With the reputation of being one of the most beautiful and diverse tourist destinations in Asia, Bali annually attracts almost 1,000,000 visitors from around the world.
Geographically, Bali is situated between the islands of Java and Lombok. Bali is small, stretching approximately 140km from east to west; 80km from north to south. The tallest of a string of volcanic mountains that runs from the east to the west, is Mount Agung that last erupted in 1963.
Just 8 degree south of the Equator, Bali boasts a tropical climate with two seasons a year (wet and dry), with an average temperature of 28 degree Celcius.
The wide and gently sloping southern regions play host to Bali's famed rice-terraces, which are among the most spectacular in the world. In the hilly, northern coastal regions, the main produces are coffee, copra, spices, vegetables, cattle and rice.
The Balinese people have strong spiritual roots and despite the large influx of tourists over the years, their culture is still very much alive. The main religion is Agama Hindu Dharma, which, although originally from India, comprises of a unique blend of Hindu, Buddhist, Javanese and ancient indigenous beliefs; it is very different from the Hinduism practised in India today.
Naturally creative, the. Balinese people have traditionally used their talents for religious purposes and most of the beautiful work to be seen on the island has been inspired by stories from the Ramayana and other Hindu epics.
The majority of Bali's 3,000,000 people live in tight village communities with large extended families. The largest towns are Denpasar (capital city) and Singaraja in the north. The main tourist area stretches from Kuta to Seminyak. Kuta became a major attraction during the tourist boom of the 1970's because of it's famous white sand beaches, the surf and stunning sunsets.
Today, the Kuta to Seminyak stretch is an extremely popular tourist destination with hundreds of hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. Those in search of some peace and quiet tend to head to the more sedate resorts of Sanur and Candi Dasa on the east coast, or Lovina in the north. Nusa Dua on the southernmost peninsula of the island, houses many five-star resorts. The central village of Ubud, in the hilly region of Gianyar, has also blossomed as a tourist attraction and is now considered to be the artistic and cultural centre of Bali.