The island of Bali is literally a very beautiful island situated under the equator in Indonesian Archipelago, is one of the most interesting and ultimate tourist destination in Asia. Since the first decade of the 20th century visitors have given to it several nicknames “Island of Gods” – “Island of thousand Temples” – “The Last Paradise” – and also often called “Island of Artist”.
The spirit of creativity pervades everything in Balinese life, from the cultivation of the steeply-terraced rice field to the elaborate temple offerings of flowers and foods given to the gods at times of celebration. Dancing, playing the gamelan, painting and carving is as much a part of an ordinary day as working in the offices, in the fields or feeding livestock.
In ancient times, the people of the Indonesian Archipelago followed the ways of animism and ancestor worship. By around A.D. 600 however, Indian ideas and beliefs began to spread throughout Southeast Asia. Both Buddhism and Hinduism became active force on the islands of Sumatra and Java. When Islam gained control of Java in the 16th century, many Hindu princes, their followers and artisans fled to Bali. They established principalities on Bali.
The earliest art of Bali dates from this pre-Hindu era, including highly of decorative works of bronze, as well as skilled basketworks and weaving. During the Hindu era, the princes and their relatives were the patronage of the native arts of Bali, and also sustained by the guiding rituals of its religion. The palaces and temples, as political and religious center of the island, were also centers of the arts.
A prince would adorn his pavilions with the most exquisitely carved wood panels, paintings, silken materials, gilded umbrellas and would be entertained by gamelan music, dances and songs of poetical Kawi language. The opulence of the court – had its religious parallel in the lavish decoration and dances within the temples. So the courts and the temples have been receiving equal high performance in art.
This convergence of beauty and ritual explains why the arts have endured to such a great extent in Bali. Ritual demanded a continuous renewal of communion with the divine through temple celebrations. The people poured their artistic talents into preparations of these occasions. New offerings have to be made, new shrines constructed, new statues of stones and woods have to be carved, dances, music and dramas created and practiced. This kept carvers and masons constantly occupied creating new sculptures or retouching older ones.
The Balinese language has no words for “art” and “artist”. In former times there had been no need for such definitions. Art was never considered a conscious production for its own sake. Rather, it was regarded as a collective obligation to make thing beautiful. And this was always done with a definite purpose: to create beauty in service to society and religion. Thus a “figure-maker” or “picture-maker” as well as a farmer or merchant, he was called upon when his skills were needed. He neither signed his name to his work, nor received money for his labor. His prime aim was to serve his community. As was true in the olden days, the majority of Bali’s artists are highly skilled craftsmen who learned their trade by mastering the traditional forms inherited from their forefathers.
In the first decade of the 20th century, the Dutch took the island, and Bali entered a new era as a colony of the Netherlands. Western education, modern technology, magazines, and a steady tourist trade opened up a new world for many Balinese, and this widening of outlook was reflected in the arts. For the first time, craftsmen began to treat their work as art for art’s sake, experimenting in new style, themes and media. With the arrival of the Western influence, the rigid conventions of the traditional style were no longer binding. Instead of illustrating stories from the great Hindu epics, some Balinese artists began to depict scenes of everyday life and nature in their work. The present art community has two criteria: (a) a work of art is praiseworthy in the eyes of fellow Balinese, or (b) it appeals to the foreign market and is sold.
To day the traditional and modern arts can be viewed at various places: Museum Bali in Denpasar presents a commendable survey of Balinese art from prehistoric times to the early 20th century and modern arts. Werdi Budaya Arts Center in Denpasar offers exhibitions and sales of local handicrafts and hand loomed fabrics. Tohpati for fine batiks. Celuk for silver and gold works. Mas for excellent woodcarvings. Ubud is the heart of arts and cultures, home of the most talented painters. And Klungkung for the traditional paintings and silver works.
So if you are interested in arts, do not hesitate to choose this enchanting island for your Bali Vacation. It also has very nice beaches, hotels, fabulous nature’s views, friendly people and of course excellent foods. Go online and search your preferred Bali hotels or contact your reputable travel agent.
Ciao readers, my immense thank to you all.
Read about chinese imperial dog and chinese pistachio at the All Chinese website.
Where can I travel in Asia for the lowest cost?
I want to travel overseas to Asia (someplace warm) and I want my money to go very far – I also eat mostly raw fruit and vegetables and would like to have easy access to them?
So where can I fly for cheapest and how do I get flight costs down?
Where can I stay for cheap but still feel safe?
How far will my money get me and how much can I expect to spend?
Thank you in advance for your time!
Peace.
Answer
Destination: Indonesia would do. It’s a big country with fabulous sights worthy of a visit. If you want to save money, don’t stay in Jakarta or Bali. These are places where you can have a great holiday on a budget:
-Lombok (island east of Bali that’s more tranquil and just as beautiful. ask around for guided tours to historical temples and ruins of ancient kingdoms, watch traditional “sendratari”’s [dance drama musical] and eat local food)
-Tana Toraja (a tribe in Southern Sulawesi with very unique mystical culture… search on internet to find out more). Not very far from the Toraja area live another tribe called the Bugis, a tribe historically famous for being far-travelling pirates. Apparently the English word “bogeyman” was derived from the name of this tribe.
-Ambon (Moluccan Islands, historically aka spice islands… Ambon has the most beautiful crystal-clear sea and is a popular destination for scuba divers)
-Yogyakarta (South-central Java, a province in the form of a kingdom. Visit the Sultan’s palace and museums that talk about the royal family’s history. Hike up to Borobudur and Prambanan, one of the world’s biggest Buddhist and Hindu temples. Catching a live Sendratari Ramayana at the open air Prambanan theater is a must. Eat street food: must try gudeg. Ride “becak” [pedicab] or “andong” [horse carriage] down the streets of Malioboro and bargain with souvenir peddlers there)
-Padang/Minang (province in Western Sumatera famous for being adherent Muslims but having a female-dominated culture–their surnames are maternal! must see their beautiful architecture, watch their dynamic traditional dances, and try the famous Padang cuisine)
Stay: In Lombok you may be able to get away with a local “melati” hotel (non-star) but in other places I recommend sticking to a budget world-known chain such as Quality Inn or Ibis.
Safety: Wear an old baseball cap, sunglasses, and light long-sleeved shirts so people don’t immediately notice that you are a foreigner. Wear flip-flops and clothes that aren’t expensive, avoid wearing jewellery and carrying thick wallets with money popping out of them. Don’t answer your mobile phone when you’re caught in a traffic jam or walking in the street–set it on silent and pretend you don’t have it. I always abide by these rules in Indonesia and I’ve never had a problem.
Cheap flights: try Gulf Air, China Air, or Garuda Indonesia. Once you get to Indonesia there will be many cheap regional flights like Lion Air–you can travel Jakarta-Yogyakarta (1 hr flight) for about the equivalent of $25-30 retour. Check www.wikipedia.org for a complete list of regional Indonesian airlines.
Budget: hotel not included, set Rp150.000-Rp200.000 per day (Indonesian Rupiah, IDR) Approximately Rp10.000 (ten thousand) to US$1. Check http://www.xe.com for current exchange rates.
