W

rapped in breathtaking panoramas and rich culture, the Island of the Gods is set to pamper those seeking a memorable year-end, with colorful attractions and celebrations to choose from.

With the year-end celebration less than two months away, it'€™s time to plan where to close the year and spend the last moments of 2015.

Bali is only a little more than an hour away by plane from Jakarta, but it offers various activities '€” be it for those traveling with family, couples on a romantic holiday or a group of singles looking for unforgettable fun.

December brings more tourists, both domestic and international, to Bali, arguably Indonesia'€™s most popular holiday destination. The Bali Tourism Office recorded a 40 percent increase in the number of domestic tourists visiting the island in December last year, compared to the previous month. Everyone wants to close the year with the best possible experience, while making sure there is nothing left unchecked on their list of resolutions.

Celebrating the New Year with the little ones means starting as early as sunrise; so heading north to the center of the island may be a good idea. With less traffic and fresher air, Central Bali offers beautiful mountain views paired with scenic lakes.

Up and away from the beach parties, families with young children can celebrate the year-end with an outdoor adventure. The Bali Botanic Gardens in Bedugul are home to over 2,000 plant species from eastern Indonesia, as well as tree houses and an outbound adventure area designed for all ages.

The award-winning garden has attracted 300,000 to 400,000 foreign visitors per year over the past decade according to data released by the Bali Tourism Office. Locally known as Eka Karya Botanic Gardens, the first botanic gardens to be established by Indonesia after independence are located on the slopes of Tapak Hill in Candikuning village.

While you'€™re in the area, why not stop at Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, the island'€™s third most popular temple according to the Bali Tourism Office'€™s visitor data. Only a 10-minute drive from the Bali Botanic Gardens, this water temple was built in 1663 and is central to Balinese irrigation systems.

As you drive down to where the celebrations are, it'€™s worth stopping at a local coffee tasting shop for a much needed sip if you'€™re planning to stay up all night. Here, visitors can meet the world-famous luwak or civet cat, and see the process of coffee making from fruit to cup. It'€™s not only coffee, with other traditional and organic drinks like chocolate beverages and tea served as well.

A warm dinner at Jimbaran offers an exciting dine-on-the-sand experience. It'€™s a nice activity to end your day, while listening to the soothing sound of waves and watching fireworks launched from Kuta.

Jimbaran and Canggu are also popular destinations for couples seeking a romantic dinner. Book a beachfront restaurant for a sunset dinner or, if you prefer a more private candlelight meal for two, look for special New Year'€™s Eve dinner packages at 5-star hotels in the area.

In case you want to skip the beach, Ubud, with its art and festivities, offers a more low-key New Year'€™s Eve, which is perfect for couples hoping to stay away from busy nightlife.

As you drive up to Ubud, you will arrive in a different realm, with a traditional atmosphere featuring beautiful acoustics and dynamic conversations instead of loud music and flashing lights. This area does have bars, but nothing as wild as those found in Seminyak or Legian. Spend the last hours of the year enjoying the comfortable mood at one of the town'€™s well-known cafés, with live music from jazz to traditional bamboo gamelan. Otherwise, join one of the parties held at local village halls, where music and dancing may last until morning.

However, if you arrive on the island with your best friends, you should be where the crowds are. Endless festivities can be seen from Kuta to Kerobokan as well as the clubs in the Legian Party Zone. Roads are usually closed in the afternoon, so arrive early to avoid being trapped in traffic.

It won'€™t be easy to choose between the beach party at Double Six or club-hopping through Legian. A slightly fancier and less noisy option is Seminyak, with its hyped bars and restaurants like Potato Head offering special year-end menus.

Running out of ideas, or simply want to go for a larger crowd? Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park usually hosts a substantial music celebration to welcome the New Year, with well-known names from the industry.

Puputan Badung Square in Denpasar is a popular spot for those who like to welcome the New Year with a classic parade, paper trumpets, fireworks and a countdown. The celebration usually begins with a carnival and parade featuring local children, followed by prayers led by religious leaders.

(Ruth Ninajanty)