There is a legend told of an island east of Java. It was a beautiful island, but its fertile plains and palm fringed shores rocked and were unsteady. he gods conferred. They decided the answer lay in placing a mountain upon the island, to balance, calm and soothe it. And so they did. Happiness then reigned on the island and all was at peace. The mountain was called Great Mountain - GUNUNG AGUNG - and the island is BALI, "The Morning of the World", a magical island full of legends and mystical tales set amid the thousands of islands that are INDONESIA. Bali is one of the 17,508 islands which makeup of the archipelago Republic of Indonesia. It is easily one of Indonesia's most popular tourist destinations known throughout the world as a paradise isle set in the southern seas with its story-book setting of sun-drenched beaches, rolling surf, rustic villages, fertile plains and sculptured rice terraces. Bali is also graced by colorful temple festivals accompanied by sprightly music and dance watched by the local populace, tourists, and the unseen gods from their dwelling places perched on majestic mountains. Located near the eastern-most tip of Java island across the narrow Straits of Bali, this 'Isle of the Gods' is peopled by the friendly Balinese who are more exposed to international tourists than many people in other parts of Indonesia. 

Bali - A Unique Mentality 

Religious beliefs, rites and festivals guide a Balinese from birth to death and into the world thereafter. Religious customs in Bali define the plan for a town, the construction of a home and the distribution of responsibilities with Bali 's communities. Holidays, entertainments and social gatherings in Bali are all determined by the religious Balinese calendar and occur within the context of ritual observances. Some might find such a life style confining, for the Balinese it is an essential, rich source of inspiration. Bali, a masterpiece of nature formed by an east-west range of volcanoes providing exceptional fertile soils, was confronted with major cultural invasions in the past. The Balinese were always able to manage such intrusions, simply by integrating and adapting the foreign elements into the Balinese flexible living traditions. A striking evidence of this polyglot is the Balinese art displaying Indian, Hindu-Javanese, Chinese, Islamic and even some European elements. One may assume, especially with regard to the Balinese tourism industry, that Bali 's century-aged culture is vanishing; nothing could be farther from the truth.

During the struggle for the lost kingdom of famous King Airlangga of Java (1019-1042) his mother fled to Bali, bringing the courtly Java- nese language to the island. Until the late 14th century Bali remained more or less under Javanese influence. When the last great Javanese kingdom, Majapahit, fell apart, many of its cultured people moved to Bali, gathering at independent 'Balinese King' Dewa Agung's base Gel-Gel, near Klungkung. With Java in turmoil the last exodus to Bali took place in 1478, founding its enlightenment.

Bali - Island of 10,000 Temples

Since every village in Bali has several and every home at least one house temple there are actually more temples than homes. Most of them are shrines and may not be considered real Balinese temples, but the walled compounds are still assumed to be numbered 10,000. A significant mark of all temples in Bali is the uneven number of the buildings' stapled roofs. The holiest temples of Bali all carry at least one building with eleven roofs, the maximum number, displaying the importance of the god to whom it is dedicated. 

Balinese Dances

There is little to compare Balinese dances with. They tend to be precise, jerky, shifting and jumpy. To the Balinese expert, every movement of wrist, hand and fingers is of a great importance as well as the facial expressions of the Balinese dancers that are carefully choreographed to convey the character displayed. The Balinese dances are remarkably similar to the Balinese Gamelan music - accompanying most of the performances - with its abrupt changes of tempo and contrasts between silence and crashing noise. Accordingly, each Bali dancer seems to move completely independent. 

Bali - Arts and Crafts

Every Balinese is an artist and craftsperson. Painting and carving have been integrated with abundant Balinese ceremonies and festivals, as part of everyday life until 50 years ago. Nowadays, Balinese architecture and sculpture are the least affected arts by western influence. Every square centimeter of a Balinese temple gateway is intricately carved, but never completed without a couple of stone statues as guardians. Therefore, Balinese architecture becomes sculpture and sculpture becomes architecture.