14 DAY TRIAL // Bali is a fiesta for the senses. There are kilometers of dreamlike beaches (with white sand in the south and black sand in the north and west) and crystalline waters, edging coral reefs, which contrast with the exuberant green of the picturesque terraces of paddy fields, in a equatorial island of just 5,632 km2 (2,000 square mi), 153 km x 112 km (92 mi x 70 mi).
Impressive volcanic landscapes and the silvery bright of the mountain lakes are the perfect combination; the highest point, the Mount Agung, is at 3,142 m (10,308 ft) high. And the intoxicating scent of Hybiscus flowers, cloves and incense sticks is always in the air.
In Bali, the divine island of the Indian Ocean, there are about 20,000 temples and sanctuaries. Its calendar has 200 days of religious feasts and each morning people ask for the benevolence of the gods through offers of flowers and fresh food.
Even if life in Bali is based on ancestral rites and traditions, modern times have conquered the place. Especially in Denpasar, the capital of the island, a multicolor, noisy and turbulent city. Cars, motorcycles, old trucks run along horse carriages on the street.
The chaotic traffic is permanent. Commercial centers, fast food chains, posh boutiques and souvenir shops mix with the most traditional cooking posts, old street markets and temples.
The same can be said about Kuta and Legian, the most important touristic points on the southern coast. Here we will find the most luxurious hotels, restaurants, discotheques, next to beaches of fine sand, light waves and mighty palm trees. Singaraja is the ancient capital of multicultural influences and now the largest city in northern Bali. The best season for visiting Bali is in May-October.
The music of Bali combines drums, xylophones and cymbals but also the bronze gong. The folk theater of Bali shows the ancestral fight between Good (represented by a dragon) and Evil (represented by a witch). Young men are dressed up with colorful fantasy clothes, dancing in the traditional Barong. Later on the evening, a puppeteer will play a Wayang Kulit, the popular Chinese shadows show.
Religion is part of the daily life for the locals, but unlike most of the Indonesians, which are Muslim, 97 % of the about 3 million Balinese are Hindu. Just like in the Hindu religion of India, monkeys are considered sacred animals.
Craftsmanship is rich in Bali, with unlimited details and beautiful artifacts at low prices: bright brocades, artistic masks, hand cut figures and delicate silver costume jewellery are the most appreciated souvenirs. Here you can buy an authentic sarong and fabulous engraved batiks. Trade is the rule in Bali.
