Island of the Gods, Bali: A Traveler's paradise by Rituraj Mishra

Amazingly beautiful, Bali looks like carved out of a painter's brush-strokes. The mesmerizing culture fused with the sandy beaches and the volcanic mountains gives Bali its unique identity. No doubt that Bali is Indonesia's hottest destination! Travelers from around the world flock to Bali to catch a glimpse of its colorful culture. Encapsulated in enigma, Bali's soul lies deep rooted in religion, which is expressed through Balinese dance forms preserved over centuries. The tradition flows not only through the soul stirring dance forms, but beautiful paintings and even decorative weaving. Bali is a fairly large island spanning 144 kilometers from east to west and 80 kilometers from north to south and so, offers decent sightseeing opportunities. A trip to Kintamani Volcano will give you decent view of the countryside in Bali. On your way to the volcano, you can visit the mysterious 11th century Elephant Caves Temple. Bali is a pocket of Hindu religion in Indonesia, and the city features around 20,000 temples. However, the nine directional temples or Kayangan Jagat are the important ones to be considered. Also, there are some world-class amusement parks and several Hot Water Springs in Bali which you surely won't want to miss. As for beaches, Kuta Beach is the most famous beach in Bali and a favorite among tourists for its beautiful sunsets. Bali has some decent scuba diving hotspots like Amed, Nusa Dua, and Tulamben which provide a close peek at the beautiful soft coral reefs and marine creatures. Bali is also known as surfer's paradise due to the exotic surfing beaches it has. Bali is also fast gaining reputation as a sought after golfing destination due to its three top class 18-hole championship golf courses. Still pondering what to do, then there’s paragliding for you to glide over Bali’s spectacular coastline. There is still another kind of adventure which might light up your eyes and that's exploring the island on a bicycle. What's more, it's the easiest! Cycle dealers are easy to find and you can opt either to buy or take one on rent. If cycling around the picturesque island tires you down, it's about time for some relaxation! Bali has some amazing spas which offer the traditional Balinese massage which is usually done with oil which is not without some immense health benefits. Recreation habitually follows relaxation and what more can be more beautiful than the Balinese dance forms, barong or “lion dance” and the spectacular “monkey dance” known as Kekak. It’s sure to put you in a kind of trance. Searching for hotels in Bali is the easiest part. Bali caters to all types of visitors on varying budgets. Traditional, as Bali is, it offers you a host of choices as far as hotels and resorts are concerned and you'll find all the modern facilities to ensure a luxurious stay. There are also fabulous resorts in Bali which are nothing less than amazing and you might like to consider from the luxury resorts in Newport and Rhodes Island. The best way to explore Bali is rental cars and that way, it takes around 3 days to cover most of the tourist destinations. Metered taxis and bemos (mini vans) are the other ways to move around Bali.