Bali
The Paradise Island
Bali
has been described by many different names - "The Hidden Paradise",
"The Last Paradise on Earth", "Morning of The World",
"Island of God", and "Island of Thousand Temples". This
Island of Gods is situated approximately on latitude 8° South and longitude
115° East. Bali and the neighboring island of Lombok are the most westerly of
the Little Sunda Islands and part of the 13,700 islands that make up
Indonesia, the largest archipelago in the world.
The
island itself covers an area of 5,632,860 square kilometers, with a volcanic
mountain range that stretches from the western tip to the eastern side of the
island, with Mt. Agung being the highest peak.
For
many centuries, -until today-, Bali has attracted visitors from all over the
world. It is so attractive for its colorful ceremonies, natural scenery, and
the ever-smiling people. Their colorful religious festivals and ceremonies,
the traditional music and dances have been a way of life, and have unwittingly
contributed much to the success of tourism here. The Balinese people are
predominantly Hindu and their traditional and religious beliefs are as strong
today as they ever were.
A friendly and remarkably artistic people, living amid breathtaking panoramas,
have created dynamic society with unique arts and ceremonies, making Bali an
island almost unreal? in today?s hectic and changing world. Terraced rice
fields dominate the landscape with rivers and small irrigation streams
dissecting a luscious green landscape, filling the air with enchanting sounds
of running water.
Bali enjoys tropical weather, being only a few degrees
south of the equator. It means that the sun rises at 6 AM in the morning and
sets at 6 PM in the afternoon, everyday of the year. It means that temperature
variation is very small, averaging around 26-30 Celcius, and it does not have
four seasons (except the hotel, of course). It only has a wet season,
typically from September to February, and a dry season for the other half of
the year. But the difference is marginal; at the peak of the wet season you
will see about a half-hour to an hour serious downpour in the afternoon, about
perfect for a siesta. The rest of the time: nice, warm temperature, especially
with a twist of sea breeze in the beaches of Kuta,
Sanur
or Nusa Dua.
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