Lots of us will take flights to Bali for an affordable sun holiday. The beaches and nightlife are second to none and great weather is practically guaranteed. However, step away from the resorts and the hawkers and the island's cultural heart still beats strong.
You'll find small offerings to the gods of food and flowers along roadsides and on pavements, see the Balinese, costumed beautifully, in solemn procession or on their way to the temple. These are everyday occurrences in Balinese daily life.
Denpasar is the entry point for cheap flights to Bali, a busy, workaday city. Most visitors will flee as fast as they can to Kuta, Ubud, Jimbaran or Nusa Dua. However, if you want to take the pulse of the island, visit its capital city. Start at the Museum Negri Propinsi Bali, visit Pura Jagatnatha, the state temple, and then wander through (and pick up lunch at) the big and bustling produce market, Pasar Badung.