"Bali : The most popular tourist destination in the Indonesian archipelago. The landscape is diverse, rugged volcanoes contrasting with lush green rice terraces"
The most popular tourist destination in the Indonesian archipelago. This relatively small (5.632.86 km2) and, besides the very South, not densely populated island is unique for its combination of scenic beauty, lively traditions, superb hotels and beach resort facilities. Its people represent the largest homogenuous hinduistic society outside India in all over Asia, with only small clusters of other ethnic groups and beliefs.
The landscape is diverse, rugged volcanoes contrasting with lush green rice terraces. Bali’s colourful arts, crafts and festivals are excitingly different, its range of shopping temptations limitless and its warm tropical climate perfect for relaxing on white, gold or black sand beaches, while there is every type of nightlife in major resort centres. Drive through the exquisite countryside to experience the island’s great beauty and explore countless Hindu temples and shrines, every village has at least three, while religious ceremonies and processions take place somewhere almost every day.
Don’t let media publications about the extensive touristical development of the last three decades confuse you. Just step a few kilometers outside the few tourist hotspots, and you will find idyllic small-town Bali and villagers celebrating religious festivals like they did a thousand years ago. Feast all of your senses when watching them celebrate the descent of the gods from the mountains with music and dance. Get even closer to their dieties by climbing mist-shrouded Gunung Agung and shop in the artistic centre of Ubud.
There are cultural performances practically everywhere, such as the dramatic Kecak, or monkey dance; Barong, featuring an ugly witch; or graceful Legong dance, accompanied by the uniqueley hypnotic Balinese gamelan music.