I always imagined landing on the shores of Bali, that I would step off the ship to be greeted by a brown-skinned, flower-adorned native handing me a Mai Tai with a tiny umbrella, as I sink my toes into the warm, fine, white sandy beach. Not. While as we cruised into port I did see along the shores, resorts and hotels, private yachts and sailboats, surfing beaches, and tourists parasailing above the blue water, where we docked was a real port, with real shipping containers stacked alongside, near the real city of Benoa, with real people living real lives.

The streets of Benoa are lined with curbside shops selling stone and wood carvings of all sizes, small restaurants and services, stone temples, and motor scooters whizzing by. I took off on a cultural tour of this bustling town where we visited a traditional Balinese house for a glimpse into the conventional life of the native families. The Balinese home is comprised of a walled compound of separate structures, including a kitchen, a shrine, sleeping quarters, living rooms, and even a special “honeymoon” room for newlyweds to sanctify their union. The family lives together in multi-generations within this commune and the highest regard is paid to the eldest.

Bali is known for its exquisite Batik cloth and we visited a factory for a demonstration of the process and to observe the skilled artisans at work on the multiple applications of dying and printing. The results are intricate and stunning.

The exquisite Pura Puseh Hindu Temple, dated to the 11th century, is right along the main road in town and continues to be used by the local village community for religious ceremonies. It is adorned with intricate stone carvings, and painted and detailed temples with pagoda style roofs. You wear sarongs to the temples in Bali, so they were provided by our tour guide. It’s a respect thing. You will also find simple shrines or thrones everywhere along the streets, with small plates of food left by devotees as offerings.

Yin and Yang, a prevailing concept in Bali, is illustrated in the theatrical Balinese Barong dance, which tells the story of the balance of good vs. evil in a colorful performance of music and richly decorated costumes.

Barong Dance, Bali, Indonesia

Bali, Indonesia

Our final stop was the Bird Park where you’ll find the largest collection of Indonesian birds in the world, as well as many varieties from Africa and South America. The botanical landscape showcases the birds not only in their natural habitats and large walk-in aviaries, but also freely roaming through the park for some spectacular and intimate interaction.

The frequent planes flying low overhead while we were docked were proof that Bali is a busy destination. And, if what you want is the Bali I had imagined, you can get it if you go from the airport directly to one of the exclusive beach hotels to spend your vacation in protective and pampered seclusion. But, this is where the Julia Roberts movie “Eat, Pray, Love” was filmed, which suggests India, exotic temples, hot, humid, tropical climate, lush forests, rice fields, and rich culture. You’d be missing out on the real Bali.

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