Bali Sports & Outdoors Tips by balisunshine Top 5 Page for this destination

Surfing with a kite

At certain times of the year,
the weather conditions are favorable
for the ruthless sports person
with strong arm muscles.

There are plenty of places
that rent the equipment in Sanur
and they also can organize tours
to chase the best places and conditions,

One business that can assist you is
Bali Kite Surfing School in Sanur.

Other Contact: jankie@bali-kitesurfing.org

Phone: 789-9013

Theme: Extreme Sports

Retreating to Yoga and Reiki

Bali is branded as a mystical place
and some of us need just that.

There are various retreats performed during the year.

But not always easy to find.

I have listed one,
so that you can practice your Tree Pose!

Theme: Other

When & Where to Surf

Trying to catch that perfect wave
takes more than just the physical effort,
but also it take knowing what time of the day.

In several surf shops in Kuta
you can ask for your free copy of a Tide Chart
which lists the daily tides for every day of the month
and the best places to surf.

You can also check out the web-site below.

TideChart

For a full surf report, click on:

SurfReport

Happy surfing to all you cute boys out there!

Theme: Surfing

Surfing with the Big Kahuna

Since I am not a surfer girl,
I asked a my friend Kahala
to do a write up on one of
the surf schools here in Bali.

Thanks for the write up Kahala!!!

'What’s yellow and blue,
filled with fun and energetic people,
and conveniently located at the end
of Poppie’s One in Kuta?
The answer is Big Kahuna Surf School.

Guaranteed to “Have You Up and Surfing
in One Lesson or the Next Lesson’s Free,”
Big Kahuna has been sharing the joy of surfing
with adventurous beachgoers for more than twenty years.

Unlike some surf schools,
“BK” focuses on ALL aspects of surfing
including general water safety, wave selection,
paddling, and through additional lessons, turns and basic maneuvers.

The lesson begins with a quick meeting
and check-in at the BK office.
Adorning the signature yellow and blue BK colors
and situated at the end of Poppies One,
the office is literally steps from the welcoming waves of Kuta Beach.
It is here students receive their wave riding
ensemble consisting of UV protecting shirts, sunscreen,
and soft top surfboards.
Soft top boards are made entirely of foam,
and not hard resonated fiber glass like most surfboards.
The softer feel and wider base for easier balancing make them ideal for beginners.

Equipment: The lesson continues on the beach
where one of BK’s knowledgeable instructors
shares the fundamentals of beginner surfing..
All instructors are personally trained and
mentored by Big Kahuna himself,
a Hawaii raised waterman that has been surfing for three decades.
Students benefit from this wealth of surfing experience
as they learn the latest and best in surfing techniques.
BK’s instructors also recognize that while
some students are natural surfers,
other students need a bit more personalized attention and instruction.
The smaller class sizes and great instructor-to-student ratio
allows BK to accommodate all learning curves and skill sets.
In fact, the instructors proudly boast they “specialize in beginners and cowards.”
The second half of the lesson is spent in the shallow,
sandy bottom waters off Kuta Beach.
The combination of year round favorable ocean conditions
and the absence of any reef or rocks make Kuta Beach
a beginner’s “surfing paradise.”
It’s not unusual to observe BK students getting
to their feet and riding waves for 5 to 10 seconds during their first outing..
The lesson concludes with a wrap-up session back
at the BK office in which instructors provide some
final coaching tips and answer questions.
Students also receive their official BK Surfing Diploma.
Still not convinced you can be a surfer and hang ten?
Well, Big Kahuna has successfully taught students ranging in
age from 5 to 65, including singles, couples, families,
and even large corporate groups.
Big Kahuna also provides free transportation
to/from hotels, digital photographs, insurance,
and secure lockers to safely store belongings.
So what are you waiting for?
Get off your okole (Hawaiian for buttocks) and
learn to nalu (surf) with Big Kahuna!
By the way, Big Kahuna recently opened a second location
on Jalan Padma in Legion.
This second location is operated by the same friendly staff
and uses the superior surfing equipment that has
made their Kuta location so successful.'

Address: Intersection of Poppies One and Jilan Pantai

Other Contact: booking@bigkahunasurfschool.com

Phone: 0361-765081

Theme: Surfing

Website: http://: www.bigkahunasurfschool.com

Sweaty Yoga

For those who want to keep up
the work out routine while visiting Bali,
then maybe Bikram Yoga can be an option.

Located within the Istana Kuta Gallery,
you will find this studio that offers
morning and afternoon options
for their courses Monday through Sunday.

At the time of my visit,
2 different classes were offered 7 days a week.

Classes at that time were
at 130,000 Rp for one class,
or an unlimited first timer special
of 400,000 Rp for the week.

Address: Jl. Patik Jelantik/ Istana Kuta Gallery Blok VL no

Other Contact: hotyogajakarta@yahoo.com

Phone: 0361-769-100/ 769 040

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.bikramyogajakarta.com

The Darwin – Bali – Langkawi Yacht Rally

Every year when
the winds pick up,
the Darwin – Bali – Langkawi Yacht Rally
takes place.

As indicated by the name,
the rally begins in Darwin,
usually sometime in July.

This Yacht rally is the 2nd largest in South East Asia,
following the Kings Cup in Thailand.

For more details on schedules and events
visit their web-site.

Theme: Boating/Sailing

Website: http://www.sailindonesia.com

Training with Made

Sometimes we need a little bit of motivation;
a slight correction on our posture
a little push, push to work out at the gym.

A great and economical trainer is Made.
He usually trains at the Lotus Gym located in Padma
but for an extra fee, he can go
to you if you are in another location
or work out at another gym.

1 - 2 -3 and GO!

