Balinese Culture And Place of Bali

The island of Bali with smaller islands such as Nusa Penida, Lembongan, Ceningan, and Menjangan covers an area of 5.808,8 square kilometers, with number of population around 3 millions. Almost 98% of the population are Hindu devotees with markedly local traditional rituals. The island is classified one of the densely populated areas of Indonesia.

Balinese physically is not different from other people of west Indonesia where Mongoloid character is predominant over Malay characters, only a few people bring the characters of true Malay with small body size and brown skin. In general skin color are ranging from bright to brown, but dark brown is very rare, and very few with curling hairs, mostly straight hairs, with the average height of the body in the past 160 cm, and now around 170 cm. Especially younger generation tend to grow higher by slim body.

Balinese speak Balinese, a dialect of Malay. Due to cast system Balinese dialect itself underwent further variation, as each cast claimed to have their own idiolect which is higher in conjunction with their own cast status. Balinese and Yogyakarta have much in common words only they used the words in different meaning or sometimes in contradictory meaning.

Beside Javanese Balinese is one society which has introduced writing since 998 AD. This writing scripts which are supposed to undergone evolution and have now become variations of writing such as in Myanmar, Thailand, Java and Bali. So the art of writing has developed very early both in Java and Bali. Currently Balinese writing is learnt in school and there is an effort to preserve the heritage, since Bali is rich with writing heritages in the form of ethics, stories, myths, songs, chronicles and historical documents written in various style of Bali nese scripts. Historic monuments are also various in Bali, some are originated from 10th century, and these sites are still preserved by local people, and associated to their religious rituals.

With the economic advancement reached by Bali for the last 2 decades it has invited many people from other parts of Indonesia and from the 5 continents to try their luck in Bali. This is now the biggest social problem that can arise in the future due to the limited land. With this situation, Bali has become part of Global world and put Balinese in a dilemmatic position between developing lifestyle as an impact of outside world and their original customary life style has become an object of unending exploitation, as it's very nature giving chance to such a behavior.

Balinese introduce social organization based on area and obligations to preserve and maintain temples and it's rituals. This fact has been able to keep the integrity and security in Bali, but on other space has dragged this organization into unnecessary ritualistic nature. This organization is called " Banjar " This Banjar is the center of power currently when kingdoms and hegemony of traditional ruling class has been changed by the role of economic and expertise groups.

In a wider group, Balinese is tied again by genealogical lineage to maintain clen's temples and as Bali wide they also feel obliged to maintain and preserve temples built by the king in the past such as Besakih, Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, Ulun Danu, Sila Yukti, Gelgel, and many others.

Basic economic activities in Bali is growing rice, coffee, cacao, juices, corn, cassava, and various cereals and vegetables. Home industry is developed very fast such as garment, irons, furniture, ceramics, terracotta, and carving, beside ethnic handicrafts. Balinese art-skill got a place when Bali developed tourism. Tourism development has given multi-flier effect on industries and farming in Bali.

Specially in agriculture Balinese has developed a systematic organization to regulate the irrigation system. This organization has been successful in maintaining the continuity and equality of water supplier for every member, beside maintain the water flowing facilities.

Cattle breeding and poultry growing are already developed for local consumption as well as export to other countries such as pigs and cows. Also fishery development especially shrimps and fish has just been able to fulfill the local demand. Still a great space to develop this products specially fisheries.

Bali has the most varied places of interest for tourists, from western tip to the eastern tip of the island, both in the form of cultural and natural attractions.
Jembrana Regency

1. Museum of Ancient men in Gilimanuk Port City,
2. Palasari Irrigation dam,
3. Belimbingsari Christian Missionary,
4. West Bali National Park with it's Bali White Bird ( Bali Starling )
5. Purancak Beach View

Tabanan Regency

1. Soka Beach view and week end place,
2. Tanah Lot temple
3. Batukaru mountain temple,
4. Pejaten Roof Tiles industry
5. Blayu Songket Weaving Cloth
6. Jatiluwih vast rice terrace
7. Bedugul mountain resort and Botanical garden,
8. Butterfly park,
9. Marga battle field commemorial tomb,
10. Kedaton Monkey forest
11. Agronomic museum
12. Penatahan natural hot spring.

Singaraja Regency

1. Lovina Beach resort
2. Menjangan island diving site
3. Banjar natural hot spring and Buddhist monatery
4. Gitgit waterfall,
5. Bali Handara Kosaido Country Club

Badung Regency

1. Sangeh Monkey Forest
2. Kuta Beach resorts with dozen of hotels, and various entertaiments,
3. Nusa Dua Tourism enclave, an elite areas
4. Taman Ayun temple

Denpasar Municipality

1. Denpasar Ethnographical Museum
2. Denpasar Traditional market
3. Art Center,
4. Traditional dances of Kecak and Barong,
5. Sanur tourism resort with many hotels and restaurants, and nice beaches.

