| Where
is Bali?
The island of Bali is part
of the Republic of Indonesia and is located 8 to 9 degrees
south of the equator between Java in the West and Lombok and
the rest of the Lesser Sunda Islands (Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba
and Timor) in the East. Flying time to Jakarta is about 1.5
hours, to Singapore and Perth (Australia) 2.5 and 3 hours,
to Hong Kong about 4.5 hours, and to Sydney/Melbourne about
5.5 to 6 hours.
Geography
The island of Bali has
an area of only 5,632 square kilometers (2,175 square miles)
and measures just 55 miles (90 kilometers) along the north-south
axis and less than about 90 miles (140 kilometers) from East
to West. Because of this it's no problem to explore the island
on day tours. You can go wherever you want on the island and
return to your hotel or villa in the evening.
Located only two kilometers
east of Java, Bali's climate, flora and fauna are quite similar
to its much larger neighbour. The island is famous for its
beautiful landscape. A chain of six volcanoes, between 1,350
meters and 3,014 meters high, stretches from west to east.
There are lush tropical forests, pristine crater lakes, fast
flowing rivers and deep ravines, picturesque rice terraces,
and fertile vegetable and fruit gardens. The beaches in the
South consist of white sand beaches in other parts of the
island are covered with gray or black volcanic sand.
Flora
The wide variety of tropical
plants is surprising. You'll see huge banyan trees in villages
and temple grounds, tamarind trees in the North, clove trees
in the highlands, acacia trees, flame trees, and mangroves
in the South. In Bali grow a dozen species of coconut palms
and even more varieties of bamboo.
And there are flowers, flowers
everywhere. You'll see (and smell the fragrance of) hibiscus,
bougainvillea, jasmine, and water lilies. Magnolia, frangipani,
and a variety of orchids are found in many front yards and
gardens, along roads, and in temple grounds. Flowers are also
used as decorations in temples, on statues, as offerings for
the gods, and during prayers. Dancers wear blossoms in their
crowns, and even the flower behind the ear of your waitress
seems natural in Bali.
Fauna
Elephants and tigers don't
exist any more in Bali since early this century. Wildlife,
however, includes various species of monkeys, civets, barking
deer and mouse deer, and 300 species of birds including wild
fowl, dollar birds, blue kingfishers, sea eagles, sandpipers,
white herons and egrets, cuckoos, wood swallows, sparrows,
and starlings. You can watch schools of dolphins near Lovina,
Candi Dasa, and Padangbai. Divers will see many colorful coral
fish and small reef fish, moray eels, and plankton eating
whale sharks as well as crustaceans, sponges, and colorful
coral along the east coast and around Menjangan Island near
Gilimanuk.
Climate
You can expect pleasant
day temperatures between 20 to 33 degrees Celsius or 68 to
93 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. From December to March,
the West monsoon can bring heavy showers and high humidity,
but usually days are sunny and the rains start during the
night and pass quickly. From June to September the humidity
is low, and it can be quite cool in the evenings. During this
time of the year, you'll have hardly any rain in the coastal
areas.
Even when it rains in most
parts of Bali you can often enjoy sunny days on the "Bukit",
the hill south of Jimbaran Beach. On the other hand, in Ubud
and the mountains you must expect cloudy skies and showers
throughout the year (this is why the international weather
reports for "Denpasar" or "Bali" mention
showers and rain storms during all times of the year). In
higher regions such as in Bedugul or Kintamani you'll also
need either a sweater or jacket after the sun sets. |
|
Population
Bali's population has grown
to over 3 million people the overwhelming majority of which
are Hindus. However, the number of Muslims is steadily increasing
through immigration of people from Java, Lombok and other
areas of Indonesia who seek work in Bali.
Most people live in the
coastal areas in the South, and the island's largest town
and administrative center is fast growing Denpasar with a
population of now over 370,000. The villages between the town
of Ubud and Denpasar, Kuta (including Jimbaran, Tuban, and
Legian, Seminyak, Basangkasa, etc), Sanur, and Nusa Dua are
spreading rapidly in all directions, and before long the whole
area from Ubud in the North to Sanur in the East, Berawa/Canggu
in the West, and Nusa Dua in the South will be urbanized.
Economy
This southern part of Bali
is where most jobs are to be found, both in the hotel and
tourist industry, the textile and garment industry, and in
many small scale and home industries producing handicrafts
and souvenirs. Textiles, garments, and handicrafts have become
the backbone of Bali's economy providing 300,000 jobs, and
exports have been increasing by around 15% per year to over
US$400 million. Textiles and garments contribute about 45%,
and wood products including statues, furniture and other handicrafts
22% to the province's total income from exports. Silver work
is ranked third (4.65%) with 5,000 workers employed. Main
buyers are the US and Europe with 38% each, and Japan with
9%.
Important agricultural products
besides rice are tea, coffee, tobacco, cacao, copra, vanilla,
soy beans, chilies, fruit, and vegetable (there are now even
vineyards near the northwest coast). Bali's fishing industry
and seaweed farming provide other products which are important
exports.
The new free-trade regulations
will create some problems for Bali's exporters as they do
not allow employing children. Most children here work for
their parents, and this is part of the process of acquiring
professional skills and kind of an informal education which
has been very important in the Balinese society for centuries.
What makes Bali
so special?
There is the combination
of the friendly people, the natural attractions, the great
variety of things to see and do, the year-round pleasant climate,
and the absence of security problems. And then there is Bali's
special "magic", which is difficult to explain.
As soon as you step off
the plane you might sense the difference. In the villages
you'll notice the quietness and wisdom in old people's faces,
and the interest and respect in the young's. Old men sit at
the road side caressing their fighting cocks. Beautifully
dressed women walk proudly through rice fields and forests
carrying offerings on their heads to the next temple. There
is the smell of flowers, and in the distance you hear the
sound of gamelan music.
Gods and spirits have been
an important part of Bali's daily life for hundreds of years.
Gunung Agung – Bali's holy mountain – is internationally
regarded as one of the eight "Chakra" points of
the world. This may be more than a coincident. Watch out,
the moment you feel the magic of this island, you're addicted
for the rest of your life. |
