Bali is one of provinces in Republic of Indonesia. It is only a small island among 13,000 Islands within Indonesian Archipelago. Although as a small island, however, Bali can attract a lot of tourists both from Domestic as and overseas .In general, the tourists travel to Bali keep increasing every year. There are many tourists interested to come to Bali repeatedly as if they make Bali as their real second home. Nowadays Bali becomes a main tourism destination in Asia . Even it has been one of the best favorite destinations in the world. Those mean that Bali has something unique compared with other islands in Indonesia or even in Asia.
There are many uniqueness of Bali, for instance, its geography, culture, custom, people, flora, fauna, panorama and a lot more….! The combination among its nature, culture, tradition and Bali people’s behavior make Bali quite unique. Bali also has full of activities year round and most of the activities have relation with their belief and customs. So that it looks like a live theater of nature. Their life and activities are variety, dynamic and flexibility and can always go with the developments of time. Those we are never able to stop discussing, telling and writing about Bali. There are always something new and unique to find in Bali. Especially, for new tourists traveling to Bali will feel very different sense and touch when they just arrive in Bali. They will find something new in their life, like warm welcoming, friendliness, relaxing atmosphere, beautiful landscape and amazing panoramas in which they are very difficult to find in their countries. For this, if you think about nice holidays and or you want to get new experiences & unforgettable sweet memories in your life , we suggest you try to make trip to Bali. Friendliness , personal touch and relaxation atmosphere will welcome you the first !! However, in order your wonderful holidays really come true, before traveling to Bali you should know information about Bali as detail as possible, especially, its Geography, History, Climate, Culture, Bali People & Behavior, Map of Bali, Bali distance, Transportation, Interesting places in Bali, Bali Travel Tips, Emergency telephone number, Accommodation, Foreign Consulate offices, Tour Activities and other useful information.
GEOGRAPHY
Bal is part of the Republic of Indonesia and it is only 5,632 square kilometers which as the widest plain situated at the North of the Island, its name “Buleleng” (at 1,365.88 square kilometers) or around 24.25% of the Bali region.
Geographically, Bali is located between 8 to 9 degree South of Equator which Bali straits divides Bali with Java island in the West, while the Lombok straits borders between Bali with Lombok Island in the East. Whereas the Indonesian Ocean divides Bali in the South and the Sea of java in the North. Therefore the uniqueness of the nature of Bali as if divided by the two parts, the North and the South which with the chain of Mountains- in the mid stretches from the end of the West to the end of East. The two of mountains are volcanoes, i.e., Mount Agung (3,140 meters in high) and Mount Batur 1,717 meters). On the highland plain , there are 4 lakes; Batur lake (1,607 ha), Lake Beratan(375.60 Ha), lake Buyan(336 Ha) and Lake Tamblingan (110 ha). All the lakes as the main sources of water for farming and daily need of Bali people. And on the lowland plain, there are more than 200 rivers flowing through beautiful lush tropical forest to the sea. Among of the highland and lowland plains, there are extensive tropical forest with many variety of plantations, rice-fields terraces, dry-fields farming, and fertilized vegetables and fruit gardens spread over the island. While the Bali also have popular beaches which some beaches with white sand and others with gray or black sand. Most of the beaches in Bali are amazing and fantastic !
CLIMATE OF BALI
As the same with other regions of Indonesia, Bali also have two tropical monsoon climates with average variety of temperature between 22 to 28.7 degrees Celsius. The two monsoon climates are dry and wet seasons. The changes of the monsoon every 6 moths in year round, dry season happens from April to October, whereas the wet season from October to April. However, the rain often falls any times in part of the Bali region. And if you are in highland plains or in mountain villages, like at Kintamani or at Bedugul areas you should bring any kinds of sweaters or tick jacket due to the weather is very cool , especially during early in the morning and by the late afternoon.