Gianyar Regency

1. Regular Barong dance
2. Regular Kecak dance
3. Mas, woodcarving artist colony,
4. Celuk, gold and silversmiths artists colony,
5. Ubud, painting artist colony,
6. Handicraft villages such as Tegalalang, Sumampan, Kemenuh, Tengkulak, and many others,
7. Monkey forest in Ubud
8. Ubud resorts with various museums, hotels, restaurants, arts galleries, and studios of painting maestros,
9. Goa Gajah Buddhist Monastery
10. Pejeng areas with various antiquities and Archaeological Museum,
11. Gunung Kawi Rocktemple,
12. Yeh Pulu rock carvings
13. Singapadu Balinese Traditional house

Bangli Regency

1. Kintamani mountain resort,
2. Kehen temple,
3. Trunyan traditional village,
4. Panglipuran traditional village,
5. Sebatu water temple,
6. Tampak Siring historical water temple,
7. Panulisan temple,

Klungkung Regency

1. Kerta Gosha, ancient court house of justice,
2. Besakih mother temple,
3. Kamasan village with oldest Balinese canvas painting,
4. Tiyingan village, the blacksmith of Balinese traditional music instruments
5. Goa Lawah

Karangasem

1. Candidasa resort with many hotel and restaurants,
2. Karangasem Palace architecture,
3. Tulamben beach resort with various hotels and restaurant, a beach famous for diving sites
4. Tirta Gangga, a king bathing pool,
5. Putung Hill, a natural nice view
6. Perang Pandan

Read Other Ethnic Group :
Aceh People Culture The nature anger that devastated Aceh in 2004 has been living a great missery to the people of Aceh, which religious piety has been the most strongest in the world. We belive that the people of Aceh are really obeyed the religion from the deepest heart, not like other coutries that hold Muslim as only the outer mark to get the sympathy of the illitrate
Ambon Archipelagou Culture Historically Ternate and Tidore were once had important role in the history of Maluku archipelago. The location of each island or each group of islands is far and the means of transportation among islands is limited within a long period. This situation has caused much of the island were in isolated status until just recent years when motorized boat reaches the islands. The population of Maluku is a typical beach settlers living as fishermen, and small number as farmers
Balinese Culture Balinese physically is not different from other people of west Indonesia where Mongoloid character is predominant over Malay characters, only a few people bring the characters of true Malay with small body size and brown skin. In general skin color are ranging from bright to brown, but dark brown is very rare, and very few with curling hairs, mostly straight hairs, with the average height of the body in the past 160 cm, and now around 170 cm. Especially younger generation tend to grow higher by slim body
Batak Ethnic Culture They also have Mongoloid characters, and speak Malayu-Polinesian language as the other part of Sumatra. Among them Toba was the latest area to open with other part of Sumatra, but soon getting so famous due to their natural beauty around Lake Toba with Samosir island on it
Bugis People Culture People of South Sulawesi is famous for their sea exploration as a sailors to catch fish and transport products by sea with sailing boat up to Philippine, West Papua New Guinea, and even Australia. Until today most of traditional cargo boats in Indonesia re navigated by people from South Sulawesi
Indonesia Chinese Culture Kanton people ( Kwong Fu ), was the resident of southern part of Kwantung province. At the beginning they were interested by Indonesian mining industry, and they come with skill. They are the people who own shops, and blacksmiths. They are not as many as Hakka and Teo-Chiu.
Dayak Interland Culture Physically they have mongoloid characters, and also speak Malayu-Polinesian language. Their color is rather bright with yellow tone, and straight hairs. The villages of Dayak in central Kalimantan are separated far between one to another. The settlements are constructed on the bank of big and small rivers which houses are standing parallel with the flow of river or road, and an average of 100 to 500 people in a village
Flores Island Culture At the east tip of Flores there is a sub-ethnic living at Larantuka town showing great mix of people. this probably has been caused by the fact that Larantuka has become the center of Christian missionary from 17th century. So inter marriage have been taking place
Javanese Culture Some people work in government offices, private companies, trades and especially near the beaches as fishermen. Personal ownership of land in Java is the same as other areas in Indonesia. The ownership is transferred down from generation to generation, divided among the heirs. That is why in Java most family has a small land for farming
Mentawai Island Culture Record until 1980 still found all island had premier forest even up to the beach. All beaches covered by dense coconut trees, and no one of the village was visible from the sea or from the air. All villages are located near the river's estuary, yet still 5kms deep in;and from the beach. Each village has an average of 150 people, while at Pagai Utara and Siberut islands can be found a village with 500 residents
Minahasa People Culture Manado has excellent underwater life which is already famous among world's divers. Diving spots are around the islands of Bunaken, and Manado Tua. Karl Muller the author of the Periplus Addition of Indonesia Under Water said that Bunaken diving site is world class walls and outstanding fish life
Minangkabau People Culture The people of Minangkabau used to leave their country and live at other areas of Indonesia, even in Malaysia. If you see a restaurant named "Ruman Makan Padang" it is a Minangkabau restaurant, and sometimes in short called "Rumah Makan Minang". Many experts say that matrilineal system of their society that force Minangkabau men to leave their land
Nias People Culture Their megalithic culture is still strong, which is become the main attraction for tourists beside their fine beaches and clear water. Most people lives on farming and fishing. The famous tourist's attraction is the ceremony of initiation or war training
Sundanese Culture In the past there was a famous kingdom ever flourishing, named Pajajaran Hindu kingdom. When Moslem influence was arriving, the people around the shores of Java must have been very interested due to the traders at the moment from West India usually rich men. So local people were interested to imitate them, or at least they got inspiration from them. So now the resident of the Pasundan are almost 98% Moslem
Timor People Culture Roti and Belu People; Roti people is the resident of Roti island, while Belu inhabit the land of Timor. They have similarity in physical and cultural elements. Their physical characteristics showing the mixture between Malay and Melanesian, only the Rotinese showing preponderant Malay characteristic, while Belu showing more Melanesian characteristic such as curling hairs, dark brown to black skin color, shorter body size
The West Papuan TribesTheir relation is basically based on genealogy relation which is mostly also disordered. This is added again by the dozens of different languages spoken by each clique or group, as a real big stone block to understand the whole situation