Phone: 081-7478-4032

Theme: Other

Staying fit in Bali

The body building or gym craze in Bali
is nothing to be compared to
the one seen in South Beach.

And eating the fried food in the local warung,
is probably not the best ingredient
to pursue the South Beach Diet.

But, if you are one that wants to keep in shape,
there are a few options out there.

The most favorite one amongst the men is
The Hammerhead Gym located in Kuta.

This gym probably offers the largest assortments of machines.
And along with the sounds of weights being lifted,
it has the largest variation of sounds of
males full of testosterone moaning and groaning
to that famous tune of ‘No pain, no gain’

Hammerhead boasts the first Balinese, Mr. Natural Olympia 2005,
Komang Arnana walking the floor whilst
choosing his next machine to work out on.
Or maybe training a brave ‘affictionato’ body builder to be.

He offers his services,
as a trainer which,
which, has earned him the title as the Torturer.
Especially, amongst the girls.

The gym also offers courses such as;
kick boxing, aerobics, hip hop dancing, Thia-Box
and offers other trainers.

Trainers can vary from 2-3,000,000 the month.
To join the gym, it’s 180,000 Rp per month for foreigners.
If you are just interested in the classes
and don’t care to join for the month,
1 day passes are offered at 33,000 Rp
or you can buy the 10 day pass,
valid during 30 days for 300,000 Rp

But because of its popularity,
you may need to wait in line
for a machine, once in a while.

And the testosterone level,
along with the smell
can be brutal at times.

Addess and Contact:
Jalan Raya Legian 362 - 80361 Kuta - Bali - Indonesia.
Tel: +62 361 755 129
Fax: +62 361 759 282
Email: hammerhead@ietro.com

Equipment: Another, pretty well equipped gym is the Seaside Fitness,
as the name indicates, in front of the beach, by Jalan 66.

Plenty of choices of weight machines here, too.
But because of the small space,
it feels a bit cramp.

It offers a clean environment,
yet, the locker rooms are featureless.
The upstairs room that features cardio machines, is limited.

Fees are a bit higher here,
Daily Passes go for 75,000 Rp
Weekly Passes are 300,000 Rp
1 month Passes are 750,000 Rp
3 months Membership 1,500,000 Rp
and so on.

The Contiki Hotel also has a large so called,
work out room.
But, a lot of space is left
to fill up this room with equipment.
Their current main features are
the Pilates and Yoga classes offered at 70,000 Rp.

They have a swimming pool too,
which is more to lure the tourist,
along with tennis courts.

My favorite gym is the one located at the Padma Hotel.
Known as, The Sport Club

Several weight machines are available,
but the selection is not as large
as the one at Hammerhead.
But, there are several bonus features here,
such as the steam room, although,
(not attractive for it’s cleanliness,)
a sauna, 2 tennis courts, ample spaced locker rooms,
and the highlight, a huge swimming pool in front of the beach.
This gym is not as crowded as Hammerhead,
due t its higher prices.

1 month = 750,000 Rp
3 months = 1,500,000 Rp
6 months = 2,500,000 Rp
1 year = 3,500,000 Rp

Some other perks are also offered with the membership,
such as a 20% discount at the spa.

There are several other hotels
that have a machine or two,
but not the enough for a full work out.

One example is The Bali Rani
or even at Kartika Plaza.

And then there are privileged clubs,
such as the one at The Legian Hotel
or at the Canggu Club,
but membership is limited and/or very expensive.

Theme: Other

Climbing the Agung Volcano, Home of the Gods

The Balinese say this volcano
is sacred and spiritual.

The climb:

You arrive at the base of the volcano at 2 am,
near the Temple.
We met the guide,
grabbed our backpacks
and began the climb.

The climb up took roughly 4 hours
at a steady speed.

Tip: Bring lots of layers,
as you climb above the clouds
you will feel chilly.
Also bring flashlights.
Preferably ones that clip on to
the hat or clothing.

The full moon was large
and luminous and
the stars provided light,
natural beauty
and a heightened sensory experience.

The first third of the climb
is the most difficult,
as you are regulating your breath
and establishing your 'zone'.

Bring water, band-aids and
carbohydrates for fuel and energy.

The second third of the climb
is thru the clouds.
The last third is rock climbing
with a steep pitch
and is considered free-climbing
by my companion
'Dr. Eddie', the volcano master.

The top is absolutely gorgeous
and we arrived as the sun was rising.

We were greeted by 2 Australian women
and a German woman,
along with their guide.

the 10,000 ft. elevation is beautiful
with glowing colors
and a feeling of accomplishment
and strength.

Equipment: The top is chilly-
bring a hat, hiking gloves
and lots of film for your camera.

This is a spiritual moment.

Then we began the hike down
and I was surprised at how hard it was.

Tip: Wear hiking boots, not sneakers.

This took nearly 6 hours
and I was not steady on my feet,
especially in the beginning.

At times,
I sat down and slid down steep slopes.
Be prepared for shaky legs,
especially the quads.

Just a warning.

We passed out on the car ride home
and booked massages by the poolside
to work out the lactic acids.

This experience was incredible,
both aesthetically and spiritually.

Tip: Make sure your guide speaks English.

Note: Challenges remind you of your strength,
physically and mentally!

Deep thoughts by my friend
Stacey Glassman

For other tips, click on:

Experiences

Gungung Batur and Danau Batur

Theme: Hiking

Bali Surfing Tours

Like some adventure in your life?
In full speed?
While in Bali?

Leo at Bali Surfing Tours,
can help you with just that.

They specialize in surfing by speed boat
and also do land tours to areas such as:

Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Impossible,
Bingin, Dreamland, Balangan, etc., etc.

They'll take you there in full speed !

Other Contact: e-mail: info@bali-surfing.com

Phone: 0361-730-184

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.bali-surfing.com