ABOUT BALI
Bali is an island paradise which has been the favorite destination of a range of discerning travelers. Bali is only Hindu state, and the rich blend of tradition and culture has had an incredible impact.
Bali is inspiration. The Indonesian archipelago, which consists of around 13,000 islands, is situated of the equator. The islands have rich tropical wildlife and diversity of unique cultures. Bali, as a province within the archipelago with its population of 3 million of which a large portion follows the religion of Hindu, has given an important value of the uniqueness of cultures in the archipelago.
From the pre - historic times to colonialization era when some of the other island on the archipelago had become business destinations, Bali was specially designed to cater retreat travelers. Bali saves the most beautiful scenery, which has inspired its people to take care of its natural resources. Although other island features similar ecologies, the harmonious relationship between the nature, culture and human activities has made Bali a very special place. This special feature of Bali has drown lot of the attention of artist, centralist, and travellers for all over the world. When Bali culture come into contact with the other cultures form other islands and countries, especially during the Dutch colonial era captured the heart of connoisseurs of eastern culture.
The unique of Bali nature, people and culture led foreigners to choose Bali ah their holiday destination. Toward the mid-1960s, a long with the first operations of Bali Beach Hotel and the boom of tourist, Bali turned to be a key tourist resorts, not only in Indonesia, but also in the whole of Asia. The Glide of Bali tourism had helped the economy grow while its ritual life and local culture become event more significant – tourist attractions. Bali’s culture al closely tied, making Bali and endless wonder for
tourist.
Bali is one of the thousands of islands that together constitute the Republic of Indonesia. Because of its unique features, Bali has become a primary destination for the tourist from all over the world, who have chosen to travel to the Asian Tropics.
Although Bali is a small island, which one can circle within a single day, it has a full geographical spectrum. It is as the volcanoes and mountain ranges located in the centre of the island become one in a short distance, whit the low lad plains around Bali coastline.
To travel across the island, from the coast to the mountains, is to travel trough the “living theatre” of the ecology and people of Bali, which seem to continue seamlessly across the regions. The Balinese heartbeat has never stopped in its continuation of traditional agriculture, and Hindu ritual customs.There have been numerous studies and publication about Bali. But it seem like the uniqueness of the daily life in Bali can never be written up to its full, so that the wider population, and especially tourist, are the presented with information which is in complete and inaccurate.
In Bali, the gods and goddesses called the “Dewa-Dewi” -a god being a “Dewa” and a goddess a “Dewi”. The Balinese religion uses the Indian Hindu pantheon, though having adapted it to their own history, character and unique needs.This pantheon is a packed pedestal of immortals reflecting Hinduism’s rich vision of spiritual life. But the essential Dewa-Dewi are composed of two balanced trinities, called Tri-Murtis: The male group of Brahma, Wisnu, and Siwa, and their female consort and counterparts, Saraswati, Dewi Sri, and Durga.These six cover all the basic aspects of existence. As india has the Himalayas, Bali has its own sacred seat of the Dewa-Dewi, Gunung Agung (Great Mountain). The Balinese use it as a “channel” to Suarga, the heavenly realm where the Dewa - Dewi dwell. From there they bless and protect Bali and occasionally pay visits. The core of the complex Balinese religion is “right alignment’ to the Dewa-Dewi via this sacred cannel.
Going sight seeing in Bali
People have come for the culture, for the tropical environment, for the beaches. For the diving, for the food, the surfing, the shopping. People come here to unwind, become inspired, or experience the ultimate adventure. Bali is the island which has it all.
The capital city of Bali, Denpasar has many community temples called “Pura”. One is the museum called Pura Jagatnatha which is dedicated to the Supreme God. Sang Hyang widi Wasa. The statue of a turtle and two dragons (prevalent in all temples) signify the foundation of the world. Sanur offers many good hotels, restaurants, shops and other tourist facilities. Offshore reefs protect the beach against the waves and make it popular for windsurfing, boarding and other water sports.
Kuta is now a thriving tourist resort, popular mainly among the young. It is a popular beach for surfing although currents mat it ess suitable for swimming and faces toward the west offering beautiful sunsets. Nusa Dua is known for its clean white beaches and clear waters. The surf is gentle along the northern side of the Bukit Peninsula, biggr along the south.
Ubud the centre of Balinese painting, Ubud’s Museum “Puri Lukisa” has a permanent collection f modern works of Balinese art dating from the turn of the century. Goa Lawah or Bat cave, the roof is covered with thousands of bats and its entrance is guared by a temple believed to be founded by a sage nine century ago. Besakih known as the “Mother Temple of Bali”, the sanctuary of Besakih on the slopes of Mt. Agung is the biggest and holiest of all Balinese temples.
Over a thousand years old, steps ascend though split gates to the main courtyard where the Trinity shrines are wrapped in cloth and decorated with flower offerings. Menjangan Island the little island of Bali’s west coast is known for its beautiful coral reefs nearby and the wealth of tropical fish inhabiting the waters around it. Bedugul the mountain resort of Bedugul, 18 km north of Denpasar, is known for its excellent golf course. A beautiful sight is the “Ulun Danu” temple which seems to rise out of the lake. The area offers good walks. Water skiing, and parasailing is done as well.
Flora and Fauna
The tropical climate with two different seasons make volcanic island of Bali a very fertile land. Bali is enriched with a variety of tropical flora species that grow well in the cold highland and hot, dry coastal areas. The average humidity of 60% during the dry season and 100% during the rainy season influences fertility rate of the tropical flora in Bali.
The daily life of the Hindu Balinese, the local use variety of tropical plants in their diverse range of ritual. Leaves and coconuts of the palm tree, bananas, fruit and diverse range of flowers are some examples of the flora that are used frequently on daily life. Salak and orange (citrus) are popular fruits used for offering, as well as recognized as the special fruits are represent special characteristics of Bali it self.
Every regency saves its own attraction and natural advantages. Regency of Jembrana in West Bali, for instance, is known for the largest provider of coconuts, whereas many kind of fruits and flower are grow on the mountainous areas, such as Bedugul, Bangli and Northern of Badung. Tree trunks that are found in most areas of Bali are frequently of used as building materials. For example, the Kwanitan wood of Jackfruit tree is generally used for the construction of buildings in Bali.
Various kinds of animals are also used to complete Balinese rituals. Chicken, pig and Duck are animals most often used in various daily rituals. Animal that are slow to grow are generally used for celebrating periodical occasions , like the Tawur Bhuta Yadnya which takes place once in more then 5 years.
Meanwhile, Bali’s fauna collections save its own interesting stories. Bali is famous for its Jalak Bali, which each one extremely extinct bird because of its very low population growth. The habitat of Jalak Bali in the west Bali national Park is in fact reducing due worsening pollution, vast housing development and smuggling.
Bali is home to 32 species of mammals, including a wildcat, two species each of civet (the ‘musang’ or palm civet, which resembles a mongoose), two species of monkey, ’sambar’, barking deer, mouse deer, wild ox (banteng), and a miniature squirrel.
In the early 1900s, a writer reported that his camp in west Bali was trampled by a herd of feral elephants, but by the 1920s it was difficult to meet anyone who’d ever seen an elephant on the island. By that time the Balinese tiger, the smallest of eight subspecies of tiger, was very rarely sighted, and the last known animal was shot in 1937. Today only five sad stuffed specimens are left behind.
A visit to the 76,000-hectare Bali Barat National Park (BBNP), covering most of the heavily forested interior of western Bali, is obligatory for animal and bird lovers. The park is effectively protected against exploitation and development and is well-patrolled by rangers based at the park headquarters of Cekik and Labuhan Lalang. Here you can see ‘rusa’ deer, wild boar, and fairly tame long-tailed macaques and leaf monkeys sitting high in the trees chewing on leaves. The 165-hectare offshore island of Menjangan has a population of around 50 barking deer. Read More....................
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Geography
Bali is a small island, which barely show up on the world map. There are other, smaller islands surrounding Bali, such as Menjangan, Serangan, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceninagan. Bali has an area of 5,632km, a coastline of people, including local Balinese and immigrants from elsewhere.
Geographically, the west border is marked by Bali strait, separating the island from Java island and Java sea while Lombok strait lies a long the eastern part of Bali, separating the island from Lombok island. Then the Indonesian ocean and Java sea each lies on the south and north of Bali. The mountain that stretches out from west to east uniquely divides the island into two. Two volcanoes stood tall as landmarks of Bali among the mountain range, namely Mount Batur and Mount Agung.
Like the other parts off Indonesia, Bali has a tropical climate mostly influenced by seasonal winds, which change one in every six month.
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The population and its Bali people
Based on 2000 survey Bali’s population, the island had 3,146,999 citizens, which were spread out in nine regencies and city. Meanwhile the previous four surveys hotel Bali had a total population of 2,904,828 in 1995, 2,120,091 citizens in 1971.The different characteristic and resources of each regency/city have caused disproportionate of population one regency to other.As one community, the people of Bali are tied to the social and cultural aspects of life which they call Tri Hita Karana, which proclaims one’s duty to live. Read More...............................
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