Facts About Bali Island that Tourists Should Know

Geographic Condition

Size: 5.633 km². Located between Bali Sea, Java Strait and the Indonesian Ocean

It has a tropical climate with temperature of 24-34°C, and is often influenced by the climate in Australia as its close neighbor. Humidity is between 60-90%, which at times could reach 100%

People

The people of Bali now feel disinclined to be divided into caste. In their opinion, caste exists only to differentiate people’s kinds of jobs.

Brahmana are those who engage in spiritual life and religion, academia and intellectuals Ksatria are those who work in the defense and security field or government offices

Wesia are those who engage in business and commerce

Sudra are those who do physical jobs and manual work

Balinese live on farming, tourism and related Religion businesses or services, and art works

As a community the inhabitants of Bali are bound by aspects of socio-cultural life which they call Tri Hita Karana (Three Obligations), namely, the obligation to live a spiritual life as an atma (soul), the obligation to look after the land and its surrounding environment as angga (physic), and the obligation to live in harmony with neighbours bound by rules and regulation as khaya (energy).

Religion

Balinese practice Hinduism in temples called Pure or Pura. In Hinduism there are several holy days based on calendar dates: Based on the Balinese calendar

Galungan

A day to commemorate the creation of the universe with all its contents and the victory of the good or duty (dharma) against the bad or evil deeds (adharma). On this day people present offerings to God (Sang Hyang Widhi) and all of its manifestations as the symbol of gratitude for His blessings.

Kuningan (from the word kuning meaning yellow)

Kuningan Day is commemorated every 210 days or once in six months based on the Balinese calendar. (In Balinese calendar 1 month is 35 days). On this day it is believed that God descends to earth to give prosper-ity blessing to all human beings. The cer-emony, it is said, is best conducted before noon, the time when angels return to heaven. On this day, yellow rice as a symbol of prosperity is cooked, and offerings as a symbol of gratitude for the blessings the Almighty has given are made. Offerings are in the form of food stuff and clothing materi-als which must be presented out of love.

Saraswati

Saraswati is commemorated to honor God’s manifestation Aji Saraswati, goddess of sci-ence and literature. The day is celebrated every six months or every 210 days (which ac-cording to the Balinese calendar falls on Watugunung Umanis Saturday). Everyone makes offerings on books, dried palmyra/palm leaf and other things related to litera-ture and science as a symbol of gratitude for the descent of science and respect for it. A day after Saraswati is called Banyu Pinaruh which means water (banyu) of knowledge. The philosophy behind this is that when a man has mastered knowledge and is then awarded a degree, he is cleaned from any dirt remainder thought is purified which is symbolized in a procession of splattering holy water mixed with flowers on the person in a

river or sea or in other source of water. A ritual that takes place in a river symbolizes a smooth flow of knowledge learned during Saraswati. A ritual conducted in sea water symbolizes the hope that the language learned becomes broader and deeper and functions as a melting point of illiteracy. A ritual that takes place in springs or other source of water symbolizes the hope that the gained knowledge becomes a source of en-lightenment that life not only is for the self but is also for other people; and the gained knowledge must be used for the good.

Pagerwesi

Spiritually, it is a day to guard the self from negative influence by worshiping Hyang Pramesti Guru.

Nyepi (Day of Silent)

Nyepi Day is commemorated every new Saka year. Its main goal is to ask for purification on mankind and the universe from the Almighty. Rituals conducted during this commemora-tion are:

a. Melasti or Melis/Mekiyis

Takes place two or three days before Nyepi. On this day Hindu followers take sacred orna-ments and decoration out of the temples and bring them to the beach or a lake to be splattered on. They are cleaned and splattered in the sea or lakes because Balinese believe that sea and lake are the source of holy water (tirta amerta) and can be used to purify people and the universe.

b. Tawur (Pecaruan)

Tawur or Pecaruan is the purification of bad spirits in the hope that all sins come off and disappear. This ritual is designated to the bad spirits requesting them not to disturb human beings.

c. Pengrupukan

ritual is conducted to drive bad spirits away from the its surrounding and the neighborhood. Usually it is followed by a pro-cession of man-like structure that looks ugly called ogoh-ogoh. Ogoh-ogoh which sym-bolizes bad spirits are carried around the neighborhood and then burned. It is per-formed to drive bad spirits away from the neighborhood.

