Sunday, February 22, 2009

Bali The Beautiful island of Indonesia

Bali is part of the Indonesian archipelago of 18,500 islands and lies approximately 8°C south of the equator. The overwhelming majority of the inhabitants of Bali are Hindu, (Well in actual fact a mixture of Hinduism, Buddhism and Animism). Embrace the mystique of an enchanting island, Bali, the bewitching beaches, cascading landscapes and willowed hills! The serenity of the place would engulf you, while the rich cultural and religious heritage would inspire you and transcend your mind into a different plain. Immerse in the myriad ways of entertainment in Bali that spice up one's stay in this magical island. There are a whole lot of things to do in Bali, ranging from the viewing of traditional dance and music performances to cinemas in Bali, or embarking on a plethora of sporting activities in Bali. Bali Traveling Guide does not let your expectations down and serves considerable information on all the varieties of entertainment in Bali.

The traditional modes of entertainment in Bali are a celebration of its art and culture - music, the euphony of which reverberates in the air, and dance performances which cast a spell on the tourists. The Music Clubs and Theaters in Bali serve as proper venues to enjoy all these quintessential gems of Balinese culture. The Pasar Senggol in Bali in Grand Hyatt in Bali arranges varieties of dance performances like the monkey dance or the more epicurean dances based on tales of Ramayana. The Taman Werdi Budaya is a huge theater complex with a host of stages where a variety of performances can be enjoyed.
There are some cinema halls and complexes in different locations of Bali. Cinemas in Bali have become quite a popular form of entertainment in Bali. There is a cinema complex in Denpasar, in the west of the main local market. Here special focus is given on Asian cinema from various regions.

Traveling to Bali, the island surrounded by the sea, spearheads a lot of inshore and offshore sporting activities. Ranging from exciting water-sports like snorkeling, scuba diving to golfing, sports of the elites; everything is included within sports in Bali. Those keen to make the full of Entertainment in Bali in Indonesia, should try out these sports in the wonderful locations of the island.

History of Bali
Bali has been inhabited for a long time. Sembiran, a village in northern Bali, was believed to have been home to the people of the Ice Age, proven by the discovery of stone axes and adzes. Further discoveries of more sophisticated stone tools, agricultural techniques and basic pottery at Cekik in Bali's far west, point to the people of the Neolithic era. At Cekik, there is evidence of a settlement together with burial sites of around a hundred people thought to be from the Neolithic through to the Bronze Age. The massive drums of the Bronze Age, together with their stone moulds have been discovered throughout the Indonesian archipelago, including the most famous and largest drum in Southeast Asia, the Moon of Pejeng, nearly two meters wide, now housed in a temple in east Ubud. In East Java and Bali, there has also been a concentration of carved stone sarcophagi, which we can see in the Bali Museum in Denpasar and Purbakala Museum in ejeng.

Bali was busy with trade from as early as 200 BC. The prasasti, or metal inscriptions, Bali's earliest written records from the ninth century AD, show a significant Buddhist and Hindu influence; especially in the statues, bronzes and rock-cut caves around Mount Kawi and Gajah Cave. Balinese society was pretty sophisticated by about 900 AD. Their marriage portrait of the Balinese King Udayana to East Java's Princess Mahendratta is captured in a stone carving in the Pura Korah Tegipan in the Batur area. Their son, Erlangga, born around 991 AD, later succeeded to the throne of the Javanese kingdom and brought Java and Bali together until his death in 1049.

In 1284, Bali was conquered by Kertanegara, the ruler of the Singasari; until the turn of the century, saw Bali under its own rule under the hands of King Bedaulu of Pejeng, east of Ubud. 1343 AD, is an important date in Bali's history. It was then that the whole island was conquered by East Java under the mighty Hindu Majapahit kingdom. This resulted in massive changes in Balinese society, including the introduction of the caste system.

Balinese who did not embrace the changes fled to the isolated and remote mountainous areas and hill areas. Their descendants are known today as Bali Aga or Bali Mula that means the "original Balinese". They still live separately in villages like Tenganan near Dasa Temple and Trunyan on the shores of Batur Lake, and maintain their ancient laws and traditional ways. When Majapahit in East Java fell in 1515, the many small Islamic kingdoms in the island merged into the Islamic Mataram empire, Majapahit's most dedicated Hindu priests, craftsmen, soldiers, nobles and artists fled east to Bali, and flooded the island with Javanese culture and Hindu practices. Considering the huge influence and power of Islam at the time, it is worth pondering why and how Bali still remained strongly Hindu and Buddhist.

