Bali - short intro
Here is a short introduction for who still have no idea about this small island.
Bali is one of thousands of island in Indonesia, located at majority of Indonesia’s small Hindu minority.
Geography
Bali is situated 3.2 km east of Java and approximately 8 degrees south of the equator. East to west, the island is approximately 153 km wide and 112 km north to south (95 by 69 miles, respectively), with a surface area of 5,633 km². The highest point is Mount Agung at 3,142 m (10,308 feet) high, an active volcano that last erupted in March 1963. Mountains cover centre to the eastern side, with Mount Agung the easternmost peak. Mount Batur (1,717 m) is also still active. About 30,000 years ago it experienced a catastrophic eruption — one of the largest known volcanic events on Earth.

The island is surrounded by coral reefs. Beaches in the south tend to have white sand while those in the north and west black sand. There are two season in Bali, dry and rainy season, dry season occur approximately from March to November other months is the rainy season.
Administrations
There are 8 regencies and 1 city* in Bali, regency in Indonesian is Kabupaten.
- Badung
- Bangli
- Buleleng
- Gianyar
- Jembrana
- Karangasem
- Klungkung
- Tabanan
- Denpasar (*)
Economy
Balinese economy was largely agriculture, people lives with rice farms, coconuts, cloves, etc. Tourism is now the largest single industry and Bali is as a result one of Indonesia’s wealthiest regions. This industry unfortunately only focuses overwhelmingly at the southern part of the island (Nusa Dua – Kuta – Legian – Seminyak). But still, agriculture is the island’s biggest employer, while some part in the island lives as fisherman.

Denpasar Traditional Market

Paddie Harvest Season
Bali is also famous (in some part of the island; Gianyar, Klungkung) for its batik and ikat cloth and clothing, wooden carvings, stone carvings and silverware.
Bali’s only one airport is The Ngurah Rai Airport; the name was taken from one of Balinese Hero on the time of Dutch Colonial.
Language
Majority of Balinese speaks bilingual or trilingual, Balinese language itself is divided into a certain level, but most use the most widely spoken option: modern common Balinese. English is the third language where this might be required for some area of tourist destination.
Culture
The Island is famous for many forms of art, including painting, sculpture, woodcarving, and performing arts. Balinese famous performing arts is dances, Kecak, Legong, Barong are some of them.
Gianyar (one of the regency in Bali) is the main place of sculpture spot, woodcarving. Tourists most visit Sukawati Art Market to find their cheap Balinese souvenir. I say, you can find almost everything in this market from wood carving to silverware.
* Some content taken from books and wiki*
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One Response to “Bali - short intro”








September 13th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Dear Dee,
I am writing a freelance piece about traditional house compounds in
Bali and intend to pitch it to several New York publications. I was
wondering if you would be interested in doing an interview either via
phone or e-mail? It shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes. I’ve included
some questions below to give you an idea:
1. Could you tell me a little bit about traditional house compounds in
Bali today? Are they dying out in the city? Are they still popular?
2. I think it’s interesting that architecture and religion are so
intertwined in bali.
Could you talk more about that?
3. What is it like living in a traditional house
compound?
I would really appreciate your help!
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Chandni Jhunjhunwala
235 W. 48th Street
New York. NY 10036
Cell: 515.770.5766
chandni.jhunjhunwala@gmail.com