The island of Bali is undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in Asia.
Bali (Bali Map) is part of Indonesia and is located Eight (8°) degrees south of the equator, between Java in the West, and Lombok in the East. It has a surface area of 5,632 square kilometers, with 90 km along the north-south axis, and about 140 km from East to West.
The main religion is Agama Hindu Dharma, and although originally from India, the Balinese religion is a unique blend of Hindu, Buddhist, Javanese and ancient indigenous beliefs, and is distinctly different from the Hinduism practiced in India today.
Balinese believe that the gods and goddesses are present in all things. Every element of nature, therefore, possesses its own power, which reflects the power of the gods. A rock, tree, dagger, or woven cloth is a potential home for spirits whose energy can be directed for good or evil.
Ceremonies & festivals are common activities in Bali, from the individual person’s celebrations (birth, puberty, marriage, childbirth, death and the after life). Also there are big celebrations like Galungan & Kuningan, and the Balinese’s new year, Nyepi (24 hours of complete silence). The spirituality, daily or special ritual activities play in the day to day life and they are very important to the Balinese.
The Balinese have strong spiritual roots, and despite the large influx of tourist over the years, their art & culture is still very much alive.
The Balinese are naturally creative people, and use their traditions and talents for religious purposes, with most of the beautiful work of art seen here, from dances to paintings, most of them are inspired by stories from the Ramayana and other Hindu epics or simply other beauty of Bali.
Kuta became a major attraction during the tourist boom of the 70's, because of its famed white-sand beaches, the surf, and stunning sunsets. Today, Kuta to Seminyak stretch is a major tourist destination, with hundreds of hotels, restaurants and shops.
Those in search of a little peace and quite tend to head for the more sedate resorts in Sanur, Amed and Candi Dasa, on the east coast; or Lovina in the north. Nusa Dua, on the southern-most peninsula of the island or Jimbaran, houses many five star hotels.
The central village of Ubud, in the hilly region of Gianyar, has also blossomed as a tourist attraction and is now considered to be the artistic and cultural centre of Bali.
Bali boasts a tropical climate with just two seasons a year, wet and dry seasons, and an average annual temperature of around 28C. The dry season is from April to October, and the rainy season (monsoon) is from November to March.
The rainy season begins in November when high winds from the south pick up moisture. The wettest months are December and January. The rain normally falls around noon and can last for 2-3 hours, rarely does it last a whole day.
Bali info provided by: Wikipedia
