We had the pleasure of visiting Bali this summer. The smiles on most Balinese faces were as constant as the sunsets over the Indian Ocean.
Bali has a diverse topography--from craggy coastlines to terraced rice paddies and blue coned mountains. Like volcanoes? Bali has them.
Want to avoid the rainy season? Don't go from November through March. Trade winds blow nicely from June to September.
What should you take? Crisp, new $100 US bills to get the best exchange rate, smaller bills ($1 and $5 are good for tips)a calculator, insect repellent, neosporin, imodium (didn't need it) flashlight, baby wipes and or bathroom tissue,and sunscreen). Remember you are south of the equator.
We had a GREAT driver who made our trip even more delightful than we could imagine. His name is Wayan Purya. He can be reached outside Bali at (0361) 945 694. In Bali just dial 945 694. This father of four was a gentleman who kept us safe and took us to quality places. He is also a wood carver and therefore knows more about Balinese art than most. We were particularly interested in baskets, batik, silver, and wood carvings. Before we left Wayan even took us to meet his wife, who teaches English, and his four young children.
For those yearning for more spirituality Bali is an oasis. The Balinese are very religious...prepare fruit, rice and flower offerings for the gods on a daily basis, cremate their dead and are mostly Hindu. Most Indonesians, however, are Muslims. There are thousands of temples.
Even Balinese with showers still like the traditional MANDI. It is the practice of bathing in rivers and channels. Females bathe with females and males with males. While the genders seem quite homo social it is not a culture that acknowledges homosexuality.
We ate outside our hotel (the Ritz Carlton) at least half a dozen times for lunch and dinner. Two places we greatly enjoyed were Cafe Intan along Jimbaran Beach (081 835 2931) and the Globetrotter, a German restaurant in Ubud (973129) The owner married a Balinese woman, speaks the language fluently and turns out some killer dishes...both German and Balinese.
Hope your trip to Bali is all that you imagine. Remember to look for a little paradise at every turn.