Bali : Truly Beautiful. Review on Bali

Bali is a very special sort of place! This beautiful island offers not only a pleasant climate, very friendly and tolerant people, but a special sort of magic which hits you as soon as you step off the plane of the scenic airport at Denpasar. There is the gorgeous smell of flowers, the sight of flame trees and banyan trees, hibiscus, jasmine and bougainvilleas , the haunting sound of gamelan music and the unique architecture of the exotic temples, villas and luxury hotels.

Geographically, the fabled land of Bali lies between the islands of Java and Loubok. It is surprisingly small measuring around 140KM from east to west and only 80KM from north to south. Gunung Agung - the soared mountain is the tallest of a string of volcanic mountains that are found from the east to the west whilst in the gently sloping south are the well-known nice terraces of Bali.

The Balinese people have exceptionally strong spiritual roots and the main religion on the Island is Hindu Dharma which is an electic and unique blend of Hindu, Buddhist, Javanese and ancient indigenous beliefs. Quite different actually from the Hinduism practiced in India to day. The people are naturally highly creative and since ancient times have employed their talents for religious purposes and their beautiful art work has been greatly inspired by stories from the Ramayana and other Hindu epics. The biggest towns are the capital Denpasar in the south and Singaraja in the north.

In modern, contemporary Bali, the major tourist destination is the area from Kuta to Seminyak : here there are literally hundreds of hotels, villas, night clubs, bars, restaurants and shops. A host of luxury 5 star hotels have been peaceful environments tend to stay in Sanur and Candi Desa on the east coast, or Lovina in the north. The charming village of Ubud, located in hilly region of Gianyor, is another place of great touristic appeal and is now widely regarded as the artistic and cultural centre of Bali.

Everywhere you go in Bali, you will realize that dance and drama plays a critically important role in the local society. It is through dance and drama that the Balinese learn about the tales of the Ramayana, Mahaborata and other epic stories. Among the best known dance dramas that you can see in Bali are the Baris, a warrior's dance normally performed by men, the Kecak, the Legong and the Barong and Bongola, a dance aobut the struggle between good and evil. The Wayang Kulit or Shadow puppet is one of the great story-telling traditions of the Balinese.

A major attraction for many visitors to Bali are the markets. There is the popular Pasar Seni (Art Market) at Sanur, market stalls at Poppies Lone in Kuta, handicrafts, gold work and lovely fabrics at the Kumbasari Market in Denpasar and the Ubud Art Market which is the perfect place to buy aromatherapy oils and incense, carvings, paintings and textiles.

The temples too attract a lot of curious visitors. There is Uluwatu cliff-top temple which is dedicated to the spirits of the sea, Pura Jayaprana in the north-west which offers superb views, and Pusa Besakih in the north east which provides marvelous views of Gunung Agung. The Pura Ulun Danu Batur near the village of Botur houses more than 90 shrines and the Pura Tirtha Empul which is regarded as the holiest spring in Bali and the temple is visited by those desiring mental cleansing.

The Puri Semara Pura is a palace dedicated to the god of love and the hall of justice, Bale Kerta Gosa, is well worth seeing especially for its beautifully painted ceiling and cowed pillars. Several of the water palaces are attractions in their own right particularly the Taman Ujung Water Palace in east Bali and the fascinating Puri Agung Kanginan, which features a red mix of styles including Chinese, European and Javanese.

Bali has a number of well-known lakes such as Lake Botur which has within the crater of Gunung Botur, Lake Brotan offering splendid scenery as well as water sports and Lake Buyon which offers solitude.

A man-made attraction in Bali which is gaining in popularity are the various Spas. Among the spas popular with foreign visitors are the Amoaras Spa in Seminyak, the Dynasty Spa Villa in Kuta, the Green Garden Spa, also in Kuta, the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel and Spa, and the Ibah Spa in Ubud.

The subterranean delights of caves are perhaps not to everyone's liking but Bali has several caves which attract a goodly number of visitors. The best known are Gua Gajah (Elephant Cave) which boasts some very interesting carvings, Gua Lawah (Bat Cave) which is famous for the host of fruit bots that inhabit the place and Goa Karang Sari. The latter cave extends over 200 meters into the hillside and hosts a torchlight procession during the festive seasons.

As this review has indicated there is a veritable hosts of sights and attractions in Bali to suit just about every conceivable taste and preference. Whether it be volcanic mountains, caves, lakes, temples, markets or palaces, the chances are you will find it on this lovely, tropical Island.

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Recommend yes