Monday, February 9, 2009

Bali Information

Bali the most beautiful and famous island in my country. Bali Island, the perfect holiday destination for all ages offers something for everyone. Bali offers not just various customs but also various "adrenalin pump" parks. Many exciting amusements are available in Bali, with something new opening all the time. The number of offshore and inland attraction are on the rise because many tourists want them. This tropical paradise has a unique blend of modern tourist facilities combined with wonderful shopping and a rich past and heritage. After white water rafting that has gained popularity in Bali, comes offshore rafting or ocean rafting. The more adventurous sort of amusement has now become an alternative sport for tourists. Meanwhile white water rafting is still a popular activity with trips on Ayung, Telaga Waja, Unda Rivers, etc. The tourists can refresh their mind by watching beautiful scenery along the route. Those are not enough, some of the best surfing beaches in the world can be found on the western side of the island whilst conversely the eastern side is a wonderful haven for families, with beautiful white sand beaches and gentle seas.


Bali is small island, just 140 Km by 80 Km and lies between Java, the most highly populated and influential of all the islands, and Lombok, one of the quieter and moderately slower paced islands. Like many islands, Bali has developed a world of its own. It not only captures what is special about Indonesia but also has a uniqueness of its own.
The culture of Bali is unique. People say that the Balinese people have reached self-content. The Balinese people are proud of having preserved their unique Hindu culture against the advance of Islam, the dominant religion throughout Indonesia. This is still reflected in days to day life and can be seen in the numerous ceremonies, Balinese festivals and magnificent temples and palaces. The Balinese are skilled artisans, particularly in woodcarving and in fashioning objects of tortoiseshell and of gold, silver and other metals. The Balinese are noted for their traditional dance, the distinctive music of the gamelan and for their skills in weaving cloth of gold and silver threads, Songket, as well as for embroidering silk and cotton clothing. Stone and woodcarvings, traditional and modern paintings and intricately designed jewelry in gold and silver are readily available in shops and galleries throughout the island.

As for recreation, there is no shortage of options. Nature walks, horseback riding, diving, surfing - even bungy jumping and white water rafting - await the adventurous here.
Geographically
Bali is volcanically active and extravagantly fertile. Bali has an area of 5620 sq km, measures approximately 140 km by 80 km and is just 8 degrees south of the equator. Mount Agung known as the 'mother mountain' is over 3000 meters. South and north of the central mountains are Bali's fertile agricultural lands. The southern region is a wide, gently sloping area where most of Bali's abundant rice crop is grown. The south-central area is the true rice basket of the Island. The northern coastal strip is narrower, rising more rapidly into the foothills of the central range, but the main export crops, coffee, copra and rice, are grown here. Cattle are also raised in this area.

Climate
Bali has a climate that is tropical all year. The average temperature hovers around 30 degrees Celsius year-round. There are dry and wet seasons -dry from April to September and wet from October to March- but it can rain at any time of year and even during the wet season rain is likely to pass quickly. In general May to August are the best months in Bali. At that time of year the climate is likely to be cooler and the rains lightest. Around the coast, sea breezes temper the heat and as we move inland we also move up so the altitude works to keep things cool. It can get very cool up in the highlands and a warm sweater can be a good idea in mountain villages like Kintamani or Bedugul.