On Nyepi Day there are four suspensions or prohibitions Catur (Four) Berata (Suspension or Fasting) Penyepian, namely:

a. Amati Geni – Suspension of producing fire (including elec-tricity)

b. Amati Karya – Suspension of working

c. Amati Lelanguan – Suspension of having fun and entertaining one self

d. Amati Lelungaan – Prohibition to get out of the house and/or travel

Siwaratri

Siwaratri is a holy day to worship God the Almighty (Hyang Widhi Wasa) and its mani-festation in Sang Hyang Siwa (the god Siwa)

Among traditional rituals or ceremonies still practiced in Bali these days are:

a. Pagedong-gedongan (A ceremony while a baby is still in its mother womb). This ceremony is to ask for the health of the baby and its mother from God.

b. When the baby is born (Bayi Lahir). A ceremony to offer gratitude for the birth of the baby, its well being and that of its mother

c. Kepus Puser (the falling out of the baby’s navel cord). It is a ritual to ask for protection of the baby from God when its navel cord comes off.

d. Tutug Kambuhan. A ceremony conducted when the baby is 42 days old to ask for the cleansing of the baby from any kinds of sins or evils. Holy water is splattered on the baby and its mother so that the mother can enter holy places such as Pure, Merajan and the like.

e. Nyambutin (Welcoming). Nyambutin ceremony is conducted when the baby is 105 days. At this age the baby is con-sidered to reached a stage when he starts learning to sit. This ritual is conducted to ask for the complete return of the baby’s soul into his body from God

f. Satu Oton (One year). Satu oton or Otonan ceremony takes place when the baby is 210 days or 6 months (one year according to the Balinese calendar). It is conducted so that the baby’s probable bad and evil traits (vices) which he might have on him can be reduced or redeemed in the hope that his present life is an opportunity to im-prove the self to the best it can be. As part of this otonan is the baby’s first hair cutting. It is conducted to clean the crown of the head. This otonan ceremony also functions as a to the Mother land for Her care about the baby so that he is free from difficulties, is safe and grows perfectly.

g. Munggah Daa (Becoming adult). This ritual is to ask God for His guidance so that the person can control himself and cope with the transition period (from children to adult). This ceremony is mainly for female be cause female is considered weak and bears a great responsibility and its consequences.

h. Metatah (Tooth Cutting/Trim). In this ceremony four of the upper teeth and two of canine teeth are cut or trimmed. This ceremony is conducted as a symbol of reach-ing adulthood and to reduce six of the human vices that often degrade human beings, namely: lush, anger, greed, alcohol consump-tion and intoxication, confusion or imbalance, and jealousy. This ceremony has two pur-poses. One is to wish that the person in ques-tion succeeds in life, is free from illnesses, is able to control himself and resist temptation. Two is to wish that one day he or she is al-lowed to meet his ancestors and be united with his Creator when he/she dies.

i. Ngaben. Ngaben is a cremation ceremony of dead

people. In Hinduism dead bodies are cre mated in order to accelerate the return of ele ments or substance that make up human (physical) body.

In addition to this, there are also traditional ceremonies which are related to the appear ance of the moon such as Purnama (full moon) and Tilem (new moon).

Arts

Bali is full of arts, one of which is dance. Below are dances still popular in Bali:

1. Kecak Dance, Also called the Monkey Dance, Kecak Dance is derived from the Shanyang dance and con-sidered sacred. Because of its sacredness it can only be performed in a temple (pura). Recently, however, this dance has been ad-justed to suit tourists and it is often per-formed as The adjustment is related to the story told in the dance by adopting the legendary Ramayana folk tale.

2. Pendet Dance, Similar to the Kecak Dance, originally this dance was also considered sacred and per-formed to welcome gods who visited the earth. This dance too has experienced slight change and is performed to welcome visitors coming to Bali or to entertain tourists.

3. Legong Dance, It is also called Legong Keraton (king’s palace dance) which is an entertainment dance for the royal family.

4. Barong Dance, It is a battle dance between the good or vir-tues and the bad or vices.

Traditional musical instrument in Bali is called Gamelan. It consists of several pieces of in-struments made of the mixture of metal, copper, and brass. But the most popular musi-cal instrument in Bali is Garnbang. Gambang is made from bamboo and arranged like a piano. It comes with a stick used to hit the Gambang. This instrument is often played solo in public places such as hotels and res-taurants.

People in Bali speak Balinese. Their second language is Although not many Balinese speak English (well), they have pas-sive knowledge of English and understand people who speak to them in English.

Bali Transportation

Rent car with a driver For those who wish to travel further and avoid getting caught in the rain, renting a car is a very good idea.