Bali - The Island of God

Bali is the name of a province in Indonesia and also the name of the largest islands that are part of the province. In addition consists of the island of Bali, Bali province consists of the islands smaller in the vicinity, namely the island of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan Island, Nusa Island and Island Ceningan attack.

Bali lies between Java and Lombok Island. Denpasar is the capital of his province, located in the south of the island. The majority of Balinese are Hindu. In the world famous Bali as a tourist destination with a unique variety of art-culture, especially for the Japanese and Australian tourists. Bali is also known as Island of the Gods and Pulau Seribu Pura.

The first inhabitants of the island of Bali is expected to come in 3000-2500 BCE who migrated from Asia. Relics of the stone tools were found in the village Cekik located in the western part of the island. Prehistoric times and then ended with the arrival of Hinduism and Sanskrit writings from India in 100 BC

Culture of Bali later gained strong influence of Indian culture that the process is more rapid after the 1st century AD. Name Balidwipa (Bali Island) began to be found in various inscriptions, including inscriptions Blanjong issued by Sri Kesari Warmadewa in 913 AD and mentions the word Walidwipa. It is estimated that around this time that Subak irrigation system for rice cultivation began to be developed. Some religious and cultural traditions also began to develop at that time. Kingdom of Majapahit (1293-1500 AD) who are Hindus and centered on the island of Java, had established the kingdom of subordinates in Bali around the year 1343 AD It was almost all over the country are Hindus, but as the arrival of Islam stood Islamic kingdoms in the archipelago, among others, led to the collapse of Majapahit. Many nobles, priests, artists and other Hindu community when it withdrew from the island of Java to Bali.

Tanah Lot (Lot Ground)

The Europeans who first discovered Bali is Cornelis de Houtman from the Netherlands in 1597, though a Portuguese ship had previously been stranded near Cape Mount, Jimbaran, in 1585. Dutch East India Company began to implement through the soil colonial Bali, but continue to get resistance, so until the end of the power of their position in Bali is not as solid as their position in the Java or the Moluccas. Starting from the northern region of Bali, since the 1840s the Netherlands has become a permanent presence which was originally done by pit the various rulers of Bali that mutual distrust each other. Dutch major attack by sea and land against the Sanur region and followed by Denpasar area. Bali party who loses in number and weaponry do not want to experience shame to give up, thus causing the war to the death or bellows which involves all the people both men and women including the king. An estimated 4,000 people were killed in the incident, although the Netherlands has ordered them to surrender. Furthermore, the Dutch governors who ruled only a few gave its influence on the island, so that local control of religion and culture generally remained unchanged.

Japan occupied Bali during World War II and then a military officer named I Gusti Ngurah Rai Bali forming forces 'freedom fighters'. Following Japan's surrender in the Pacific in August 1945, the Dutch promptly returned to Indonesia (including Bali) to re-establish its colonial rule as a state before the war. This was opposed by the forces of resistance Bali who was using Japanese weapons.

On 20 November 1945, Break Puputan Margarana battle that occurred in the village of Marga, Tabanan, Bali middle. Colonel I Gusti Ngurah Rai 29-year-old, led his troops from the territory east of Bali to take the offensive to death on the Dutch troops are armed to the teeth. All members of the battalion Bali killed them all and make it as a last Balinese military resistance.

In 1946 the Dutch made Bali as one of 13 areas part of the new State of East Indonesia was proclaimed, named as one of the rivals for the Republic of Indonesia which was proclaimed and headed by Sukarno and Hatta. Bali then also incorporated into the United States of Indonesia when the Dutch recognized the independence of Indonesia on December 29, 1949. In 1950, Bali officially leave perserikatannya with the Dutch and legally became a province of the Republic of Indonesia.

The eruption of Mount Agung that occurred in 1963, had shaken the people's economy and caused many of the Balinese transmigrated to other areas in Indonesia.

In 1965, along with the failure by the G30S coup against the national government in Jakarta, in Bali and many other areas there was a crackdown against members and sympathizers of the Communist Party of Indonesia. In Bali, it is estimated more than 100,000 people were killed or missing. Nevertheless, the events in the early days of New Order is up to now has not managed to be disclosed by law.

