Lake Batur (Danau Batur), Kintamani, Bali

Advantages: stunning
Disadvantages: cold and poor

...... not a very nice way to start an op about such a truly stunning place but unfortunately necessary. Gunung Batur (Batur Mountain) is in central bali and is one of the island's most sacred places. It's a beautiful sight when you arrive at the top: the road climbs and climbs up the edge of this ancient volcano until you reach the lip of the caldera, when this astonishing view opens up. The walls of the caldera fall amost vertically to the plain that was the old centre of the volcano, which has now re-emerged in the centre of the plain as a new and very active volcano. Curling round one side of the new volcano is lake batur. THere is much you can do here. First instinct will be to get out of the car and admire the spectacle - well worth a look but be careful of the hawkers. This is a very poor area and visitors are pounced... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: An idylic island paradise
Disadvantages: Check with the foreign office for travel recommendations due to terriorist threats

.... We spent a few evenings wandering around and also went to pay our respects at the memorial where the first bombing killed so main innocent lives. Kuta is also a Mecca for surfers so expect to meet a lot of long blonde haired lithe Australians out to catch the waves. What l have given you is really only a snap shot of Bali, there is so much to see and do in this little island in Indonesia. Although at the moment l am not sure what the Foreign Office recommends about visiting Indonesia due to terrorism which is a bloody crying shame as these people rely on tourism to sustain there economy. The island is amazing from the towering volcanoes, to the sparkling blue lakes, to the amazing temples thousands of years old to the ingenious rice terraces. It has wonderful balmy hot weather, excellent cuisine and the people are so gentle... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Cheap in parts, Great beaches
Disadvantages: Hawkers, Long Flight

...some quite spectacular views and is still an active volcano, which you can cross volcano lake and visit the small village there. This tour normally then takes you the Celuk that is a silver jewellery type of town where you can purchase some nice trinkets. There are lots of other places to see and visit in Bali but probably too many to list but I would recommend Bali to any one who likes to see new cultures experience the food, weather and sites it was probably one of my best holidays. Please look out for my other reviews on places I have visited including Singapore, Thailand, New York that I will writing a soon as I get the time I also I hope you enjoyed my review of Bali and I hope it helps you make a decision on your holiday. Neal Bowman... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful