Bali

Introduction

bali_lembongan_01

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Bali is the western most island in the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia. The island is west of Java and to the east of Lombok. With a population of over 3 million with the vast majority of the island's population, 93.18%, being Hindu makes this place very different from the rest of Indonesia. Bali is one of the largest tourist destinations in Asia and the largest tourist spot in Indonesia.

The island was first settled around 2,000 BC by people from Taiwan. The culture took a major shift when Hinduism was introduced from India in the 1st century AD. When the Hindu empire on Java fell in the 15th century most of the intellectuals, priests, musicians and royalty relocated to Bali. The Dutch discovered the island in 1597, although Dutch control was not solidified till the 1890s. Even then Dutch control was loose at best. After Indonesian independence the island was hit hard during the communist crackdowns of the 1950s and 1960s with 10% of the islands population being executed. In 2002 and 2005 bombs were set off in major tourist areas, which greatly affect the tourist industry.

The main attractions for tourist going to Bali are the stunning beaches, amazing mountains, art work, dance, music and pumping nightlife. On top of this there is extremely clean and clear water that are filled with coral reefs, which makes for world class diving. For adventure seekers there is some of the best surfing in the world and excellent mountain climbing

Geography

Kintamani Lake, Bali

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The island is a series of steep and high volcanos with the tallest being Mount Agung at 3,142 m (10,308 ft) on the eastern end of the island. Mount Batur, also on the island, had one of the largest volcanic events on the planet about 30,000 years ago. The south part of the island is the alluvial plain, which has several shallow rivers that are low during the dry season and swell during the wet season. Bali is surrounded by beaches and vibrant coral reefs. the beaches in the south usually have white sand and the beaches in the northern or western parts of the island have jet black sand. The ecology of the island is stunning with over 280 birds and plenty of wild animals.

Cities

• Singaraja - Was the colonial capital of the province.
• Denpasar - Near the southern coast and is the current day capital of the province and largest city on the island.

Tourist Towns

• Kuta - Is a major tourist area on the island.
• Padangbai - Is a beach town on the south east side of the island.
• Seminyak
• Sanur
• Jimbaran
• Ubud - Has a large art market and with several museums and galleries is the cultural centre of Bali.

Sights and Activities

Tanah Lot, Bali

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Tanah Lot

Located 20 km from Denpasar sit the amazing temple and rock formation of Tanah Lot. The temple was built in the 15th century by the famous priest Niratha, who was wondering the coast and came along some fishermen. After the fishermen gave him food and spending the night on the little island he told the fishermen to build a shrine on the rock. The temple is one of the seven seaside temples located around the coast of Bali. The temple is supposedly protected by poisonous sea snakes.

Bali Baret National Park

Bali Baret National Park is located in the north western part of the island. The park is roughly 10% of the land area of the island of Bali. it is bordered by the port town of Gilimanuk and the village of Goris. The park covers many different ecological zones including coral islands, savanna, mangroves and mixed-monsoon forests. There are even some ancient volcanic remains to explore.

Other Sights and Activities

Oh Beautiful Bali

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• Seven Seaside Temples - Visit these seven coastal Hindu temples that are within eyeshot of each other. Most were built in the 15th century and have stunning architecture.
• Mother Temple Besakih - Located in the village of Besakih on the slopes of Mount Agung is one of the most important Hindu temples in Indonesia.
• Beaches - Spend time on white and black sand beaches to get a good tan and relax.
• Surfing - Hang ten on some of the best waves in the world.
• Diving - Check out the reefs with some scuba diving or snorkeling.
• Rock climbing - Go climb some amazing cliffs on this island.
• Arts and Crafts - Check out the amazing traditional arts and crafts of Bali.
• Traditional Dance - Learn a move or two of traditional Balinese dance.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Getting There

Bali is not connected to the land by a bridge.

By Plane

Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) is located in the southern part of the island, just 13 km south of Denpasar. It is the third busiest airport in the country and now meets international aviation security standards. The airport has extensive international service and good domestic service. Pretty much every country in the Asian and pacific region can be reached directly by flights from this airport.

By Boat

Getting Around

By Plane

By Train

There are no trains on the island.

By Car

Most of the roads hug the coastline or the edge of the mountains. Due to the steepness of the mountains in the interior of the island there are very few roads across the island.

By Bus

By Boat

Eat

Drink

The night life in Bali is one of the best in the world. Mainly dominated by western tourists these places can get pretty rowdy year round.

Sleep

Bali has sleeping options for every kind of traveller. Therefore if your looking for a luxury resort or a hut on the island has a place to sleep for any kinf traveller