Population
With 2.5 million people, Bali is a very densely populated island. The population is almost all Indonesian, with the usual small Chinese contingent in the big towns, a sprinkling of Indian merchants, plus a number of more or less permanent visitors amongst the Westerners in Bali.
Culture
Each stage of Balinese life is marked by a series of ceremonies and rituals known as Manusa Yadnya. They contribute to the rich, varied and active life the average Balinese leads. There are ceremonies for every stage of Balinese life but often the last cremation ceremony is the biggest. A Balinese cremation can be an amazing, spectacular, colorful, noisy and exciting event. In fact it often takes so long to organize a cremation that years have passed since the death. During that time the body is temporarily buried. Of course an auspicious day must be chosen for the cremation and since a big cremation can be very expensive business many less wealthy people may take the opportunity of joining in at a larger cremation and sending their own dead on their way at the same time. Brahmans, however, must be cremated immediately. Apart from being yet another occasion for Balinese noise and confusion it's a fine opportunity to observe the incredible energy the Balinese put into creating real works of art which are totally ephemeral. There are a lot more than a body gets burnt at the cremation. The body is carried from the burial ground (or from the deceased's home if it's an 'immediate' cremation) to the cremation ground in a high, multi-tiered tower made of bamboo, paper, string, tinsel, silk, cloth, mirrors, flowers and anything else bright and colorful we can think of. The tower is carried on the shoulders of a group of men, the size of the group depending on the importance of the deceased and hence the size of the tower. The funeral of a former rajah high priest may require hundreds of men to tote the tower.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Best Bali Villas

The amount of villas now available on the island of Bali is truly astounding and the sheer effort of sourcing the perfect place to stay can be quite exhausting. This innovative site has done all the work to survey worthy alternatives and has listed the ‘Top 20’ Bali private villa accommodations. Each property has been carefully evaluated and chosen for its outstanding and distinct attributes; be it an inspiring view, gracious level of personalised hospitality or simply for its overall ambience and charm.

A great holiday experience in Bali is often defined by where one chooses to stay, facilities offered and heartfelt service that is delivered with a warm smile. Some of the best villas on the island are located within traditional village surroundings where there is always an opportunity to witness first hand the culture and ceremonial rituals that are a way of life for the Balinese.

This is site is a handy guideline for travellers to determine their accommodation expectations and plan a trip to remember for many years to come. Ultimately, a holiday is about taking time out for personal indulgence to relax by the pool, chill with an afternoon cocktail and enjoy the nurturing sensation of a massage or body treatment. The best private vilage in bali have all been designed as retreats to escape the pressures of a busy lifestyle and rediscover the joys of reconnecting with family and loved ones.

TOP 20 Best Villas in Bali

Khayangan EstateKhayangan Estate
Uluwatu, Ocean View, US$ 1000 - US$ 2000
Khayangan Estate rests in blissful seclusion upon 1.5 hectares of prime, cliff top land, 170 metres above the rolling surf of the Indian Ocean on the southernmost tip of the island of Bali. The Estate is located near the famous Uluwatu temple, and is immediately adjacent to the Bvlgari Hotel and Resort, overlooking Selonding Beach below.


Villa KiranaVilla Kirana
Ubud, Valley View, Less than US$ 1000
Villa Kirana is an arguably one of the most beautiful, fully-appointed five bedroom private rental villas in Bali. It overlooks the Ayung river gorge with breathtaking views of Bali's major volcano range and distant rice field terraces. located on the famous Sayan Ridge, Ubud, 500 meters south of the Four Seasons Ubud Hotel.


The IstanaThe Istana
Uluwatu, Ocean View, US$ 1000 - US$ 2000
All the bedrooms have an ornate carved headboard while still in keeping with the cleaner look of the new Istana along with boasting a totally revamped larger dressing and bathing area, external shower and internal pedestal bath. In the Garden bedrooms, the entrances in those rooms have been given large private gardens with sunloungers.


Sanur ResidenceSanur Residence
Sanur, Beachfront, US$ 1000 - US$ 2000
The residence is an ideal venue for weddings, parties and events. The expansive terraced garden, set against the stunning backdrop of the Balinese coastline, is the perfect spot for saying "I do". The accommodation designed for families and groups of up to eighteen people. The three individual buildings share a number of common facilities including the garden.


Villa SamudraVilla Samudra
Saba Bai, Beachfront, Less than US$ 1000
This absolute beachfront villa is characterised by a large garden that extends directly onto a private 14-metre beachside buff with timber decking, towering coconut palms, and wooden steps leading down to the beach. This is the place to chill out and gaze at the graceful kites scattered throughout the sky, or watch both the sunrise.


