Bali
Maybe it’s the gentle mix of Buddhist, Muslim, and Hindu cultures. We don’t know, but there’s something magical about this Indonesian Isle. It’s the kind of place where you can have a soy latte at breakfast, and rijstaffel at lunch. Jet ski in the afternoon and feed a monkey a banana at teatime. Shop for name-brand handbags before dinner and purchase a gamelan mask at a night market. Your vacation can be as luxurious or as adventurous as you want.
Activities and Attractions:
Visitors will find a number of resort areas clustered conveniently around the airport. Nusa Dua offers uber-luxurious lodgings and pristine beaches remarkably free of roaming vendors. The nearby Jimbaran Bay area also has posh accommodations, but the village area is refreshingly low-key, full of seafood shacks and independent restaurants. If it’s nightlife you’re seeking, head up the coast a few miles to Kuta, where the discos thump until daybreak. (It’s also the place for luxury clothing and accessories.)
If you can tear yourself from the beach, try to work inland Ubud into your plans. Bali’s cultural heart is the place to take in a dance performance, launch a jungle trek, or shop for everything from sarongs and woodcarvings to jewelry and lace.
Another great place to center your vacation is in Candi Dasa. This beachside resort town is a jumping-off point for the wilder, less developed northern shore. You won’t have to drive too far to dive the wreck of the USS Liberty near Tulamben, swim with dolphins at Lovina, or give yourself a volcanic facial at the steaming crater of active Gunung Batur.
Insider Tip:
Don’t succumb to the temptation that many visitors do of navigating Bali’s chaotic, left-hand traffic by scooter. Instead, allow yourself the luxury of a car and driver, which your hotel can almost certainly arrange for you.
-Exclusively for Perfect Escapes by Nicole Clausing |
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