About Bali

Bali attracts maximum 1,000,000 visitors in every year, from all around the world, since it is well known for its reputation as one of the most beautiful tourist spots in Asia. Lies between the islands of Java and Lombok, Bali is small, stretching approximately 140 km from east to west 80 km from north to south. The most famous volcanic mountains of Bali is Gunung Agung which last erupted in 1963 boasts from the east to the west of Bali Island. Bali boasts a tropical climate with just two seasons a year (summer and rainy season) and an average annual temperature of around 28C due to its location at 8 south of the equator. The southern regions of Bali are well known for rice terrace among some of the most spectacular in the world and the northern coastal regions, the main produce is coffee, copra, spices, vegetables, cattle and rice.

The culture of Balinese people is still very much alive for its strong spiritual roots even tough the large influx of tourist over the years always come to Bali. Hindu although is originally known as belief of religion comes from India is the main religion for almost all Balinese people. Even so, the Balinese religion is a unique mix of Hindu, Buddhist, Javanese and prehistoric native beliefs and is different from the Hindu in India today.

The Balinese have become very creative in nature to use their talents for religious purposes and such creativity can be seen in stories like from the Ramayana and other Hindu epics. Most of people in Bali, in amount of 3,000,000 people live in village communities with their big families. The Capital town of Bali, Denpasar and the North city, Singaraja are the biggest towns in Bali. Kuta and Seminyak are the main tourist area that attracts tourists since 70's, because of it famed white-sand beaches, the surf and stunning sunsets with hundreds of hotels, restaurants and shops along the area too.

Resorts in Sanur, Candi Dasa, Lovina, Nusa Dua, on the east coast, in the north, or on the southern-most peninsula of the island, are all the areas with many five star hotels stand provide those who come for peace and for the more sedate. Considered as the artistic and cultural centre of Bali the central village of Ubud, in the mountainous region of Gianyar, has also blossomed as a tourist attraction.

Culture

HISTORY It is believe that the first settlers on Bali migrated from China around 2,500B.C. even tough there are no artifacts of records dating back to the Stone Age. Quite and evolved culture existed on Bali by the Bronze era around 300 B.C. The complex system of irrigation and rice production was established around this time and is still in use today.

Around 500 A.D appears to be the time religion where Buddhist predominantly influence the island. On a trip to India, a Chinese scholar, Yi-Tsing, in 670 A.D. reported that he had visited a Buddhist country called Bali.

Until the 11th century, Bali has not received the strong influx of Hindu and Javanese culture. The Balinese Prince moved to East Java after the death of his father around AD 1011 and set about uniting it under one principality. Earning the successful Anak Wungsu, Airlanggha’s brother, was chosen as leader of Bali. There was a Javanese language, Kawi that is being used during the following period and became the language used by the aristocracy.

In the middle of the 11th century Airlangga death and there is a period where Bali enjoyed the autonomy principles. But it is not long lasting as in 1284 the east Javanese King Kertanegara, conquered Bali and ruled over it from Java. But then, Kertanegara was murdered and Bali took the opportunity to liberate itself once again in 1292. Nevertheless, Bali was brought back under Javanese control by its defeat at the hands of GajahMada, a general in the last of the great Hindu-Javanese empires, the Majapahit in 1343. The Majapahit empires began to collapse and large exoduses of aristocracy, priests, artists and artisans to Bali come as the spread of Islam throughout Sumatra and Java during the 16th century. For a while Bali done well and the following centuries were considered as the Golden Age of Bali's cultural history. Bali became the major power of the regions, taking control of neighbouring Lombok and parts of East Java. Meanwhile as the major centre for the Arts is Gelgel, located near Klungkung.

THE EUROPEAN INFLUENCE

The Dutch first come to Bali in 1597, but they never came again until the 1800's when t the Dutch came together with an interest in colonized the island. The Dutch government with its power over large areas of Indonesia since the 1700's sent troops into northern Bali in 1846. Dutch then forces sided with the Sasak people of Lombok to defeat their Balinese rulers in 1894. Soon, after all the Balinese principalities had either been defeated in Battle, or had capitulated, by 1911 the whole island has fallen to Dutch control. The Dutch were expelled by the Japanese, who had occupied Indonesia from 1942 to 1945 During World War II.

he Dutch tried to get back the control of their former colonies after the Japanese was defeated but its first President, Sukarno declared Indonesia’s independency on August 17, 1945. Indonesia was finally renowned as an independent country after four years of fighting and strong criticism from the international finally ceded and in 1949.

