On one expedition from Ubud, Jorge and Susannah had a tour guide drop them off at the dormant Batur volcano. They hiked with packs to the bottom, found a place to stay, and booked a guide to take them to the top of the inner crater. Another day trip from Ubud is a visit to Pura Besakih, an enormous complex of temples on the slopes of Mount Agung. The austere beauty of Pura Besakih, a meeting place for gods and people, is awe-inspiring. Amid the tourists clad in sarongs, the Balinese calmly and with great dignity carry out their ceremonial obligations.
Food is another highlight of Bali.
Mark and Alicia loved the food at the casual beach restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton, where they could pick out their own fish and have it grilled. The Balinese people have a sensible custom of preparing elaborate food offerings to their gods, then taking it all home and eating it in a village feast. All three couples thought that the Balinese were one of the main attractions of the island. Yasemin and Mark's guide for a bicycle ride from the Ritz-Carlton took them to his family compound to meet his extended family and see the family temple. Jorge feels that Bali is unique because the people are so unaffected and unspoiled by tourism.