Many people have heard of Bali but many are not that familiar with what or where it is. Even before I visited Bali, I didn't know anything other than it was an exotic place. However, whenever I spoke to someone who had gone, they always seemed to be mesmerized by it. It's like Bali had a seductive spell over them. Up until this point, I had not even watched the movie, Eat, Pray and Love which catapulted Bali into the consciousness of many who had never heard of the place before that. Eventually I planned my own journey and visited Bali, staying for a month. It was at this time when I finally got what all the hoopla was about and I was hooked. I was an official Bali fan. Bali remains one of the most wonderful destination to visit for a number of reasons. Here are five reasons why you should consider visiting Bali.
1. Cultural Sites
If you ever dreamed about strolling around ancient archeological ruins of impressive buildings, Bali will not disappoint. From the Sacred Monkey Forest, the sea temple of Ulawatu or the mountain temple of Lempuyang, Bali is full of cultural architectural wonders. It seemed like everyday Bali had another treat to share. As the main center of Balinese style Hinduism in Indonesia, Bali is unique in that it is literally filled with thousands of impressive ancient temples within its tropical jungle landscape. As the Balinese are an extremely spiritual and religious people, their temples are bustling with activity. It is quite common to see devotees worshipping in the temple giving offerings or performing other sacred rites. This allows you to get a snapshot of daily life of the Balinese. And they are use to tourists. Just be respectful.
2. Landscape
For the sunbather, outdoorsman or the natural landscape adventure seeker Bali has all that you are looking for and more. From exotic tropical turquoise water beaches, Jumanji-like jungles, majestic mountains to cascading waterfalls, Bali has it all. One of my most memorable experiences in Bali was riding a motor bike through the beautiful lush Balinese countryside. It was like heaven. There's something so free and rejuvenating about the experience.
3. Food
Indonesian cuisine is legendary and known all over the world. Known for its fresh use of exotic tropical fruits, vegetables and spices, Balinese food just like its culture, an explosion of flavor, scents and colors. There are so many different types of food to try from sate meat skewers, Gado Gado (stir fried veggies topped with a spicy peanut sauce) to tempeh, Indonesia's culinary gift to the world. As a unapologetic foodie, I was pretty busy trying out new dishes while taking my food photos for Instagram of course. There is food for all palates, from the staunch meat eater to the picky vegetarian and everything in between.
4. Rejuvenating Mind, Body, Spirit Treatments
As a wellness professional, one of the main highlights in visiting Bali for me was partaking in their world class spa treatments and rejuvenating therapies. The island is literally dotted with countless spa and massage shops offering traditional Balinese massage along with a host of other treatments. I literally got a massage every other day because they were great and cheap. One time I got a royal treatment which included a coconut yoghurt scrub, an oil massage followed by a flower bath. It was divine and cost only a fraction of what something like that would cost in the states. I also got a peculiar fish spa treatment which included submerging my feet in a pool of water with tiny fish who nibbled the dead skin off my feet. It was quite weird if I must say so myself but I tried it. In addition to these treatments are the multiple spiritual pools in the various temples where visitors can treat themselves to a rejuvenating spiritual bath in holy water.
5. Tourist Friendly
Perhaps one of the best reasons to visit Bali is because of its tourist friendly environment. The people are hospitable, the streets are easy to navigate, and many people speak English. Because Bali is such a tourist destination, the people are used to tourists invading their tiny little island. Tourism is a big industry in Bali so they have created an environment where tourists are welcomed. While it is safe to stroll around by yourself even if you are a woman, it is still best to have a person who can show you around and guide you so that you don't get lost or ripped off by some unscrupulous scam artist preying on tourists. Its a reality anywhere in the world where there are tourists and Bali is no exception.
In summary, Bali is a great destination because it has great combination of culture, relaxation, natural landscape, tourist friendliness and affordability which makes it a winner for me. I welcome anyone wanting to treat themselves to a memorable travel experience to visit this small mystical island. You will not be disappointed. If you would like to join us on a trip to Bali in April 2020 click here.
