About Bali

ABOUT BALI

Bali is one of thousands of islands constituting the Indonesia Archipelago that has long been renowned as an eminent tourist destination in South Pacific or even in the world. Many names have been given to this beautiful island, like " The last paradise on Earth", " Morning of the World" and still so many other names. Geographically, Bali lies between the islands of Java and Lombok and is one of more than 17,600 islands that make up the Indonesian Archipelago. Bali is small, stretching approximately 140 km from east to west and 80 km from north to south. The island covers an extent of 5,632.86 square kilometers, consisted of mountain range stretches from the West tip to the Eastern with Mt. Agung, considered as the holiest by the Balinese, as the highest peak. Lying just 80 south of the Equator, Bali boasts a tropical climate with just two seasons a year and an average annual temperature

of around 28 degrees Celsius. The island of Bali remains fiercely attractive to the visitor. They come here in search of character; their own perhaps! More significantly the journey to Bali should be undertaken to seek an understanding of a way of life that is truly unique.

The Balinese are Hindus. They practice a blend of that religion that was originally brought by Indian Kingdoms of old. However Hinduism in Bali is quite unlike than in India. Over the centuries, the Balinese have incorporated elements of their indigenous beliefs and practices, with traces of Javanese influences as well. There are also strong elements of Buddhism in the island, and which perhaps like no place on earth has blended and intertwined perfectly. Of course there are those who practice other religions as well on the island. One has to be reminded that Indonesia is the largest Moslem nation in the world, while in this island, the majority of the populations are Hindus. It is this Balinese Hinduism that dominates all aspects of life here. Death and the cremation rites are important to the Balinese. Cremation is not a sad occasion, rather it is one of joy, as the person now has the opportunity to reach the higher realm. The cremation ceremonies draw huge crowds and many foreigners as well these days. Bali is also about color, sound, smell and texture. The people churn out a bewildering array of garments, which thankfully remain at non-inflated prices. Little wonder why this remains a buyer's haven.

There is musicals well here. With music, naturally there is dance. And in Bali, the dance repertoire is seemingly endless. On the other hand, there are several other dances that could excite you. There is the 'Gambuh' - a classical form of dance-drama, the 'Topeng', which is the traditional masked dance, the 'Baris' or the warrior's dance, 'Legong', the dance of the Heavenly Nymphs, the 'Kebyar', which is a flashy modern dance and the 'Sanghyang Dedari', the ritual trance dance. To first time visitors, who has been fed on leaflets and travel brochures, Bali appears as a holiday retreat, of beautiful beaches, a place in the sun. It can even be mistaken for a land on a perpetual holiday. But Bali is more than that.