| For me, arriving at Bali was a travellers' | | | | shops, boutiques, and galleries- what more |
| delight. Nothing could beat travel fatigue | | | | could I ask for! |
| better than the friendly, smiling Balinese | | | | |
| faces at the Customs and Immigrations at the | | | | For the adventurous and sporty, Bali offers a |
| Denpasar airport and the ' Visa on arrival' | | | | host of adrenaline-pumping water-sports, both |
| stamped on my passport for 10 USD in 15 | | | | below and above water. Surfing, scuba diving, |
| minutes flat! | | | | banana boats, snorkelling, parasailing, Jet |
| | | | Ski, Bungee Jumping, Bali offers it all. |
| I had heard that Bali was an island of | | | | |
| temples, dances, and age-old rituals; with | | | | Bali is one of the Spa Capitals of the world |
| over 95 per cent of the 3 million people | | | | where you can indulge yourself in a spa |
| practice a form of Hinduism. But nothing | | | | treatment at very reasonable prices. |
| prepared me for the spot-on recital of | | | | |
| 'Gayatri Mantra' by my taxi driver, followed | | | | Another big pastime here is shopping! For |
| by a song from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in the same | | | | those who do not want to wander too far from |
| breath. I was amazed by the Bollywood craze | | | | the beach, Sanur, Kuta and Ubud have more |
| in this Far East city, so much so, that I was | | | | than enough to appease any shopper, from |
| instantly labelled 'from Shahrukh Khan's | | | | sarongs and sandals to wooden statues, stone |
| country' by every taxi driver and local I | | | | carvings and iron and bronze works. |
| met! | | | | |
| | | | From the locals raving over Shahrukh Khan to |
| Arriving at the airport, most tourists head | | | | the colourful Balinese-Hindu culture, this |
| straight for the beach areas of Kuta, Sanur, | | | | tropical paradise lures Indians, not just by |
| Jimbaran or Nusa Dua, I chose Kuta simply | | | | its natural exquisiteness but more |
| because it is still arguably the centre of | | | | importantly by its culture and the warmth of |
| night life activities along with an array of | | | | the Balinese people. |