Lisbon – City Of Street Art
Interesting factsLisbon is a city on Portugal's coast that skillfully combines modern ideas with old world appeal. Lisbon is a world center for street art although…
Bali is an Indonesian island of about 4.46 million people, famous worldwide as the “Island of the Gods.” Its vibrant culture, lush landscapes, and dynamic history make it a unique destination in the Pacific. Bali sits just east of Java, separated by the narrow Bali Strait, and covers roughly 5,780 km². The island is dominated by a volcanic spine; its highest peak is Mount Agung (3142 m), an active sacred volcano known locally as the “navel of the world.” Balinese Hindu tradition holds this mountain in reverence.
The southeastern monsoon (May–November) brings a dry season, so that Bali’s climate alternates between sun-drenched dry months and a rainy monsoon (roughly November–March). This climate and terrain support tropical forests on the mountains and rice-growing plains in the highlands and some savanna in the north. Over millennia, Balinese farmers have sculpted the slopes into vast subak rice terraces, an ingenious irrigation system celebrating the island’s guiding philosophy of Tri Hita Karana (“three causes of well-being”: harmony among the divine, humanity, and nature). The entire Subak landscape around places like Tabanan (including the lush Jatiluwih terraces) is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape.
Biodiversity in Bali is rich both on land and under sea. On land, moist tropical forests harbor teak, banyan trees, jackfruit and sandalwood (once widespread). Native animals include long-tailed macaque monkeys (often found at forest temples), deer, wild boar, civet cats, bats, and domestic water buffalo. The “Bali tiger” subspecies lived in the island’s forests but was hunted to extinction by the 1930s. One famous Bali endemic bird is the Bali myna (starling) – Bali’s only native bird species – which is critically endangered and protected in reserves and sanctuaries.
In contrast, Bali lies at the heart of the Coral Triangle, the planet’s richest marine ecosystem. Its tropical reefs host dazzling marine life: manta rays, reef sharks, turtles, parrotfish, and countless colorful corals. As one marine scientist notes, “Bali sits within the Coral Triangle, the most biodiverse marine region on the planet.” Unfortunately, like reefs worldwide, Bali’s coral communities face threats from warming seas, pollution and past dynamite fishing, and many reefs are reported severely damaged. Still, snorkeling and diving remain major draws, from the famous USS Liberty wreck at Tulamben to the mantas of Nusa Penida.
Bali’s natural richness is matched by a deeply spiritual culture. It is the only province in Indonesia with a Hindu majority – about 87% of Balinese identify as Balinese Hindus, a syncretic faith blending ancient Hindu and Buddhist ideas with local animist traditions. Balinese Hinduism centres on a supreme God (Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa) and a pantheon of gods, spirits and ancestors. Religion pervades daily life: every household has shrines and makes daily offerings (canang sari) of flowers and rice as thanks to the deities. The guiding philosophy of Tri Hita Karana – harmony of God, people and nature – underlies communal traditions like the subak system and is invoked in ceremonies big and small.
Balinese religious temples (“pura”) reflect this spiritual worldview. A typical temple is an open-air walled complex, divided into three courtyards (mandalas) with gateways between them. The outer courtyard (jaba), middle (jaba tengah) and inner (jeroan) symbolize an ascent from the secular toward the sacred. Splendid candi bentar (split stone gates) mark the entrance, and a taller kori agung gate leads to the inner sanctum. Towering tiered shrines called meru (resembling pagodas with odd-numbered thatched roofs) rise in the innermost holy court. A small “lotus throne” shrine (padmasana) often sits at the very heart, dedicated to the Supreme God. The result is a layered, open-air architecture unique to Bali.
Balinese temples often feature the dramatic split-gate (candi bentar) architecture. The famous “Gateway to Heaven” at Pura Lempuyang (East Bali) shown above welcomes worshippers and frames the sky beyond. Many thousands of such temples dot the island – from the vast Pura Besakih on the slopes of Mount Agung (the “mother temple”), to sea temples like Tanah Lot and Uluwatu perched on rocks, to water temples like Tirta Empul and Ulun Danu Bratan whose springs and lakes are holy. Temple anniversaries (odalan) are frequent festivals in each village or family compound, ensuring that the spiritual calendar is as rich as the agricultural one.
