Want an Exotic and Well-priced Beach Holiday? We Suggest Bali

Bali, the exotic Indonesian island, hasn’t come by its popularity by fluke – every paean ever written about this lush blessing on earth is deserved. Despite warnings by local authorities and foreign embassies of Indonesia being an island given to sudden floods and two terrorist attacks in recent years, the tourist attraction of Bali hasn’t waned. In fact, curiosity and the rich natural experience it offers have actually heightened its appeal to tourists who prefer beach destinations for their vacations.

Of Temples and Festivals

There’s an abundance of temples in Bali, each one more beautiful than the other, with quaint customs and practices. The island’s well known for its arts, sculptures and music.

There are over 20,000 temples (also known as Puras), giving Bali the epithet, “Island of a thousand Puras”. The indigenous people have modified some Hindu customs to suit their own beliefs and faith, and some of the noisiest celebrations are held in the outer courtyard of these temples. Most rituals performed in the temples like the Barong dance have also become a popular tourist attraction, with the artistes modifying the act a bit to suit visitors and the travel industry. Temple festivals are a huge draw as they bring together the Balinese spirit, culture and love of the Gods to one place. The New Year, however, known in Balinese as the Nyepi, is observed as a day of silence, with tourists also being requested to stay inside the hotels.

Coffee Plantations and More

Tourism is the biggest revenue generator for Bali, but agriculture remains, for want of a better term, the bread and butter for the Balinese. You will find yourself surrounded by verdant, cheerful paddy fields, with rice being the main produce and then comes coffee. Kopi Luwak, the rather strangely produced coffee from the intestines of the Asian civet cat is a specialty of the island. This coffee, one of the most expensive in the world, is actually considered one of the most delicious blends of coffee.

Bali for Adventure Enthusiasts

Apart from the home-grown coffee and the lush surroundings, there are those endless stretches of beaches, with the sand going from white to black from south to north in Bali. Jimbaran beach is one of the most popular ones. Bali’s mountains have several peaks with the Mount Agung being the highest, also an active volcano. Bali’s tall mountain ranges make it a very rain-friendly destination, thereby supporting the high produce of its agriculture. The island is also surrounded by coral reefs, though some beaches are now being developed for tourism. Surfing and sailing remain two favourites among water sports for tourists and the local people alike.

Food and Shopping

The locally grown fruits are many and delicious, with the notable exception being the durian, touted to be exquisite in its taste, but approached with a lot of caution by visitors owing to its distinctly off-putting aroma. The non-coastal region produces a rich variety of tropical fruits and vegetables, with the sea contributing its inhabitants for consumption. Seafood is much enjoyed here and caters to many tastes.

Bali has a lot for shopaholics as well, Kuta and Galeria Nusa Dua being two popular hubs. Days can be spent touring the commercial areas while long walks along the beach can set your mind at ease in the evening. Bali is the proud recipient of the Best Island Award by travel magazine Travel and Leisure recently, meriting the prestigious honour owing to a number of factors – the hospitality of the Balinese, the rich mountainous and coastal areas, various tourist attractions and the diversity and appeal of its cuisine. Bali is truly one of the most gifted islands of the world, and looks like no deterrents can take away from its appeal and beauty.

The Balinese are a friendly lot, and can sell many dreams to you, starting with herbal therapy, muscle-loosening massages and spa treatments in little shacks by the wayside, friendly hawkers and vendors trying to sell handmade artefacts to the eager tourist and regaling you with stories of nothing at all in broken English, English being a common language owing to the demands of the tourism industry. Eminently god-fearing and adhering to somewhat a pagan culture, they find many reasons to worship elements of nature, so don’t be surprised if you see a rock or a tree being subjected to elaborate rituals of prayer and song. With so much to offer, Bali should definitely be on the top of your bucket list! 

Inspired? How about gifting this dream destination to your dad on the occasion of Father's Day? Check out the Gift cards we have in store here!