BALI, INDONESIA - The traffic jam was stretched for almost half a mile.

Cars and trucks filled with school children patiently waited as the religious procession slowly made its way along the rural back road.

 "We are used to these processions bapak (sir),” our driver Imada told us as the parade slowly made its way along the main highway into a local village.

The Balinese, 90 per cent of whom belong to the Hindu faith, often gather along the nation’s lovely shoreline as part of a daily “cleansing ceremony” and then parade back to their village holding religious symbols aloft while local traffic follows behind.

“Every village makes offerings to the gods,” said our guide

Since there are thousands of villages and 150,000 major temples in Bali, we anticipated a lot of traffic jams the ay we set out to see the eastern portion of this enchanted island.

“Are you sure we have enough time to see the island in one day?” we wondered.

“No problem, bapak,” Imada assured us.

Soon the procession headed off on a side road and the traffic began to flow again. We resumed our drive around a lush region featuring pristine beaches, mighty volcanic mountains, 11^th century temples and traditional villages.

In the distance we could see Mt. Batur, one of two active volcanoes on Bali that has had eight major eruptions over its lifetime. The mountain’s lush base is surrounded by Bali’s terraced rice fields. Farmers wearing cone-shaped hats toil in the unique fields, oblivious to the fact the mountain might blow its top at any time.

The sun was beating down on the farmers, who seemed resilient to the stifling heat. It’s not unusual for the thermometer to reach over 100 degrees in Bali – and that’s considered a cool day.

Packs of roving wild dogs, slowed our progress several times during our car journey, but the patient Imada didn’t get upset.

“We Hindus must be good to others in this life because in our next life we do not want to come back as wild dogs," he told us.

Bali’s gentle people threw us smiles at every chance and in one village a group of elderly women insisted we don the local dress – a sarong with a bright yellow ribbon tied around – and join their traditional temple ceremony. The poor villagers laid copper pots filled with vegetables and a dead chicken at the entrance of the temple and sat under a shaded balcony saying prayers. Local children just laughed at the strangers who looked out of place wearing their native dress.

Visitors to this desperately poor region of the world are encouraged to bring school supplies so the local children can improve their education. We brought pencils and crayons and the children showed their gratitude by playfully swarming us.

"This is a great gift and I thank you on behalf of the children," said their teacher.

Many of the children here never finish their education. Their family’s financial dilemma forces them to leave school to work in the fertile fields where coffee, rice, oranges, red peppers and tapioca flourish.

Roadside stands offer travellers a local treat called kacang, a peanut drenched in egg and then deep fried. Very tasteful. It’s usually washed down with a very good local pilsner beer called Bintang - "the best beer in Indonesia,” according to our driver.

There are temples everywhere in Bali. Small ones, large one – and very large ones, like Kehan Temple, one of the country's most revered. The terracotta-coloured temple was built around 1100 and still impresses. Blue and white china plates are embedded in the structure’s brick walls and it features one of the country's largest and most significant monuments to the Sun God.

The villages offer tourists some wonderfully crafted treats to take back home. The Balinese are gifted carvers and what they can do with a simple piece of teak wood will amaze and delight you.

At the base of Mt. Batur we discovered Lake Batur, which sits 600 metres above sea level and offers tourists a cool respite from the overheated valley below.

On the way back to our hotel, we were again trapped by a slow moving procession.

“I am so sorry, bapak,” said Imada. “I know you are tired and would like to return to the hotel.”

“We’re in no hurry,” we told the guide. “We’re enjoying this.”

Processions are just one of the many things you’ll like about Bali.

INFORMATION: - You’ll have to pay a visa charge when you arrive in Bali - about $25. - You’ll love Indonesian money, where $200 translates into 1,770,000-plus rupiah. - Rental cars are available for those who want to tour the island on their own. The rentals cost about $30 a day but a guides charge $10 a hour – the eastern portion of Bali can be toured in about two hours.  - The Aman hotel group has three hotels on Bali and each introduces to the island’s beauty and traditions. For information, go to www.amanresorts.com