Bali

On the western slopes of the 10,308-ft (3142-m) volcano Gunung Agung Bali's most important shrine is... located at a height of 2950 ft (900 m). The mother temple of the Balinese consists of many different complexes, in total there are over 200 buildings! According to historical evidence, a sanctuary from the 11th century used to stand here. Once every hundred years, the Eka Dasa Rudra was performed here to purify the universe. In 1963, the ritual was supposed to be performed again, but the gods were angry and the sacred mount Agung breathed fire: 2,000 people in the villages on its flanks died in the lava, as if by a miracle Pura Besakih was spared. The three main shrines of Besakih are dedicated to the triumvirate of the Hindu gods, namely Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Renovator. In the Pura Panataran Agung the almighty Sang Hyang Widi Wasa is worshiped in his manifestation as Shiva, in the Pura Kiduling Kreteng as Brahma and in the Pura Batu Madeg as Vishnu. Normally the interior of the temples may be entered by Hindus only. more

Tourism on Bali began here in 1966 with the Bali Beach Hotel, a Japanese reparation. The ugly concrete... block is the only eyesore on the island because a law then prevented the erection of buildings exceeding palm height. Europeans came to Bali much earlier: in her must-read novel "Love and Death on Bali", Vicky Baum describes everyday life in Sanur and the Belgian artist Adrien Jean Le Mayeur founded a cosmopolitan art colony here in the early 1930s. His house at the northern end of the beach is now a museum. The beach is wide and protected by a coral reef, which makes swimming safe for children. The downside: when the tide is low, everything comes to a stop. Water skiing and paragliding are possible. Diving excursions to the reef are offered as well. Sanur is a quiet seaside resort with nice accommodations, often directly at the beach, good restaurants and shops – perfect for a relaxing (family) holiday. more

Bali's second most important tourist center represents a wonderful symbiosis between nature and culture.... Amidst rice fields, surrounded by small villages such as Campuan, Peliatan and Pengosekan, you are invited to go for a walk, a hiking or a bike tour. Ubud is the artistic center of the island, where most painters, wood carvers, dancers and Gamelan musicians reside. The dance performances that are presented here every evening are among the best of the island. The German painter Walter Spies and Dutchman Rudolf Bonnet founded the art school Pita Maha here in the 1930s, strongly influencing the Balinese art of painting. Pictures of various styles by European and indigenous artists are exhibited in the museums of Ubud: Puri Lukisan in the center, Neka Museum north of Campuhan and the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) in Pengosekan. Center of shops and restaurants is Monkey Forest Road – often the only thing short-term visitors get to see of Ubud. more