Music, dance and the arts are integral. Bali has a famous performing arts tradition: sacred dances (e.g. Rejang, Baris) that honor deities; flamboyant masked dances like the protective Barong and Rangda battle; and refined court dances like the Legong (performed by young girls) and the world-famous Kecak (a hypnotic “monkey chant” performed by many men chanting rhythmically). A UNESCO report explains that Balinese dance is inseparable from ritual and nature: dancers wear brilliant gold-trimmed costumes and move in intricate, expressive gestures, symbolizing cosmic forces. Everyone learns dance and gamelan music at an early age – indeed, every village has a community gamelan ensemble.
Balinese people are famed for their artistic skill: wood carving, painting (notably the refined Kamasan style), silver and gold jewelry, stone carving and textiles flourish, especially in crafts villages (Klungkung, Mas, Celuk, Batubulan, etc.). The island’s museums, galleries and art markets (Ubud’s famous art market, for example) buzz with creativity. In short, as one anthropologist noted, “Balinese are fond of music, poetry, dancing, and festivals, and are extraordinarily able in arts and crafts.”
Social life in Bali retains traces of an old caste system (imported with Hinduism). In practice today, this is less rigid than in India, but most Balinese identify as Sudra (commoners), while a smaller priestly Brahmana and warrior Kshatriya caste exist. This hierarchy even shows in language: Balinese has different speech levels, and the refined krama register (used in ritual contexts) is rich in Sanskrit and Old Javanese words. Village life revolves around the banjar community councils and family compounds (Balinese homes are traditionally enclosed clusters of houses). In the temple compounds and community halls, men often gather for wayang (puppet) performances or cockfights,
Since the late 20th century, tourism has come to dominate Bali’s economy. Agriculture (especially rice) was once the mainstay, but today tourism accounts for a majority of income and employment. As of the early 2000s, estimates placed tourism-related activities at 60–70% of regional output. (One study noted that 80% of Bali’s economy was tourism-related by 2003.) About 20% of islanders work directly in tourism – hotels, restaurants, guides, transport – and many more in supporting roles. Despite periodic shocks (see below), Bali is among Indonesia’s wealthiest regions per capita, mainly due to tourist dollars. The island even levies a green tax on visitors to fund conservation and health facilities.
Agriculture still occupies swaths of Bali and remains culturally vital through the subak system. Farmers mainly grow rice (Bali’s “rice barn” is Tabanan Regency) plus smaller plots of maize, cassava, vegetables, coffee, coconuts and spices. Bali’s rich coffee (including the famed Kopi Luwak) and cocoa plantations contribute modest export revenues along with fruits, livestock (pigs, ducks, cattle) and copra. Yet food imports are needed to feed the population. Artisan handicrafts – from batik and ikat textiles to carving and silverwork – form another important sector, both for local use and for selling to tourists. Village cooperatives produce everything from sarongs and baskets to paintings and carved furniture, blending traditional motifs with market designs.
An overlaying factor is real estate. Over the past decades, foreign investment in Bali property has surged, driven by demand for luxury villas, resorts, and rental homes. While Indonesian law prevents foreigners from holding freehold title, many use leasehold structures, and the value of land (especially in prime south Bali) has skyrocketed. This influx has lifted incomes for some landowners but also fueled concerns about environmental impact and cultural loss as temples and rice fields give way to hotels. For example, debates over zoning and construction are intense around Ubud and the coasts.
Bali’s infrastructure has had to catch up. Roads and airports have been expanded: Ngurah Rai International Airport (Denpasar) handles tens of millions of passengers yearly (about 23.6 million in 2024, nearly its capacity). New toll highways – such as the Gilimanuk–Mengwi road in West Bali – aim to ease traffic and connect remote regions. A second airport (North Bali International, at Kubutambahan) is under construction (to serve 20 million passengers by 2024) to relieve congestion and promote development in the north. A planned $1.35 billion expressway between Gilimanuk and Denpasar (96 km) is part of a national push to improve connectivity. Nevertheless, travel within Bali still largely relies on cars, buses and ubiquitous motorbikes; traffic jams are a daily reality in Denpasar and Kuta. Ferries link western Bali (Gilimanuk) with Java (Ketapang port) and daily fast boats ply the channels to Lombok and the Nusa Islands. Public transportation is minimal.
