Nyepi is the Balinese “Day of Silence” that is commemorated every Isakawarsa (Saka new year). Nyepi, a public holiday in Indonesia, is a day of silence, fasting and meditation for the Balinese. The day before is an afternoon/evening full of fun as the locals chase the evil spirits out of the island by parading large monsters through the street. This can be watched in Melasti, or, if you want the full experience and you have a motorbike, in Culik (20 minutes from Lipah). That night is the last opportunity to prepare for Nyepi day, as no lights, noise, or activity is allowed.

After being chased out of Bali, evil spirits will return and search the island for souls to corrupt. This is the reason people are not allowed to be seen or heard on Nyepi day. No lights, no music, no walking around the streets. The day is for meditation and contemplation, reflecting on who you are as a person and how you contribute in society. The evil spirits see there is noone left on the island, no souls to corrupt, so they fly away in search elsewhere.

There is no movement at all on Nypei except for those who have been blessed or have an emergency and are escorted by one of the blessed. The airport shuts for the entire day, no air traffic is allowed. No motorbikes or cars, no pedestrians, no internet, no radio, no television. To some tourists it sounds quite daunting, especially if it is not explained why this is occuring.

The rules are simple, you can not leave the resort, but are able to enjoy the facilities inside the walls, like the pool and the restaurant. Our restaurants will be closing early to allow our staff time for their own reflection and meditation, please check with the restaurant for exact closing times. We request that you please keep light use to a minimum and draw your curtains if you would like any lights on. If possible, please use only the reading lights or the mirror lights on this night. Please do not use the veranda light, play music, or be loud during this day. We appreciate your consideration for the Balinese people.

In Amed, we are incredibly lucky. We have unobstructed views of the sky, and with zero light pollution, you are able to see shooting stars and all of the night sky. This is a good night to play cards or catch up on downloaded shows (as there is an internet shutdown), or partake in some meditation and relfection as well.

What is there to see on the east coast of Bali? Well, this side of Bali has so much to offer, and much of it is just being discovered by tourists.

We have Lempuyang temple, one of Bali’s most instagrammed temples as one of the gates looks over Gunung Agung. There is Besakih temple situated at the base of Gunung Agung, the “Mother Temple” and is one of the most prayed at temples in Bali.

We have 2 water palaces, one is a formal water palace, Ujung, with a beautiful landscaped garden, sweeping steps, and man made lake. The other is a more locally used palace with large Koi fish, more nature based landscape, and a fresh water pool open for swimming.

Within a couple of hours drive, we have waterfalls, some of which require a guide, and usually a short walk to get to it. Absolutely stunning all year around, the waterfalls are well worth the extra bit of effort to get to. I have listed the names of some of the closer ones.

Yeh Mampeh

Nungnung

Tukad Cepung

Jagasatru

In the Amed region there is natural sea salt making, and you can visit the farms to see how it is made. These spots are beachside and gives you an idea of how much work goes into making salt, with the minor use of modern equipment.

The east coast is also very well known for its’ diving and snorkeling. With coral gardens just off the beach and hardly any current, this area is one of the best for learning to dive, getting a dive certificate, and snorkeling with children or hestitant swimmers. Gentle seas, hardly any waves, and underwater beauty within 2 meters of the shoreline, it doesn’t get much better than this. Check out our section on Eurodive for more diving information.