by PhotoMann
A visit to Bali should definitely be added to your
"must see list" for photographing. The Lonely Planet guide to Bali opens
their introduction with "Bali is a tropical island in the Indonesian
archipelago so picturesque and immaculate it could almost be a painted
backdrop". The island offers terraced rice paddies, volcanos, beautiful
white sandy beaches, warm water and friendly people. This land of 1000
temples offers an endless supply of photo opportunities.
A large majority of tourists visiting Bali stay in
Kuta which is your typical 'tourist trap' beach town. It's full of small
shops, street vendors, European restaurants, bars (a pub crawl is recommended),
hotels and beautiful sandy beaches. The package tour I selected included
a room in Kuta and a half day tour then I was on my own. I rented a
jeep ($17/day - international driver's license recommended) for three
days and set out exploring the countryside. Driving in Bali can be treacherous
(as in most 3rd world countries) but just consider it part of the adventure!
I would highly recommend the guide book "Insight Pocket
Guides - Bali" as it gives a number of suggested half-day and day trips
from Kuta. If you haven't seen any of these guide books before you're
really missing something. They are the best for short stays when you
want to maximize what you see in just a few days. My drives took me
to mountain top temples, extinct volcanic craters, hillsides with terraced
rice paddies, beautiful beaches, bamboo forests, sheer cliffs to the
sea, a lotus palace and the list goes on and on. As you're driving around
the island keep your eyes open for the seemingly endless festivals which
shouldn't be missed. Shops and vendors are everywhere. The most popular
things to buy are batik fabrics and wood carvings.
Once you get to Bali it can be a cheap vacation. The
beach front hotels are about $50/night but ones a block or two away
can be half that. Food is also cheap. The only obstacle is the air ticket.
Unfortunately my travel was limited to the destinations I could reach
and still return to Kuta in the evening. Bali is definitely on my list
of places to visit again. When I return I will stay in Kuta the first
and last night and explore the entire island in between. There are lots
of small inns around the island to take advantage of. I would suggest
going in the spring which is just after the rainy season so everything
is green. It is also before the hoards of tourists arrive from the land
down-under to escape their winter.
Be sure to pack lightly for this very humid climate.
Most temples won't allow you to enter with shorts so buy a small piece
of batik fabric after arrival to wrap around your waist to cover your
legs (men and women).
If you're considering a trip to Bali check out Bali
For You for in-depth information.
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