Bali holidays

Steeped in culture, it's no surprise that Bali offers a wide variety of mouth-watering dishes that reflect this. Bali is the only non-Muslim island in Indonesia. So you'll find many delicious pork dishes that you won't find anywhere else in Indonesia. One such dish is babi guling, which translates as 'pork roll' and consists of a suckling pig coated in spices for maximum flavour and slowly roasted over a rolling spit fire. Once cooked, it is served with pork cracklings and a vegetable salad. This emblematic Balinese dish used to be served only on religious ceremonies and special occasions, but is now a staple in many restaurants. If you love rice, you certainly won't be disappointed on your trip, as rice is Bali's staple food and accompanies most meals. Rice is often served with vegetables, meat or seafood cooked in a multitude of spices and sauces, usually spicy. Nasi Goreng is just one of the many emblematic dishes of bilingual cuisine that encompasses all these elements. Bali is surrounded by sea, making it a big draw for seafood. Some of the best seafood can be enjoyed on Jimbaran beach, where restaurants and market stalls are full of fresh fish and seafood. Wondering which dessert to choose to round off a delicious dinner? Pisang Goreng is the perfect choice. This local delicacy consists of bananas coated in a simple batter and then deep-fried. For maximum flavour, they are best eaten hot, with vanilla ice cream.

In Bali, traditional dance is divided into three categories: sacred, semi-sacred and purely recreational.

Like many other Balinese traditions, dance is deeply linked to Hindu beliefs. Wali dance, for example, is a means of making contact with the gods, and dancers often pray on the day of their performance to receive divine intervention, known as Taksu. These sacred dances are performed exclusively in temples and during specific religious ceremonies that are inaccessible to tourists. During these performances, the dancers are said to enter a state of trance and to be possessed by the gods.

Bebali dance, on the other hand, falls into the category of semi-sacred dances, as it is practised for both religious and entertainment purposes. One popular style of bebali dance is Topeng, or mask dance, in which the dancers wear paper or wooden masks. These performances typically depict stories from the early kingdoms and, although they still take place in temples and during ceremonies, they are open to tourists to watch and enjoy.

Finally, balih-balihan dance is purely entertaining, but nonetheless conveys strong moral values. The Kecak, probably the most famous Balinese dance, is a notable example.

While all the various sporting activities associated with a holiday destination are well covered: water-skiing, snorkelling, windsurfing, etc., there are several traditional Balinese sports that are definitely worth trying out for their colour and entertainment value, as well as for the excellent insight they provide into Balinese culture. Here are some of our favourite sports. Makepung is the local term for buffalo racing. Carts are harnessed to water buffaloes bedecked with colourful banners, decorated horns and with bells around their necks. You'll be transfixed by the spectacle of these sedentary creatures hurtling down the track at breakneck speed, their drivers standing precariously on their chariots and pushing the buffalo to greater and greater exertion. Kite flying is another national passion. Known as Layangan, the kites are made from bamboo and coloured cloth and often have 'tails' several hundred metres long. Kite flying is considered a sport by the Balinese and competitions are regularly held between neighbouring villages. Don't try to understand the rules, just sit back and enjoy the aerial spectacle. Finally, meaning "to throw" or "to make something fall", Mepantigan is a traditional martial art developed in Bali, which involves fighting your opponent on the ground, usually in a pool of mud. The music, dances and colourful costumes associated with it make it an unmissable event during your stay in Bali.

If you're a shopaholic, you won't be disappointed by your experience in Bali. From designer boutiques to local shops and markets, you can buy everything from designer fashions to traditional handmade souvenirs, all at prices that won't break the bank. Here's a selection of our favourite shopping destinations. Kuta Beachwalk, in Jalan Pantai Kuta, is an upmarket shopping mall. This vast, tastefully landscaped 3.7 hectare site offers a fantastic mix of trendy boutiques, quaint shops, cafes and activities to keep the younger members of the family entertained, including a small water playground. It really is a day out in itself. If you want to buy some finely crafted gold or silver jewellery, head to Celuk Village. Here you can haggle over rings, necklaces, bracelets and any other type of high-quality, intricately designed jewellery. For something more traditional, we recommend Monkey Forest Road. Both sides of the street are home to intriguing shops selling local handmade products, antiques and paintings. The cafés and restaurants that intermingle with the shops offer a tempting array of delicious street food. Finally, if you want to buy something more practical, head to Jenggala Keramik. This famous shop is renowned for the quality of its glassware, pottery and household linen.