Monday, February 9, 2009
Bali Information
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
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.
Khayangan Estate |
Villa Kirana |
The Istana |
Sanur Residence |
Villa Samudra |
The Shanti Residence |
Villa Pushpapuri |
Villa Asta |
The Beji |
Villa Karishma |
Villa Atas Ombak |
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.