Despite such growth, Bali strives to balance tradition and modernity. The local government campaigns for sustainable tourism, and there is civic debate over limits – for example, a trial ban on new hotel approvals in parts of south Bali, and proposals to restrict sea-side development. Environmental groups warn that infrastructure projects must not disrupt the island’s cultural backbone. A 2021 study found that Bali’s new west-side toll road threatens hundreds of hectares of subak rice fields and could fracture the ancient irrigation system central to its World Heritage agricultural landscapes. Likewise, protected areas (like West Bali National Park) abut proposed developments. These challenges underscore a key tension: keeping Bali’s Tri Hita Karana alive amid booming tourism and investment.
Hindu influence likely reached the island by the 1st millennium AD, and Bali remained Hindu even as neighboring Java converted to Islam. In the 14th century, exiles from Java’s Majapahit empire brought waves of culture and royals to Bali, sparking a golden age of art and literature. For centuries, Bali consisted of Hindu kingdoms. Dutch colonial forces moved in by the 19th century; fierce resistance (e.g. puputan mass ritual suicides in 1906–08) gave way to colonial administration. After independence, Bali became an Indonesian province in 1958.
In recent decades, Bali has seen dramatic changes. The growth of tourism brought prosperity but also bouts of adversity. One of the darkest events was the 2002 Bali bombings. On 12 October 2002, near-nightclub blasts in Kuta killed 202 people – including 88 Australians – and wounded hundreds more. Just three years later, on 1 October 2005, another terrorist attack on Kuta-area restaurants and beach warungs killed 20 and injured over 100. These tragedies shocked Bali’s close-knit society and temporarily halted tourism: in late 2002, arrivals plunged from 150,000 to 30,000 in the month after the attack. Indonesian and Australian cooperation quickly improved security, and recovery campaigns – along with global goodwill – gradually restored visitor confidence by 2004. (Subsequent attacks in Jakarta and elsewhere have since refocused counterterrorism, but Bali has remained cautious.)
Bali also endures natural upheavals. Its volcanoes are revered but occasionally furious. Mount Agung, in particular, looms over eastern Bali. Its eruption in 1963 was devastating – about 1,100–1,500 people died and much farmland was destroyed. In late 2017 and into 2018, Agung gave ominous signs, prompting evacuation of tens of thousands and closure of Denpasar’s airport for days. Authorities extended the exclusion zone to 8–10 km as ash plumes rose; some 50,000 people were evacuated at one point, with roughly 25,000 remaining displaced for months. With patience and volcanic monitoring, Bali minimized loss of life. Still, these eruptions remind residents and tourists alike that Bali’s fiery mountains can disrupt life, tourism, and agriculture at short notice.
The most recent upheaval was the COVID-19 pandemic. As in all tourist hubs, international travel to Bali was virtually halted in 2020–21. Flights were canceled, hotels emptied, and many businesses struggled. Domestic travel within Indonesia partially cushioned the blow, but Bali’s economy slumped. By 2022, reopening began: inbound flights resumed, quarantine rules eased. The rebound was swift. By 2023 Bali’s tourism numbers not only recovered but surged. From Jan–July 2023, Bali welcomed about 2.9 million international visitors – a ninefold jump from the same period in 2022. In fact, July 2023 was a record month (about 541,000 arrivals). Domestic tourism boomed too (over 8 million domestic tourists in Jan–July 2023), helped by extended holidays and travel deals. This post-COVID rebound highlights Bali’s resilience and continued global appeal.
Beyond these hotspots, Bali’s interior and coast hide countless experiences: trekking in West Bali National Park, dolphin-watching at Lovina, cycling tours through villages, white-water rafting on the Ayung River, hot springs at Banjar and Lake Batur, and serene coastal temples atop clifftops. Modern-day tourists might stay in all-inclusive beachfront hotels or family-run guesthouses, but even luxury resorts often incorporate Balinese design and host daily ritual performances or offering-making workshops.
