Bali is an Indonesian island. You will find it in the far west end of the Lesser Sunda Islands. Its borders touch Lombok on the east and Java on the west. Hinduism is the main religion of the island, although the same cannot be said of Indonesia itself.
Bali is also known for its culture and artistic heritage. You can immerse yourself in music, dance and sculpture that the island nurtures and is known for having. A little over three million people reside in Bali.
Regardless of all other influences, Bali is most famous for its breathtaking landscape. Natural beauty will overwhelm you all over the island.
Immigrants from Taiwan and Maritime Southeast Asia originally settled Bali in approximately 2000 B.C. The original--and current--culture carries more than a bit of Indian, Chinese and Hindu legacies.
European influence in the island came by way of the Dutch. A Dutch explorer, Cornelis de Houtman, was allegedly the first contact that the continent had with Bali. He came to the island in 1597, and Dutch colonial control was established in the 1800's. This was not to be permanent, though. Japan occupied the island during World War 2. The Dutch returned after Japan's surrender, and they were resisted by locals who now had Japanese weapons to fight with. The resistance was eventually wiped out.
Bali is a part of the Republic of the United States of Indonesia today. It has been since the Dutch recognized Indonesian independence in December of 1949.
Western tourism developed in the 1930's in Bali, and it is thriving. You will find modern conveniences amidst in rich history there today.
The weather stays pretty much the same year round in Bali, and the sun usually rises at six in the morning. It also typically sets at six in the evening all year long. It's a place to live if you like consistency in weather and temperature. The variation in the seasons tend to be a wet season and a dry season, and these divide the year.
Choose to go to Bali from September to February if you don't mind a good hour of rain in the afternoon. Go to Bali from March to August if you want warm weather that usually comes without the interruption of rain. You can count on ocean breezes and blue skies at this point.
Bali is located about six to eight degrees south of the Equator. It's one of over 13,000 islands that are a part of the Indonesian archipelago. Bali is 95 miles long, and it runs 69 miles from north to south. It is sandwiched between Java in the west and Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba and Timor in the East.
Because of the small size of the island, it's possible to be at your hotel on one end and exploring the opposite end of the island for the day. Returning to your hotel at night is no big deal no matter where you wander on this island.
With more that 20,000 temples in Bali, there is not even a small surprise that many on the island are religious. It has been estimated that between 90 to 95 percent of the population follow the Hindu religion. The temples range from elaborate temples to small ones. You should respectfully take a look at them as you go about your journey on the island.
One should remember to secure transportation prior to going to the island; an automobile is your best bet. Be prepared to deal with traffic since the island is small, and the population is large.
Check with your travel agent to secure a group tour to Bali. This can be the easiest and safest way to visit the island if you don't have a travel partner.
