BALI is PARADISE ON EARTH !!!

Unique ...??? Bali is not a country, its not a state. Its a small island, one among 33 provinces in Indonesia, but Bali more welknown than Indonesia itself or Jakarta, Capital city. Why did happened ? Its  because of its uniqueness. When you step down in Ngurah Ray, Bali airport, enter the gate, you will inhale flowers and incences scent down the hall. then enter a taxy, your eyes will catching a set of flowers in the dashboard. In many occasions you are welcome by dancers when your step down in the airport.

Old traditions and cultures, keep still even in this very small island crowded by tourits. Their ritual were not influenced, not disturbed at all. Take a look to a regular performance of kecak dance,

 pendet dance and many more.

Ritual of "Ngaben", community leaders who passed away, burn to aches like Indian Hinduism, open for tourist to watch as photo below:

Religion, Bali Hinduism keep maintenanced by this small community, among 90 % of Moslem Indonesian. Bali people who imigrated and stayed in another parts of the country, took their religion, traditions and cultures with them. They  create peace  to the new enviroment, the new places, teach local people in agriculture especially growing rice.

The Buildings designed with Bali taste, ornaments,sculptures, crafted by Balines's artists.

Goverment buldings, Banks, Travel agents, Big companies built by Bali's design without any formal  regulations to do so, made Denpasar city and small towns looked artistic, unique, special, amazing compare to another cities in Indonesia.

Bali Craft   with his own designs differ from other islands, from small handicrafts to a stone's statues export quality, ready to send to your doorstep wordwide by DHL. Rent a car or motor bike, take a look along the way to remote villages you will find so many craft workshops/showrooms. So, dont hurry, take your time

 

Dancings, the performances held in a restaurants, formal celebrations or on packet tours with so many kind of dances. Balinese people trained from their childhood in schools or private courses by professional, old, local trainers. 

People highly aware that their life depend not solely from Agricultures, but also from visitors to buy their products and services. Then their live philosopy, colorful cultures and old traditions  backed up their  income. Their philosopy said that BALI means "come back". Once your feet touch Bali land, sure you will come here again. We are, Indonesian spend the long holiday here in Bali all over again. 

Gamelan music instruments is not Bali's uniqueness, but almost used the similar one in Java islands.This music always used in dance performances.The rythm  sound more agresssive then one in Java cultures. Once I was attending Indonesia Independence day August 17, 1995 in Helsinki,  from a distance a stranges sound humming the air, came out from the sound system, to wellcome diplomatics to enter the embassy's gate. No wonder the ambassador of Indonesia Republic was a Balinese. 

                      Gamelan music

 

Pagoda scatter every places along the way from the Ngurah Ray airport to Denpasar, capital of Bali and in all over the villages as well. In the Pagoda they offer fruits, flowers and burning incences. Pagoda not only belong to the villagers, but also in every house yard they built a small Pagoda belong to the family. In the photo we see females lining carried fruits over their head.

Visitors, not only foreigners fall in love to this heaven island. Local tourists put Bali as a first option to visit (again) in their holidays.  But don't worry, foreigners had their own special places to hang out.  So be aware to book the Hotel far in advance especially in Christmas, New Year and Idulfitry

Initially, I was reluctanted to write about Bali, that had been welknown as one of the best tourist destinations in the world as written in so many travel, and airline magazines, newspapers, websites, telling everything about them thorougly.

No more story to tell.

But what crossed to my mind was that someone in the corner of Africa, Latin America, Europe or Japan, may never before read about Bali  in local newspaper or in magazines in their country. Let them search in the internet like mine to gather  more information.

Many ancient rituals keep still and open for tourists to watch. The color of sarongs in black and white, not only for dancers but also using to covered every statues in front of a temple's gate.

How to get to Bali ?

You may take a direct flight from your country to Ngurah Ray, airport of Denpasar, Bali.

If you happenned stayed in Jakarta, you may travel by train or Bus through Central Java, Yogjakarta and East Java. The last town in east Java island, named Banyuwangi.

Then your Bus will take a scheduled ships across the strait to Gilimanuk town of Bali island in the east of Java.

If you take a train from Jakarta, you may step down at Surabaya city,  then transfer using Public bus to Denpasar, Bali.

In this journey you will see amazing panorama, you hadn't find in another countries such as  terraces rice fields, riveers, small towns, becaks, the people and would enrich your knowledge of Indonesian life and the people as well.

Don't worry, relax, take your time, you will be safe and sound.