Lovina and the North Coast

Singaraja
The city of Singaraja has a population of approximately 100,000 and was the capital of Bali during Dutch rule. Today there is a mix of Muslim kampung, Chinese shops, tree-lined avenues of colonial houses and neo-Balinese government offices. You will find a Chinese temple (klenteng) near the harbour, not far from Kajanan mosque. The Balinese elements of the city appear to be on the periphery while the traditional traders, the Bugis and the Chinese, occupy the centre.

Singaraja once a bustling centre of commerce and government, is now a quiet, orderly city and the once busy waterfront is well worth a look around.

Menjangan Island is an uninhibated island at the very northwestern tip of the island. Travel to the island is by boat and takes approximately 30 minutes from the town of Labuhan Lalang. The island has some of the best diving and the most beautiful coral reefs in Bali. There is nearly 7000 hectares of coral reef and coastal waters protected as part of the Bali Barat National Park including Menjangan Island.

Travelling past the Pulaki temple, on the west coast of Bali, you will find the newly developed beach resort of Pemuteran. Here you will find fair accommodation and white sand, albeit a little far from Bali's cultural centres. This is the ideal place to plan excursions to West Bali National Park, comprising the nature reserve of Menjangan Island and the uplands in the west.

Basic accommodation is available at Labuan Lalang as it is forbidden to spend the night on the island. There are also two luxury resorts which provide diving and snorkelling instruction, along with great facilities and delicious food.

Bali has such a mild and agreeable climate the whole year round. The sunny days within dry season between May and September are warm and pleasent, while the rainy season is between October and April, tropical showers will alternate with clear sky and sunshine. The average temperature of the day in coastal areas varies from about 28ºC (82ºF) during May, June, July to about 30ºC (86ºF) in March and October.

It is approximately one and half hours drive to the highland where temperature varies from 16ºC to 26ºC and it is known to drop about 8ºC during the night. The humidity is high (from a minimum of 70% to a maximum of 96%). The weather is most pleasent between May to September.