Bali is one of those destinations that you have to research carefully. Too many travelers come here on a whim, and end up disappointed by Kuta's tourist vibe and less-than-pristine beaches.
With a bit of planning, it's possible to avoid these downsides. I recommend staying in peaceful Nusa Dua, or south Bali. The resorts here are on the pricier side, but you can walk right up to the ocean and enjoy the white sand beaches, without a crush of sunbathers around you.
From Nusa Dua, I easily made cultural excursions all over the island. The Ritz-Carlton Bali helped me organize a temple tour of Ubud. I saw the elephant cave and Uluwatu Temple, where I witnessed a fire dance as the sun set over the cliffs. My guide also took me to lesser-known puras, where I could admire the spiritual architecture without feeling hurried.
The highlight of my trip was taking an Indonesian cooking class. The Ritz-Carlton’s head chef took me to Jimburan village, where we shopped for ingredients in the market. He then taught me how to prepare traditional dishes -- including nasi goreng and fish satay -- at Bejana restaurant.
Here are more tips for getting immersed in Bali’s beautiful culture.
Disclaimer: La Carmina and her photographers were hosted by The Ritz-CarltonBali in Nusa Dua.
See more of La Carmina's stories from Indonesia on her travel blog.
SEE ALSO: There's a park in Bali where you can swim and play basketball with elephants
Bali is known as the Island of Gods. I was excited to experience the famously warm, spiritual culture – without the tourism trappings.
Bali’s top-rated resorts are all in the southern tip, Nusa Dua. The Ritz-Carlton was my peaceful home base.
I was steps away from the Indian Ocean. A pristine beach like this is impossible to find in popular districts like Kuta and Seminyak.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider