Thursday 7 May 2020

Island of Gods

Paradise - the word on every traveler’s lips as soon as they witness the picture-perfect scenery that Bali has to offer. Bali, an Indonesian island, known for its forested volcanic mountains, is also known as the "Island of Gods".

It is known for its lush tropical nature, postcard beaches and a culture characterized by a deep spirituality. There is some kind of wonderland for everyone, from world-famous surf spots surrounded by laid back beach bars to impressive waterfalls, adjacent to luscious paddy fields. There is so much to see and experience on this magnificent island paradise! 

 April to October is the best time to visit Bali, when there is little rain, low humidity, and lots of sun.

The main languages spoken in Bali are Indonesian, Balinese and English.

The currency of Bali is the Indonesian Rupiah. 
1 USD is equivalent to about 15115.00 IDR  and 1 INR is equivalent to about 199.23 IDR 

Some of the must-visit attractions anyone can enjoy are
  • Ubud Monkey Forest.
  • Uluwatu Temple.
  • Tanah Lot Temple.
  • Tegalalang Rice Terraces.
  • Ubud Art Market. 
  • Besakih Temple.
  • Padang Padang Beach.
  • Mount Batur.
  • Nusa Penida Island 
  • Night Safari 
  • White water rafting at ayung river  
  • Elephant caves 
  • Dolphin watching in Lovina 
  • Kuta beach
Health Tip: drink a lot of water to avoid getting heatstroke or dehydration.

You can also learn some local language like selamat pagi (good morning), tolong (please) and terima kasih (thank you). 

Dressing Tip: Dress modestly before entering a temple in Bali. Temple guests are expected to wear shirts that cover shoulders and part of the upper arms. The waist and legs should be covered by a temple scarf (known as a selendang) and a sarong (known locally as kain kamben) respectively. 

One thing fascinating that I have found is that they are very religious and there are paintings and statues of god from roads to malls to even small shops and restaurants. 

The Balinese Hinduism, called Agama Hindu Dharma, has originated in Java and is a combination of Buddhism and Shivaism.  Besides Nepal, Bali is the only place outside of India with such a high number of Hindus.