Geography
One of the approximately 14,000 islands that comprise the Indonesian archipelago, Bali anchors east of Java, separated by the small Strait of Bali, and surrounded by the Java Sea on the north, the Indian Ocean on the south, and the Strait of Lombok on the east. A string of volcanic mountains crown the northern part of Bali, with Gunung Agung (Mount Divine, literally) as the tallest at 3,142 meters. This volcano, as well as Mount Batukaru, Mount Batur, and Mount Merebuk is still active.
Extremely important to the agricultural life of Bali, especially for rice crop, the rivers of Ayung, Unda, Sungsang, Balian, Yeh Sumi, Petanu, and Saban carry the water from the highland to the seas. There are four major lakes: Lake Batur at the crater of Mount Batur, Lake Buyan, Lake Bratan, and Lake Temblingan.
Climate
Bali enjoys tropical weather, being only a few degrees south of the equator. It means that the sun rises at 6 AM in the morning and sets at 6 PM in the afternoon, everyday of the year. It means that temperature variation is very small, averaging around 26-30 Celcius, and it does not have four seasons (except the hotel, of course). It only has a wet season, typically from September to February, and a dry season for the other half of the year. But the difference is marginal; at the peak of the wet season you will see about a half-hour to an hour serious downpour in the afternoon, about perfect for a siesta. The rest of the time: nice, warm temperature, especially with a twist of sea breeze in the beaches of Kuta or Nusa Dua.
This climate endows Bali with a number of unique vegetation, including waringin trees (banyan), salak Bali, and a multitude of flowers from a very fragrant cempaka (Michelia champaca) to literally thousand kinds of orchids. Its fauna is equally rich. Bali is the native land to the Bali Tiger, which is almost extinct; Bali cattle, graceful animals not like other cows; bats that haunt caves like the Bat Cave near Kusamba; sea turtles of Nusa Dua; Jalak Bali or Bali Sterling (Leucopsar rothschildi) that has inspired countless number of painters and artists.
Economy
In 1990, the population of Bali is 2,778,000, 93.18% are Hindus, with a density of 500 persons per sq km, and an average growth of 1.18%. Bali's economy is one of the most vivacious in Indonesia, fueled by constant flow of tourism dollars and supported by agricultural production and trade revenues. Balinese people are gifted artists, producing garment, and arts & crafts that are exported. In addition to gorgeous nature and enchanting people and culture, Bali is also endowed with fertile land. Its economy is growing at close to 9% per year, with export values close to $150 millions.
The primary export products are garments, handicrafts, and agricultural products such as fish, coffee, tuna, seaweed, and vanilla. The arable land of South Bali and a sophisticated irrigation mechanism arranged through the Water Temple system ( which has been shown by a couple of University of Southern California scientists to be optimal), give Bali and its people two full crops of rice year after year. Corn and other horticulture are also planted.
The land is also an excellent grazing pasture for Balinese cattles, water buffalloes, goats, sheeps, and horses. Pigs are also raised and consumed a lot in Bali, and chickens and ducks are raised by the farmers in their land. The rain forests in Bali produce cayuput oil, rattan, and incense, which is used ubiquitously in Balinese ceremony. There is about 8,535.05 ha of productive forest area. The Balinese are not too eager to explore the sea, because they believe that it is the place of evil spirits. However, tuna, baramundi, seaweed, and shrimp are quite abundant in the seas surrounding Bali. Balinese have about 841.37 ha of water fishery area.
Epilogue
Having been promoted by the Dutch during the colonialization period, Balinese tourism is the most advanced in Indonesia. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Bali's tourism is the fact that the Balinese people retain its own cultural identity, despite the exposure and intermingling of all kinds of people and culture from all over the world.
Regions of Bali
North Bali North Bali includes most of the Buleleng district, around Singaraja. It has a rich history of Bali behind its casual daily life. In Singaraja you can find remnants of Dutch imperialism as it was the administrative center of the Lesser Sunda Islands then. Horse-pulled carriages (dokar or sado) gallantly walk the pleasantly tree-lined streets, landscaped by Dutch colonial houses. Lovina Beach, a group of small villages west of Singaraja, offer popular beach resorts, with many of the amenities of Kuta but without its crowdedness. Spectacular sunset as in Kuta, dolphin watch out into the sea, snorkelling and diving in the clear water, and active social and night life scenes can be found in Lovina.
East Bali
The Eastern part of Bali is the most mountainous area of the island. The highest point in Bali, Gunung Agung (literally means Holy Mountain), is located here. And the Mother Temple of Bali, the Besakih Temple, is located at the foot of Mount Agung. This is the Mount Olympic of Bali, and you can find here various manifestations of Bali's religious beliefs. The Klungkung area is also historically significant, having served as a focal point of art and culture in the Gelgel dynasty. The roof of Kertha Gosa, the court room of the Klungkung kingdom, is dramatically painted with thousands of panels, telling the story of justice.
A long stretch of beaches marks the East side of Bali - diving, snorkelling, spectacular sunset, sun bathing, etc. Tenganan, a village of the Bali Aga people, is also here, just west of Candidasa, where you can see a mysterious water temple submerge from the water.
Central Bali
Central Bali, predominantly around Ubud, is the central of art in Bali. Ubud is the birthplace of Bali's modern paintings. And Puri Lukisan Museum (Palace of Fine Arts) and Museum Neka are two excellent museums with permanent collections of paintings that will tell the evolution of Balinese paintings. Galleries are practically everywhere. A little South of the city you can find Celuk where silver and gold jewelry has been perfected to the very details, and Mas where masks for dances and other performances are made. And further North you can enjoy the panorama of the highland of Bali, in Kintamani by Lake Batur or in Bedugul by Lake Bratan.
South Bali
In South Bali, from Denpasar to Kuta to Nusa Dua, you can find a wide variety of things. Traces of the Badung Raja of Puputan War fame still exist. Beautiful, tranquil beaches gracefully integrate with the world's most sumptuous and luxurious hotels in Nusa Dua. And then there is Kuta, where everything you want as a tourist and everything you hate about tourists coexist.
West Bali
Most of West Bali areas are not as popular as the other parts of Bali. (Hint: for those who truly say that they want to get away from other tourists...) Gilimanuk, at the Western tip of Bali, is the gateway to Java. The wildlife of Bali is preserved in the Bali Barat National Park. Also found here is the tomb of Jayaprana, a 17th century king whose Romeo and Juliet style lovestory is immortalized by folklores in Bali.
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