Kerobokan, Bali

Let's be honest, the district of Kerobokan was not very lucky. It is home to many tourists and foreign expatriates, some of whom may not even be aware of this area.

This district is often not referred to as Kerobokan, but more commonly by the names of the streets within it. People say they live in Petitenget, Umalas, Batubelig.

Why is that? Besides the fact that quite a few people these days can afford the luxury of checking Google Maps, there is another reason. Kerobokan is home to a prison. And it has become very famous due to high-profile cases of people being imprisoned in Kerobokan for drug-related offenses. There is even a sarcastic expression "Hotel Kerobokan," alluding to this correctional facility, and a book with the same title has been released.

Kerobokan is divided into the central part of Kerobokan and two extremes. Kerobokan Kelod - the coastal Kerobokan, and Kerobokan Kaja - Kerobokan towards Mount Agung.

Kerobokan Kelod and Kerobokan are the most popular among tourists. But, of course, the further inland you go, the more hotels are replaced by villas, and tourist areas give way to places of residence for expats and locals who come to the island for a short period.

In Kerobokan, there are buses of the fourth line operated by Kura-Kura transport http://kura2bus.com/page/bus_lines, but it's not advisable to rely on them, as the interval between buses is 45 minutes.

If you have settled in Kerobokan, consider renting your own transportation, such as a bike or a car, or use taxis. With the exception of Petitenget, Batubelig, and the main street of Kerobokan, traffic jams are rare in the area.

The atmosphere of the area varies as you move away from the ocean. The first line is lined with luxurious five-star hotels. As you move further away from the ocean, the development becomes less dense, and more rice fields, villas, and private residences emerge.

Fewer short-term tourists visit this area, and more expatriates choose to live here. Therefore, the atmosphere in restaurants, cafes, and shops is more homely compared to Seminyak, Legian, or Kuta.

Here, you can find both luxurious hotels and simple homes. The further away from the ocean, the simpler and more affordable the accommodation.

Among the luxury hotels, it's worth mentioning the five-star ones - W Bali Seminyak, Alila Seminyak, and Katamama.

A little deeper into the area further from the beach you can find many fairly inexpensive guesthouses for short-term stays and for monthly rentals.

The entertainment options here are almost as lavish and indulgent as in the luxurious Seminyak.

During the day, there are spas, shopping opportunities, and various restaurants. In the evening, you can enjoy clubs and, once again, visit restaurants.

Some of the standout clubs in Kerobokan include the Italian restaurant and club Da Maria, the club with the Gothic cathedral architecture, Mirror Lounge, and the Italian restaurant Jungle, which transforms into a trendy nightclub on Fridays.

In Kerobokan there is an open-air skate park called Amplitude on Semer Street.

A visit to the park costs 30,000 - 50,000 rupees.

The most prominent landmark in the area is the Pura Petitenget Temple, situated by the ocean. The name of the temple is derived from two Balinese words, "pti" meaning box and "tenget" meaning magical. It is believed that the temple houses a box with miraculous artifacts.

This temple is particularly vibrant during the celebration of major Balinese festivals, Galungan and Kuningan, which occur every 210 days.

Occasionally, in the mornings on weekends, dance rehearsals take place in the pavilion near the temple, providing a glimpse of dancers perfecting the art of intricate Balinese dance.

The architecture of the temple is characterized by the use of red brick and sandstone. The entrance to the temple leads guests up a staircase adorned with dragon figures into the wide courtyard of the temple. There, you can find around a dozen shrines and small pavilions draped in traditional Balinese checkered black-and-white fabric.

Pura Petitenget is part of the Dang Kahyangan temples, a collection of sea temples serving as the spiritual protection of the island. It is believed that these temples, constructed along the island's perimeter, were designed by the Hindu priest Dang Hyang Nirartha during his missionary activities from Java in the 16th century.

In addition to the main temple, there is a small temple called Masceti Ulun Tanjung, where locals pray for protection during times of illness, drought, and other calamities.

At the gallery, you will be welcomed by the owner, Ari Purpa, who will introduce you to a collection of works by contemporary Indonesian artists. In addition to their pieces, the gallery showcases paintings by expatriates living in Bali or inspired by its atmosphere.

The gallery features masterpieces from renowned artists of the past century who have made a significant impact on Bali, such as Antonio Blanco, Walter Spies, and Miguel Covarrubias.

Furthermore, in Kerobokan, there are two branches of the Bali-based art gallery network, Reservoart.

In the area, there aren't many large stores. Instead, it is abundant in small boutiques and shops. For groceries, there are Pepito and Festive stores where you can conveniently purchase products.

There's a good souvenir shop called Geneva located on Rayan Kerobokan street. It's quite spacious but a bit dusty. You have an hour before you catch a cold to quickly grab all the interesting items.

A bit to the east of Kerobokan, you'll find Unagi Handicraft store. Its twin, Unagi 2, is located in Jimbaran. Both of these stores are great for bulk shopping of inexpensive souvenirs without the need for extensive bargaining at the market.

In Kerobokan, there's the Taman Sari fruit and vegetable market at the intersection of Rayan Kerobokan and Petitenget streets. Here, you can buy fruits and vegetables while observing the life of a traditional Balinese market. Another smaller market, tucked away in the network of narrow streets, is Pasar Swadya Kuwum Sari.

On Semer Street, there are numerous flower shops where you can, if you wish, order a bouquet of fresh flowers for your loved ones for a celebration.

In the area, there are two beaches - Petitenget and Batubelig. Both are not very popular among beachgoers and swimmers, so they are relatively quiet and not crowded. It's often nice to take a stroll along these beaches, especially before sunset.

And the Batubelig Beach, situated at the end of Batubelig Street, has become one of the popular spots in the area for watching the sunset at the beach bar 707 Beachberm.

In Kerobokan, there are no suitable surf spots. The nearest ones can be found in Brawa, in the adjacent Tibubeneng area, and in Legian, near the Padma Hotel.