Chinese, Filipino and Indian cultures meld to form the distinct Balinese culture. Bali settlement dates back to as far as the first century, however Dutch explorers discovered the large island in 1597. This would be the beginning of the Dutch's control of Bali, which lasted until 1949. Japan occupied Bali during World War II for a short time. Today, Bali is part of Indonesia and remains a popular travel destination.
Bali is about 90 miles wide and spans 70 miles. On this large island lies an active volcano called Mount Agung, which last erupted in 1963. Beautiful white sandy beaches are found in the southern part of Bali. In the north and western parts, you can find black sand beaches. Coral reefs hold diverse sea life around the island. If you prefer the lush forest, head to the West Bali National Park, which is home to many monkeys.
Bali is dense with species of birds and animals only found here. Tourists can visit the Bali Barat National Park and take a closer look at these wild animals, including colonies of the silver leaf monkey and the Bali Starling bird, of which only six known birds are alive in the world. The assortment of marine life, including sea turtles and lionfish, make Bali an ideal place for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Bali has an abundance of natural tropical beauty to see, including beautiful beaches like Kuta Beach. Kuta Beach is popular with tourists, and is ideal for surfing. Tourists can get around the country by bemo (a small van carrying travelers to specific stops on a given route), taxi or bus. Many Hindu temples can found on the island, since the majority of the population are Hindu. Penataran Agung temple and Silayukti temple remain the most popular.
Bali is home to six different palaces in different villages on the island. One palace, Karangasem Grand Palace, is located in Karangasem and was built in the 19th century. Some of its buildings float on pool water and are connected by bridges. Pemecutan Palace was built in the 17th century and is located in Denpasar. It is now a hotel. Also in Denpasar is the Jro Kuta Palace which suffered less damage than the other palaces during war with the Dutch. These palaces hold a great deal of history to the island.
Over 26 museums on Bali chronicle the history of this great island. The most popular are The Museum of Bali in Denpasar, which houses artifacts as far back as the first century, Neka Art Museum in Ubud, which displays artwork from Bali, and Museum Arkeologi in Gianyar, which focuses on the artifacts from the ancient kingdom of Bali.
