| Sunday, February 19, 2006 Story of Bali become the legend folk for the centuries. Some of the fact of the island. Bali is so picturesque that you could be fooled into thinking it was a painting; or a tropical fatamorgana. Those batik backdrop: rice paddies trip down hillsides like green giant steps, volcanoes soar through the clouds, the lush and tropical forests, and the lapped beaches by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. But the gloss of the picture paradise has been, the last two decades, manufactured and polished by the international tourist industry rather than by Balinese themselves who don't even have a word for paradise in their language and it pays hardly enough regard to the economic reality of life on Bali, which is still recovering from Indonesia's economic crisis and the collapsing currency. It covers an extent of 5,632,86 square kilometres consisted of mountain range stretches from the west tip to the East with Mount Agung as the highest peak. About 70% of the whole extent is agriculture ground while the other 22% consists of forest and only about 8% is left uncultivated. Hinduism is adhered by almost 95% of its population of about 3 millions, specifically blend with Buddhism and the ancestor worship to make it inseparable from everyday life and no opportunity is missed to worship God in an unending series of ceremonies stretches from birth up to after death. Just considering the weather, the cooler dry season from April to October is the best time to visit Bali, but if you want to go around without being bother on the street, and to connect deeply with the environment is probably the low season the best time. It is more humid, cloudier and has more rainstorms, but it has his charms. There are also distinct tourist seasons, which affect the picture. The European summer holidays bring the biggest crowds July, August and early September are busy. Many Indonesians also visit Bali around Christmas. Outside these times Bali has surprisingly few tourists. Balinese festivals, holidays and special celebrations occur all the time. | |||
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