Geographically Bali is volcanically active and extravagantly fertile. Bali has
an area of 5620 sq km, measures approximately 140 km by 80 km and
is just 8 degrees south of the equator. Mount Agung known as the
'mother mountain' is over 3000 meters. South and north of the central
mountains are Bali's fertile agricultural lands. The southern region
is a wide, gently sloping area where most of Bali's abundant rice
crop is grown. The south-central area is the true rice basket of
the Island. The northern coastal strip is narrower, rising more
rapidly into the foothills of the central range, but the main export
crops, coffee, copra and rice, are grown here. Cattle are also raised
in this area.
Climate Bali has a climate that is tropical all year. The average
temperature hovers around 30 degrees Celsius year-round. There are
dry and wet seasons -dry from April to September and wet from October
to March- but it can rain at any time of year and even during the
wet season rain is likely to pass quickly. In general May to August
are the best months in Bali. At that time of year the climate is
likely to be cooler and the rains lightest. Around the coast, sea
breezes temper the heat and as we move inland we also move up so
the altitude works to keep things cool. It can get very cool up
in the highlands and a warm sweater can be a good idea in mountain
villages like Kintamani or Bedugul.
Population With 2.5 million people, Bali is a very densely populated island.
The population is almost all Indonesian, with the usual small Chinese
contingent in the big towns, a sprinkling of Indian merchants, plus
a number of more or less permanent visitors amongst the Westerners
in Bali.
Culture Each stage of Balinese life is marked by a series of ceremonies
and rituals known as Manusa Yadnya. They contribute to the rich,
varied and active life the average Balinese leads. There are ceremonies
for every stage of Balinese life but often the last cremation ceremony
is the biggest. A Balinese cremation can be an amazing, spectacular,
colorful, noisy and exciting event. In fact it often takes so long
to organize a cremation that years have passed since the death.
During that time the body is temporarily buried. Of course an auspicious
day must be chosen for the cremation and since a big cremation can
be very expensive business many less wealthy people may take the
opportunity of joining in at a larger cremation and sending their
own dead on their way at the same time. Brahmans, however, must
be cremated immediately. Apart from being yet another occasion for
Balinese noise and confusion it's a fine opportunity to observe
the incredible energy the Balinese put into creating real works
of art which are totally ephemeral. There are a lot more than a
body gets burnt at the cremation. The body is carried from the burial
ground (or from the deceased's home if it's an 'immediate' cremation)
to the cremation ground in a high, multi-tiered tower made of bamboo,
paper, string, tinsel, silk, cloth, mirrors, flowers and anything
else bright and colorful we can think of. The tower is carried on
the shoulders of a group of men, the size of the group depending
on the importance of the deceased and hence the size of the tower.
The funeral of a former rajah high priest may require hundreds of
men to tote the tower.
Bali is volcanically active and extravagantly fertile. Bali has
an area of 5620 sq km, measures approximately 140 km by 80 km and
is just 8 degrees south of the equator. Mount Agung known as the
'mother mountain' is over 3000 meters. South and north of the central
mountains are Bali's fertile agricultural lands. The southern region
is a wide, gently sloping area where most of Bali's abundant rice
crop is grown. The south-central area is the true rice basket of
the Island. The northern coastal strip is narrower, rising more
rapidly into the foothills of the central range, but the main export
crops, coffee, copra and rice, are grown here. Cattle are also raised
in this area. 
Bali has a climate that is tropical all year. The average
temperature hovers around 30 degrees Celsius year-round. There are
dry and wet seasons -dry from April to September and wet from October
to March- but it can rain at any time of year and even during the
wet season rain is likely to pass quickly. In general May to August
are the best months in Bali. At that time of year the climate is
likely to be cooler and the rains lightest. Around the coast, sea
breezes temper the heat and as we move inland we also move up so
the altitude works to keep things cool. It can get very cool up
in the highlands and a warm sweater can be a good idea in mountain
villages like Kintamani or Bedugul.
With 2.5 million people, Bali is a very densely populated island.
The population is almost all Indonesian, with the usual small Chinese
contingent in the big towns, a sprinkling of Indian merchants, plus
a number of more or less permanent visitors amongst the Westerners
in Bali.
Each stage of Balinese life is marked by a series of ceremonies
and rituals known as Manusa Yadnya. They contribute to the rich,
varied and active life the average Balinese leads. There are ceremonies
for every stage of Balinese life but often the last cremation ceremony
is the biggest. A Balinese cremation can be an amazing, spectacular,
colorful, noisy and exciting event. In fact it often takes so long
to organize a cremation that years have passed since the death.
During that time the body is temporarily buried. Of course an auspicious
day must be chosen for the cremation and since a big cremation can
be very expensive business many less wealthy people may take the
opportunity of joining in at a larger cremation and sending their
own dead on their way at the same time. Brahmans, however, must
be cremated immediately. Apart from being yet another occasion for
Balinese noise and confusion it's a fine opportunity to observe
the incredible energy the Balinese put into creating real works
of art which are totally ephemeral. There are a lot more than a
body gets burnt at the cremation. The body is carried from the burial
ground (or from the deceased's home if it's an 'immediate' cremation)
to the cremation ground in a high, multi-tiered tower made of bamboo,
paper, string, tinsel, silk, cloth, mirrors, flowers and anything
else bright and colorful we can think of. The tower is carried on
the shoulders of a group of men, the size of the group depending
on the importance of the deceased and hence the size of the tower.
The funeral of a former rajah high priest may require hundreds of
men to tote the tower.