Batu Renggong, also known as Dewa Agung, means great god, became king in 1550, and this title became hereditary through the succeeding generations of the kingdom of Gelgel, and later Klungkung, until the twentieth century. Bali reached the pinnacle of its Golden Era under the reign of the Batu Renggong, the great god ruler. Bali's decline started when Batu Renggong's grandson, Di Made Bekung, lost Blambangan, Lombok and Sumbawa. DI Made Bekung's chief minister, Gusti Agung Maruti, eventually rebelled and reigned from 1650 till 1686, when he in turn was killed by DI Made Bekung's son, Dewa Agung Jambe, who then moved the court to Klungkung, and named his new palace the Semarapura, Abode of the God of Love.

Bali Weather
Bali weather remains moderately warm throughout the year receiving ample amounts of rain and sunshine. Days and nights are of uniform length. The mountainous regions of Ubud remains cloudy, beach areas of southern Bali are sunny and ideal for exploring the coral reefs under water.

Bali Accommodation
Bali Travel Guide also gives information about Bali accommodation for the convenience of visiting guests. All kinds of hotels, resorts and tourist lodges are available here within reasonable budget. There are five star resorts facilitated with updated amenities as well as budget accommodations giving homely comfort.

Bali Tourism
The varied topography of the country carved by volcanic eruptions and sea turned it into a tropical paradise. Bali Tourism has flourished considerably in the past years. Stately architecture, scenic splendor and unique cultural heritage attract thousands of tourists every year.

Bali Tourist Attractions
Bali tourist attractions such as the ancient temple of Gunnung Kawi, Pura Besakih, Uluwatu Temple highlight the religious beliefs of Balinese people. Kuta Bay, Gunnung Batur and the capital city of Denpasar are also one of traveling destination.

How to Get There
Bali, one of the provinces of Indonesia, is located between Java and Lombok. Bali is one of the islands known as Lesser Sunda Islands. Bali is perfect for a coastal hangout. The province is spotted with number of lovely sea beaches. Whether you are planning a pleasure trip after a long and hectic urban life to revitalize yourself, this is an ideal place to rest in the serene lap of nature. With its unspoiled nature, tradition, culture and inhabitants the, Bali is an ideal seaport and holiday resort. Information about Bali How to Get There is one of the most important elements a tourist needs to collect before starting his journey in this lovely haven. Getting to Bali or Travel to Bali is not at all inconvenient for tourist.

By Plane: Bali is well connected with rest of the part of the world by air. The tourist can take a flight to the Ngurah Rai international airport or the Denpasar Airport which is located in Denpasar, the capital of Bali. You will get flight from this airport for all the major cities of Indonesia, Asia and Australia.

By Bus: Getting to Bali by bus is a convenient and cheap way of reaching the city. All the areas of the city are easily accessible by bus service. There is Bali Bus Service from Java and Lombok. Bus service is available for airport also.

By Taxi: Travel in Bali in Indonesia is very convenient. One can get around the city by taxi at a slightly higher rate than what the buses charge. Bali Taxi Service are available for transfer from airport.

By Sea: Getting to Bali by Ferry is a convenient and efficient and a fast way of transport. Bali Ferry Service is available from Gilimanuk to Ketapang.
Bali Traveling Guide gives you detailed online information on Transportation in Bali or Bali How to Get There.

Things to Do in Bali
Come and explore the beautiful island of Bali in Indonesia shrouded in profound mystery and enigma and dotted with eternally enchanting panoramic landscapes and maiden forests. It is the dream holiday destination for one and all, whether they love the sea or the mountains, tranquil surroundings or stirring nightclubs. It is the ideal place for honeymooners to stay, especially if they want to make lifetime memories of their romance in the quaint seaside resorts of Bali. At Bali, you can try a variety of Things to Do in Bali. There is a fantabulous choice of Things to Do in Bali pertaining to diverse penchants of the multifarious visitors who come here. Keep reading to know more about the Things to Do in Bali.

Whether you want to go for Shopping in Bali or to enjoy the Nightlife in Bali and other forms of Entertainment in Bali, the options are limitless. For fine dining experience you do not need to ponder much about What / Where to Eat in Bali as there are a number of restaurants in Bali.
In Bali, Things To Do range from adventure activities to leisure and recreation activities and sightseeing. Some popular Tourist Activities in Bali in Indonesia include taking cooking lessons, paragliding, playing golf, visiting places of interest, playing tennis, rafting, surfing, AquaMarine Diving, going on Sea Safari Cruises, fishing and so on.

Those who are more inclined towards arts and crafts of a place can enjoy traditional Balinese dance and music. While shopping, do not miss an eye-catching array of paintings, sculptures, artifacts and batik to 5take back home. Bali Travel Guide offers you all the information you need to make the most of your trip to Bali.
===Taken from Asia Rooms===

1 comment:

  1. Indonesia has a very rich cultural heritage. There is one terrific entertainment program, the Ramayana Ballet based on the Javanese. Check it out!!!

    ReplyDelete