Bali is an island that will delight everyone: ideal for spending a family holiday, a relaxation holiday, or even a romantic holiday!
As soon as I got to Bali, I hired a moped from the manager of a guest house. In general, you must leave your identity card behind for the duration of the hire and retrieve it when you return the moped in good condition.
I went round the island starting with the beaches in the southeast, to get to Padang Bai (the main boat port to get to Lombok and the Gili islands), then on to Amed in the east. I rode along the north coast to get to Lovina. After this I went back down to Candikuning, then on to Ubud.
All in all, I spent about ten days on the island, taking advantage of this time to spend relaxing afternoons on the beach. I also visited temples, walked a lot and succeeded in imbuing myself with Balinese Hindu culture, very different from the rest of Indonesia.
Of all the places that I have had the good fortune to see, I think that Bali island is without doubt one of the most beautiful. Before going there, I imagined a destination saturated with mass tourism, but I was wrong. Of course there are some completely altered towns in Bali, which, according to me, are of no interest and the best solution is not to go there. The island has many other attractions that are not to be missed.
As soon as you go inland, magnificent scenery pops up at every twist and turn: rice paddy terraces, elevated lakes, volcanoes, forests, beaches of black sand lined with coconut palms... On the culture side, Bali is not to be outdone: Hindu enclave in a Muslim country, the island is home to a vast number of temples each more beautiful than the next. Do not miss a Balinese traditional dance performance either, it leaves a wonderful memory. Bali is for those looking for a dream destination...
Bali is sort of like a country within a country, the atmosphere there is so different from the rest of Indonesia that it was almost a shock, especially coming back from Java island, which I also recommend you include in your stay in Indonesia .
Bali is kind of a small paradise for surfers, with its beautiful beaches and the waves to go with it; for families, as the environment is very welcoming; for inexperienced adventurers or simply for the curious with a thirst for culture. As for me, the main attraction was Bali's rice paddies , but it was not easy to sort out the directions and I think I may have missed the most beautiful...
One week is rather short to visit this volcanic island and I felt a bit frustrated at having to leave. I did not have time to see it all, proof that the island holds a certain power of attraction.