We arrived late to the island of Bali so it was great that my auntie Maggie and her boyfriend Danny were there to pick us up at the airport! Ah the luxury, they also turned out to be our tour guides for the time we were there.

We stayed in the centre of the island in a village called Ubud. What struck me most as we traveled to Ubud were the arts and crafts displayed in the villages. The area is known for stone carvings which are sold on the side of the road. Villages also had paintings, wooden carvings and other beautiful colourful pieces on display.

Ubud village is big by village standards and there is plenty to do. There are tons of shops with everything from jewellery to clothes and crafts. The village seems to attract artistic people. Spanish artist Antonio Blanco has an amazing museum in Ubud. I spent an afternoon there, a great way to relax and get away from the heat. We also met artists, jewellery makers, writers and film makers from all over the world that have settled in Ubud.

At the bottom of the village is Monkey Forest. A great place to stroll the afternoon away but the monkeys can be over friendly and if you sit down at all they jump onto your shoulders. I also saw them trying to take a girls camera!! There is a great market at the top of the village, it is a maze of stalls selling everything from clothes to ornaments. Again Bali is place you have to bargain in - good thing I got all that practice in Thailand!

There are so many beautiful beaches to visit in Bali. Sanur beach is perfect to watch the sunset.

We also visited the Jimbaran Fish shacks which is an amazing fish market where you walk through the fish shacks pick the fish you want and take a seat on the beach where your fish will be brought to you. We ordered a selection of fish and we were not disappointed! This place is definitely worth a visit especially if you’re a fish lover.

If you’re feeling adventurous, as I was during my time in Bali, you can head to Kuta beach (one of the main tourist resorts on the island) for a surfing lesson! It was tough work. After two hours in the sea, some cut hands and knees, I managed to stay up on the board for about three seconds!! What an achievement!!

A rented scooter is a great way to go up into the mountains to see the amazing terraces of paddy fields – they really would take your breath away. The farmers use methods dating back thousands of years to keep the fields irrigated. Some restaurants even have small areas in their restaurants to grow rice. I thought that was amazing. Seeing the paddy fields was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.

Also up in the mountains is an Elephant Safari park. Definitely worth a visit if you’re an elephant lover. Strangely, they sold ivory in the gift shop - I didn’t expect to see that!!

Kintamani a village up in the hills has breathtaking views. It is a fabulous spot to visit once you get past all the locals trying to sell souvenirs.

Reasons to visit Bali: It has something to suit everyone. Kuta the main tourist resort is busy and has all the shops and amenities you need while on your holiers.

But if you want to get away from the madness you can travel up north to the more rural areas to where people still bath in the streams on the side of the street and life is a lot more relaxed.