It’s pretty difficult to choose an island destination because there are just simply so many beautiful islands to choose from. Whether it is for a honeymoon, a much needed getaway, a family vacation or just a trip to explore one of the world’s most beautiful wonders, Bali, Indonesia is one of the best islands to head out to. Considered one of over 18,000 islands in Indonesia’s archipelagoes, it’s simply the most famous of them all. The diversity of activities the island holds is not boring to any visitor, travelers from close neighbors such as Singapore to the farthest reaches of Norway all head down to this beautiful island to get away from it all and enjoy the beauty and serenity the island provides. The famed “Island of the Gods” provides a varied landscape of hills and mountains, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, lush rice terraces and barren volcanic hillsides provide a picturesque backdrop to the colorful and deeply spiritual culture of this island. It might be one of the few islands that provides countless entertainment for every type of traveler.

Indonesian culture is very diverse, infused by long interactions between different foreign influences, original customs and religions dating back to hundreds of years ago such as the ancient trading routes between the Middle East, Far East and South Asia resulting into a beautiful mixture of cultural differences fitted greatly in one large country. Indonesians still hold their cultures and traditions strong even after so many foreign influences, it is what makes Indonesia’s culture what it is.

The high end resorts and accommodations are in Seminyak and Nusa Dua. Seminyak provides some of the most luxurious resorts such as Samaja Kunti Villas, Anantara Seminyak Resort and Spa, the W Hotel Bali, Legian Kriyamaha Villa and many more. The area also hosts a large number of world class restaurants and cafes so it’s easy to browse the streets after relaxing at one of the countless high end spas in the area. Bali’s spa and massage treatments are world renowned and offer an abundance of treatments, it’s a paradise for spa lovers. The most famous would have to be the Balinese lulur body scrub with herbs and spices, the Balinese massage or mandi lulur is usually done with oil, and the island hosts some of the best yoga sessions ever found.

Nusu Dua also known as Kawasan Pariwizata or the tourist district is one of the best areas to be in Bali. Every tourist should enjoy and reward themselves with a sensual escape in this island retreat. The hotels in the area are some of the finest, the Grand Hyatt Bali, the Laguna Resort and Spa, The Bale, Aman Nusa, St. Regis Bali Resort and many more to mention. The area provides beautiful beach fronts with white or black sand beaches to relax and enjoy the sun, a great surf for the surfer in you, seaside restaurants with traditional Indonesian food served the traditional Balinese way and cafes to enjoy after a long day out.

With the equator passing through Indonesia, the temperature is humid and sticks around the 30 degree range. When the rainy and monsoon seasons arrive, it can be disruptive for vacationers but can still be enjoyable. The monsoon season starts typically in October and lasts through March, unpredictable yes but Bali’s weather can still be quite pleasant especially for surfers who enjoy large waves.

There is much to do on the island, there are excursions that can take you to visit rice paddies, dolphin watching, or you hike up one of Bali’s many dormant volcanoes. There are many scuba diving sites along the coast of the island with serene reefs such as around Menjangan island with vibrant colored corals, drift diving off Nusa Penida, great surfing at Kuta, Canggu, Nusa Lembongan and Bukit Peninsula. Surfers far and wide head to these marvelous locations to experience the best surf there is, novice surfers can also visit one of the many surf schools for lessons. For fishing enthusiasts, charters are available in many popular points for sport fishing with very rewarding results.

Families and beach lovers alike will enjoy the many different beaches that surround the island. Nusa Dua beach is a beautiful location with a variety of flowers, tall palm trees and fragrant trees with orchids growing on them with wild mangroves nearby amidst clear blue ocean great for snorkeling and swimming. Padang-Padang beach is a locations surrounded by big rocks, overgrown plants and monkeys, you would need to pass by the narrow passage and steep steps to this hidden paradise filled with small caves to explore, but a warning to visitors, beware of sea urchins and sharp corals when the high tide is in. Lovina beach is one of the lesser known beaches but it’s one of the more beautiful beaches with black sand from Mt Agung volcano’s cooled lava. It’s a swimmer’s paradise with calm sea and low waves and is generally a quiet spot to enjoy with the family. There are nearby thermal hot springs from the volcanic water and visitors can also catch some dolphins playing nearby.

For the more adventurous traveler, hotels can suggest a number of companies that provide adventure activities such as paragliding, mountain cycling, white water rafting, jungle trekking and hiking in the rice fields. The Batur Caldera Bali is one of the most beautiful places in the world, located on the northeastern part of the island. The trek holds fantastic views of the lake nearby and the ocean, the journey also provides a trip across some of Bali’s untainted villages. Visitors can witness the Balinese farmer life and activities, stop at one of the many tropical plantations and sample their authentic coffee, local herbal teas and the unusual processed coffee Luwak, the most expensive coffee in the world. The best time for such trips would be the very early morning hours to experience the beauty of nature at dawn. Another great mountain climb would be Gunung Agung, a very difficult climb but a very gratifying experience. The summit is just about 3,000 meters high above sea level, trekkers can view clouds below them, it can be a quite difficult climb but upon reaching the summit from one of the two routes, there would be a somewhat 360 degree view of the island, an amazing sight to see. Dress warmly and properly though, the climb is steep.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the coastal areas, one of Indonesia’s many known pastimes is rice farming. Indonesia holds some of the greenest, lushest and healthiest of soil perfect for farming and rice paddies can be seen almost everywhere, Bali is no exception. The center of the island holds large numbers of terraced paddies just north of Ubud, a visit to these areas is very pleasing and gives a chance to try out authentic Balinese cuisine at one of the small local restaurants.

One of Indonesia’s most beautiful traditions is the wayang or shadow puppet dance. It’s a dance using paper puppets with very significant music telling the tales of historical figures and events. The wayang shadow puppet is the most prominent theatrical expression in Bali. In a wayang kulit performance, flat cut-out figures are silhouetted against a translucent screen with coconut husk lamp as a source of light. The figures are manipulated with rods by the puppeteer or dalang who tells a story accompanied by a gamelan orchestra. The dalang is one mechanism that successfully passes culture and tradition from one generation to another, it’s a chance to take a peek into the true history of Bali and its beautiful traditions. There are regularly scheduled performances of the wayang in Ubud and hotels can provide show times and locations to attend.

Indonesia’s cuisine is very well-known around the world for its uniqueness and originality. Indonesians use many spices in their cuisine that gives each dish its own authenticity, each of the different Indonesian areas have their own well-known dishes, some are found nationwide and others can only be found in their original areas, such as Bali. Some of the most known dishes would be nasi goreng (fried rice), mie goreng (fried noodles), nasi campur (steamed rice with vegetables and meats), rendang sapi (spicy beef in coconut curry), ayam betutu (duck with a herb paste roasted in banana leaves over charcoal), satay lilit (seafood satay served wrapped in a lemongrass twig), tum ayam (sliced chicken mixed with herbs and spices steamed in banana leaves) gulai (meat or vegetable soup yellow in color from turmeric and coconut milk), ikan bakar (spiced fish or seafood grilled atop charcoal) and so many more amazing dishes best served from many small authentic locations.

Bali is an experience on its own, a destination for one and all. The weather is great all year round, even during the monsoon season. People here are welcoming and their hospitality is just amazing.

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