Wellness tourism flourishes: yoga retreats and Ayurvedic spas are ubiquitous, especially around Ubud. Each week in Bali brings festivals and ceremonies: one traveler might stumble upon a neighborhood odalan with gamelan music and dancers, or a grand temple anniversary processions with effigies and flags. Indonesian holidays are celebrated too – Christmas and New Year see fireworks, though New Year is still observed in late March (Nyepi).
Not all local events are religious: the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (each October) and BaliSpirit Festival (spring yoga/music gathering) draw international crowds, as do surfing competitions like the Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang. In late 2022, Bali made global headlines by hosting the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Nusa Dua – the first time Indonesia convened the G20. Even beauty pageants like Miss World 2013 chose Bali (Nusa Dua) as their stage. These events underscore Bali’s role not just as a postcard paradise, but as a stage for diplomacy, culture, and international sport.
Travelers to Bali arrive by air, sea or land routes. Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) just south of Denpasar is Indonesia’s third-busiest airport, with widebody jets arriving from Asia-Pacific and beyond. In recent years it opened a new 120,000 m² international terminal (2022) to handle growing traffic. However, the single-runway airport is near capacity (~24 million passengers/year), especially in peak months. To alleviate this, the Indonesian government is building Bali’s second airport in North Bali (Kubutambahan) with a 3,850 m runway to receive future traffic. Meanwhile, the old domestic terminal at Ngurah Rai has been expanded and new X-ray/security areas added to improve flow.
Road travel is Bali’s backbone. A main ring road (Jalan Raya Ubud – Jalan Raya Denpasar – Jalan Raya Singaraja) circumnavigates much of the island; tour buses and private cars ply it constantly. Toll highways have begun to change the landscape: the short Mandara Toll Road (connecting Denpasar to Nusa Dua over the wetlands) opened in 2013, and a new Gilimanuk–Mengwi Toll Road (west to central Bali) is under construction. In December 2023, traffic snarls were so common that some travelers abandoned cars and walked kilometers to the airport! To reduce congestion, Bali plans more bypasses, and even a first tram/light-rail project within southern Badung Regency.
Sea links are also vital. The ferry crossing from Gilimanuk (Bali’s west tip) to Ketapang (Java) is the main inter-island highway; ferries run day and night on this busy route. A smaller ferry serves Padang Bai to Lombok (though many prefer speedboats via Padang Bai or Serangan). Boat services connect Sanur with Nusa Lembongan and Penida (30–45 min rides). There are also small ports: Benoa Port in southern Bali handles cruise ships, cargo and traditional prahu fishing boats, while a new harbor at Celukan Bawang (North Bali) may link to new crossings to Lombok.
Local transport includes shuttle buses (Trans Sarbagita network in Greater Denpasar), metered taxis (blue-and-white), app-based car/tuk-tuk services (Grab, Gojek), and countless scooter rentals. For the adventurous, scooters are ubiquitous (though traffic laws are loosely followed). Cycling tours are popular in the quiet villages, and e-bikes are entering the scene. Despite Bali’s modernity, each journey still often passes rice paddies, temple shrines or passing ritual processions – a reminder that tourists share the road with daily Balinese life.
Today’s Bali is a mosaic of local and global influences. Ethnically, Bali’s population is overwhelmingly Bali Aga (indigenous Balinese, ~83%) with smaller Javanese, Sasak, and Chinese communities (the latter traditionally in the north). Religiously, 86–87% are Balinese Hindus; the remainder are mostly Muslim (~10%) and Christian (~3%). In towns like Denpasar and Singaraja, mosques and churches serve local Indonesians and migrant workers, but Hindu temples dominate the skyline.
Demographically, Bali’s growth has slowed as the island urbanizes. Population was 3.89 million in 2010, 4.32 million in 2020, and an official 4.46 million by mid-2024. Most live in the south (Denpasar/Badung regencies) where towns, villas and resorts sprawl. Ubud-Gianyar is the cultural heartland; Karangasem (east) and Buleleng (north) remain less dense. Many young Balinese now work in service jobs rather than farming. Education and literacy rates are high – Bali consistently scores above national averages.
