More and more tourists come to Bali every year. At the same time, the island does not lose its individuality and mystical power. Here anyone can become a millionaire and conquer the top of a volcano; go to a session with a sorcerer and bet on cockfights; admire unusual temples and observe the life of the locals. We have collected incredible facts about Bali Indonesia, which confirm that the “island of the gods” is such a one!
Here are the top 20 interesting and secret facts about Bali Indonesia
Everything about Bali Indonesia :
- The name “Bali” comes from the word “balin”, which is translated from Sanskrit as” hero “or”.
- The island is part of the province of the same name in Indonesia. It is washed by the Pacific Ocean from the south and the Bali Sea of the Indian Ocean from the north. This is one of the southernmost boundaries of the Wallace Line – a transitional zone between Asian and Australian flora and fauna.
- Bali is located in the southern hemisphere behind the equator in the UTC /GMT +8 time zone. The island is separated from Moscow by 10,00 kilometers, and the time in Bali differs from Moscow by 5 hours. When it’s noon in Bali, it’s only 7:00 in the morning in Moscow.
- Indonesians and residents of neighboring countries call Bali the” island of the gods ” – “pulau Kahyangan”. According to local beliefs, there are a lot of gods here. Almost every Balinese house has its temple, and every resident knows how to communicate with representatives of the invisible world.
- The Agama Hindu Dharma religion is practiced in Bali. It is a mixture of paganism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. But they also believe that the forces of nature, the ocean, thunderstorms, and volcanoes are controlled by certain gods.
- In Bali, there is a caste system – a milder version of the Indian one. * Bahasa is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. This is the main Indonesian language. It is spoken by all residents, as well as representatives of neighboring countries – a total of more than 200 million people in Southeast Asia.
- It is celebrated on the first new moon of spring. This date usually falls in March or April. The celebration lasts for 4 days: Balinese people conduct ritual purification ceremonies, make offerings to spirits and arrange colorful theatrical performances.
- In 1963, during the ritual ceremony of Eka Dasa Rudra, which is held once in a hundred years, the Agung volcano woke up.
- The priests were the first to notice the seismic activity; they realized that this was an evil sign and proposed to postpone the ceremony. But President Sukarno insisted on holding it. On March 18, the volcano exploded: it destroyed thousands of homes and killed tens of thousands of people. At the same time, surprisingly, the disaster did not affect the Besakikh temple.
Interesting Facts about Bali Indonesia :
- Balinese people love traditional dances: legong, barong, and kechak. In them, residents show the struggle between the forces of good and evil; they help participants and viewers to feel the subtle energies.
- Rice is the main food of the inhabitants of Bali. It is called “nasi”, which translates as “food”. It is considered a sacred gift of the gods, so it appears in all local myths and legends.
- Polygamy is allowed in Bali. Such families are found mainly among representatives of the upper castes. Balinese people can have up to four wives. However, only if the first spouse has given written consent. Without this document, a loving man will be in prison.
- The sea temples on the coast of Bali form a chain that stretches along the entire perimeter of the island. Among the most famous are Pura Luhur Uluwatu and Pura Tanah Lot. They protect the islands from evil forces.
- Gunung Agung, or “great mountain” is the largest volcano in Bali. Its height is 3031 meters above sea level. At the foot is the “mother of all temples” of the island of Pura Besakih.
Things to keep in Mind about Bali Indonesia :
- There are a lot of cows in Bali, but they do not give milk. Therefore, it is almost impossible to find fresh dairy products in the markets. Milk and cheese are sold only in supermarkets – they are brought from other provinces of Indonesia or Australia.
- The metro will appear in Bali in 2022. The government has launched a project that should improve the situation with public transport on the island. In general, it is planned to build a light metro, but, for example, the Airport-Kuta branch line may become underground.
- Colorful umbrellas in Bali you will meet not only on the beach. The locals call them “tedung”, which means “protection”. They cover from the sun and save from troubles and adversities.
- The largest volcanic eruption in the twentieth century occurred in Bali.
- In Bali, in the New Year (Nyepi), you can not leave the house, turn on lights and fire, and use mobile phones.
Things that you shouldn’t miss about Bali Indonesia :
- One of the most popular entertainment of Balinese people is cockfighting. They grow their fighter in almost every yard: such a rooster has a special diet, they take care of him and keep him as a pet. Fights are held on the days of ceremonies, as well as on the full moon.
- Dreams come true in Bali. Come to Dreamland Beach, make a wish, throw a coin into the sea and wait. It will be fulfilled soon!
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