Most people opt to take their vacation at a particular time of year based on such factors as work schedules, school schedules, weather, low-season prices, etc. For honeymooners, a wedding date would obviously be a deciding factor.

However, when it comes to choosing when to travel to Bali, there are other considerations.

Would you ever plan your vacation around what fruit happens to be in season? In Bali the fresh fruits are so fabulous and flavorful; locally grown and vine-ripened. Not at all like the fruit we get at home. Fresh squeezed juices are readily available at restaurants throughout the island. Fantastic!

Mango is my absolute favorite Balinese fruit. You cannot buy mangoes like this anywhere else in the world, with the possible exception of a few other areas of Southeast Asia. In my opinion, biting into a Balinese mango or drinking fresh mango juice can only be equated to the Greek gods dining on nectar and ambrosia.

So, believe it or not, when I travel to Bali I make a concerted effort to go during mango season (roughly November-February).

How about planning your vacation around kites? Kite flying is extremely popular in Bali. Competitions are serious business, with people building their own kites or even commissioning professional kite makers to create winning kites. Some of the kites are so large that it takes as many as 10 people, working together, to fly them. They fly so high that sometimes your eyes can't find them in the sky.

If you're a kite fan, plan to be in Bali in June, when the breezes are ideal and kite flyers are everywhere. Though you can see kites at other times of the year, June is the prime season; it's when the most important competitions take place.

Planning your trip around Bali's most important holidays and temple festivals is definitely worthwhile. If you're in Bali during such holidays as Galungan and Kuningan, you'll see numerous processions with the locals dressed in their finest traditional attire. The villages will be spruced up with colorful decorations; there will be ceremonies; temples will be piled high with offerings. Attending a temple festival is a wonderful cultural experience and a real highlight for photography buffs. (Click here for the 2007 events calendar.)

The bottom line is that there's a lot to consider when it comes to planning a trip to Bali. (By the way, if you happen to be in Bali during mango season, be sure to try a mix of mango juice and watermelon juice. Delicious!)

Diane Embree
June 2, 2007