Bali–
Island
of Gods
Perhaps the most well known of all
Indonesian islands for holiday vacation is the tourist resort
island
of Bali.
There is somehow a certain magical charm about this beautiful island which is
sometimes called the Island
of Gods.
Tourists will be impressed by the
many exquisite tourist sights and the charming local population. If you are a
scuba diver, Bali
is touted as one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world.
Bali
presents itself as a modern paradox that its ancient and traditional culture
is still very much alive. While the basic conservatism of the Balinese people
has enabled them to preserve many of their ancient customs, culture and
religion, it has never hindered the acceptance of the new and innovative
elements.
Bali
Sightseeing
Bali
is indeed a feast for the eye for sightseeing tourists. The island is very
blessed by nature. As the island is situated in the tropics, it has almost
equal amount of time for rain and sunshine making its environment very
suitable for human habitation and as a result, Bali
has been civilized since very early ancient times.
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Bali
is also the only island in "middle Indonesia"
that has more or less uninterrupted cultural continuity for hundreds of years.
Because of this, Bali
is the only part of Indonesia
that remains “Hindu” and is still retaining elements of fusion of ethnic and
Hindu cultures of more than a thousand years of cultural tradition.
When Bali
was finally colonized by the Dutch at the turn of this century, the colonial
masters were so fascinated by the island that a concerted effort was made to
preserve the islands mystical culture.
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The Balinese People
The Balinese society is a strong and vital one because the people promote
communal and family values. Feelings of alienation from parents and friends
which are common in the western world are almost unheard of in Bali.
Children are carried everywhere or
strapped to their mother’s back until they are at least three months old.
Religious rituals are performed regularly to keep them safe and healthy. Every
aspect of village life is organized in such detail that the individual's
responsibilities and rights are meticulously defined by the Balinese
tradition. However, Bali
has for the last few decades been plagued by religious violence, over
population and poverty.
The Balinese are emotionally strong
people and take the unfortunate incidents in their stride. The people are
eternal optimists and believe that their Island
of Gods
enjoys a special place in the grander scheme of things. Kudos to the people of Bali.