well was that Madeline was able to do it even though she was 7. This is a great adventure and really not too much energy or work either!

• The town we stayed near was called Lovina, and it is famous for its Dolphin Spotting Tours. You are practically guaranteed to see dolphins, and possibly whales, turtles, and more. There are many companies and agencies there provide this tour, and it is really easy to arrange one - just watch out for the people trying to get you to go on a tour. You don’t know how their boat is, or if you can trust them, so just ignore them (also, for any vendor or person that pesters you to buy something or do this or that, ignore them and NEVER say no or interact - that just makes them try even harder on you)

• Bali is known for its amazing Scuba Diving. On the north island, one of the best sites is Menjangan Island. There are many different sites and diving centers, but the one we took was the Pemuteran Bali Diving Academy. They were great and offered food for lunch as well. It was one of the cheapest centers, and all the equipment was sound. Definitely would recommend it!

• Teach a lesson at BDF (Bali Dyslexic Foundation). This is a wonderful program set up by a British doctor and closely tied with the Bali Rotary. I volunteered there 7 times, each class about an hour or two. This is to teach kids in Bali with dyslexia how to read, write, etc. Too many kids there are never able to read because they have that barrier, and the classes are able to help as they are effective and free of charge. That’s why they rely on volunteers to help around and help make a difference. As a bonus, they also teach English to non-dyslexic kids after school. Reach out or stop by, and I am sure they’ll love the extra help!

Bali is such a gem of an island. I think everyone should visit it at one point or another. Although a popular getaway for Australians (and thus some parts are super crazy touristy), there are some genuinely cool places as well. Places with fewer tourists are generally cheaper, more authentic, and real. There is no need to go to the tacky temples that are just tourist traps. I think especially the north part is more authentic and less touristy, but both parts are great to see anyways!