I’m dreaming of an Island where the waves are legendary, the fruit tastes better than candy, and the smiling locals are almost as warming as the satay and curry. Yes, I’m talking about Bali – just a small part of one of the earth’s largest archipelagos which is home to the fourth largest population in the world.

With all of the Eat Pray Love hype, I thought it high time to set the record straight about Bali. While it certainly may be the land of mirthful medicine men and sordid love affairs for some, Bali offers itself up as one of the most interesting and easy-to-love tourist destinations in Indonesia, if not all of Asia, with quite a few more perks than may be evident in a Hollywood adaptation.

The following are my five top reasons to see the real Bali:

Monkeying Around

Few people in this world, at least that I know of, would pass up a chance to get close to monkeys. Bali is one of those particularly-heavily monkey inhabited places in this world where they will, and often do, fearlessly come very close to people.

Mostly to jack your loot, so hold onto your hats, ladies and gents!

Sometimes the best thing to do in Bali is to just sit back and watch the ‘monkey show’, wherever you (and food) may be. The Sacred Monkey Forest of Ubud can be a good place to do so, particularly because these monkeys just might come up and touch you, jump on you, and even pee on you! A forewarning though: just like a hot prom date circa junior year of high school, you’ll need to let them make the first move so as not to upset them and suffer the consequences (again – getting peed on.  Or maybe even bitten – ouch).

Also, when in Bali, I’d say be a monkey yourself – go a little rabid and indiscriminately grab as much mango, pineapple, and passion fruit as you can at every possible opportunity. If you’re like me, you’ll most likely end up with a burning mouth from all the acidity, but you won’t care because it’s just. that. damn. good.

Which brings me to…

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Seconds, Thirds, and Fourths Please!

Balinese food (and Indonesian food in general) is some damn good grub. Also? It just makes sense! Typical Balinese just eat when they’re hungry rather than making a huge production of things and insisting on communal meal times. I encourage you to take the same approach, and find many reasons to be hungry.

If you’re like me, you’ll appreciate the spice, and the coconut element that is commonly used.  Some notable dishes include Opor ayam (chicken cooked in coconut milk), Satay (skewered meat), and Guling Celeng (suckling pig).

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Shred Gnar Bro

You don’t need me to tell you that surfing is huge in Bali, I’m sure. However, I’d recommend actually going to an area off of the island itself for some more secluded, lovely beach experiences.

Nusa Lembongan, although more developed than other islands surrounding Bali, is devoid of cars, buses, and all that NOISE.

The water is crystal blue, the sand is white, and it’s a little slice of heaven.

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Four Hands

Massages are pretty great. They are. I’d say they’re quite amazing after sitting on a plane in coach for 14 hours in a seat that would probably be deemed inhumane even for death-row inmates.

But I digress.

If a massage done by one person, with only two measly hands feels good, then what about a massage with two people and FOUR hands?! Yes, the Balinese four hand massage truly is an awesome experience – It’s almost poetic, in a way. It feels like a symphony is being played on the body, with four perfectly synced hands. Relaxing and enjoying Bali only gets easier after this experience.

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Bask in the Beauty

It comes to pass that every place I visit, I sit there thinking about how I absolutely must come back and bring my family so that they, too, can get a chance to see the beautiful sights.

Pretty much every place.

This one is different, though. Swear!  It has a spiritual beauty, if that makes any sense. I was happy to sit and just stare – which is something I just never otherwise get a chance to do.  Bali is one of few places that I still managed to feel calm despite seeing bomb sniffing dogs, which always strikes at least a little fear in my heart.  That said, It felt good to be there. It was nice not to see any buildings higher than palm trees. Coming from the US, that’s not something I can say I’m very used to. The natural beauty mirrors the smiling faces of the locals – warm, bright, and welcoming.

So much so that I just got cheesy!

There you have my top 5 reasons to see Bali.

Got some reasons of your own?  Share them with me on Twitter.  And like the Blogettes on Facebook, because that’s what the cool kids are doing.

Photo: Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel and Suites.

Well folks, I’ve love to take you all a little further with my Bali posts, but two weeks just isn’t enough time to get to know this fascinating and miraculous island paradise.  I thought I’d share the links that we used to plan our Bali trip.

