Bali Tradition

According to the legend, a one time King of Java, angry with his disobedient son, banished him into exile. The legend tells us that the King waited until his son had disappeared over the horizon, and then drew a line in the soil with his finger. The seas to the north and south joined at this place, and the island of Bali was born.

It is said that the Great God, Sang Hyang Widi created the first true Balinese couple, from whom descended the nearly three million people of Bali today.

Bali enjoys a rich culture, its history recorded in legends and preserved in its religion and the peoples adherence to the traditions of their ancestors. Temples are everywhere, especially in the mountains. The most revered temple is on Gunung Agung, the tallest mountain, and according to legend, "the navel" of the world.

Hindu Bali is a religion which owes its origins to India, but which has developed independently from its forebear. Hindu Bali celebrates its rituals in a highly dramatised form, which can be witnessed by visitors in the form of dance and performance at traditional festivals, and at secular performances.

Dynamic and agile, Balinese dance is exciting theatre, filled with sharp corner-turnings, intricate coordination of eyeball, finger, neck and shoulder movements. Entertaining, elegant and captivating, the dances are performed according to strict tradition; the players are forbidden to improvise the movements learned and perfected since early childhood.

The crisply percussive gamelan which accompanies the dancers, shares their dynamism and agility. Each village that can afford it owns their own gamelan orchestra. The ambience of a balmy evening, strolling or sitting on your balcony with the sound of the gamelan orchestra emanating from the village "banjar" (meeting place) in the background is near perfect.

The traditional style of paintings depict aspects of religious life or mystical characters, painted in sombre hues of yellow, red and black, or sometimes in plain charcoal. Contemporary adaptation and external influences have resulted in new themes: often in vibrant colors, featuring people, animals and abstract imagery, that are different yet uniquely Balinese.

The Balinese consider art to be a natural activity. Peasants by day, artists by night, they are masters in expressing their religious beliefs and rituals into items of great artistic value; from simple masks, statues and jewellery, to wall sized panels using materials such as wood, stone, coral, bone, silver and gold. Painting and performance complete the picture. It is no exaggeration to say that there are as many artists in Bali as there are people. (writer by Baliadvertise.com)

Bali Island

Bali, a tropical island in the Indonesian archipelago, is so picturesque and immaculate it could almost be a painted backdrop. It has rice paddies tripping down hillsides like giant steps, volcanoes soaring up through the clouds, dense tropical jungle, long sandy beaches, warm blue water, crashing surf and friendly people who don't just have a culture but actually live it. In Bali spirits come out to play in the moonlight, every night is a festival and even a funeral is an opportunity to have a good time.

Bali Island, the perfect holiday destination for all ages offers something for everyone. This tropical paradise has a unique blend of modern tourist facilities combined with wonderful shopping and a rich past and heritage. The Balinese people are proud of having preserved their unique Hindu culture against the advance of Islam, the dominant religion throughout Indonesia. This is still reflected in day to day life and can be seen in the numerous ceremonies, Balinese festivals and magnificent temples and palaces. Some of the best surfing beaches in the world can be found on the western side of the island whilst conversely the eastern side is a wonderful haven for families, with beautiful white sand beaches and gentle seas.

Bali Island is a shopper's paradise particularly for casual and tailored clothing, locally made jewellery, handicrafts, antiques and artifacts. Leather ware is one of the unexpected local bargains with everything from handbags through to tailor made leather jackets and coats, all at unbelievable prices. In fact, prices are so inexpensive, you're sure to need more room in your suitcase! Try bargaining at the street markets of Kuta, Sanur of Nusa Dua or fixed price shopping at a Denpasar department store. Bali has it all.

For those that want to stay wet, Bali Island has world class scuba diving, snorkelling and wonderful day trips out to Nusa Penida for beach sports and coral viewing.

When the sun sets, the choices are still hard to make - a quiet romantic moon lit dinner or watch the spectacular Balinese Fire Dance or Kecak Dance. For those that want to party, Bali Island has it all with bars, discos and nightclubs.

As a truly international destination attracting visitors from all over the world, restaurants in Bali are extremely cosmopolitan yet inexpensive. Experience not only local delicacies like Nasi Goreng and Sate Campur but also Chinese, Malaysian, Japanese, Italian/European Greek, Moroccan and even Mexican cuisine. We must not forget Bali's wonderful seafood - local lobster at such prices that you will want to keep coming back for more.

For those more culturally inclined, Bali can offer the peace and tranquility of Ubud high in the hills; the spectacular Mother Temple at Besakih; the ancient capital of Bali, Singaraja and the floating palace at Ujung near the pretty beach area of Candi Dasa. The Scenery is nothing less than spectacular. Jungle, picturesque hillside rice terraces and the awesome magnificence of Kintamani Volcano.

The more active, wanting a break from the idyllic beaches, can experience wonderful golf courses in the mountains at Bedugul and beachside at Nusa Dua, the thrill of white water rafting or kayaking down the beautiful Ayung River; mountain cycling amid scenery you will never forget and organized rice paddy and jungle treks to see the side of Bali most tourists never encounter.

Bali Island, a truly international destination, offers every standard of accommodation ranging from charming yet modest bungalow style hotels in lush tropical gardens for the budget minded through to arguably amongst the most exclusive and sophisticated hotels in the world!

BALI HOLIDAY

BALI HOLIDAYS FOR FAMILIES
Bali is a perfect place to take your kids. They'll love the natural surroundings, and there is no problem whatsoever to find a baby-sitter or somebody to take care of them wherever you go. All Balinese adore kids !
Here you will find information about everything that you need to know about a Bali holiday for your family: where to stay, what to do and where to eat.

