Bali

There is a certain magic and tranquility about Bali (5,700 sq. km., pop 3 million).  Bali is the land of 10,000 temples that serve as the central place of worship, civic purposes and family and social gatherings.  Bedugul (pictured here) is a Hindu/Budhist temple located on misty Lake Beratan in Northern Bali.  The temple is dedicated to the goddess of water, who is much referred to as a source of fertility. This temple has a magical feeling as mist and moisture fill the humid air.

Located further north are twin Lakes Buyan and Tamblingan. The rain forests surrounding the Lakes have lain untouched for more than 1,000 years.  It is home to species of birds, trees, flowers that are unseen elsewhere on the island.  The most amazing experience was twisting down roads built on a volcano slope, as you pass by coffee and clove plantations and onwards to the verdant terraced rice paddy fields.

Bali prides itself with the arts including wood and stone carvings, silver and gold jewelry, and colourful masks.  Woodcarving is one of the Bali masterpieces to take home.  The techniques are primitive and each piece has its own special design.  There are many traditional art markets all over Bali.  The Balinese have devoted their lives as artists, dancers and ritual followers which are an integral part of the Balinese Hindu culture.

One of Bali's most revered religious locations is the Tana Lot Temple. With the temple perched on a tiny island, it makes a picturesqe sunset location. The sacred location is highly guarded so no tourist can access the temple itself. The locals have colonized the cliffs surrounding the temple and there are dozens of restaurants and open air pubs that are swarming with children exploited as vendors. Rush hour starts thirty minutes before the sun drops into the sea.

Bali boasts the finest beaches in Asia where the warm waters of the Indian Ocean lap the white sands of Bali.  Jimbaran Beach is breathtaking and you can enjoy a candle lit dinner while the cool sand sneaks between your toes. You can listen to the rushing waves and eat fresh seafood while the sun is setting over the horizon. The"junk" boats pull in their last catch of the day as the sun goes down.  You can walk for miles along this beach and end up in heaven.