Bali island in Indonesia is renowned for its natural beauty and as a fabulous tourist attraction. However, the island is also known for its terrorist attacks in recent years. Since then, the people of Bali have recovered and the island is now a hotspot for tourists from all over the world once again, especially for its beach resorts and volcano helicopter tours.

The island’s ecology and geography are greatly influenced by the towering mountain range of volcanoes that dominate the island. These majestic volcanoes created Bali’s stunning mountainous landscape and they occasionally regenerate its soils and help produce heavy rains that provide this resort island with precious fresh water.

The Balinese considered the island’s many volcanoes, lakes and spring as sacred and treat them with respect and awe. If you are a tourist traveling to Bali for your holiday vacation, you will be awestruck with the sheer majesty of the volcanoes. These natural landscapes are major tourist attractions and many tourist go sightseeing the volcanoes on helicopter tours so that they can view the volcanoes in all its splendor and take awesome pictures. The island is still continually being formed by volcanic activities.

(more…)

1. For every kind of traveler
Bali island is an ideal destination for anyone who is looking for a great tropical holiday. Whether you are traveling with a backpack and on a tight budget, on your honeymoon or with family or if you just want to enjoy all the luxury Bali has to offer during your well deserved holiday. It is all there. It is just up to you to choose from the large selection that Bali has to offer…

2. The Balinese culture and its people
What makes Bali so unique is its people and their daily lifestyle. The beautiful influence of the Balinese religion and the culture can be found everywhere which makes the island truly amazing. Colourfully dressed women carrying baskets or offerings on their heads and men and women conducting ceremonies are really a wonderful sight.

3. Landscape and beaches
When traveling from the north to the south or from east to west, it is impressive to see so many types of landscapes. Bali island offers grand mountain landscapes, powerful volcanoes, amazing rice terraces, tropical vegetation and above all any type of beach you can thing off. Bali beaches range from white sandy beaches, black volcanic beaches, resort beaches to surfing beaches. The variety of landscapes on such a small island is just stunning…

(more…)

With thousands of destinations to choose from, it can be difficult to find a luxury getaway. Luckily for vacationers, Bali Island is one of the most scenic and breathtaking escapes in the world. It not only is known for its amazing beaches and unique culture, but it provides any family with a tropical vacation. No matter what type of accommodations you can afford, Bali Island is an awe-inspiring escape.

With over three million inhabitants, it is no surprise that these people are extremely close. Families are tightly interwoven, and support is a constant reminder of how much they need one another. Most of these families practice Hinduism, which began around the island in the eleventh century. For this reason, art is very strong presence on the island. It is not uncommon for every family member to either be an artist or dancer. From painting to music – these passions are welcome in the beautiful territory. Therefore, it is no surprise that Bali residents make most of their income from handcrafts and other creations.

(more…)

Bali Introduction: The Geography

Bali is a small volcanic island covering around 5000 square kilometers, just south of the equator. Central Bali is dominated by the island’s major volcanic peaks, from which the land steadily descends all the way down to sea level on the northern and eastern coasts; the southern Bali peninsula is largely flat. There are four major volcanoes in Bali, the highest being Mt Agung at 3124m. Agung erupted violently in 1963 and although many people died in the eruption it has since been a blessing to the Balinese in providing some of the richest soil in Indonesia. The next four highest mountains are no longer alive but the smaller Mt Batur (1717m) is one of the most active volcanoes in the region, puffing regular clouds of ash into the air. Bali, being such a small island, has little space to create rivers of any notable size. Rather it is riddled with small creeks that are channeled into the intricate irrigation system that feeds Balinese rice paddies. Nevertheless, some major rivers do flow, namely the Sungai Pakrisan (”Kris River”), the Sungai Petanu (”Cursed River”) and the Ayung, Bali’s longest river.

Bali Introduction : The History

Many years ago Bali was divided into eight Hindu kingdoms. These small kingdoms were powerful but prone to fighting each other, which weakened their resistance to foreign invasion. As early as the sixth century, Javanese kings conquered parts of Bali although Balinese princes often continued to rule as puppets with Javanese sovereignty pulling their strings. Nevertheless power continued to bounce between various kingdoms of Bali and Java. As links with Java strengthened, Javanese script, sculpture and temples began to appear on the island. Late in the tenth century, ties between the islands were solidified with the marital union of a Balinese Prince and a Javanese Princess. The Javanese Majapahit kingdom conquered Bali in the thirteenth century by vanquishing the semi-demonic king of Bali at the time, ‘Dalem Bedulu’, and attempting to eradicate the ‘vile’ Balinese princes and their ‘barbaric’ customs. Ironically, the supreme Majapahit ruler gave a Balinese the position of ‘King of Bali’, a position that gained little respect from the majority of Balinese who continued to refuse to recognize Javanese sovereignty. The Majapahit presence in Bali turned out to be short and turbulent and during the ensuing centuries, much of the unique Balinese Hindu culture and traditions that we see in Bali today were created. This was possibly a result of a community determined to protect their individuality and not be overcome by imported Javanese culture.

(more…)