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Bali - A Tropical Island Paradise
Bali is a small island midway along the string of islands which makes up the Indonesian archipelago, stretching from Sumatra in the north-west to Irian Jaya, on the border of Papua New Guinea, in the South-east. Bali is volcanically active and extravagantly fertile. It has an area of 5620 sq km, measures approximately 140 km by 80 km and is just 8 degrees south of the equator. (Map of Bali)
Bali was presumably first settled around 2500 BC. Bali and West Java underwent several episodes of conquering and being conquered by one another until the Dutch arrived in Bali by the year 1850. After the Japanese occupation during the Second World War from 1939 to 1945, Bali became a province of Indonesia, which managed to maintain a separate, specifically Balinese culture. For instance, the dominant religion in most parts of Indonesia is Islam, whereas in Bali it is Hinduism.
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Sunset over Gunung Agung, Bali's highest and most revered mountain |
Decorated boats lend a magical air to Jimbaran Bay |
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Balinese men perform in Mas |
Trance dancers perform during the Full Moon Festival in Depensar |
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Swimming pool and the sea |
Diving Crystal Bay Reef, Nusa Penida |
For more information, please visit Bali Travel Guide and Travel Information website. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/indonesia/bali/ |
