Bali beyond Beaches!!

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Bali, arguably is one of the most famous holiday destination in Asia. I was fortunate enough to spend a few days in this beautiful Island, also famously referred as "Island of God's". Bali's beautiful beaches has continued to attract tourists over all these years but there is a lot to this Island than just beaches. Here are few reasons why you should visit Bali.
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1. Beaches: Undoubtedly, Bali is the best place in Asia for Surfing enthusiasts. Bali is a big island and has quite a lot of beaches to suit everyones need. From the commercial corner of Kuta to the serene beaches of Jimbaran, Bali has something for everyone. You can take surfing classes on most of the beaches and you need to pay your instructors on a hourly basis. Although the waters are relatively safe, there have been incidents of shark attacks especially in murky waters after rain.
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2. Diving: Bali has lot of beautiful dive sites, including the mouth watering option of wreck diving. Dive site off Tulamben, has a ship wreck from WWII times and over the years it has turned out to be one of the best dive spots in the region. There have been frequent spotting of Sharks and Turtles in Bali's waters. Prices are on par with other dive shops in the region.
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3. Temples: Majority of Balinese are Hindus and they practice a very unique form of Hinduism, different from its bigger cousin, India. Temples around the island are decorated with stunning Balinese architecture which leaves you wanting for more. My personal favourite would be Pura Ulandanu in North Bali and Pura Tanah Lot for beautiful sunset.
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4. Sunset Bars: Stunning Beaches = Stunning Sunsets and thankfully Bali has Stunning Bars to spend your beautiful evening. My favourite being Rock Bar in Ayana Resort. Be there by 4pm to get the best seats, as the tables are allotted on first come first serve basis. Unfortunately upper deck is reserved for resort guests, but the lower deck are not that bad. Cocktails are priced at USD 12, but are totally worth it. I also recommend Potato Head and Ku de ta bars in Seminyak for sunsets and for the party which follows.
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5. Green Bali: You just need to travel an hour North from the Kuta area and you will end up in quieter and greener part of Bali, Ubud. The area around Ubud is soothing to eyes with lush green paddy fields, rice terraces and waterfalls. Also you could enrol yourself in a cooking class to learn balinese cuisine or you could join a bicycle expedition through the paddy fields.
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6. Volcano Hiking: Bali has couple of Volacanic mountains and hiking these mountains for sunrise is a very famous activity. Mt. Batur is the more famous of the two dormant volcanoes. You could join a tour or create your own tour (if you have enough people) and it could cost you anywhere between $60-70 per person. You would have to hike for almost 3-4 hours in the night so that you reach in time for sunrise. Be prepared for cloudy mornings, which could rob your sunrise.
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Things to Note:

1. Visa: Visa on arrival available at Denpasar airport,Bali for USD 25 on producing return tickets for most nationalities.

2. Connectivity: Bali is very well connected to Asia and Australia. Budget airlines like Airasia, Jetstar and Tiger offer great fares to Bali from Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.

3. Public Transport: Public transport is non existent in Bali. So your best bet would be to hire a taxi or rent a motor bike. Taxis are available easily on the street and are affordable.

4. Scams & Drugs: Fraudsters will try to sell you stuff like Magic mushroom, Viagra and narcotic items. Please avoid buying them as most of them would be fake and dangerous. Narcotics Laws are extremely strict in Indonesia and you could expect capital punishment, if caught.

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