BALI, INDONESIA
Many people say that Bali
is an Island paradise because it has a rich and unique Hindu culture. Bali is
also very special as there are thousands of temples through out the island and
there are always some sacred ceremonies taking place. Bali is just a small
island in Indonesia but is a well know tourist destination. There are still
many beautiful and natural sights to experience all of which can be done at
affordable prices.
Ask around and you are
almost sure to get the reply, "Come to Bali for its culture, its
beauty". That seems to be the subtle message that the people themselves
convey about their fables island. It's a message from the heart, for the
Balinese are truly proud of the splendors of their island. Visitors soon
realize that Bali is no longer a frontier waiting to be discovered; instead it
needs to be re-discovered, over and over again.
Bali is situated approximately
on latitude 8 degrees south and longitude 115 degrees East, and together with
the nearby island of Lombok, are the most westerly of the Little Sunda Islands.
They are part of the nearly 13,700 islands that make up the Republic of
Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago.
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.
This journey cannot be
undertaken in a short, jet-hop span, rather you soon realize that you could
spend a lifetime in Bali and still feel there is more to be seen, heard and
understood. No matter how often you watch a barong performance, or the kecak,
or hear the gamelan, each time you are there, something deep inside you reminds
you that it's a new happening, a re-discovery.
There are several other
dances that could excite you. There is the gambuh - a classical form of
dance-drama, the topeng, which is traditional masked dance, the Baris or the
warrior's dance, legong, the Dance of the Heavenly Nymphs, the kebyar that is a
flashy modern dance and the Shanghyang Dedari, the ritual trance dance.
For the first time
visitors, who have 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.
One goes to Bali for
experience, a journey of a lifetime, to come face with a remarkable people,
their customs and traditions, their beliefs, their hopes and their eternal search
for peace. You never seem to have enough of Bali. There is a yearning to
"see" more. You feel the mysticism and get drawn in, like a magnet,
forever attached to its people, to its beauty. It's the beginning of your
search for the true meaning of the balance of the cosmic forces.
You are spell-bound by
the dainty movements of the dancers, stunned by the roughness of the demons,
you follow closely the trail of the spirits, wondering what other creature will
appear of the scene. You wait, almost with bated breath for the final conquest.
And when the performance is over, you feel you want more.
Prayer is central in the
life of a Balinese, as it is important to keep all the forces in a balanced
state. Every object, be it a mask, atone, even fire, has a spirit. There are
mystical forces at work that can be molded for the benefit of mankind. To the
Balinese such forces, both good and bad, emanate from one source.
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 that 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 population 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 whatever you want
it to be. A tourist haven, with splendid beaches, a friendly people, a warm
climate, cool mountain air, a slow pace. You get told stories of old; you find
new meaning in the simple things of life. You can hike up trails, watch the
birds, visit temples, buy your gifts. You can fill your own treasure troves
with the memories, with recollections of your own enlightenment when you stood
and faced the mountains and gazed at the natural beauty of the surrounding
countryside.
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 music as well
here. With music, naturally there is dance. And in Bali, the dances repertoire
is seemingly endless. The music and dances vary from village to village in form
and contents as well. It may surprise you to learn that many ways the people of
Bali truly are individuals, for what is practiced in one village is quite
unknown to the person from the next. Yet, within this diversity, there is
unison in action, in thought and in common beliefs, hopes, and aspirations.
Welcome then to Bali,
perhaps the last place on this earth that still conjures images of mystique, of
beauty, of peace and goodwill and way of life that is unique in this modern day
and age. Here you get a deep sense of satisfaction. It's an environment; it
could possibly even be the hospitality that envelops you. You are bewildered by
the hues of color, sound and natural beauty. Bali, the last frontier, where the
search for the true meaning of life can begin.
Bali as your
holiday destination.
A vibrant culture, unique
arts and ceremonies, a friendly people and scenic beauty make Bali an island
almost unreal in today's changing world and is therefore the main destination
for pleasure tourists to Indonesia. Bali's international airport, Ngurah Rai,
is the nation's eastern gateway, served by numerous international airlines and
charter flights.
Sanur and Kuta are
located on the eastern and western coasts of the southern part of the island. The
Nusa Dua peninsula on the southern tip is still growing as a tourist resort.
Bali's culture is based
on its unique form of Hinduism called "Hindu Darma" which has been
retained after the Islamization of Java, since then developed through the
centuries. Though the caste system is observed, it is notas rigid as in India.
Religion is the source of traditional customs in family and community life. Its
influence is also strongly felt in the arts. With a completely different
lifestyle from the rest of Indonesia, the Balinese have managed to preserve
their culture despite the overwhelming foreign influences brought by the
increasing number of visitors.
Bali's "rajas"
and princes were deprived of their kingdoms by the colonial government in the
early part of this century, but many of them still own their palaces and are
respected as patrons of the arts. The classical dance drama is based on the old
Hindu epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabarata, or on local folklore (such as
Barong dance).
The island of Bali is
mountainous in the center with a cluster of volcanoes of which one is the
active Mount Agung and considered sacred. Terraced rice-fields dominate the
landscape, with small streams bringing water for irrigation.
The attraction of Bali is
its unique art and culture. It almost seems that every person is an artist in
some form, whether it is painting, weaving, carving, basketry, etc., or even in
decorations which are done at many shrines in public areas, on roads, paddy
fields or in homes. Villagers spend their free time in these arts, which are
taught from a very young age.
The soul of the Balinese
is in his religion, so it finds its expression in the arts. A friendly people,
the Balinese who are more exposed to international tourists, generally speak
more English than people in other parts of Indonesia. Keeping pace with the
number of visitors and the need for their accommodation, more hotels have been
built, from small bungalow types for the budget traveler to the luxurious Nusa
Dua tourist resort area. Water sports have gained in popularity: surfing on
Kuta, wind surfing at Sanur, sailing and scuba diving at several other tourist
parts.
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