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Overview
A
vibrant culture, unique arts and ceremonies, as
gentle and friendly people and scenic beauty make
Bali an Island almost unreal in today's changing
world.
The
main destination for pleasure tourists to
Indonesia, Bali's International Airport, Ngurah
Rai, is the country's eastern gateway and is
served by the national flag carrier, Garuda
Indonesian Airways, on its internal and
international routes as well as by other
international airlines and scheduled services and
charters. Cruise ships berth at the port of Benoa
and overland routes extend to Java across the
narrow Bali Strait.
Only
5,623 square kilometer in size, roads and all
tourists destinations connect with the capital of
the province, Denpasar, and the tourist belts on
Sanur and Kuta which are located on the eastern
and western coasts of the southern tip of the
island. Nusa Dua on the southern peninsula is
currently being developed for tourism. Bali's
culture is based on its unique form of Hinduism
called "Hindu Bali" which it retained
after the Islamization of Java and developed
through the centuries.
Though
the caste system is observed, it is not as rigid
as in India. Religionist the source of traditional
customs in family and community life. Its
influence is also strongly felt in the arts. With
a completely different lifestyle from the rest of
Indonesia, the Balinese have managed to preserve
their culture despite the overwhelming foreign
influence brought by the increasing number of
visitors.
Bali's
"rajas" and princes were deprived of
their kingdoms by the Dutch colonial government in
the early part of this century, but many of them
still have their palaces and are respected as
patrons of the arts. Dancing and music are highly
stylized forms of art and the classical dance
drama is based on the old Hindu epics of the
Ramayana and the Mahabarata on local folklore.
The
island of Bali is mountainous in its centre with a
cluster of volcanoes of which active Gunung
(mount) Agung is considered sacred. Terraced rice fields
dominate the landscape, with small streams
bringing water for irrigation.
The
attraction of Bali is in its unique art and
culture. It almost seems that every person is an
artist in some form, whether it is painting,
weaving, carving, basketry, etc. or even in the
making of the decorations which are placed at the
many shrines in public areas, on roads, temple, paddy fields
or in the home.
Villagers
spend their free time in these arts of that of
music and dancing, which is taught from a very
young age. The soul of the Balinese in his or her
religion and it find its expression in the arts. A
friendly people, the Balinese who are more exposed
to international tourists, generally speak more
English than people in other parts of Indonesia.
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