Over the years, the grace and charm of Bali and its people have earned this tiny Indonesian island numerous sobriquets of praise and homage including Island of the Gods, The Last Paradise, Land of a Thousand Temples, and Morning of the World. Generations of foreign visitors, mesmerized by the placid lifestyles and fantastic rituals of the gregarious Balinese, have sought to capture the island's spirit with poetic labels such as these.

Yet it is Bali that does the capturing. Covering less than 6,000 km2 with an estimated population of 2.7 million people, this lush, diamond-shaped island attracts over one million tourists a year, each drawn by the promise of a paradise on earth. Most of them seek an understanding of a way of life that is truly unique. The capital city of Bali's province is Denpasar, with a population of approximately 300,000. The second largest town is Singaraja, which is located in the north. The most attractive tourist area is Kuta beach, which is only a 15 minutes drive from the International Ngurah Rai Airport. Bali today is divided administratively between eight regencies that take their names and boundaries from the island's old Hindu kingdoms; Badung, Bangli, Buleleng, Gianyar, Jembrana, Karangasem, Klungkung and Tabanan.

This is a land of startling geographical contrasts, of verdant rice terraces and sacred, mist-wreathed volcanoes, of white-sand beaches and dense tropical rainforest. This is home to one of the world's most vibrant cultures, a society famed for its dance and music, its lavish ceremonies and artistic achievements. Temples, shrines and antiquities are an equally ubiquitous part of Bali's cultural landscape (there are over 11,000 such structures on the island), with memorable sites including the cliff-side sanctuary of Uluwatu, the holy spring of Tirta Empul and the ancient hermitage of Goa Gajah

Dance is a part of Balinese life. This can be watched in every cultural or religious activity. The most common and attractive dances are the Barong and Kecak. The dances are performed daily in several places around Ubud and Singapadu. There are several other dances that could excite you such as the Gambung, the Topeng, the Baris, and the Legong.
The shoppers among you will find Bali a treasure chest of gifted artists and craftsmen, and their material creations are imbued with the same sense of wonderment with which they regard their universe. Stone and woodcarvings, traditional and modern paintings and intricately designed jewelry in gold and silver are readily available in shops and galleries throughout the island, particularly along the road to Ubud.

As for recreation, there is no shortage of options. The resort hotels of Kuta, Sanur and Nusa Dua offer all the comforts and amenities that international travelers have come to expect. Eating is also a distinct treat on Bali, with a huge number of open-air cafes and restaurants serving just about every cuisine imaginable. While food stalls and hawker stands are not recommended for reasons of hygiene, you should have no problem finding a delicious meal and great service in or outside of your hotel. When dinner is over, a dazzling array of bars, clubs and discos take over to keep you entertained well into the night.