Written by: Vicky
Philpott
Backpackers love
Bali. It’s an easy destination to visit with a strong tourism infrastructure,
lots of cool things to do, beautiful beaches, a spiritual vibe, cheap
living and awesome tropical surroundings. Because of this the island has
developed a bit of a reputation for being overrun with travellers but you’ll
find the Balinese sensitive of the importance of preserving their culture while
still welcoming new visitors and returnees with open arms every year.
When I visited I
travelled from Kuta to Seminyak to Ubud and then out of Bali
onto the Gili Islands and Lombok via boat. Each place I visited in
Bali had a different vibe. Kuta is for the party people, Ubud for the spiritual
or entrepreneurial travellers, and Seminyak was somewhere in between, with more
of a luxury vibe.
With stunning
beaches, rugged mountains and incredible historical and religious architecture,
Bali is definitely one of the most picturesque and interesting places I’ve
visited.
Visiting Bali on Your Gap Year
Where
to go and what to see
Bali’s culture is
inextricably intertwined with its religious beliefs, which reflect on every
aspect of daily life. Treasured practices include rainbow-coloured flower petal
offerings, pulse-pounding Gamelan orchestras
and dizzyingly disciplined traditional dancers.