Diamond Head Road

Perfect weather, lots of traffic

Summers are a great time to visit Bali - the days are warm and sunny, but not scorching hot.

The nights cool off enough to wear something light around your shoulders which if you live here year round is an amazing feeling.

As we come to a close on our very first year on the Island of the Gods, I thought it would make sense to jot down a short list of a few of our favorite things to do here so that you don't find yourself in a traffic jam for nothing.

1. Uluwatu: Think North Shore, Hawaii; Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa or Bells Beach, Australia - Uluwatu is up there with the world's most famous surf spots. Take in the energy and watch in awe from the cliff front warung and take a dip in the mystical beach cave at low tide.

2. Ubud: This place is absolutely nuts during the summer. Tour busses clog the streets and tourists crowed the sidewalks. Skip the mess and meander instead among rice paddies to the Sari Organik restaurant. Enjoy a touch of old Bali: rice farmers, dirty ducks, coconut groves and yes, those beloved rice paddies - fireflies love them at night as well.

3. Padang-Padang: Definitely one of my favorite beaches especially during the summer as the white sand and turquoise Indian Ocean is pristine and perfect. It will be crowded this time of year, but in a fun way: surfers of all levels paddling out to the different breaks, couples canoodling under umbrellas, kids running around exploring rock formations and secret coves beyond the main beach. 

4. Sanur: Rent bicycles in town (about Rp. 20,000/day) and ride a couple of miles along the famous beach board walk. Stop in at Hyatt Reef Izakaya (a few restaurants north of the Bali Hyatt Hotel) for lunch or dinner and enjoy freshly grilled mahi mahi or prawns caught that day - beats the Jimbaran "fish on the beach" scene any day.

5. Canggu: Enjoy a great meal and vibe at Echo Beach House on the black sand of Echo Beach. This is a fun beach to explore the rivers coming down from the mountains, peek at the gorgeous beach front villas and again watch great local and world class surfers do their thing. Sunday afternoons have a fun party atmosphere with live music and a standing room only crowd so get there before five.