Gates of Heaven at Pura Lempuyang was probably my favorite of all the temple gates I photographed in Bali.  As with other temples, you are required to wear a sarong as a sign of respect (which you can purchase at one of the many surrounding shops, or one can be rented at the base).

Old Man’s Bar in Canggu is an iconic open air bar near the Batu Bolong Beach.  Grab a coconut drink and relax in the beer garden as you watch one of Bali’s incredible sunsets.  Because, when in Bali…

You’ll find statues and small shrines scattered all over Bali, with daily offerings called canang sari.  These statues and shrines are often cloaked in black and white checkered fabric called saput poleng.  These fabrics indicate a spirit dwells within, and locals will often pause and say a prayer out of respect when passing by.  As a tourist, you should be aware and respectful of these local traditions.

Sunrise at Green Bowl Beach.  Be sure to check the tide schedule before visiting though.  At high tide, the beach becomes inaccessible (and the tide comes in quickly!)

There’s nothing like a good sunset, and Bali has truly spectacular ones!

Bali has some wonderful open air markets.  Love Anchor was one of my favorites, and it’s just a short walk from Old Man’s in Canggu (bonus!)

Practice your bartering skills when you shop (and never take the first price they offer you!)  But keep in mind it’s the locals’ livelihood, so don’t get too stingy.

The top of the Besakih Temple is straight out of a Hollywood film.  With draping vegetation and a sprawling complex, it’s regarded as the largest and holiest of Bali’s many temples.  It would take hours to explore the entire site, so most people just visit the central temple of Pura Penataran Agung.

Tibumana Waterfall at sunrise is a must.  If you want to TLC your way through Bali, then chasing waterfalls around the island is easily done with lots and lots to choose from.

Grab a cocktail and dance to live music from The Lawn’s patio.  This beach lounge in Canggu offers a wide variety of food, drinks, and events to choose from.  Don’t forget your swimsuit!

A visit to the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud is a popular stop for travelers in Bali.  It lies within the village of Padangtegal and is considered a great spiritual and educational center.  But beware, the monkeys can be very temperamental!  Read the instructional signs before entering, and if you want to hold one it’s best to do it around a ranger (who seem to be the only people the monkeys behave for).   Thanks to Emilio Kuzma-Floyd from Eyes of a Nomad for this great capture!

The Sacred Monkey Forest has over 700 monkeys and 186 different species of trees.  It’s really beautiful to walk through and see the monkeys in their natural habitat (with a few unnatural accessories… like tourists’ hats and jewelry.)  Word to the wise: leave your valuables at home.

For an Instagram-worthy photo, head to Munduk Plantation for pictures at their Infinity Pool.  Insider tip: make sure to take the photo from as close to the ground as possible.  This will create an illusion of the sky and ground becoming one.

The vegetation in Bali flourishes with the warm temperatures and high humidity.  It may be a nightmare for your hair (or at least my hair), but it makes for some really beautiful backdrops.

Because the Gates of Heaven at Pura Lempuyang are so popular, I suggest going right at sunrise.  By doing so, you’ll avoid the crowds (and get more dramatic shots!  Bonus!)

A rooster pecking at one of the canang sari (or daily offerings.)  The offerings are held in palm baskets and typically contain flowers and incense.  You’ll find them all over outside homes, temples, and shops.  When you come upon them, make sure to step around them, and not over them or on them (as it’s a sign of disrespect).

Channeling my inner Disney Princess with Chasing Vizions and Magical Joo at Munduk Waterfall.  As Estelle says, “You’re responsible for your own happily ever after.”

On the opposite end of Pura Lempuyang from Heaven’s Gate are three sets of stairs ascending the temple, flanked on each side by stone dragons.  You can see the saput poleng (or checkered fabric) indicating the statues and shrine contain spirits.

Having fun with night photography.  To write with sparklers, set your camera on a tripod and use a shutter speed of 30-45 seconds.  Other than the motion to write, try to remain as still as possible to avoid blur (you can see I moved a bit, which is why I’m not in focus).

Kopi Luwak (the world’s most expensive coffee) became famous after appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show and The Bucket List.  The coffee berries are eaten by civets (a mongoose-looking creature) and then excreted.  Yup.  Poop coffee.  And while many are advertised as “wild” they are anything but.  Unfortunately, the civets are kept in cramped, barren cages and forced to eat nothing but the berries.  This causes nutritional deficiencies that lead to the civets losing their hair and, oftentimes, not surviving the ordeal.  So be a conscientious traveler and avoid this horrible animal abuse when buying souvenirs.

Green Bowl Beach has a couple caves (one with a shrine) that make for some really awesome photo ops!

Stone carvings are everywhere in Bali.  Entrances and gateways (such as Heaven’s Gate) are seen as a division between the inner and outer worlds.  Because of this, you’ll usually find carvings of demons outside temples, homes, and shops.  These demons offer protection to those within and can be purchased at shops all over the island.

The Campuhan Ridge Walk is a must see!  Make sure to go close to sunset so you can catch the light as it dreamily highlights the tall grass.  Too beautiful to miss!

Tanah Lot is one of the most photographed locations in Bali.  This ancient Hindu shrine is perched on an outcropping of rocks on the edge of the Beraban village.  Not only can you watch a stunning sunset along the rocky shoreline, but you can also do a little shopping at the adjacent market.

The Pura Ulu Danau Tamblingan temple on Lake Tamblingan is absolutely stunning.  Be sure to pay for a boat ride around the temple and lake for even better views.  But be careful crossing the bamboo dock!  I wasn’t, and ended up falling off into the muck.  Because I’m a walking disaster.

For an Instagram dream come true, stop by La Laguna in Canggu.  Uniquely Bohemian style meets delicious food and drinks in this restaurant paradise.  Definitely go in the evening for an enchanting ambiance (and don’t miss sunset, of course!)

Besakih Temple is so massive in scale, it almost appears to float above the clouds as you ascend its steps.  The way it rises in unity with the surrounding landscape is simply gorgeous.