Terrorist attacks have occurred on October 12, 2002, in the form of the 2002 Bali bomb attacks in Kuta Beach tourist area, causing as many as 202 people were killed and 209 others injured. Bomb attacks in Bali 2005 also occurred three years later in Kuta and Jimbaran beach. Such events received extensive international coverage because most of the victims were foreign tourists and cause the Bali tourism industry faces severe challenges in recent years.

Transportation

Bali has no railway network but a very good road network is available, especially to areas of tourist destination. Most of the residents have a private car and chose to use it because public transportation is not available with either, except taxis.

Type of public transportation in Bali, among others:

* gig, using the horse as vehicle towing

* The motorcycle taxi driver, a motorcycle taxi

* Bemo, serving in and intercity

* Taxi

* Bus, serving the intercity relations, rural, and between provinces.

Bali connect with the island of Java by ferry service that connects the Port of Port Gilimanuk with Ketapang in Banyuwangi the old sails through about 30 to 45 minutes. Crossing to Lombok Island through Padang Bay to the Port of Port of Sheet which takes about four hours.

Air transport is served by the Ngurah Rai International Airport and destinations to major cities in Indonesia, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan. Runway and aircraft coming and going can be seen clearly from the beach.

Culture

Balinese traditional music has similarities with traditional music in many other areas in Indonesia, for example in the use of the gamelan and various other percussion musical instruments. Nevertheless, there are peculiarities in the technique of playing and his composition, for example in the form kecak, namely a form of singing that supposedly mimic monkeys. Similarly, a variety of gamelan are played even unique, for example Jegog gamelan, gamelan gong gede, gamelan xylophone, gamelan and gamelan Semar selunding Pegulingan. There is also music playing for ceremonies Ngaben Angklung and Bebonangan music played in a variety of other ceremonies.

There is a modern form of traditional music of Bali, for example Gamelan Gong Kebyar which is a dance music that developed during the Dutch colonial period and Joged bumbung which became popular in Bali since the 1950's era. Generally, Balinese music is a combination of various metal percussion instruments (metallophone), gongs and wooden percussion (xylophone). Because social relations, politics and culture, traditional music of Bali or Balinese gamelan game influence or affect each other cultures in the surrounding area, such as traditional music community in Banyuwangi and the traditional music of Lombok.

* Gamelan

* Jegog

* Genggong

* Silat Bali

Dance

Balinese dance in general can be categorized into three groups, namely the guardian or the sacred art of dance performances, art bebali or dance performances for ceremonies and also for visitors and balih-balihan or the art of dance for the entertainment of visitors.

Balinese dance expert I Made Bandem in the early 1980s never classify these Balinese dances, among others, who belong to the guardian for example Berutuk, Sang Hyang Dedari, Rejang and Line Gede, bebali among others are Gambuh, Mask Pajegan and Wayang Wong, whereas balih-balihan among others is the Legong, Parwa, Arja, Prembon and Joged and various other modern dance choreography.

Kecak Dance

One of the dances are very popular for tourists is the Kecak Dance. Around the 1930s, Wayan Limbak worked with German painter Walter Spies to create this dance based on traditional Sanghyang and parts of the story of Ramayana. Wayan Limbak popularizing this dance while traveling the world with his troupe of Balinese dancers.

Kuta Bali

Kuta Beach

Kuta Beach is a tourist spot located in the south of Denpasar, the capital of Bali, Indonesia. Kuta is located in Badung. This area is a tourist destination abroad, and has become a mainstay tourist island of Bali since the early 70's. Kuta Beach is often referred to as sunset beach (sunset beach) as opposed to the Sanur beach.

In Kuta there are many shops, restaurants and places baths and drying herself. Besides the beauty of its beach, Kuta beach also offers various other types of entertainment such as bars and restaurants along the beach to Legian beach. Rosovivo, Ocean Beach Club, Kamasutra, are some of the most crowded clubs along the beach of Kuta.

This beach also has a pretty good waves for surfing sports (surfing), especially for novice surfers. Field I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport is located not far from Kuta.

Sunset At Kuta Bali

Garuda Wisnu Kencana I

Bali

Bali Map

Tanah Lot