In Reply to: Handara Country Club posted by Lisa B on Saturday, 26. March 2005 at 12:29 Bali Time:
You are staying almost in the centre of the island so you are within a day trip of anything that takes your fancy.
Bedugul is a main town in the central mountain district north of Kuta, Sanur and Denpasar. It is where the colonials of years gone by sent the family (and themselves if they could manage it) to avoid the worst of the hot and humid weather.
Bedugul and Candikuning are almost joined villages at either end of Lake Beratan (or Bratan as the locals say). Bedugul is associated with 'the temple in the lake', Pura Ulu Danau, a shared Buddhist and Hindu temple area but the temple is actually in Candikuning. Everyone seems to remember the flower, fruit, vegetable, nuts and spices market at Bedugul, particularly when the strawberries are in season, and when they've seen the temple they often turn around and go back to their hotel in the south without recognising Candikuning. I always think that this is a pity because just a bit further up the road and around to the left are the now divided Lakes Buyan and Tamblingan, some wondrous scenery, a great coffee 'factory' at a roadside cafe, and the peaceful and serene falls at Munduk.
If you want to go north you can visit the old Dutch capital of Singaeaja or the beaches of Lovina and even go right across the top of the island to see the ferry port that links Bali and Java.
If you go across the top the other way you can see some wonderful little temples on the edge of the beach or up in the foothills overlooking the Bali Sea. There are some historic sites up that way too, places where the Balinese fought the Dutch colonials. Further around is Tulumben and the wreck of the old ship that is so close to the beach you can snorkle over it.
It does seem a pity to waste the location of the Handara club by going south to Ubud whic is a much easier trip from Kuta/Sanur. Enjoy the delights of the different north while you're so close to it.
There is a link to Bedugul and the district below, where you will find lots of info. Just give it plenty of time to load right to the end as its in a big file.