With a reputation as being one of
the most beautiful and diverse tourist spots in
Asia, Bali attracts almost 1,000,000 visitors a
year, from all around the world. Geographically,
Bali lies between the islands of Java and Lombok
and is one of more than 17,000 islands that make
up the Indonesian Archipelago. Bali is small, stretching
approximately 140km from east to west and 80km from
north to south. Running east to west and slightly
off center, are a string of volcanic mountains,
the tallest and most recently being active Mount
Agung, which reaches 3,142m at its highest point
and last erupted in 1963.
Lying just 8° south of the Equator, Bali boasts
a tropical climate with just two seasons a year
and an average annual temperature of around 28°C.
The rich volcanic soil and healthy monsoon season
make this island extremely fertile and a range of
crops is grown here. The wide, gently sloping southern
regions play host to Bali's famed terraced rice
fields, among the most spectacular in the world.
In the hilly, northern coastal regions, the main
produce are coffee, copra, vegetables, spices, cattle
and rice.
 The
Balinese people have strong spiritual roots and
despite the large influx of tourists in recent years,
their culture is still very much alive. The main
religion is Agama Hindu Dharma, which arrived in
Bali with the spread of Hinduism through Sumatra
and Java during the 11th
century. Although originally from India, the Balinese
religion is a unique blend of Hindu, Buddhist, Javanese
and ancient indigenous beliefs, with customs that
are very different from the traditional form of
Hinduism practiced in India today. With the arrival
of Islam in neighboring Java during the 15th
century, a large member of courtiers, artists, musicians
and craftsmen fled to Bali, creating an artistic
renaissance.
Naturally creative, the Balinese have traditionally
used their talents for religious purposes and most
beautiful work to be seen here has been inspired
by stories from Ramayana and other Hindu epics.
The incredibly colourful cremation pyres and the
everyday offerings to the Gods, placed inside every
shop and business, are made with precision and an
eye of beauty. The majority of Bali's population
of 3,000,000 live, for the most part, in tight village
communities with large extended families. The largest
town are; the regional capital Denpasar, population
approximately 250,000, and Singaraja in the north.
The main tourist area is Kuta, situated near the
airport. During the tourist boom of the 70's, this
small village became a major attraction because
of its famed white-sand beaches, the surf, and stunning
sunsets. Today, Kuta is a major hustling and bustling
resort town, with hundreds for hotels, bars, restaurants
and shops.
Those in search of a little peace and quiet tend
to head for the more sedate resorts of Sanur and
Candi Dasa, on the east coast, Ubud in the center,
or Lovina in the north. Another major resort on
the southern-most peninsula of the island, Nusa
Dua, caters for the more up-market crowd, and is
home to almost all of the bigger 5-stars hotels,
as well as one of Bali's golf courses. The central
village of Ubud, in the hilly region of Gianyar,
has also recently blossomed as a tourist attraction
and is now considered to be the artistic and cultural
center of Bali. |