There is also international migration. An estimated 110,000 foreigners lived in Bali in 2021, an extraordinary number for an Indonesian province. They include retirees, digital nomads, entrepreneurs and tourists-turned-expats. Russians, Australians and Europeans are notably numerous, especially in places like Canggu, Ubud and Canggu’s trendy areas. These expatriates have opened restaurants, yoga studios and co-working spaces, further blending Balinese and international lifestyles.
However, Indonesian law restricts foreign land ownership, so most expatriates lease property or live in enclave projects. Nonetheless, the foreign presence is felt in Bali’s bilingual cafés, fly-in festivals and in controversies over cultural preservation (e.g. debates over nightclub zones or beachside development).
Balinese culture is most visible in its calendar of festivals (up to 200 per year, one for nearly every temple). The biggest festival is Nyepi, the Day of Silence marking the Balinese New Year (in March). On Nyepi, the whole island shuts down for 24 hours: no flights (even airplanes sit idle), no traffic, and tourists must stay silent in their hotels. The night before (Pengrupukan) sees lively parades of ogoh-ogoh (demonic effigies) that are then burned to ward off evil. In contrast, Galungan (every 210 days) is a joyous 10-day festival celebrating Dharma’s victory over Adharma.
Balinese believe ancestral spirits visit during Galungan, so families set up intricate offerings. Golden penjor bamboo poles (decorated with palm leaves and rice) line streets everywhere. The celebration ends on Kuningan, when spirits return to heaven amid final offerings of yellow rice. Many other ceremonies punctuate life – temple anniversaries (odalan) often last a day, cremations (ngaben) are grand communal events, and water-purification rituals (Melasti) are performed before Nyepi.
Outside religion, Bali hosts cultural festivals that attract global audiences: the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival in October draws international authors; the BaliSpirit Festival (yoga, dance, music in Ubud) brings thousands in spring; Balinese music, dance and martial-arts (e.g. pencak silat) competitions occur yearly. Sports events take place on the beaches and waves, including international surfing contests and the ASEAN Beach Games (Bali hosted the first edition in 2008).
Dignitaries and filmmakers also convene in Bali; for instance, world leaders gathered at Nusa Dua for the G20 Summit in November 2022. Even Miss World (2013) chose Bali (the Nusa Dua Convention Center) as its venue. These events underscore Bali’s global stage beyond tourism.
By tradition and conviction, Balinese strive to remain Hindu and communal amid change. Despite rapid development, the island “maintained its spiritual connection by adhering to cosmic order (dharma) in daily routine,” as one cultural guide puts it. The ubiquity of ritual – from morning offerings in warungs to gamelan rehearsals – gives Bali a distinct character. Villages still elect shamans (priest-healers) and maintain adat (local customary law). Even Balinese weddings blend Hindu rites with modern flair (bride and groom may wear temples’ gold headdresses).
Yet Bali faces contemporary challenges. Overcrowded beaches, water scarcity in the dry season, and waste disposal are growing pains of tourism. Many tourists do not fully understand local customs, causing friction (noise complaints during Nyepi, disrespect of temples, etc.). Local elders have campaigned – sometimes successfully – for ordinances (like banning mega-displays or limiting hotel density) to protect culture. Among activists and officials, there is increasing talk of “Bali spirit” as both an economic brand and a reminder to preserve nature and culture together.
Economically, Bali must diversify. While tourism booms, reliance on it makes the island vulnerable (as seen during pandemics or volcano scares). Efforts are underway to develop creative industries and digital businesses. Agriculture is being revamped: some farmers grow organic and heirloom rice to tap niche markets, and coffee and cacao co-ops aim for fair-trade branding. Technology is slowly advancing in villages – many Balinese youth now learn English and Mandarin as well as internet marketing for home stays.
The spirit of Bali – its syncretic Hindu culture, its rice-terraced lands and lively arts – endures even as new roads and hotels spring up. Visitors still flock here not just for “sun, sea, and sand,” but to experience a place where every meal, garment and greeting is infused with ceremony and craftsmanship. What draws people back is this blend: you can surf at dawn, then witness a centuries-old temple rite at dusk, all set against a backdrop of volcanoes and infinite rice fields. In short, Bali remains an island of contrasts – traditional yet modern, tranquil yet vibrant – and this complexity is what gives it enduring appeal.
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