The world’s fourth most populace country – 245 million and
counting – is a sultry kaleidoscope that runs along the equator for 5000km. It
may well be the last great adventure on earth. From the western tip of Sumatra
to the eastern edge of Papua, this nation defies homogenisation. It is a land
of so many cultures, peoples, animals, customs, plants, features, artworks and
foods that it is like 100 (or is it 200?) countries melded into one.
And we’re talking differences that aren’t just about an
accent or a preference for goat over pork; we are talking about people who are
as radically different from each other as if they came from different
continents. No man may be an island but here every island is a unique blend of
the men, women and children who live upon it. Over time deep and rich cultures
have evolved, from the mysteries of the spiritual Balinese to the utterly
non-Western belief system of the Asmat people of Papua.
Bali
The mere mention of Bali evokes thoughts of a paradise. It's
more than a place; it's a mood, an aspiration, a tropical state of mind.
Bali is like no other destination in the world. Its rich
culture plays out at all levels of life, from the exquisite flower-petal
offerings placed everywhere to the processions of joyfully garbed locals,
shutting down major roads as they march to one of the myriad temple ceremonies,
to the other-worldly traditional music and dance performed island-wide.
Yes, Bali has beaches, surfing, diving, and resorts great
and small, but it's the essence of Bali – and the Balinese – that makes it so
much more than just a fun-in-the-sun retreat. It is possible to take the cliché
of the smiling Balinese too far, but in reality, the inhabitants of this small
island are indeed a generous, genuinely warm people. There's also a fun, sly
sense of humour behind the smiles.
On Bali you can lose yourself in the chaos of Kuta or the
sybaritic pleasures of Seminyak and Kerobokan, surf wild beaches in the south
or just hang-out on Nusa Lembongan. You can go family friendly in Sanur or
savour a lavish getaway on the Bukit Peninsula. Ubud is the heart of Bali, a
place where the spirit and culture of the island are most accessible. It shares
the island's most beautiful rice fields and ancient monuments with east and
west Bali. The middle of Bali is dominated by the dramatic volcanoes of the
central mountains and hillside temples such as Pura Luhur Batukau (one of the
island's 20,000). North and west Bali are thinly populated but have diving and
surfing that make any journey worthwhile.
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