Bali runners-up

Bali runners-up
Each offers an interesting experience.

Klungkung
A former kingdom capital rich in cultural heritage. Klungkung is renowned for its classical style architecture and ceiling paintings of the House of Justice and Floating Pavilion (see photo) - and for the traditional Wayang style artists in the nearby village of Kamasan.

Museum
The best five:

• Neka near Ubud
  Bali's artistic jewel. Internationally acclaimed. Admirable presentation. Features Bali-themed paintings by local, Indonesian and foreign artists. (See painting detail on left).
  
• Puri Lukisan Ubud
  Classical and contemporary Balinese art. Admirable collection. However, it's difficult to fully appreciate the artistic treasures when the lighting is turned down low, as is sometimes the case.
  
• Classical Painting Museum Klungkung
  Outstanding classical Wayang style paintings.
  
• Bali Museum Denpasar
  Fine Balinese art collection, but the presentation needs improvement.
  
• Agun Rai near Ubud
  Traditional and modern Balinese art. Do not confuse the museum with the nearby gallery.

Shadow puppet performances
A single puppeteer manipulates an assemblage of flat leather puppets (see photo). He controls them with mounted wooden sticks while he speaks the lines of the puppet characters in a play derived from epic Hindu stories that tell a moral. A lamp behind the puppets casts shadows on a translucent screen.

The audience (often village residents) sits on the other side, seeing the shadows but not the actual puppets. A small gamelan ensemble sometimes provides background music.

More Bali runners-up
Volcanoes
Bali has active volcanoes. The last disastrous eruption occurred in 1963 on Agung, Bali's highest and holiest mountain. Batur Volcano is popular with tourists because it has an 11- kilometer (7 mile) wide crater that you can drive into. And, it has a large crescent-shaped lake, Bali's largest.

Sunsets
Bali is known for its sunsets. However, the awe-inspiring ones seldom occur during the high tourist season when skies tend to be clear instead of having the requisite cloud formations.

Shopping
Bali is known for its bargains in international designer clothes. And, the island's arts & crafts goods make marvelous take-home gifts and can lend a decorative touch in your home.

Other popular attractions
They include:

• Bat Cave
  Day time home of thousands of bats.
  
• Bird Park
  Exotic birds in pleasant setting.
  
• Day and evening cruises
  Day and evening ocean cruises.
  Several choices.
  
• Denpasar Bird Market
  Where locals buy pet birds and other creatures.
  
• Elephant Cave
  The carved entrance way is the chief draw.
  
• Monkey Forests
  In both Sangeh and Ubud.