FLORA & FAUNA
Bali has variety of flora & fauna. There are a lot of variety of tropical plants, many species of coconuts palms, banyan trees, acacia, cloves, mangroves, coffee, bamboos, flame, etc. While for the flora, Bali also has many species of birds and animals, like monkeys, deer, cows, goats, civets, etc. And there is exotic and rarity of bird owned by Island of Bali, named ‘Jalak Bali”, however, recently the existence and habitat of the beautiful bird has been almost exterminated.
BALI PEOPLE & RELIGION
Based on the Bali Statistic Center (BPS the province of Bali ) in 2009, the total of population in Bali at 3,471,952 people spread over the whole island . Buleleng Regency and Denpasar Region have the most population i.e., Buleleng at 654,061 people and Denpasar at 508,339 people in total. The majority of Bali people are Hindu. Balinese Hinduism is a combination of Indian Shivaistic, Buddhist traditions and Local customs which then they dominate the daily life of Bali people. Although the majority of Bali people are Hindu, however, they can live harmony and full of tolerance with other religious adherents, like Islam, Christian Protestant, Catholic, Buddhist, and Confucius. Hindu always teaches Bali people how to think, talk and behave truly. In its high spiritual concept of “Tri Hita Karana”, Bali people are also taught regarding the relation between human to God, human to human and human to the environment. In other words, We should keep the balance & harmonious of the vertical and horizontal relationship . It means we should always pray and thank to God, keep good relationship and love all human each other, and we should take care our environment well in order the universe always become pleasant and peace. The concept really goes with in another famous motto “ Bhineka Tunggal Ika Tan Hana Dharma Mangrua”- although being different , but remain just only one, the truth is never two. The truth is only one . God is one. Here we are taught in order we always appreciate and love the differences as actually we were born in full of differences, such as our physical, performance, capability, etc. Our Ethnic, religion, race, culture, and economic are also different, however, we should accept and love the differences in our life sincerely in order our life in this world is always full of beautiful colors, dynamic, flexible, full of love , peace and there are always sense of positive in our mind. Like the music or gamelan , although consist of variety tools & elements and make different sound for each tool, but when they are arranged and combined in one unity and performance , they can make nice sound and very beautiful. Moreover, Bali people also always try to implement the high philosophy of “Tattwam Asi” in their life as well as they have a belief “ What happening in the world, it must be the process of Nature Laws which the laws of nature coincide with God’s wish” – those are to become the main source of etiquette and culture in which they can give warm welcome, friendly manner and always positive thinking with other people coming to Bali
Those Bali People have the way of life concepts that they believes and consider that all other humans with different religions, ethnics, and races are colleagues, relative and or to be related with others because all of humans in this world are created by one God. Perhaps the belief , concept and principles can make Bali People generally more acceptance, courtesies, , honor, respect, friendly , dynamic, flexible, relax, social, patient, simple, smooth, tolerant, and compromises to other people. Perhaps those as background why they can live side by side harmony with others everywhere they are. In general Bali people who really learn, understand and even can implement their Hinduism in deep, they can always behave patient , wise and can control their emotion, ambitious, desire, and egoism. They usually try to avoid war, fight, fanatics’ , extremism, , hostility and sadism . They always try to give warm welcome , friendly and keep full of relationship with other people coming to Bali as long as Bali people’s honorary is not disturbed or spoiled. It means although Bali People are patient, tolerant and compromises with others, however, if they are always pressured and insulted, they must oppose their enemies with high spirit by carrying out “Puputan !”- for their principle, honorary and the truth, they will do battle till all are totally over at all !
HISTORY & CULTURE
Bali with its uniqueness of people and culture , it has happened for quite long chains. The daily life of Bali people with their cultures which always perform their local culture have indicated that Bali has passed the long process of history. It has been approved by discoveries many kinds of archeology in several regions of Bali, going with the same events happened with other regions in Indonesia as well as in other countries.
