While traveling in Bali, I had the opportunity to go surfing at Uluwatu. It is an amazing spot, but there is no beach. To reach the break, you have to hike down a steep flight of steps behind a cliff, then paddle out through a sea cave full of turbulent water. As we approached the water, my heart beat faster and faster, both with excited anticipation, and thrilling nervousness. The water was incredible, a light sapphire, warm, and clear. As I watched this fellow surfer make his way out of the water, I knew that I could do it too, and it gave me courage. I will forever remember the anticipation of this moment.

Sanur is a beautiful and quaint part of Bali with lushes hotels along the boardwalk that lines the beach. The boardwalk really makes Sanur special as walking in Bali can be treacherous in most of the towns with narrow streets and tiny sidewalks, but this pathed path in Sanur is great for biking and long walks along the beach. Walk to the south end of the boardwalk for a great view of the sunset and find a nice little cafe to have a Bintang (beer) or a Bali kopi (coffee).

Set on cliffs above the Indian Ocean, this posh resort is made up of 59 spacious villas that blend local stone and wood with Bulgari-made fabrics. It’s a luxurious combination of contemporary Italian design and Balinese traditional architecture. From $880. 62/(0) 361-847-1000. Photo courtesy of Bulgari Hotels.

Our first morning in Bali we woke up around 4am. Jet lag will easily do that to you. It did however, allow us to witness a glorious sunrise over the rice fields that were just across a river from our cabana. It was an epic way to start our visit.

Atop a cliff one hour from the center of the island, and reachable from the beach by elevator, the Bulgari Resort is an Italian-Balinese collection of villas, each with its own pool. There are also several restaurants, where the food was unexpectedly great—and the wine cellar was incredible. Dinners with high-end producers are frequently hosted here. —Alessia Antinori Jalan Goa Lempeh, Banjar Dinas Kangin, Uluwatu, 62/(0) 361-847-1000. Read more about wine entrepreneur Alessia Antinori.

My own vila complex, compete with house gods, a plunge pool, views of the bay, a thatched roof bedroom/dressing room (huge netted bed and air conditioning, thank you) soaking tub filled with frangipani flowers, outdoor shower, outdoor dining and living room? Sure. I'll stay.

Uluwatu is located on the southern tip of Bali and the temple is perched high up on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. Be careful with those cute little monkeys. They are quite naughty and will take anything not part of your body.

Located just off the eastern shore of Bali, Indonesia is a small island called Nusa Lembongan. It is a great place for a day trip if you're vacation on Bali and is only a 30-40min boat ride from Sanur. There is a boat that will take you between the two islands a few times a day. Once arriving on the shores of Lembongan it is best to rent a scooter for the day (~$6USD). There are only a few roads on the island so it is impossible to get lost and the beaches are well marked by signs. Unlike Bali there is no traffic on the island! We set out around the island in a counterclockwise loop. We stopped and watched the villagers drying colorfull seaweed along the shore (this is used to make ice-cream). We stopped at the mangroves for a fresh seafood lunch, some beach time, and some snorkeling. And then explored the many picturesque beaches around the island. Our favorite was "Dream Beach" and it lived up to its name. Be sure you don't lose track of time on this paradise of an island. It is easy to do and we almost missed our return boat back to Bali that afternoon!

After weeks of exhilarating, yet exhausting travel through Indonesia, I recommend pampering yourself at the end of the journey at a place like Maya Ubud. The resort is set seamlessly among the lush jungles and rice terraced slopes of Bali, near the town of Ubud. Maya Ubud's tranquil grounds accompany the massages and poolside lounging perfectly, so all your aches and pains melt away. Although it is tough to pry away from the beautiful gardens and multiple infinity pools, Ubud offers many attractions just minutes away. Ubud is the scene of gorgeous hindu temples, Balinese dance performances, walks through the mind blowing rice terraces and dynamite cuisine. If that's not enough, the nearby rivers and volcano allow you to indulge in more intense activities, such as white water rafting and predawn treks to the volcanic summit.

