Disappointed by the tourist experience around Uluwatu Temple

Uluwatu Temple in Indonesia is extraordinary — the scale and history hit you immediately. But the experience around it has been thoroughly commercialised. Getting there, navigating the crowds, and dealing with persistent sellers around Jakarta centre made it more stressful than it should be.

Away from the main sites the country improves dramatically. The food (babi guling especially) is excellent and incredible volcanos and diving was genuinely memorable. But I'd wish for a smoother experience at the headline attractions. It's still worth the trip — just lower your expectations around the big sights.