WHERE TO STAY IN BALI, INDONESIA, FOR FAMILIES
A Bali holiday for families begins and ends with suitable accommodation. There are variety of Bali hotels, resorts and villas to choose from, when planning your Bali holiday.Things to consider in selecting your Bali accommodation for a family group are:
Location - try to choose a location that is popular and close to family oriented attractions i.e. near the beach, shops, restaurants and amusements.
Facilities - make sure your accommodation choice is suitable for kids, it has a children's pool, connecting doors, play ground etc. Some venues are unsuitable for family groups.
Pricing - does your accommodation choice offer discounts for children under a certain age?
Transport - when you travel with a family in Bali, it will be much more convenient if you use private transport. Check with your accommodation venue if they provide private transport as part of the holiday package.
Below you will find links to a variety of Bali hotels, resorts, villas and Bali holiday packages
Bali Hotel & Resort Bargain Finder

Many Bali hotels and resorts offer family rooms or children discounts. Find the GUARANTEED lowest rates for famous luxury resorts and budget hotels in all parts of Bali, Indonesia. Reserve on-line to save 70% and more.
Private Vacation Villas in Bali

Many families choose to spend a Bali holiday in a private villa. You can rent a private villa with two to seven bedrooms, tropical garden and swimming pool, all amenities, private car and driver and trained house staff. This is an attractive alternative to spending your vacation in a hotel or resort for many families.
BALIVACATIONS Packages from the US

Save on your Bali holiday by booking our complete packages including return air fare from the US to Bali and back on SINGAPORE AIRLINES, 5-star hotel or villa accommodation, daily breakfast, your free car with driver, and an optional stopover in Singapore on the way out or home. All arranged with one single booking!
BALI TOURS - WHAT YOU CAN SEE AND DO IN BALI
Bali is a paradise for children. Just about every attraction on the island is children "friendly" - which makes Bali an ideal destination for parents as well.
Children's attractions in Bali vary from surf, sand and beach activities; cultural activities such as dancing, temple visits, and traditional Balinese life style experiences; adventure activities such as rafting, cycling, bungee jumping and elephant rides; and theme parks such as Bali Bird Park, Waterbom, Butterfly Park, etc.
Popular Bali Tours
A full list of the most popular Bali tours, ranging from volcano tours to handicraft tours.
Balinese Dances
Balinese Dances are vivid and stylized performances. Most Balinese dances are dramatizations of stories and legends from the Hindu "Ramayana" and "Mahabaratha" or Balinese historical events.
Here is an excerpt from the International Herald Tribune, April 26th, 1996 on Balinese Dances:
"Dancing The Night AwayBalinese culture is almost ready made for kids, especially the traditional dances with their colorful costumes and lively music. Girls tend to like the graceful movements of the Legong, which is often performed by young Balinese dancers. Boys are attracted to the Ramayana epic, with its dashing warriors or the famous Barong & Kris dance that features a mortal duel between the forces of good and evil.Most of the big hotels feature dance performances each evening, often on outdoor stages adjacent to the pool. The new Galleria Nusa Dua shopping center features a different dance performance each night. Farther afield is the village of Batubulan, where the Barong & Kris dance is performed several times each day in an outdoor venue reminiscent of a Balinese temple."
If you wish your family to experience any of the above dances during your Bali holiday, find the full listing of all the above Balinese dances, and many more, with locations and times, by clicking here.
Popular Bali Activities

Every popular family activity you can imagine can be found in Bali; from the water to the sky, there is something for everyone.
Another excerpt from the International Herald Tribune, April 26th, 1996 on adventure activities:
"Young Adventurers Adventure sports activities have become increasingly popular in Bali in recent years, and many of these are also ideal for children. Anyone seven years of age and older can raft along the Ayung river, a two-hour journey through rain forests and rice terraces along a churning white water course that tumbles down 25 rapids.
Mountain bike excursions (including a volcano trip), jungle treks and open-ocean kayak journeys are offered by the same adventure outfitters. Another adrenaline pumper is bungee jumping on the beach at Kuta under the auspices of A.J. Hackett, the New Zealand company that invented the sport.
Bali is also fertile ground for special theme attractions like Waterbom Park in Kuta and the new Taman Burung Bird Park in Batubulan. Waterbom features numerous swimming pools and water slides in a lush tropical setting with restaurants, bars and shops. Taman Burung showcases the fabulous tropical birds of Indonesia, with more than 250 species, including birds of paradise, kingfishers, hornbills, parrots and pheasants."
If you wish your family to experience any of the above activities during your Bali holiday, please see the full listing at Bali Activities.
EATING OUT IN BALI
One of the greatest experiences of a Bali holiday for many families is eating out. Bali is simply like no other place in the world for the many different restaurants and cuisines on offer, the low cost for meals, the quality of food, and the exotic or romantic settings.
You should note that Hotel Restaurants are more expensive than local restaurants. The standard of hygiene is usually high, but always tell the restaurant staff to not make the food spicy hot when ordering for children.
What you should know about eating in Bali

There is a lot to know about eating out in Bali for families. There is a wide variety of cuisines to choose from with many restaurants specializing in simple dishes suitable for children. Also find out where the most popular Western fast food outlets are in case your children experience withdrawal symptoms.
Where to eat in Bali

We have listed what we consider to be the best restaurants in Bali. These restaurants range from cheap eateries to restaurants serving excellent cuisine. We have listed all restaurants by area so you can easily find the best restaurants closest to your accommodation. Bon Appetite!