The Shanti ResidenceThe Shanti Residence
Nusa Dua, Ocean View, US$ 1000 - US$ 2000
Our flagship property is the finest resort style residence in Nusa Dua on the multi award-winning island of Bali. The Shanti Residence is a 4500m2, 5 suite 5 bathroom residence with its own private master chef, spa, gym, commercial kitchen, in-house Teppanyaki grill, state of art electronics and audio room, main swimming pool and private plunge pool.


Villa PushpapuriVilla Pushpapuri
Saba Bai, Beachfront, Less than US$ 1000
The absolute beachfront, Villa Pushpapuri is located near the traditional village of Ketewel on Bali's south-east coast. This stunning villa boasts four bedrooms, a 20-metre infinity-edge swimming pool, a splendid living & dining room, and a games room, complemented by the finest furnishings and a five-star standard of service.


Villa AstaVilla Asta
Petitenget, Individual Villa Compound, Less than US$ 1000
Villa Asta is a peaceful, luxurious, 5-bedroom residence designed with the flexibility to accommodate groups of up to 10 adults, or 4 adults accompanied by up to 12 children. With its sophisticated ambience, it is ideally suited for discerning groups of friends or families who want to experience the very best of Bali. The Villa is nestled in the heart of the Batubelig area.


The BejiThe Beji
Canggu, Individual Villa Compound, US$ 1000 - US$ 2000
Taking its name from a sacred spring, the magnificent six-bedroom villa, known as 'The Beji', rests within 40-are of land, bordered by rice terraces and a river, within walking distance of the beach on Bali's south-western coast. The property is comprised of ten single-storey pavilions, together with one double-storey building, a 27-metre swimming pool.


Villa KarishmaVilla Karishma
Umalas, Individual Villa Compound, US$ 1000 - US$ 2000
Blessed with a generous landscape that extends down to a river embankment amidst the fertile rice terraces of Umalas, Villa Karishma is a stunning property that embodies the concept of tropical living. It has been designed as a stylish retreat for discerning travellers to slow down and escape the pressures of a metropolitan lifestyle.


Villa Atas OmbakVilla Atas Ombak
Petitenget, Beachfront, US$ 1000 - US$ 2000
Villa Atas Ombak, Indonesian for "Villa On The Waves", is directly located on the beach only a few kilometers north of Legian. Featuring breathtaking views of Bali's famous sunsets, the Villa was completed in mid-1995 and encompasses an acre and a half of garden area, with over 100 meters of beach frontage.




BALI TODAY – Russian Version
The Russian language version of the above Bali site.

Bali-Hotels zu Niedrigstpreisen
Wir garantieren die niedrigsten Preise für berühmte Luxus-Resorts and Billighotels auf Bali. Buchen Sie on-line um 70% und mehr zu sparen.

BALI-INFO
Flüge, Hotels, Land & Leute auf Deutsch. Mit einem deutschen "Bali Forum".

Bali Hotel Bargain Finder – RUSSIAN VERSION
Russian language version of the BALI HOTEL BARGAIN FINDER site

Balivillas.com: Bali-Urlaub in der eigenen Villa
Private Urlaubsvillen auf Bali mit 2 bis 7 Schlafzimmern, tropischem Garten mit Swimming-Pool und ausgebildetem Hauspersonal bieten eine attraktive Alternative zum Urlaub im Hotel.

Balivillas.com: Private Vacation Villas in Bali – RUSSIAN VERSION
Russian language version of the above Bali site.

Balivillas.com.tw: Private Vacation Villas in Bali – MANDARIN VERSION
Chinese (Mandarin) language version of the above Bali site.

Japan-Balivillas.com: Private Vacation Villas in Bali – JAPANESE VERSION
Japanese language version of the above Bali site.

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