Highlights of Bali - Week One

Bali may be small in size - you can drive around the entire coast in one long day - but its prominence as a destination is huge, and rightfully so.

Ask travellers what Bali means to them and you'll get as many answers as there are flowers on a frangipani tree. Virescent rice terraces, pulse-pounding surf, enchanting temple ceremonies, mesmerising dance performances and ribbons of beaches are just some of the images people cherish.

Small obviously doesn't mean limited. The manic whirl of Kuta segues into the luxury of Seminyak. The artistic swirl of Ubud is a counterpoint to misty treks amid the volcanoes. Mellow beach towns like Amed, Lovina and Pemuteran can be found right round the coast and just offshore is the laid-back idyll of Nusa Lembongan.

A visit to Bali means that you are in the most visitor-friendly island of Indonesia. There are pleasures of the body, whether a massage on the beach or a hedonistic interlude in a sybaritic spa. Shopping that will put 'extra bag' at the top of your list. Food and drink ranging from the freshest local cuisine bursting with the flavours of the markets to food from around the globe, often prepared by chefs and served in restaurants that are world class. From a cold Bintang at sunset to an epic night clubbing in Kuta, your social whirl is limited only by your own fortitude.

• Jimbaran Bay is fringed by one of the best beaches in Bali. The sand is fine and white, and the calm waters make it very suitable for swimming, children and adults alike. The southern end of the beach close to the Four Seasons Resort is the quietest but the whole stretch is very pleasant indeed.

Best to arrive at around 5PM, take a seat in one of the restaurants located on the beach, order food drink, and enjoy the romantic sunset while waiting for your orders. The sunsets in Jimbaran are very beautiful.

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• Turtle Island is just off the coast of Nusa Dua. We enjoyed a glass-bottom boat ride from the shores of Nusa Dua to the nearby reef where the kids got to feed to local black fish some bread. The traffic (on the water) was insane. Parasailing, jetski and a multitude of other water sports all mushed into together. How there were no accidents is beyond me.  Anyway, after feeding the fish, we traveled approximately 15 mins to the nearby Turtle Island. Here we met our lovely guide, Akmed. He showed us around the island and took time to explain to us and the kids how the turtle conservation program works. This month alone they have successful released 28 turtle. They hatch and care for the turtles until around 8 months old and return them to their natural surroundings. The kids enjoyed holding the turtles and some of the other animals on display. While lunching at the island, the boys we 'invaded' by locals. It is school holidays here in Bali, so lots of balinese families are during family friendly activities also. Our kids soon became the centre of attention. Not that they complained

• To be continued with Waterbomb Park and Safari and Marine Park visits.