THE PEOPLE

Within the village’s organization and farming, even the creative arts can not refuse to live in big community like Bali has. Schools, clinics, hospitals and roads are the responsibility of The local government but all other aspects of life are placed in the hands of two traditional committees, whose roots in Balinese culture stretch back centuries. The first roots concern the production of rice and organizes the complex irrigation system and named with Subak. Those who has rice field, must joint their local Subak to ensure that every member gets his fair distribution of irrigation water. Banjar is the other community organization which arranges al village festivals, marriage ceremonies and cremations. Most villages has at least one Banjar with a membership of between 50 to 100 families where all males have to join one when they marry. The Bale Banjar is the place when the meeting between the Banjar’s member is required. The Bale is also where the local gamelan orchestras and drama groups practice.

RELIGION

Hindu of Balinese is very different from the Indian variety. The Balinese worship the three manifestation of highest God ‘Shanghyang Widi Wasa’. The three are Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. Much of the religion is base upon and also very strong believes in magic and the power of spirits. The belief is that good spirits stay in the mountain and that the seas are home to devil and ogre. According to the belief also, a village has to have at least three main temples, which are the Pura Puseh or 'Temple of Origin' faces the mountains, the Pura Desa or village Temple, is normally found in the centre and the Pura Dalem, is aligned with the sea and is dedicated to the spirits of the dead. Every house also has its own small temple besides these three 'village' temples. Some temples, like Pura Besakih located on the hills of mount Agung, are considered to be very important as people from all over Bali travel to pray there.

Offerings have a significant rule that will bring prosperity and good health to the family, once they are served for the God and Its manifestations. Small offering trays called Canang Sari consisting of symbolic food, flowers, cigarette and money are placed on shrines, in the temples, outside houses and shops, and even at dangers cross road in each day.

Another great time for appeasing the Gods is Festivals. Huge, beautifully arranged, pyramids of food, fruit and flowers will be put up on the top of the woman’s head while a blood sacrifice through a cockfight is carried out by the men. Traditional dances and music are served to invite and entertain the Gods which come down in the festivities. If you are at the area, you will find how exciting and well worth the festivities is.

DANCE & DRAMA Dance and drama is one of the important elements in Balinese society. People learned about the tales of the Ramayana, Mahabarata and other epic stories from Balinese history through this media.. More well-known dance-dramas can also be seen at regular performances, throughout Bali. The dances are such as:

BARIS
It is usually performance by men, either solo or in a group of five or more and is a warrior's dance.

BARONG & RANGDA
The dance tells story about the struggle between good and evil. Barong Keket, a stange, fun-loving creature in the shape of a shaggy semi-lion represent God. Rangda is a witch, represents Evil.

KECAK
The Kecak is one of the most famous of the Balinese dances, created from the Shanghyang dance singing group, who sing a distinctive 'Kecak-Kecak' accompaniment. The Kecak, developed in the 1930's as a dance in the village of Bona, where it is still performed regularly.

LEGONG
This dance tells the story about Princes Rangkesari who is imprisoned by King Lakesmi. Prince Daha, brother of Rangkesari assembled an soldiers together to release his sister. The Legong is a very conventional and elegant dance, and prepubescent girls often as young as eight or nine years old always perform the dance.

SANGHYANG TRANCE DANCES
Two girls perform this dance and is very similar in style to the Legong. The difference is that the girls are supposedly untrained and can keep in perfect time with each other, even though their eyes are tightly closed.
A boy dances around and through a fire, reading a coconut palm hobbyhorse in the Shangyang Jaran. People often called it as 'Fire Dance'. A priest is always on hand to help bring the dancers out of their trance-state at the end of the performance in both dances.

WAYANG KULIT (SHADOW PUPPET)
Traditions of the Javanese and Balinese are told by the shadow puppet. It normally consists of a small 4-peace orchestra that will provide the musical accompaniment. Around 60 'Puppets' hidden behind the flat peaces of water buffalo. The Dalang, or puppet-master will fill the voice where good characters normally speak in ancient 'Kawi' and evil speak Balinese.