We like collecting literature, brochures and maps everywhere we go and we enjoy spending some time checking out recommended accommodations, attractions and restaurants.  We can’t claim to have tried them all, but we did stop by to take a look around.  They all come highly recommended, both online and in several Bali brochures and guidebooks.

I had hoped that my thoughts and comments on Bali reflect the true essence of Balinese life and culture, but I can honestly admit that I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface.  If you’re interested, Bali Travel has loads of interesting tips and advice.  Anything and everything you want to know about Bali can be found here.

Here are just a few of my own links for accommodation to get you started. We would definitely consider staying at any one of these fabulous properties.

Jimbaran

Jimbaran is located just south of the airport.  This small fishing village now boasts the cream of the crop, with five star luxury villas and resorts as far as the eye can see.  We stopped by to take a look around at the immaculate grounds and gardens.

Four Seasons Resort

Jimbaran Bay Villas

The Ritz-Carlton

Kuta

When we arrived in Bali, we didn’t book a room in advance, but that didn’t stop us from finding a lovely little cottage with Kuta Seaview Cottages on Kuta Beach.  Our comfortable little cottage was directly across from the beach and central to downtown Kuta.  Kuta Seaview Cottages are great for travelers on a budget.  They’re clean, quiet and romantic.

Poppies Bali also comes highly recommended for their cottages and restaurant, located at Poppies Lane 1, Kuta.

Ramayana Resort and Spa

Sanur

Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel and Suites

Bali Hyatt

Seminyak

Bali Island Villas Luxury villas in Seminyak.

Ubud

Ibah Villas and Spa -  This is a boutique resort boasting fifteen luxury villas in the heart of Ubud.

Maya Ubud Resort and Spa  at Jl. Gunung Sari, Ubud Bali has outstanding facilities, friendly staff and a stunning natural environment.  It looks like a magical place to get lost in for any length of time.  There are sixty villas, each with their own private plunge pool.  They also have 108 rooms with all the amenities.  Their award winning spa is known all over the island and their restaurants come highly recommended.

Nefatari Villas on Bali Honeymoon Villas I included this link because it features photos of the villa we stayed in for a week.  These luxury villas are quite reasonably priced in comparison to other villas in the area.

If spas are what you are after, the best comprehensive guide online is the Bali Spa Guide.  Bali’s combination of ‘health and tourism’ is especially attractive, as they are not only places where you can go to improve your health.  You can do so in  natural surroundings which instantly lift you up and away from a busy urban lifestyle.  I spent a full day pampering myself at Bali Botanica in Ubud.  I especially liked sampling the different blends of essential oils made from local flowers such as frangipani, ginger, coconut and sandalwood.  I could literally feel the tension and stress oozing from my body.

Sedate beaches and waves in Sanur, Bali on the east coast.

This is rather a special day, since it commemorates the day that we got engaged in Bali.  Thinking back on my time in Bali brings back memories of one very special day of ultimate pampering and an incredibly romantic candlelit dinner.

A few days before he popped the question, John moved us from our beautiful Bali hotel:  Biyukukung.  We spent a week here and enjoyed being able to wake up and look out on the rice paddies and farmers tending the fields every morning.

I was perfectly content at Biyukukung, but my guy always has other tricks up his sleeve.  He decided to move is to a private villa at Nefatari Exclusive Villas a week later.  We were utterly captivated by the staff and old world charm of Nefatari.  Our villa was tastefully decorated with traditional Balinese prints.  We had our own private plunge pool and a huge outdoor bathroom and jacuzzi bath.  We spent a lot of time at our villa and completely enjoyed the quiet and solitude it provided after leaving the busy beaches of Thailand.

John took every opportunity to create the perfect private moment in order to pop the question.  After shipping me off to the spa for a whole day, he spent the day organizing an utterly unique dinner ensemble that took place in the courtyard of our private villa at Nefatari Villas.

The first rate staff of Nefatari created an enchanting atmosphere for us by placing our dinner table next to a softly splashing fish pond filled with floating candles.  They hung lengths of white gauze and pinned orchids to it to create some privacy.  Soft music played and the air was filled with the heady scent of crushed flowers.  Then we were treated to a traditional Balinese meal.  John asked me to marry him when we returned to our villa, and of course, the answer was yes.

