Bali is unlike anywhere else. Despite the advent of international
tourism, this Indonesian island remains an untarnished cultural gem set
in an idyllic landscape. Spirit-haunted as is the rest of Southeast
Asia, Bali boasts a unique mixture of beliefs because Hinduism overlays
a much older relationship with the physical world. Nothing is considered
to be inanimate. Towering volcanoes, majestic lakes, lush forests,
gushing springs, flooded paddies, golden sands and blue seas--all these
spectacular features have convinced the Balinese that their island is in
itself a cosmos. Even though Bali suffered under the Japanese during
World War II, in the struggle afterwards to expel the Dutch, and through
the violence which accompanied the military overthrow of President
Sukarno, the resilience and kindness of its inhabitants ensure that no
visitor leaves the island today unimpressed by its heritage. - Land of
Temples: Besides an estimated 20,000 temples, there are hundreds of
thousands of shrines for the good reason that hardly anywhere is said to
lack divine significance. - Festivals and Drama: So widespread are
places of worship that every village and town possesses its own
religious festival, an important part of which is dance-drama. Most
popular is the story of the defeat of the chief witch Rangda by the good
lion Barong, but the audience knows that she will be back again. - Art
and Handicrafts: Because the Balinese believe that making beautiful
objects is pleasing to the gods, artists and craftsmen are highly
esteemed. On display along roadsides are their astounding works, which
range from monumental sculpture to bright textiles.
