The moment you step out of your aircraft at the old airport at Denpasar, you are struck, if you are from India, by a sense of deja vu on seeing the chaos all around. Even so, this does not detract from what the beautiful island of Bali has to offer.As you drive out of the airport towards your hotel or resort, you cannot miss the strong Indian connection - from the statues and idols of Hindu gods to the roads and commercial areas that you drive through. That Bali's 4.22 million population is 80 percent Hindu makes that connection stronger. People on the island freely discuss gods - from Vishnu and goddess Saraswati to others - and even Bollywood stars, be it Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan or Kareena Kapoor.Bali has a lot to offer compared to other tourist destinations in Southeast Asia.Be it the beautiful Nusa Dua, Kuta, Jimbaran or Seminyak beaches with a lot of water-sport activities, the active nightlife of the Kuta area, the serene temples or the active volcanoes - there is not a moment of boredom on the island.There are hotels, apartments, resorts and private villas available aplenty at most of these popular destinations. These can suit every kind of traveller and budget as they range from Rs.3,000 to Rs.50,000 ($47-$792) per night. Of course, hotels and resorts on the beach front command a higher price.The top-end hotels are mostly in the Nusa Dua, Kuta and Seminyak areas.The warmth of the Balinese is quite evident from people on the roads to hotel front desks to room service."Visitors are welcome in Bali. We try to make their stay and experience here as comfortable as we can," Viduri, a front desk executive at a leading hotel, told IANS.The moment you change the currency from dollars or any other, the feeling of becoming a millionaire comes instantly.View pics..