Our favorite activity was sitting out on our front porch and watching the wildlife at our feet.   We especially liked sitting through the early afternoon rainstorms to watch Ubud be reborn again.  This rainstorm gathered within minutes of arrival.  We were astonished to see the many forces of nature at work here.  I was unaware that it rains almost every afternoon in Bali.  Generally, rainshowers and storms are fast, furious and dissipate within an hour or two.  It leaves me with the impression of Bali rising like a phoenix from ashes.  The cleansing rain leaves everything sparkling like gold and silver.

These Hand-made wooden figurines, were made by a local family just outside of Ubud, Bali.

Ubud is constantly referred to as “The Heart of Art,” and is considered by most to be the heart and soul of Bali. Plus, it boasts truly amazing culinary delights from around the world, culture in the form of traditional dance, plays, art, local temples and architecture. It’s full of amazing and inexpensive places to stay and as far as I’mconcerned, along with millions of others, it’s THE place to go in Bali

In addition to rolling foothills and haunting rice paddies, the entire area is surrounded by small villages which can easily be explored by motorcycle. Each village and the families within are specialists in their respective arts. Stop off for a visit with any of the local stone and wood carvers, jewelry makers, mosaic tile and mirror artists, clothing designers or painters. They will be happy to greet you and show you around their shop or gallery. The mainstream art scene boasts loads of galleries and museums and most will be happy to work on a custom order and will make precisely what you ask for.

I fell in love with these hand crafted Mosaic Bowls made of colored glass.  Balinese art is simply unforgettable.  Central Bali is an artisan’s paradise and you can find a little bit of everything in Ubud.  Ubud is nestled in the foothills of Bali and it’s centrally located, so you can travel anywhere on the island quite easily by motorbike.

Ubud is constantly referred to as “The Heart of Art,” and is considered by most to be the heart and soul of Bali.  Ubud is a small, tranquil little town in the foothills of Bali and it is full to the brim with artists of all sorts.  It’s the art and cultural center of Bali.

We spent a day wandering the small woodcarving village of Mas and met several families of woodcarvers. This local woodcarving family was just one of the families we met during our stay in Bali.   We purchased a gorgeous wood screen for John’s mother.  Several hotels in Ubud also offer visitors the chance to learn various forms of Balinese art.  Taman Harum Cottages offers a variety of workshops for artistic souls.  A two hour woodcarving lesson is a mere $7US.

Ubud, Bali is rather a special place, but I think what makes it most special, apart from all the fabulous art, glorious food, haunting music, and incredible rice paddies, are the monkeys at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. We drove by the sanctuary everyday on the appropriately named Monkey Forest Road and marveled at monkeys calming sitting in the streets or on the walls of the temple itself. They seemed undaunted and unaffected by the traffic and pedestrians nearby.

In addition to monkeys, there are several temples and ceremonies performed within the sanctuary each and every day. Tumpek Kandang, is celebrated by making small, special offerings of flowers and fruit to the forest and to all of the animals. Tumpek Nguduh celebrates plants. Bali is a very spiritual place and one instantly feels in tune with the natural world as soon as you step foot on the island.

The Holy Monkey Temples were built during the mid-14th century during the Pejeng Dynasty or the early Gegel Dynasty. There are three holy temples within the sacred monkey forest. Special attire is required in order to enter the temples (sarong, full blouse or shirt sleeves and sash).

The monkeys that live in the sanctuary are called Balinese macaques, also known as long-tailed macaques. There are approximately 200 macaques living in the forest. They are divided into three groups and each group uses a different area of the forest at different times of the day.

Unlike the monkeys we encountered in Thailand, these monkeys, although wild, showed no fear in approaching us, whether we had food or not. I sat down for a rest and a baby monkey jumped into my lap and started picking at my pants. Then it jumped up on my shoulders ran off with my sunglasses! We had to locate some Balinese forest guides and ask them to keep an eye out for a monkey with sunglasses. Much to our surprise, they said it happened all the time. Shortly after, they found the monkey and retrieved my sunglasses.

In addition to the novelty of playing with monkeys, we couldn’t help admiring all the amazing temple architecture and carved stone guardians situated throughout the area. The details on the walls of the temple were absolutely breathtaking, but I thought the statues were somewhat gruesome. There were fierce lions, monkey carvings, skulls, statues of local gods, dragons and other mystical creatures. A thick green moss has crept over everything and an ancient energy radiates within this place. Sacred walkways lead the way to a peaceful soul here in the Monkey Forest Sanctuary.