Jakarta Globe, Morgan Pettersson, Jul 05, 2015
Amed beach is quieter on the crowd front, but not short on experiences. (JG Photos/Morgan Pettersson) |
Jakarta.
Nestled on the eastern coastline of Bali lays the hidden gem of Amed Beach.
A laid-back
fishing village only a three-hour drive from Denpasar, Amed is the perfect
place to relax in Bali without the tourist hordes — think Bali twenty years
ago, before the crowds arrived in Kuta and Seminyak, and you have Amed.
Amed
stretches along the coastline, a rambling long village featuring one road
snaking its way from the rice fields through the mountains to the beach. Here
chickens stroll among the traditional fishing boats resting on the shore as
roosters strut between lounge chairs.
In Amed,
locals come up to you on the beach with no other agenda but to chat and those
that are selling items do not hassle you to buy.
You will
have no trouble finding a spot on the beach and not feel as though you are
tripping over other tourists.
Accommodation
options range from high end to budget guesthouse and everything in between so
there is something for everyone. With flights from Jakarta to Bali so
affordable, why not explore Amed Beach next time you need a city break?
Explore the
world below
One thing
Amed prides itself on is its diving and snorkeling opportunities, of which
numerous are scattered along its long coastline.
The
volcanic soil in the area spills down to the ocean, so the black pebble shore
line is not the white sand beach — but has a wonderful striking beauty of its
own.
Once in the
water you can snorkel multiple locations including the Coral Garden at Jemluluk
Bay where a sunken temple sits among the swirling clouds of tropical fish.
Dotted
along the shore line are local warungs where you can order fresh fish and
seafood prepared the traditional Balinese way at affordable prices.
Even
better, rest under an umbrella on a sunlounge and sip a refreshing fresh fruit
juice or beer between swims.
Hire a
small boat to take you to offshore snorkeling locations or to go fishing or
simply appreciate Amed from afar.
If you
dive, Amed will be your dream destination with both off shore and shore based
dive options. The Liberty shipwreck is a favorite location among divers who
frequent the area and you can also snorkel over the top as there is plenty to
see from the surface.
If you do
not hold a dive ticket but want to learn Amed has plenty of dive schools and is
a great place to learn about the world beneath the ocean surface. You can also
easily hire dive and snorkel gear from the local dive shops for an affordable
price.
Experience
the country side
If you turn
your back to the ocean and look behind you, you will see that Amed has much
more to offer than just beaches.
Mount Agung,
the highest peak on Bali, looks onto the village in the near distance with rice
fields spilling out below.
In fact the
rice fields and countryside are part of Amed’s charm, the complete lack of
development and traditional farming reminds you that you are in the real Bali.
Hire a
motorbike and zoom your way along the winding mountain roads passing by fields
and farms as you wind your way higher.
Heading up
into the mountains will provide some great vistas over the coastline to take in
the view.
If you feel
adventurous then why not hike Mount Agung?
Rising at
over 3,142 meters above sea level this is not a trek for the faint-hearted.
Starting in the night you will arrive at the peak in time for the sunrise over
the ocean, the perfect way to wake up.
If you are
in need of a complete unwind from busy life in Jakarta then why not go to Rumah
Pohon, a hidden meditation garden high up in the mountains.
It can be
tricky to find and some of the locals have not heard of it so you will need a
driver to take you there — but the views and relaxation will be worth the
trouble if you do find it.
Catch a
sunset
Watching
the sunset is almost a religion in Amed.
Each
afternoon you will begin to see people positioning themselves on the look out
point over Jemluluk Bay. Here with a perfect view of the bay and Mount Agung
looming in the distance you can relax as the sun sets in striking colors.
In fact you
will be forced to relax with the local reggae contingent coming each evening to
play Bob Marley songs on guitar.
An
alternative to watching the sunset over the look out is to go out to the rice
fields and watch the sun set over Mount Agung while drinking an ice tea
Here you
will feel totally at peace watching the sun cast the mountain and palm trees
into striking contrast with the cries of “haaa” echoing as farmers chase birds
out of their rice fields.
Next time
you travel to Bali for a relaxing getaway, how about skipping the crowds and
instead getting back to the real Bali. With beaches, mountains, rice fields,
fresh seafood and dramatic sunset views Amed is the hidden paradise of Bali
that is not yet in the tourist brochures.
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