I'll be honest, you are going to find mixed reviews from travelers about visiting the Uluwatu Temple on the southern tip of Bali. People are going to complain about the thieving monkeys (for good reason), the lack of luster offered by the temple, the crowds, the trash, the entrance fee, and the fact that the temple is somewhat isolated from the other many attractions on the island. However, I am going to make a hard stance that the Uluwatu Temple is worth the visit and that's why I'm considering it as one of the highlights of our trip to Bali! I will also make the claim that the Uluwatu Temple is the best place to see the sunset on the island of Bali! Here is my advice for making the Uluwatu Temple a great experience on your trip to Bali: 1) Visit the temple on your own as a part of touring the many amazing beaches located on the southern tip of Bali by scooter (rent a scooter for $6USD for the day in Kuta or Jimbaran). Make a day-trip out of the visit to Uluwatu. 2) Visit the temple at sunset and go for the sunset 3) Carry a stick as you tour the temple to keep the thieving monkeys at bay and heed all warnings that they will steal any lose items off your person in the blink of an eye. Actually I won't limit items to "lose" items. DO NOT TEST THEM! You will lose, but this is all part of the travel experience! 4) Forget the free dance performance. It is too crowded and there are plenty of other opportunities to see a Balinese dance performance while on the island

Just a short bike ride from the resorts around Jimbaran Bay is the local fish market. We bought a red snapper and a lobster which the chef at our hotel grilled up for us Balinese style. There's also stalls nearby where you can have your finds grilled up on the spot.

At Bali’s newest Alila hotel, villas are sandwiched between emerald rice terraces and a black-sand beach. The spa, a temple of lava rock and marble, offers traditional Balinese massage. From $510. 62/(0) 36-1894-6388. This appeared in the January/February 2013 issue.

Although it’s located right near a popular stretch of Seminyak beach, this inexpensive, 16-room Puri Madawi hotel, set 300-meters back into the jungle, feels hidden and secluded. The resort is filled with authentic Balinese touches such as woven furniture, white cotton bedding, and marble floors. The rooms look out on lush gardens and a pool surrounded by black lava stone.

A traditional marketplace in Bali. This is the least expensive place to bargain for handcrafted objects to take home with you and also to buy spices (cinnamon, cloves, saffron and sea salt.

First stop in Bali, just off the plane, just a few minutes from the (traffic-crazed) airport: a little restaurant called ACC Minang, because our friend Caroline, who knows how much we love the spicy beef dish called rendang, says this is now the best place on the island to get it. There are two servings of it in this array: bottom left, and two bowls up from that.

Trying yoga outdoors was one of the many reasons I wanted to attend the Surf Life Yoga Surf Retreat on Bali. Throughout the week we had daily outdoor yoga sessions, with a couple times attending classes at The Temple Lodge, a family-owned cliff-top resort on Southern Bali's Bukit Peninsula. The beautifully-designed property has everything you need for surfing and yoga accommodation, including seven suites (some with incredible ocean views), a spa for massages, a cliffside infinity pool, and an open-air restaurant and yoga courtyard. Yoga classes for all levels are held every morning at 8am. The courtyard atmosphere is serene with peach-colored tiles, lush green-leafed vines dripping down the rooftops, and a wall of bougainvillea and clear blue skies providing the backdrop behind the yoga instructor. More than likely, one or both of the adorable resident dogs will come visit your class too. Visitors don't even have to be a guest at the property to attend the daily yoga classes, enjoy a fresh organic meal (we ate breakfast there three times in seven days), and take in the unmatched views of Bali's pristine Southern coastline and surfing beaches, which are only a short motorbike ride away. Even more, a feeling of peacefulness washes over you as soon as you step through The Temple Lodge's inviting entranceway, and is just one of its many qualities that make you not want to leave.

It took three years to realize this passion project: a spa retreat built mainly of bamboo. Book a riverfront suite, or the hotel can arrange a stay in a rural family’s home. From $475. 62/(0) 36-146-9206. Image by Djuna Ivereigh/Fivelements. This appeared in the January/February 2013 issue.

Bali is famous for its traditional dances. One of them is the Kecak (pronounced "kechak") dance. The performance at the Uluwatu Temple is not to be missed. The temple is located on a cliff by the sea and it goes without saying the view is breathtaking. The show starts around 6pm and lasts for an hour or so. It all happens as the sun sets. If you don't have a camera, don't bother going :)

The temples in Bali, Indonesia are famous for their multi-tiered thatch roofs. This was taken at Pura Taman Ayun in the village of Mengwi. Visitors are not allowed to enter the temples - we could only view from outside the walls. Thankfully the walls aren't very tall :)