Why is it that so many people end up going back there time after time?
Well, I guess if you asked them, you'd get a whole variety of answers, but it is a special place and I'll run through some of the reasons why I love it and have been back there over 50 times and why I can't wait to get back there again.
The Swimming Pools? There's something indulgent about lounging around a lagoon shaped swimming pool, or sitting at the sunken pool bar with a cool breeze blowing through the coconut palms and the sun shining on a hot balmy afternoon.
The People? The Balinese are possibly the friendliest people you'll meet! They're polite, forever smiling and always welcoming. They've also a colourful culture based on peace, harmony and karma. Their ceremonies, music and art are unique to Bali. You won't find a more interesting culture!
The Scenery? Out of this world! From terraced rice paddies to the sandy palm-fringed beach disappearing off into the ocean mist. So many photo opportunities.
The Spas?Some of the best spas in the world are in Bali. Indulge!
The Shopping? Bali's such a great place for shopping and eating. Even an average kiwi can holiday like a king over there. Tailor made leather jackets, clothes, wooden carvings and just about everything locally made is dirt cheap compared to New Zealand prices.
Pictured is Muhammad, a watch seller in Seminyak. Bargain hard!
The Beaches? Even in the hottest days in New Zealand, it's still nippy getting in. Over there it's not.
Bali is famous for its surf beaches, namely Kuta, Uluwatu and Dreamlands (pictured) which face the west and to the east the beaches are protected by reefs so the water is calm. Lovina, on the north coast has a black sand beach.
I love Kuta beach the most. It's perfect for early morning walks, sunbathing and swimming during the day and looks beautiful all the time, at sunrise and during the stunning sunsets.
The Smells? Maybe it's the sweet aroma of Gudang Garam clove cigarettes or the frangipani fragrance that fills the air or the smell of incense sticks burning as an offering to their gods. I don't know what it is, but it's definitely Bali and its exotic composition gets me every time.
The Hotels? The infinity edged pools, the thatch roof bungalows and the extensive use of sand stone make some of Bali's top end resorts some of the best in the world and I love staying there or just having a look at an architectural work of art.
Pictured is the new Bulgari Resort, South Bali
The Food? I can eat the most delicious cuisine from all over the world in the finest of restaurants for a fraction of the price that it is in New Zealand. Fresh fruit is cheap - a chance to indulge in paw paw, mango, pineapple and fresh coconut milk.
A delightful array of dishes from Ku de ta, Seminyak.
And I could go on. For some, it's the Kuta atmosphere and nightlife. For surfers, it's the waves. For golfers, the perfectly manicured golf courses. Whatever it is, Bali's captured my heart and continually beckons me.
Alam Kul Kul
