Kuta, Bali, Indonesia

Kuta is backpacker central in Bali. It's a 15 min drive from the airport and has everything a traveler wants or needs. While the beach here is not the best it's a great place to learn how to surf. There are loads of board rental places right on the beach that offer surfing lessons. A lot of experienced surfers hit the waves here as well. In Kuta you're just as likely to run into an Australian as you are an Indonesian person. Flights to and from Australia are very cheap so there are loads of Aussies who holiday here. Because of the party atmosphere in Kuta all the young Aussies flock here. All the bars and nightclubs are full of Aussies who are busy getting drunk. Kuta is a good place to stay if you want to party but the rest of Bali has a lot more to offer.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Balinese Cultural Show

Ubud is located just over an hour from the airport in Denpasar (DPS) but it feels like a world away from the beaches of Kuta. Whilst it's firmly on the tourist trail in Bali in many ways it doesn't feel that way due to the laid back attitude of the people here. Yes there are lots of businesses catering to foreigners but at the same time it doesn't have the "too many tourists" feel that you get in a lot of places. One thing that is inescapable are the plethora of Balinese cultural shows available every evening. It's only when you attend these that you realize how touristy Ubud really is due to the makeup of the audience, however the cultural shows are actually really good.

Ubud itself is generally a very quiet town with a nearly non-existent party scene. We tried to seek out a party our last night there but there really wasn't one to be found. The main attractions here are the many Balinese cultural options and nearby natural attractions. We hired motorbikes and drove out to the nearby volcanoes and rice paddies located about 1 hour north of Ubud. The roads here are poorly signposted and it's very easy to get lost. Also, there are several police checkpoints so it's important to have an international driver's license. We got stopped at one point but somehow talked our way out of paying a "fine" or bribe. If you don't have an international driver's license but it's advisable to hire a driver since most people ending up paying fines. I would highly recommend exploring the area around Ubud, the scenery is incredible.

The vibe around Ubud is really relaxed and honestly I could've easily stayed there for a week. There are also loads of shopping and dining options in addition to an overwhelming number of art galleries. We generally ate at the cheaper restaurants off the main streets, which were significantly less than the main street ones. In summary, a trip to Bali wouldn't be complete without going to Ubud for at least a couple of days. 

Pura Goa Lawah, Kusamba, Bali, Indonesia

In Bali, a temple is called a pura and you're bound to see puras everywhere. In fact, a traditional Balinese home includes a pura somewhere on the grounds. There are also large community puras all over the island including the Pura Goa Lawah, famous for its bat cave. The pura is located in Kusamba, somewhere between Ubud and the east coast.

The Bat Cave