Bali: Beyond the Postcard

Bali sells you a postcard, and its most famous gate photo is a mirror trick. This guide shows you the island behind the postcard, and tells you the truth about the gate.

A first person guide to the real Bali: the 6 AM offerings on the pavement, terraces still worked by hand, Uluwatu at sunset as the Kecak chant starts, Tanah Lot cut off by the tide, and the practical island, from the Jimbaran beach grills to the rigged money changers and fake taxis named in a full Watch Out chapter.

Inside the guide:

• The famous sights: Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, the Monkey Forest, Tegalalang and Jatiluwih terraces

• Where to eat and drink: babi guling, nasi campur, Jimbaran seafood and arak safety

• Where to stay by area and budget, from Seminyak and Canggu to Ubud, Sanur and Amed

• Best photo spots with the honest Gate of Heaven truth, plus Sidemen Valley and other hidden gems

• Watch Out: rigged money changers, scooter damage claims and donation pressure, plus itineraries for 1, 3 and 5 days

18 full-color photographs, 7 of them wide panoramics: beyond the postcard, honestly.