The Beauty of Sanur

Sanur is beautiful. It's one of the main beach resort areas on the south coast of Bali. It's North East of the airport in Tuban. Sanur has a very long history with some of the oldest recorded writing on the island still preserved at the small temple at Prasasti Blanjong on Danau Poso Road. I've picked up good article from gotosanur.com and put it here in case you need more information about Sanur's history.
If you're a first timer in Bali, choosing Sanur as your first destination might will come in handy. The reason why people choose Sanur over Kuta or Nusa Dua is because Sanur has less intense atmosphere than Kuta and a more genuine one than Nusa Dua. You can go there using airport taxis, and it might charge you around 70,000 rupiah (7 in USD) to Sanur and the journey is around 20-25 minutes.

Sanur has a large number of taxis patrolling the main street, Jalan Danau Tamblingan (Danau Tamblingan Road), so it's quite easy to wander around. The best company is Bluebird (0361)701111, who operate a fleet of light blue taxis with a 24 hour dispatch service. other places in Bali (including Sanur), local people use bemo, it's like a small bus. In my opinion, it's best to rent your own transport from one of the many car rental places along Jl. Danau Tamblingan, or perhaps a car with driver. One of the better car rental companies is JBA (0361)286501 located inside the Diwangkara Hotel (Jl. Hang Tuah 54). They can provide a driver at short notice also.

History of Sanur

source: gotosanur.com

Sanur originates from two words, “Saha” and “Nuhur” which literally means the passion to visit a certain place. Located in the southern part of Bali, Sanur is famed for its beautiful strip of pure sandy beaches across the coastal line. It is also famed for its' spectacular sunrises which literally marks a new day in the life of the Balinese. A talented laid back atmosphere is what is unique about the village of Sanur where hospitality is intertwined with the traditions of Balinese culture and religion. The atmosphere from sunrise till sunset provides endless opportunities of discovery into the daily lives of the Balinese, where each corner of the village provides a certain exploration for every visitor. Lines of shaded trees along the roads, a stretch of beach for sunbathing, a strip of shops for shopping and a variety of restaurants for wining and dining, the option is endless in Sanur.

Sanur also represents a name that carries important history for tourism in Indonesia, and Bali more specific. It was on the beach of Sanur that the first Netherlands troops set foot on the island of Bali in 1906. This was also the exact place that the first war occurred between Netherlands against the community of Bali in defending their land from colonialism. This war was later known as the Puputan Badung, a heroic event that is strongly remembered by every individual Balinese until today's generation.

Looking further back in history, around the Blanjong area, one can find an ancient stone epigraph with two languages written on it, using Old Balinese Language and Sanskrit; two totally different languages. It was believed that the place the artifact was found was an old harbor. Other epigraphs found within this area included the Ganesca and the Two Tailed Ox (Arca Dua Ekor Lembu), believed to be from the Kingdom of Warmadewa that ruled Bali in year 917. The Ganesca (a statue of an elephant head with a human body) made from limestone was said not to come from Blanjong, and was believed from remains of historic events from past kingdoms reigning in Bali. Should this be true, it is believed that Bali in the early days had already tight relations with other kingdoms around the world.

Another historic remain that marks the development or arts on the island of Bali is the LeMayeur Museum, built in Sanur in 1953 and was the first museum built in Bali. Approximately 80 paintings are showcased in this museum which was once the home of famous artist Le Mayeur himself. This museum located just steps from the ocean is physical proof for the love of an artist towards the island of Bali. Adrian-Jean Le Mayeur de Merpes originated from Belgium and left his hometown because his family was not supportive of his passion for painting. Through his spectacular paintings and exhibitions, LeMayeur introduced Sanur to the world.

Art lovers will naturally agree that Le Mayeur was famous for his impressionist style and paintings carried the main focus of a beautiful Balinese girl, who became the artists' wife, Ni Polok. She was a talented Legong dancer. From his painting collection he eventually bought a block of land in Sanur that remains until today as an object of this never ending love story. The pair then handed over the museum to the local government of Bali to maintain, when Le Mayeur past away in 1958, followed by his faithful wife in 1985.

Sanur and Le Mayeur are two inseparable words. Originating from a small fishing village then with the development of arts, Sanur transformed into a tourist destination that introduced the island of Bali to the entire world. It is here that culture was found, it was here that arts transformed, it was Sanur the pioneer of tourism for Bali.