One of world’s most amazing destinations BALI: Mystical island paradise

If I would be asked to describe Bali, the most famous tourist destination in Indonesia, in one word I would say: Mystical.

Bali is an exotic place where nature, dance, ritual and cremation rites constitute an integral part of the Balinese Hindu culture. This blend of tradition and culture attracts tourists making Bali a popular tourism destination for foreigners.

Historical accounts have it that up to the early 1900s, Balinese women wore nothing above their waist. But when tourists started to come in droves they were taught to adopt a western culture of covering woman’s breasts.

One of the more than 17,000 islands of Indonesia, Bali is mountainous in the center. A cluster of mist-enshrouded volcanoes, one of which called Mount Agung is active and considered by the Balinese as most sacred mountain. This and its mountain lakes and terraced ricefields have been luring visitors for centuries.

Equally enchanting are its people, some 2.7 million of them whose artistry and piety are known around the world. Their faith, Balinese Hinduism is a fusion of Indian cosmotology and Tantric Buddhism.

In various communities, temples dominate Bali’s skyline. Every village has at least a temple they call pura. Many of these puras are tourist destinations because of their historical value, architectural beauty or scenic location. The pura is a hallowed and central place for worship as well as a palace for civil and social gatherings.

Tanah Lot. One of Bali’s most prominent sea temples is the temple sanctuary at Tanah Lot is built on top of a huge rock, which is surrounded by the sea.

Built by one of the priests to come to Bali from Java in the 16th century, its rituals include the paying of homage to the guardian spirits of the sea. Sea snakes found at the base of the rocky island are believed to guarding the temple from evil spirits and intruders.

The best time to see and enjoy the panoramic view of Tanah Lot in the late afternoon when the temple is in silhouette under the shinning sunset.

But the largest and the holiest temple in Bali is the sanctuary of Besakih on the slopes of Mt. Agung. Step ascend through spit gates to the main courtyard where the trinity shrines are wrapped in clothed and decorated with flower offerings.

Also, every house in Bali, big or small, keeps as its integral part an open air family temple or altar. Like in big temples, entrances to these shrines are either split or close door in the shape of two hands put together or slightly parted in prayer. Open door symbolizes detachment from worldly things while close door represents unity consciousness or oneness with the whole of creation. Most street corner and rotunda and even hotel compounds also keep these altars where flowers, fruits and foods offerings overflow. Smell of burning incense dominates the air.

The Balinese believe that spirits dwell in every element of nature and the spaces above the trees solely belong to God. This is the reason why no hotel in Bali could rise above the trees. To comply with the law, however, hotels usually plant the tallest variety of coconut tree that grows above the fourth floor of a building.

Because God permeats and pervades the whole of creation Balinese plant trees mostly ornamental or fruit-bearing and shrubberies along the streets uncut or undisturbed. Their favorite trees are coconut, golden shower, fire tree, calacuchi, tamarind, mango and balete.

Native dances are a "must to see" in Bali and we were lucky to watch the Barong Dance. It presents the Barong (a mythical and animal resembling a lion) fighting the evil which is Rangda. Generally, the show is closed with a kris dance, in which young men get into a trance, stabbing themselves with krisses yet remain unhurt. Barong Dance performances are staged nightly at Batubalan.

Almost half of the more than five million inbound tourists yearly in Bali stay in thousands of beachfront hotels and resorts in the island located in Sanur Beach which has been a popular recreation site, a palm-lined beach curves from Bali Beach Hotel toward the south, facing the Indian Ocean. Offshore reefs protect the beach against the waves and make it popular for windsurfing, boating and other water sports.

Another favorite beach destination is the Nusa Dua tourist resort which is part of the Bukit Peninsula in southern Bali. Some of the most beautiful and luxurious hotels are found here. The resort is known for its clean white beaches and clear waters.