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Widely known as the "island of the gods," Bali has always been a peaceful paradise rich in culture and unrivalled in beauty. This tropical island has, for generations, been the favourite destination of a range of travellers. Visitors not only are captivated by its fascinating culture characterized by rituals, arts and crafts, but also for the tropical environment, the beaches and the jungles. They come here to unwind from the stresses of life. |
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Of course, the most popular Balinese travel destination is one of its white sandy beaches where the most difficult decision of the day is whether to splash in the gentle waves or soak up the tropical sun. |
| Many beaches offer a wide
range of activities from jet skiing, parasailing, and
snorkelling to surfing some of the worlds most famous
breaks. Fishing trips and cruises can easily be
chartered, and the adventurous can scour the ocean floor
and marine wildlife around some of the finest coral
reefs known to man. |
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Challenge seekers can head inland and try their hand at white water rafting, bungee jumping, jungle trekking, mountain biking and |
| even expeditions by elephant
during the day and take in a delicate Balinese dance
performance as the sun sets over the crystal-blue
waters. With so much available, it is a wonder
travellers to Bali ever go home. |
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| With unparalleled natural wonders and its rich cultural heritage, Bali captivates and enchants visitors with style, grace and beauty. |
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| Bali is a land where music and dance and the worship of all living things are integral parts of everyday life, a place where over one million visitors from every corner of the globe come for the spiritual and sensual revitalization that truly is “The morning of the World”. |
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Life in Bali is woven around religious culture. Creating colourful offerings of flowers and fruit in intricately woven baskets consumes a large part of each day. Celebrations of life's cycles, the harvest and the anniversaries of temples are daily occurrences. Every day, numerous festivities, celebrations and pageant-like events marked with offerings, spirited dancing and music are going on across the island. For the event, the Balinese dress for them in brightly hued, tightly bound sarongs, lace kebaya blouses and udeng headdresses. |
| Extraordinary works of art are inspired by nature and religion. Stone and wood carving, gold and silver smithing, painting, textile weaving and basketry are indigenous skills. Artistic creation is so much a part of life that there is no word for "artist" in Balinese. In the past, artisans were often farmers who created beautiful works as a hobby or as part of a community effort to build village temples. Their skills have been passed down through the generations. |
Today, Balinese handicrafts are still made in a way that embodies beauty in form, philosophy and colour. They are available for tourists to inspect and buy across the island. The village of Ubud is the centre of Balinese painting and strolling through Ubud's streets and surrounding rice fields, visitors can talk with local artists of modern and traditional styles and purchase works directly from their home studios. The nearby village of Mas (meaning "gold") is Bali's woodcarving centre and an excellent afternoon trip to see mask-makers and woodcarvers whittling away in the afternoon shade.
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