Sanur Beach Attractions
What to See in Sanur Beach
Sanur is just the right place to walk. Its small yet neat area definitely makes the meandering tireless and exciting. Several museums and galleries such as the Le Mayeur Museum, Seiki Torige’s Open Space Gallery, Griya Santrian Gallery and Darga Gallery, not to mention the ancient Blanjong temple, Sekenan Temple of Serangan Island, Padang Galak Memorial Monument, and other historical sites line its streets.
Sanur was the first developed tourism destination and also the first multicultural borough in Bali, but ever since the discovery of Kuta and the elevation of Nusa Dua to first place in the tourist areas of the island, Sanur has been dawdling behind the latest trends. However, what is really invaluable here is the barely spoiled pristine greenery and the culture visible in everyday life.
Le Mayeur Museum
An eccentric yet extraordinary painter, Adrian Jean Le Mayeur de Merpes was a Brussels-born artist who was impressed by the mystical paradise of Sanur and dedicated his entire life there to the two things he loved the most: the arts and women. Before deciding to spend his life in Bali, Le Mayeur had already travelled around the world. Sacrificing his travels to pursue his love of arts, he found himself enamoured of the exotic scent of frangipani and a certain bare-breasted legong dancer. Her name was Ni Polok, and she was considered the best Legong dancer at that time.
She soon became the muse of his paintings and his life. Le Mayeur adopted the impressionist paint dob style and his technique was considered unorthodox, albeit in a brilliant way. He used a thick and rather stiff brush to create sharp yet fluent caresses, which later were elaborated by Antonio Blanco, another influential painter in Bali. Le Mayeur passed away on March 31st 1958, followed by his wife 3 months later. The loving couple left no children; soon the well-crafted mansion and its legacy were bequeathed to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The museum exemplifies the priceless heritage of an artist and a nation.
Location: Jalan Hang TuahSeiki Torige Gallery
Seiki Torige graduated from Linda Glassy Studio in Milan, and went on to develop his artistry in glassware over the space of thirty years, creating excessive pieces in his signature colours green and cobalt. His works grace major lobbies, art spaces, and galleries all over the world, of which the Laforet Shuzenzy Hotel, Begawan Giri Hotel, The Square of Seisiki Sakuragaoka Tokyo, and Heller Gallery New York are but a few. Japanese born Seiki is now a permanent resident in Bali and has opened his own “Open Space” gallery in collaboration with Bali’s premier pottery maker, Jenggala Keramik.
Location: Jalan Danau TamblinganGallery Santrian
Located in Griya Santrian compound, Gallery Santrian is the most reputable gallery in Sanur that worth a visit. This open air gallery showcases incredible painting and sculpture artworks from famous Indonesian and foreign artist who focus on classic style including Syahrizal Koto, Ni Nyoman Sani, I Ketut Muja, Le Mayeur de Mempres, Auw Kok Heng and Sujana. Today, the gallery has become the main venue for art exhibition during the Sanur Village Festival that held every year in august since 2005.
Location: Jalan Danau TamblinganSerangan Island
Years after the scandalous revelation that thousands of turtles were captured and sold to high demand for their meat and shell in the 1980s, Serangan ‘Turtle’ Island is now trying to regain its reputation as a haven for these endangered creatures. The Balinese use turtle meat for ceremonial occasions, but ever since the excessive capturing of the 1980s, trading and consuming turtle meat have been prohibited.
The Turtle Conservation and Education Centre was built to help protect remaining animals from harm. Another interesting fact about this island is that the original dwellers came from the Bugis tribe of Sulawesi, and came here in 1700 as a result of the Dutch occupation of Gowa Kingdom, Celebes. Amazingly the religious and cultural difference between native inhabitants and foreigners never resulted in any friction, rather it has produced a unique acculturation.
Location: Southern SanurHow to get there: taxi, takes 15 minutes from Sanur main road
Sanur Beach
Sanur beach is like a giant saltwater pool, only with a reef bed instead of a tiled bottom. Its warm 25° - 32° C temperature and calmer water makes the beach suitable for children and families. Adjacent to the beach, stands the Inna Beach Hotel – a war-compensation hotel built by the Government of Japan in 1963, next to the sacred Ratu Ayu Singgi temple where an eerie spirit is believed to reside. The hotel itself has experienced several accidental fires – some say caused by the fact that its 11 levels exceed the height of coconut trees, which according to Balinese Hinduism is the maximum permissible height.
Sindhu Beach
Sindhu beach may lose out in popularity contests to Kuta or Sanur beach, but the hibiscus-fringed sands still have a lot to offer visitors. Its wider sand bed and moderate winds makes it a perfect site to be sluggish or get sporty. Snorkelling, canoeing, and kite surfing are very popular among first timers, although loafing on an armchair is a far easier way to enjoy the surroundings. Sunrise from this east-facing beach obviously can’t get much better but every full moon the beach becomes a popular spot for night gazers to witness a painting-like panorama of moonlight reflected on the translucent water surface, with Serangan Island silhouetted in the background. Simply magical!
Padang Galak Beach
Before becoming the host venue for the International Annual Kite Festival every July, the beach was barely touched. A 10 – 20 knot onshore wind from June to August makes it the ideal place for kite flying hobbyists. Most of the locals in the area are farmers; even the potential fisheries remain untouched. Today tourist industries have become the backbone of Bali’s economics yet Padang Galak remains Sanur’s equilibrate. An ashram, Sri Krishna Blaram, was founded in this area as its pristine milieu makes an idyllic setting for meditation.
Location: Jalan Padang GalakAyung River Walk and 1972 PANAM Air Memorial Monument
Still in Padang Galak surroundings, a monument was built inside Ayung River Walk, a recreational park, to honour 17 victims of the 1972 PANAM plane crash accident (that actually happened at Grogak, Singaraja regency). Ayung River Walk itself is partly a water-sport playground consisting of swimming pool, water park, sports facilities, modern-managed traditional market, and “Pasar Seni Nusantara,” an art bazaar. Ayung River Walk is an international standard recreational park and art market designed to become the tourism hub of Bali’s golden triangle (Gianyar - Denpasar - Nusa Penida) as well as an economic incentive.
Location: Jalan Padang GalakPura Blanjong
Pura Blanjong was built as a cenotaph of Sri Kesari Warmadewa and commemorates his journey to the east. Sri Kesari himself was a Syailendra descendant (a Buddhist-ruled dynasty which ruled Java) and the founder of an architectural wonder, Borobudur Temple. According to the Blanjong inscription dated 914 A.D. Sri Kesari was a Buddhist apostle who soon established a Mahayana convent at Blanjong village. Along with the inscription, 15 metres northwest, is a Ganesha statue (the elephant-headed son of Shiva). Pura Blanjong is characterised by its coral instead of brick wall and twin sitting calf statues inside, from which sadly both heads have been removed. Apart of being one of the most sacred temples, Pura Blanjong shows you things of architectural and archeological interest.
Location: Blanjong area
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