ABANDONED PLANE IN BALI
However unlikely this may be, should you ever one day find yourself bored and looking for things to do while in Bali, I have a great suggestion for you. While researching things to do in Bali, I discovered something that I found to be particularly peculiar. I learned that there was an abandoned plane located on the island, smack in the middle of the city. I couldn’t fathom why anyone would take a plane out of the airport environment and just abandon it in the city. This immediately became something that was a must do for me, while in Bali. As if that wasn’t enough, it was even more mind blowing when I discovered that the abandoned airplane that I had to see was not the only abandoned plane on the island. My online research revealed that there were at least two other airplanes located on the island in the unlikeliest of places. In this article, I will discuss in details about two of those planes and will touch on the third.
The Abandoned Plane In Bali Near Kuta
This first abandoned plane near Kuta is by far the most accessible of the three planes mentioned. It’s located on one of the main roads. To simplify matters, simply look for the Dunkin Donuts, South of the airport and right next to it will be the abandoned plane. I made it a point to grab myself a delicious donut while I checked out the abandoned 737 that the locals were nice enough to paint in their colorful street art.
At first glance, you can tell that this plane has been there a while, and has endured the elements. It is clearly weathered and some parts look very frail. It’s quite an impressive site. It’s located in an empty field that houses nothing but the airplane. From time to time, a few locals, that live behind the airplane, will pass by. They seemed fascinated by my fascination with what was quickly becoming a hunk of metal sitting in the middle of a field. The plane has been propped up on stilts to relive the pressure that would be placed on the landing gear. My only disappointment about my visit was the fact that I could not actually go inside the aircraft. The plane is effectively sealed off, so there is no way in without a deliberate effort.
The History Behind The Kuta Abandoned Plane In Bali
Frankly, aside from what I read online, I really know nothing about this airplane. Online stories state that the owner of the plane bought it with the intentions of converting the thing into a restaurant/cinema. Unfortunately, that dream never came to fruition. The rumors are allegedly, the owner ran out of money and left the plane sitting there for scrape. I asked my driver about this and he seemed to corroborate the story. Whatever the history, you won’t be disappointed by a visit.
Another Abandoned Airplane In Bali
I was flabbergasted when I first learned of yet another abandoned airplane in Bali, Indonesia. Initially, I thought that it was just a one off that there was an abandoned plane left to rot in a field. The fact that there were two indicated to me that there was some sort of fad or trend where entrepreneurs like the thought of converting airplanes, at the end of their shelf life, into restaurants and other businesses. This second plane was a little more remote than the first, but could easily be reached by renting a car or scooter. This second plane, also a 737 isn’t quite as obvious to locate as the first.
There’s no Dunkin Donuts to use for reference. This plane is located in a quarry, and if you aren’t paying attention, you can easily miss it, but because I knew where to look, it was easy to find. In South Bali, on a well paved road, you will find the second abandoned 737. Once you get in the area and if you look to the left side, when you are coming from Kuta, you will see its tail protruding from the quarry. For confirmation that you in the right place, you will find two sweet old ladies, that don’t speak English, eager to sell you a refreshing drink. They will also show you the path to take a look at the plane.
The second plane is in better shape than the first but to my disappointment, I was unable to get up close to really inspect the plane. As mentioned, the plane is in a quarry, and they seemed to have blocked off all access points to the plane. If you absolutely must get close enough to touch the plane, make sure you buy a rope to assist you in the ascent and descent; of course if you need to go through that much effort just to get up close to the plane, I would argue that at very least you are probably borderline trespassing. I leave it to you to make that decision.
The plane can be viewed from two platforms. I’m not certain of the directions, but I believe one platform is on the East and one on the West. The platform to the East is extremely elevated. This is perfect for an overhead and bird’s eye view of the plane, but you will feel very distant. The platform on the West is much closer to the plane, but requires a bit more effort, although nothing too extraneous. To see the plane from this platform requires you to scale a wall. The wall is roughly 7 or 8 feet high, but virtually requires little to no effort to scale. Someone made a makeshift ramp to walk up and scale the wall.
Once you clear the wall, you get a decent view of the plane from behind. It was pretty impressive, but I was still disappointed I couldn’t walk up and touch the plane.
And Yet Another Abandoned Plane In Bali
Before I go any further, this plane is unique from the other planes previously mentioned. It’s unique in a couple of different ways. First, this plane is only a portion of the entire plane. It appears the tail section of a DC10 aircraft. Second, it sits on top of a building. Third, the way this plane was abandoned is unique from the others because it was an actual business at one time that was forced to close and when they did, they left the plane abandoned on top of a building. I didn’t actually get to visit this airplane because of its inaccessibility, but I did drive pass it on the way to Tanah Lot.
It’s pretty impressive to see the tail section of the plane extending out from the building. As I mentioned before, it was part of a business that is no longer open. I read that the now defunct business was a bar. I did read that sometimes the top floor, which hosts the plane, is opened to private parties. Next time I’m in the area, I’ll make more of an assertive effort to visit this interesting site.
How To Get To The Abandoned Planes In Bali
Finding these planes (At least two of them) could not be easier. The plane in Kuta and South Kuta both show up on Google Maps so that’s where you start first. If you have internet access while in Bali, you can simply turn on Google Maps and let Professor Google do all the hard work for you.
Another option is to do what I did. I downloaded offline maps of the area. This was convenient because every time my phone got pinged when I was in the area of wifi, my location got updated. It was easy to gage where I was and where I needed to go.
The Abandoned Plane Near Kuta
Getting to the first abandoned plane is a simple process. The plane is located on a lot of land right next to Dunkin Donuts at Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai No.63, Kedonganan, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia. Once you reach Dunkin Donuts, simply follow the 737 tail located right next to it. When I went, I was the only tourist checking out the plane. I would be surprise if you are not alone when you visit.
The Abandoned Plane In South Kuta
Getting to this plane required slightly more effort than the first, but not much. I do not have the address but a simple Google search will reveal the aircraft’s location. Click on the link to see on Google maps. There is nothing out there where the plane is located, so you must keep your eyes peeled for the 737 tail sticking out on the side of the road. A good point of reference will be the fence on the left side of the road, assuming you are coming from Kuta. Next to this fence, are shipping containers located on the side of the fence. Once you see those, start looking for the abandoned plane. You will know that you are in the vicinity.
The Abandoned Plane In South Kuta
This plane is located at Jl. Raya Kerobokan No.88, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia. As far as I can tell, it’s not accessible, but then again, I didn’t really make an effort. If you gain access to the top floor and the plane, please leave a comment about it, below this article.
Conclusion
To summarize it, Bali, Indonesia is a wondrous place. It certainly has something for everyone, including avid aviation enthusiast. When you are in the area, definitely carve out some time to visit these mysterious locations. You will certainly be glad you did. Please feel free to leave comment of what you thought of the places once you visit.