Rice Terraces & Balinese Culture
Explore Bali
Bali is Indonesia’s best-known island, attracting visitors with its beautiful beaches, ancient Hindu temples, lush rice terraces, and rich cultural traditions. Beyond the popular tourist areas, the island offers peaceful villages, scenic landscapes, and warm local hospitality, making Bali a destination that appeals to both first-time visitors and returning travellers.
Why I Enjoy Travelling to Bali
Bali was my first holiday destination in Indonesia before continuing my journey to Yogyakarta. I chose to stay in Ubud, which turned out to be the perfect base for exploring different parts of the island. Rather than changing hotels, I rented a car with a local driver and took day trips to many of Bali’s famous attractions before returning to Ubud each evening.
Although I did not cover the entire island, I was able to visit many of Bali’s well-known temples, rice terraces, waterfalls, and scenic landscapes. I also enjoyed the drives between destinations, passing traditional villages, local homes, and stretches of green countryside that showed another side of Bali beyond its famous beaches.
Ubud itself had a relaxed atmosphere during the day, with cafés, markets, art galleries, and small shops waiting to be explored. Like many popular tourist towns, it gradually came alive towards the evening as restaurants filled with visitors and the streets became more vibrant. After a day of sightseeing, it was always enjoyable to return to Ubud and experience its lively evening atmosphere.
Check out my photography in Bali Visual Stories
for more inspiration and places I have explored.
What to Do
One of the easiest ways to explore Bali is by hiring a car with a local driver. Many of the island’s attractions are spread across different regions, making day trips both practical and comfortable.
Spend time exploring Bali’s famous temples, walk through its beautiful rice terraces, visit waterfalls hidden among tropical forests, and enjoy the cafés, local markets, and art galleries around Ubud. Even the scenic drives through villages and countryside become part of the experience.
Here are Ubud
Most Instagrammable Spots:
- Ubud – Known for its art, markets, cafés, temples, and surrounding rice fields.
- Tegallalang Rice Terraces – One of Bali’s most recognisable landscapes.
- Tirta Empul Temple – A sacred Hindu water temple known for its purification pools.
- Goa Gajah – A historic religious site also known as the Elephant Cave.
- Tegenungan Waterfall – A popular waterfall surrounded by tropical greenery.
- Tanah Lot – A famous sea temple and one of Bali’s best-known sunset locations.
