Maybank Bali Marathon
Image courtesy of Maybank Bali Marathon
From its first gun-start in 2012, the Maybank Bali Marathon has grown to be a must-see international running event. Over 10,000 runners from 46 countries are expected to sign up this year to run a course known as one of "The 52 Best Races on Earth" by Runners World magazine.
Running-minded tourists who sign up for one of the four distances (from kids’ dashes, to a 10k, to the half- and full marathons) can take in a glorious view of Gianyar and Klungkung regencies’ rice paddies and rolling hills while going through the paces.
Balinese local wisdom and hospitality will be on display on different points along the race route, with local communities performing songs, dances and other Balinese cultural acts. Watch this video to get a feel of the marathon, its course and the aftermath.
In 2019, the Maybank Bali Marathon takes place on September 9.
Advertisement
Odalan
Antony Ratcliffe/Getty Images
There’s a temple festival (Odalan) happening in Bali on every day of the week — inevitable given the thousands of temples throughout the island. Odalan celebrate the founding of the temple with a parade of offerings by local devotees, accompanied by traditional music. To entertain both gods and the crowds on earth, the temple holds Balinese dance performances.
The temple becomes a riot of penjor (Balinese banners), flowers and devotees on the scene to celebrate as a community. Most odalan take place over the course of one or more days, coinciding with either a full or new moon.
Every temple has its own odalan, dictated by the 210-day pawukon calendar. For each of the top temples in Bali, we’ve listed the next odalan season so you can plan your trip accordingly.