The first periods of people life in Bali is classified by the pre-historic time. The life was very simple - it was called as an era of nomadic life in which the people lived by hunting and always keep moving from one region to another region. Then came the transition period , from the pre-historic to historic time , the influences of Hinduism from India went into Indonesia. The Hinduism from India also started affecting the culture in Bali. The transition period was called as a Bali Ancient time, i.e., between 8th to 13th century. During the time it was clearly marked with the change of Bali people’s way of life . The following time, in Bali there was a big expedition to attack Bali led by a great assistance of Majapahit Kingdom named Gajah Mada. The great Gajah Mada’s Expedition happened in 1,334 which Gajah Mada intended to unite Indonesia Archipelago through his oath “ SUMPAH PALAPA GAJAH MADA” .. This expedition took long process as it was very difficult to subjugate Bali. It just only succeed after the Great Assistance of Bedahulu Kingdom, “ Kebo Iwa” finally sacrificed himself sincerely for supporting Gajah Mada’s idea & oath to unity the Indonesian archipelago. Since the period, started to build the aspects of social and culture in Bali , such as the structure of government, administration leadership system, region as well as arranged in sectors of art and lectures going with Java Majapahit. As the result, of course, the Bali local culture collided with the culture from Java Hinduism on the time. However, with the great efforts of implementing the adaptation between both the cultures , gradually Bali people could find the pattern of culture going with the local people’s way of life and condition of the nature. The chains of combination and adaptation among elements from Hinduism , Java Majapahit and local culture, also took very long time of history process. Since the time, in Bali started building construction system & a particular communication system. Those the transition time process and the implementation of combination & adaption model of the cultures made a special characteristic and it also caused deep unique color of life for Bali people.
The following periods of the Bali History and its culture development were Colonization and Freedom times. The colonization time happened in Bali for more than one hundred years . Of course, there had been a lot of strong pressures, sorrow and sufferings during the commercialization periods. There were also many changes happened, especially, the administration , structure of government, rules of laws & justices, etc. over the periods. Since Bali became one of colony regions , the island also started visited by a lot of foreign visitors, especially from Western people. They were very interested in the beauty of the nature of Bali. And since the period, the visitors started to introduce their western culture to Bali people.
Those since the Colonization till the Freedom times, the way of life and culture of Bali have also started to be affected by western culture. Actually since the commercialization time, foreigners have been interested in making Bali as a popular tourism destination in the world. And starting from the mid of 1960 , marked by the declaration of the biggest international hotel in Bali , called “Bali Beach Hotel”, the growth and development of tourism in Bali began increasing rapidly. Since the period the Bali culture has been much influenced by other cultures, especially in sectors of sciences, social, economic and technology.
Then after Bali started entering the modernization civilization era . There have been many changes happened in Bali. As result Bali have started encountered big problems , especially at Denpasar city and Badung regency, such as the rapidly growth of population density, traffic jams, crowded, security disturbances, high pollution, etc. While the strategic economic centers and part of lands in Bali have been owned by other people. There have been a lot of fertilized rice-fields, farming and forests change function as they have been used to build big modern markets, apartments, luxury houses, malls, shops, recreations & entertainment places, condominium, Big and luxurious International hotels and villas. Perhaps those are the different forms and strategy to colonize Bali in modernization era. It can be only happened by using the honest, friendliness, flexibility , smooth, patient , tolerant and comprises of Bali people.
Being any changes and strong outside influences strictly affecting Bali, of course, there have also started change the attitude, behavior, manner, performances, daily activities and lifestyle of Bali people. There have been indication that a lot of people starting behave easy going , individualistic, commercialization and materialistic in their life.Luckily, Bali people , especially in remote villages, most of them still behave simple, have high spirit of mutual cooperation, wise and selective in permeating the outside influences. In general, they always try to select and filter all other cultures coming from other countries. They will accept any other outside cultures as long as the cultures are positive and go with and or they can rich their local culture well. Furthermore, with a dynamic characteristic , the culture in Bali has been dominated by religious, solidarity and aesthetic values. Those make the culture of Bali is totally unique and permeate through every aspect of life. Also with long history and people in deep culture and traditions we can still find a lot of variety of Balinese activities, like Music, Gamelan, Dances, Rituals, and other performances by locals happening all year round in Bali.
