Hugging Bali's north shore, Lovina is some 99 kilometres away from Ngurah Rai International Airport in the south of the island but light years apart from the increasingly commercial and tourist saturated south. The journey itself is an attraction, with the road to Lovina Beach winding and twisting its way through some truly breathtaking vistas across the island. As you pass through the central highlands you can expect to see quaint villages, endless green rice padis, crystal clear fresh water lakes, winding mountain roads inhabited by curious monkeys and lush forests. The entire journey takes a few hours and eventually you arrive at the sparsely populated lowlands of North Bali.
Located 7 kilometres east of Bali's
historic capital Singaraja, Lovina is a sleepy town that grew out of a handful
of tiny fishing villages stretching across 10 kilometres of pristine black sand
beach. Unlike much of southern Bali, the influx of tourists hasn't completely
overwhelmed the traditional ways of life in Lovina - in addition to the tourist
trade many locals still earn their living through fishing and agriculture.
The first thing visitors in Lovina
notice is the laid back and serene atmosphere of the place. Gone are the
massive chain hotels and endless hordes of tourists - Lovina is a sea of calm
tranquillity where the loudest sound is often the gentle roar of the sea. The
waters near Lovina Beach are home to pods of friendly dolphins that are always
more than happy to swim up to passing boats; predictably, dolphin sighting
tours are one of the area's biggest draws. It should come as no surprise that Lovina
has a strong affinity with dolphins - a magnificent dolphin sculpture adorns
the centre of the town. The calm waters in Lovina Beach also make it a popular
diving and snorkeling location. Other attractions include a hot water spring,
many superb spas and a wide selection of very reasonably priced dining and
drinking venues.
As the south of Bali grows to
accommodate ever increasing throngs of tourists, lesser known places like
Lovina Beach in the north will rise in prominence as the perfect spot in Bali
to get away from it all. A number of exclusive and secluded 5-star resorts and
beachfront property developments have recently sprung up in Lovina to cater for
the growing number of tourists who are drawn to the area. The low cost of living in north Bali has played a major role in making
Lovina an attractive prospect for international property investment.
Situated in Bali's north shore,
Lovina is known for its peace, friendliness, beauty and affordability. Among the things to see and do in Lovina
are dolphin watching, scuba diving, snorkelling, waterfalls, hot springs,
beaches and ancient temples.
Here are five facts that you
probably don't know about Lovina:
1. The name "Lovina" is a
relatively recent development started by a forward thinking government official
in the 1950's. Lovina is essentially the name given to a 10 kilometre stretch
of beach located west of Bali's historic capital Singaraja. This area was once
made up of seven tiny fishing villages: Temukus, Kalibukbuk, Anturan, Pemaron,
Tukad Mungga, Banyualit and Kaliasem, which have combined to form the resort
town of Lovina. Kalibukbuk is the most built up area, and can be considered the
main hub of Lovina.
2. Unlike the south of Bali, the
beach at Lovina is comprised of black sand. Whereas white-sand beaches are
created out of the remnants of corals and dead sea-crustaceans, black sand
beaches originate from volcanic lava flows.
3. An ornate dolphin sculpture in
Lovina's town centre and the abundance of carved dolphin figurines for sale is
a clear indication of the area's affinity for dolphins. The calm waters off the
Lovina's coast are home to many dolphin pods. The friendly mammals love
frolicking around passing boats, making dolphin sighting one of the most
popular tourist attractions in Lovina.
4. Lovina lies a few kilometres west
of the city of Singaraja, the Dutch colonial seat of power in Bali. Always
worth a visit for anyone staying in Lovina, Singaraja retains the look
and feel of an old Dutch colonial city. Singaraja also holds the distinction of
being Bali's most multi ethnic city, with clear European, Arab and Chinese
influences - testament to the city's importance as a major trading hub in days
of yore.
5. Lovina is cheaper than the rest
of Bali! This should come as welcome news to budget travellers as it allows
them to get the quintessential Bali experience without having to stay in the
ever increasingly expensive south. Hotels,
meals and the cost of living in general are lower in Lovina.
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