All this takes place in a mountain village called Ubud. The village is large and has plenty of shopping, restaurants, markets and tourist attractions for you to visit.

You will live with a family in their home, helping with the day-to-day running of family life in the mountains, you could be rice-picking in paddy fields, making the baskets that are used in offerings for ceremonies. You could be shopping in stores and marketplaces. If the family you are staying with have a skill, like wood carving or playing an instrument, theyy may even train you in this art. You could be invited to a local wedding or help in the preparations for, or even asked to join in, religious ceremonies.

The families that are taking part in this project are eager to welcome you into their home, to show you how they live and the many different cultural differences that make Bali unique.

What makes Bali special

There is the combination of the friendly people, the natural attractions, the great variety of things to see and do, the year-round pleasant climate and the absence of security problems. And then there is Bali's special "magic", which is difficult to explain.

As soon as you step off the plane you might sense the difference. In the villages you'll notice the quietness and wisdom in old people's faces, and the interest and respect in the young's. Old men sit at the road side. Beautifully dressed women walk proudly through rice fields and forests carrying offerings on their heads to the next temple. There is the smell of flowers, and in the distance you hear the sound of gamelan music.

Gods and spirits have been an important part of Bali's daily life for hundreds of years. Gunung Agung, Bali's holy mountain, is internationally regarded as one of the eight "chakra" points of the world. This may be more than a coincidence. Watch out, the moment you feel the magic of this island, you're addicted for the rest of your life.