Bali is one of more than 17,000 islands in the Indonesia. The
island, home to about 4 million people.The word "paradise" is used a
lot in Bali and not without reason. The combination of friendly, hospitable
people, a magnificently visual culture infused with spirituality and (not
least) spectacular beaches with great surfing and diving have made Bali
Indonesia's unrivaled number one tourist attraction.
The popularity is not without its flip side— like many places in the island's South, once paradisiacal Kuta has degenerated into a congested warren of concrete with touts and scammers extracting a living by overcharging tourists. The island's visibility has also drawn the unwanted attention of terrorists in 2002 and 2005; however Bali has managed to retain its magic. Bali is a wonderful destination with something for everyone, and though heavily travelled, it is still easy to find some peace and quiet if you like.
Uluwatu Temple cliff
History
As per some of the historical references ,the first Hindus arrived in Bali as early as 100 BC, but the unique culture which is so apparent to any current day visitor to Bali hails largely from neighbouring Java, with some influence from Bali's distant animist past. The Javanese Majapahit Empire's rule over Bali became complete in the 14th century when Gajah Mada, Prime Minister of the Javanese king, defeated the Balinese king at Bedulu.
Balinese dance
Balinese dance is an ancient dance tradition that is part of the religious and artistic expression among the Balinese people of Bali island, Indonesia. Balinese dance is dynamic, angular and intensely expressive.[1] Balinese dancers express the stories of dance-drama through the bodily gestures including gestures of fingers, hands, head and eyes.
There is a great richness of dance forms and styles in Bali; and particularly notable are those ritualistic dance dramas which involve Rangda, the witch, and the great beast Barong. Most of dances in Bali are connected to Hindu rituals, such as the Sanghyang Dedari sacred dance than invoked hyang spirits that believed to possess the dancers in trance state during the performance. Other Balinese dances are not linked to religious rituals and created for certain purposes, such as Pendet welcoming dance and Joged dance that is social dance for entertainment purpose.
Kecak dance performed by many male dancers.
It is also known as the Ramayana Monkey Chant. The piece is performed by a circle of at least 150 performers wearing checked cloth around their waists, persuasively chanting "cak" and moving their hands and arms in the air. The level of energy these men put in the performance was really commendable. Another great thing was the facial expressions and dance mudras of the actors playing the characters.
It is also known as the Ramayana Monkey Chant. The piece is performed by a circle of at least 150 performers wearing checked cloth around their waists, persuasively chanting "cak" and moving their hands and arms in the air. The level of energy these men put in the performance was really commendable. Another great thing was the facial expressions and dance mudras of the actors playing the characters.
A woman dancing Legong Bapang Saba. Balinese dances incorporate eye and facial expressions.
Legong Dance & Ramayana
This was one thing that was a must do on our to-do list for Bali. We were really excited and dance show lived upto our expectations. - Kecak is a form of Balinese dance and music drama. It is kind of a trance ritual performed on a male chorus.
This dance show is common at many places in Bali like Ubud, GWK park and Uluwatu temple among others. Having been to all three places I can say that Uluwatu is the best place to enjoy this show. The gorgeous cliff view and the even more beautiful sunset over the ocean makes for a lovely backdrop.
Beaches
There are some wonderful sandy beaches on the island of Bali and even one with black sand! Bali has brilliant beaches for surfers, including beginners, as the Indian Ocean has very good wind and waves for riding the waves. There are lots of water-sports suppliers where you can hire diving equipment, and take part in other leisure activities, so that you also have the option of action during your beach holiday.
Bali Handicrafts
The Balinese people are very creative and it seems they can make anything that comes to mind. For centuries they are trained in making the most beautiful pieces of handicrafts for the temples and palaces of their kings. In the 1930's influential foreign artists such as Walter Spies and Rudolf Bonnet shared their ideas with the Balinese and stimulated them to create other styles. Their skills are inherited through family traditions and throughout the years taken to an amazing level. Today they still produce various types of Bali art and crafts for temples but most of them focus on the export since they can make a lot more money with this trade.
Fragrance soap made in different shapes.
Bali Coffee
When you are in Bali and you love coffee, you know that you went to the right island. The coffee is very tasteful and they have a lot of different kinds of coffee. The most famous coffee produced is also the most expensive coffee in the world: Coffee Luwak. Besides the coffee Luwak, the Balinese coffee farmers are very good in making Robusta and Arabica coffee beans.
Kopi luwak or civet coffee, is coffee that includes part-digested coffee cherries eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet .Fermentation occurs as the cherries pass through a civet's intestines, and after being defecated with other fecal matter, they are collected.
Collected fecal matter of civet coffee beans for processing.
Bali is a true treasure trove of natural beauty. The Indonesian island has a mixed bag of natural wonders, from dense jungles and food-laden forests, to active volcanoes, picture perfect rice fields, and mountains swarming with an exotic array of tropical plants. Balinese people are true nature lovers and they love trees and greens .
Mount Batur Volcano in Kintamani
The Kintamani area consists of three main villages, namely Penelokan, Batur, and Kintamani. There are also some old Balinese villages around Batur Lake, often referred to as Bali Aga villages. Penelokan is a popular stopover. It serves as a vantage point at the southernmost part of the crater rim. From here, you can enjoy the sweeping views over the magnificent Bali volcano.
The first documented eruption was in 1804 and the most recent was in 2000
Religion
Unlike any other island in largely Muslim Indonesia, Bali is a pocket of Hindu religion and culture. Every aspect of Balinese life is suffused with religion, but the most visible signs are the tiny offerings (canang sari, or sesajen) found in every Balinese house, work place, restaurant, souvenir stall and airport check-in desk. These leaf trays are made daily and can contain an enormous range of offering items: flowers, glutinous rice, cookies, salt, and even cigarettes and coffee! They are set out with burning incense sticks and sprinkled with holy water no less than three times a day, before every meal. Don't worry if you step on one, as they are placed on the ground for this very purpose and will be swept away anyway (But you better not step on one on purpose, because - as Balinese believe - it'll give you bad luck!).
Tirta Empul Temple
Tirta Empul temple is a Hindu Balinese water temple located near the town of Tampaksiring, Bali, Indonesia. The temple compound consists of a bathing structure, famous for its holy spring water, where Balinese Hindus go to for ritual purification. The temple pond has a spring which gives out fresh water regularly, which Balinese Hindus consider to be holy . Tirta Empul means Holy Spring in Balinese.
Taman Ayun Temple
Taman Ayun Temple is a Royal Temple of Mengwi Empire and it is located in Mengwi Village
The temple was built circa 1634 by the then ruler of the Mengwi kingdom, Tjokerda Sakti Blambangan,
with Chinese architectural inspirations, and underwent a significant restoration project in 1937.
Towering tiers from the temple shrines make up most of the profile of Taman Ayun and are
a gesture of the people of Mengwi’s reverence to their deified noble ancestors, for the temple
complex is considered the ‘mother temple’ of Mengwi.
Tanah Lot Temple
Tanah Lot Temple is one of Bali’s most important landmarks, famed for its unique offshore setting and sunset backdrops. An ancient Hindu shrine perched on top of an outcrop amidst constantly crashing waves; Tanah Lot Temple is simply among Bali’s not-to-be-missed icons. The onshore site is dotted with smaller shrines alongside visitors’ leisure facilities that comprise restaurants, shops and a cultural park presenting regular dance performances. The temple is located in the Beraban village of the Tabanan regency, an approximate 20km northwest of Kuta, and is included on most tours to Bali’s western and central regions.
Birds flown during sunset in Tanah lot temple shore
