Bali, island of the gods

Of all my travels so far, one destination surpasses all others for beauty, culture and atmosphere: that place is the island of Bali. Bali is a little island in the middle of the Indonesian archipelago and curiously enough, is one of the few places in Indonesia to retain its Hindu religious connections, after much of Indonesia converted to Islam. Bali is notoriously famous as a beach destination, with large resorts dotting most of her coasts, from Nusa Dua and Sanur in the eastern part and Kuta and Legian on the western side. The sea on the east side is a shallow lagoon while the west side is rougher with high waves, very much suited for surfing. We stayed in Nusa Dua, but we travelled to the other parts to observe the difference. Nusa Dua is a strip of a peninsula dotted with resorts and a large shopping complex. The shopping centre is a very relaxed affair, very different from the hassle you get in other parts of Bali. The price are very reasonable as in all parts of the island. Bali thrives on tourism. Its their source of income. Not the only one but certainly the most remunerative. Bali people are very friendly. Not ipocritevely friendly, but really friendly. Their eyes smile with pride when you praise their homeland. Of course, there are the money schemers as well.... But the thing that gets you about Bali is the tranquillity and calm that this place exhales. The flower offerings that surround the shrines everyday, bring a sort of inner peace, for me at least. I asked a local about this custom after I noticed an offering that contained a cigarette, which I thought was far from holy. The local man replied: " we share with the gods part of our daily life and cigarettes are part of this, so it makes sense to offer one." It makes perfect sense to me too. Travelling inland, Bali is a green lush carpet of rice fields, interspersed often by a shrine or a temple. The temples are breathtaking. Oasis of calm and spirituality, they convey a sense of harmony. They are beautifully ornated and intricatevely carved from stone. I would have loved to assist to one of their colorful festivals, but couldn't find one. As souvenirs go, Bali abounds. Wooden carved little statues, silver figures, Garuda resemblance kites, sunset paintings, decorated sarongs, wooden plates, they are now proudly in my collection of souvenirs from around the world. If in Bali, do go to Jimbaran for a sunset dinner: lovely food and fantastic views of the sun setting into the ocean. Enjoy a fish dinner with your feet in the sand watching the day coming to an end. That for me is the essence of Bali: a celebration of life. Definetely, one of the most beautiful places in the world.

In the coming posts, I will show some photos and a review of our accomodation.