'Island of the Gods' and 'Morning of the World' have become synonymous with Bali, one of the most beautiful and diverse tourist destinations in Asia. Its unique culture and traditions, naturally creative people, endless rice terraces, and stunning beaches have attracted many visitors for decades.
Located just eight degrees south of the Equator, the island enjoys a tropical climate with two seasons a year (wet and dry), and has an average temperature of 28 degrees Celsius. The small island of Bali - stretching 140 kilometres from east to west and 80 kilometres from north to south - lies east of Java, at the centre of the Indonesian archipelago. Bali is a province within the republic of Indonesia. Its provincial capital city is Denpasar. Its road network reflects the islands' mountainous nature. The tallest of the string of volcanic mountains running from east to west is Mount Agung that has last erupted in 1963.
Bali was a prime rice-producer until land became scarce in the mid 1900s. Since then, the government has encouraged crop diversification, predominantly into commodity crops such as coffee, vanilla, cloves, tobacco, spices, and citrus fruits.
In the daily life on this colourful island, community matters are greatly prised. Despite sporadic internal disturbances associated with political changes in Indonesia, Bali remains a place where social harmony is of tremendous importance and visitors are regarded as welcomed guests. Even with the arrival of countless tourists over the years, the Balinese have kept their strong spiritual roots and culture very much alive.
The majority of Bali's three million people live in tight village communities with substantially extended families. The main tourist areas are Kuta and Seminyak. Kuta became a major attraction during the tourist boom of the 1970s because of its white sandy beaches, great surf, and dramatic sunsets. Those in search of quieter regions tend to head to the more demure resorts of Sanur and Candidasa on the East coast, or Lovina in the North. Nusa Dua on the southernmost peninsula of the island houses many popular five star resorts. The central village of Ubud, in the hilly region of Gianyar, has blossomed as a tourist destination and is now considered to be the artistic and cultural centre of Bali.