We have been to Bali three times and if it was up to Shleah that number would keep going up. It is currently the holiday location that we have spent the most cumulative time in, racking up 36 days there, which considering both the size of the island and the constraints we have around travelling is really quite a lot. I thought I would run through what we like about Bali as well as provide some tips as to how to ensure you have the best holiday there possible.
Reasons we love it
The people.
Bali has to have some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. There is a general sense of happiness here especially in the countryside that I have found in only a few other places. Everyone seems to go the extra mile in what they are doing but there is never a sense that people are just trying to get your money.
The culture
Professional Legong Dancers 
Competitor in Youth Dancer
Balinese culture is truly amazing. On our first visit we were lucky enough to see a children’s Balinese dance competition happening in Ubud. We naturally had no idea who was actually doing well but it was such a joy to behold. At night, while we were walking back to our homestay we could hear the gamelan orchestras drilling, an experience that has only ever been replicated for us in Trinidad in the leadup to Carnival. Taking a walk in the morning and seeing everyone performing their daily offerings really makes you think about your priorities, regardless of your religious affiliation or lack thereof. There are so many famous temples and sites that the chances of you visiting even more than half are close to non existent. The other thing to remember about Balinese culture is that it is completely unique and exists nowhere else in the world. People will be quick to tell you that Bali is overrated or that it isn’t what it was ten, twenty or thirty years ago, but it’s culture is still there and still amazing, as long as you know where to look.
The food
The famous sambal 
Simple Dessert 
Lobster Omelette at Brunch
Bali has great food. Balinese food by itself is fantastic and you can look forward to trying everyone’s sambal since they are all slightly different. On top of this all of the people who have come to Bali and opened a restaurant have contributed to what is one of the most exciting foodie landscapes in South East Asia outside of a mega city. Of special mention is the numerous Sunday brunches on offer which in my opinion offer the best value buffets in the world.
The diving
Pygmy Seahorse 
Donut Nudibranch 
Shark cave off of East Coast 
Dancing Manta Rays at Manta Point
You can generally tell when people are not big divers because they tell you to visit the Gilis instead of Bali. Whilst there is some good diving in the Gili islands it is nothing compared to the variety of diving that Bali has to offer. Bali has one of the best wreck dives in the world in the USAT Liberty in Tulamben with its Bumphead Parrotfish, some of the best macro diving in the world at Seraya, which is about 5 minutes away from the Liberty, almost guaranteed Manta rays off the coast of Nusa Penida and the chance to see Southern Mola (referred to locally as Mola Mola) also off of Nusa Penida. There is also a thriving freedive community and some super calm waters in Amed, perfect for learning to dive. On top of all this Bali has some of the most accessible diving with many of the sites being shore dives and easy flight connections from all over the world. In fact for other famous dive locations, such as Komodo, you are generally advised to connect in Bali. Bali really has diving for anyone, with the only thing missing being regular sightings of large pelagic sharks. It is a great place to try a type of diving since you haven’t had to specifically travel there to do so.
The beauty
View of Mount Agung in Tulamben 
Rice Paddy View at Lunch in Ubud 
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
At this point I should clarify that not all of Bali is beautiful, lots of it has rubbish and that Kuta can get very unpleasant. Luckily that is only a small portion of the island, and other parts of it have actually taken my breath away the first time I saw them. Whether it was the first time we saw Tegallalang paddies in person, cycling through the countryside with Mount Agung in the distance or sitting down for lunch in the middle of a rice paddy in Ubud. The island is downright stunning. If you love taking photographs, bring a lot of memory cards because your eye will be attracted to so much. I don’t know if it is the most beautiful place we have ever been, but it is close.
The Prices
Bali is cheap, it is probably one of the cheapest places to holiday considering what you can get. It has access to all the modern amenities whilst still being considerably cheaper than doing equivalent activities in either a Western country or the Pacific. Dive prices are down there with some of the lowest in the world, helped by the sheer number of dive shops on the island. Hotel prices are exceedingly low, especially if you are looking for a three to four star hotel rather than something luxury. Villa rentals are considerably more, but still much less than you will pay almost anywhere else. All in all, once you have made it onto the island, it is really quite easy to get by without spending very much at all.
Tips
Tirta Gangga Water Palace 
Pemuteran Beach in the North West
- Get out of the south. The south is good for a couple days maximum, but it is crazy and hectic and quite crowded. It has advantages such as an excellent waterpark, tonnes of restaurants and hotels and access to the Bukit Peninsula for Uluwatu, but most people get their negative perception of Bali from spending their time here.
- The traffic is bad. Bali has a real traffic issue both in the South and on main routes to other parts of the island. Most routes only have one road, so if this is blocked for a wedding, a funeral or some general marching practice (common in august before independence) expect things to take longer.
- Be brave. One of the best things about Bali is getting out and exploring the centre of the island and it’s east, north and west coasts. You have a couple options to do this, either renting a vehicle or getting a car with a driver. I would definitely recommend the first of these, since it gives you much greater flexibility if you have the time to wander. We have however done both and either way you will get to see things many visitors have missed.
- Pamper Yourself. Bali is known for sending spa workers all around the world, so it would be a shame to not take advantage of the various options on the island for spa treatments of all kinds.
- Visit Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida. If you want to have the whole chilling on the beach experience this is a great place to go. Furthermore as I mentioned above there are a couple world class dive sites off the coast of Nusa Penida. There are multiple boats available from Sanur throughout the day and you can book in advance if you want.
