Like any popular tourist destination, Bali is filled with
white sandy beaches and beautiful sunsets. It combines a welcoming and
hospitable environment with a rich tourist market, which explains why it has
been given so many travel awards.
However, what sets Bali apart from other tourist sites is its deeply spiritual and unique culture. Unlike most islands of Indonesia, every aspect of Bali life is saturated with Hindu influences. Such influences are unique to those found in India or anywhere else in the world; the primary deity is Sanghyang Widi Wasa and not the traditional Vishnu or Shiva that traditional Hindus worship.
Religion is incorporated into all forms of Bali lifestyle,
making experiencing religious practices easily accessible to tourists. In fact,
tourists are encouraged to partake in religious traditions—they are even
provided with godly offerings (called canang sari) at airports and tourist
sites.
Religion has also influenced all forms of Bali art, making their art forms unlike any others. Temples
and courtyards are embellished with godly statues, guardians and protecting
demons. Ritual dances, such as the Barong lion dance or the Calonarang, depict
the fight between good and evil and a tourist so fortunate to find an authentic
dance is in for an experience they will never forget. Last but not least, the
Gamelan orchestra has made Bali and its music world renowned. Any tourist after visiting Bali is sure to boast of the rich art forms they witnessed while there.
Balinese dancers
Such aspects make Bali not only a vacation getaway, but also a place where one can immerse themselves in a rich foreign culture and truly have a profound tourist experience. As one of the world’s most popular island destinations, eighty
percent of international visitors of Indonesia come for Bali alone. Only 144
kilometers east to west and 80 kilometers north to south, it is amazing that
Bali can offer such an enriching tourist adventure.
