1. Stay at Nusa Dua
Ok…this might come across as “oh… luxury traveller”…but seriously…if you can…stay at Nusa Dua. Its about 20 minutes drive from Kuta and has the most lovely beaches and of course the choicest of 5-star hotels.

2. Shop your heart out at Kuta and Legian
Kuta and Legian are a shopper’s dream come true. They house everything within themselves…right from the top brands of Roxy, Polo, Crocs etc to traditional Balinese stuff…to even pirated watches and DVDs…! One could easily spend an entire day just window shopping and picking up a whole lot of stuff!
The Discovery Mall is the biggest in Bali and its in Kuta. Pretty Standard mall…but you can grab some good stuff there too. However, most of the traffic heads to Matahari, also in Kuta. Crazy crowd…and the entire ground level is dedicated to touristy stuff..! Bali tees…Bali Sarongs…Bali keychains etc etc…you get the drift..
Definitely recommended for ladies is Uluwatu where one can shop (though at some crazy prices!) for Handmade Balinese Lace. And not to mention the fact that Polo are so damn cheap there. You can grab a Polo Collar Tee for under USD 20!
3. Go Culture Shopping at Ubud

Ubud is about an hours drive from Nusa Dua…about 35 minutes from Kuta. Its basically a village…a cultural village at that. So you have some shops…but mostly houses where people are creating stuff and selling them. So one can shop for Balinese clothes, decorative items, memorabilia etc. Devote a day for this…but plan to leave only around early afternoon.
4. Spend the day lazing at Kuta Beach

I say this distinctly from the shopping suggestion…because they are just that. Distinct! Both can take a day…and should take a day too.
Kuta Beach is Bali’s heart…and this is where the action is. You will see everything…and if you are lucky..I mean…everything…! Arrive here around early afternoon and stay on till early evening, before you head to some nice dining place.
Surf…play…tan…buy random stuff…check out naked bodies..! Take your pick… Its crowded…but I guess whats what the charm is…!
5. Scuba Diving at Tulamben

Am not a swimmer…! OK…that might have given you an impression that I don’t like swimming…so rephrase…I don’t know how to swim! But I went scuba diving…and so can you…!!
Bali is apparently a divers paradise! I can guess why..! But even for beginners, it offers some great experiences. There are 3 spots for beginners, one at Nusa Dua (dont go for it..unless you just want to do it as a check point)…and the other at Tulamben! The drive to Tulamben is 3 hrs from Nusa Dua…its up north of Bali. Here lies the ship wreck of Liberty. The Last spot is in East Bali. Padang Bai is a small fishing village where Bali is still Bali (although it does have hotels, restaurants and dive operators). The Blue lagoon is an exellent dive site for beginners with a huge variety of fish and coral. Unmissable. The best way to dive there is to contact one of the local operators.





