BALI HINDUISM

Some of the TOP Hotels in Bali

Bali's most famous and crowded resort is Kuta beach, a six-kilometre sweep of golden sand, with plenty of accommodation, shops and nightlife. Nearby Sanur is much quieter, but most backpackers prefer the beaches of peaceful east-coast Candi Dasa and traveller-oriented Lovina on the north coast. The island's other major destination is the cultural centre of Ubud , a still charming but undeniably commercialized overgrown village, where traditional dances are staged every night of the week and the streets are full of arts-and-crafts galleries.

Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa : The Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa is a luxury property strategically located only 15 kilometers away from the... Nusa Dua
Aston Bali Resort & Spa : The Aston Bali Resort and Spa is a luxury hotel located on the waterfront facing golden sandy beaches... Tanjung Benoa
Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel : Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel is situated in the coastal village of Sanur, an ideal location from which to explore... Sanur
Sanur Paradise Plaza Suites : The Sanur Paradise Plaza Suites is located in Sanur Village just two kilometers from the Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel....Grand Bali Beach Hotel also is a nice hotel in Sanur.
Swiss Belhotel Bali Aga : The Swiss Belhotel Bali Aga is a deluxe property strategically located only 20 kilometers northeast from the Ngurah Rai... Nusa Dua
Grand Hyatt Bali Hotels located in Nusa Dua and The Oberoi Bali located in Seminyak, Maya Ubud located in Ubud, The Alilia Ubud, Chedi, Hard Rock Hotel Bali located in Kuta beach, Melia Bali located in Nusa Dua and Padma Bali located in Kuta

The way the Balinese practice their island form of frontier Hinduism is still their greatest art. The Bali- nese call their own religion-Agama Tirta/ (Science of the Holy Water), an interpretation of religious ideas from China, India, and Java. Hinduism originated in India, though it has developed along lines all its own. Hinduism doesn't have a single founder nor has it a single prophet, but instead a whole parthenon of gods. This religion is at least 3000 years old and dates from the writing of the Upanishads (600 B.C.) But the Bali-Hindu religion is much closer to the earth and more animist than Hinduism proper. The two sects are as different from each other as Ethiopian Christianity is from Episcopalean Christianity or from the Catholicism practiced by the Irish and the Catholicism practiced by American Indians. If a Hindu from Benares visited Bali, he'd think them savages. Although the Hindu epics are wellknown, forming the basis of their favorite dances, the deities of the Hindu parthenon (Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma) worshipped in India are here considered too aloof and aristocratic. Often Balinese don't even know their names. The Balinese have their own trinity of supreme gods which is a deity in itself called 'The Shrine of the Three Forces' which corresponds to the well-known Indian trinity. Because of the caste system, 100 million people are shunned in India, though on this largest Hindu outpost in the world outside of India, only the older people still believe in it, the young ignore it. In India a Hindu must be cremated at once in order to get to heaven, but on Bali because of the expense sometimes a whole village will temporarily bury its dead and then stage a mass cremation. In India widows must not remarry but on Bali they do again and again, and even high priests marry. In India, worship at home is all important but on Bali group worship at temples is practiced.

Nusa Lembongan is situated 12 miles south east of Bali. It is one hour traveling time by boat from Benoa Harbour. This pear shaped island is around 4km long and 2km wide. It is surrounded by a beautiful fringing reef, which hosts a myriad of marine life, The waters are renowned for their abundance of life and great surf breaks. The reef has been declared a marine park by the Indonesian authorities. Not only does the reef support its own Eco-system, but it supports most of the villagers on the island as well. The local people farm seaweed. This seaweed is cultivated, harvested then exported all over the world for use in cosmetics, food stabilizers and medicines. Other sources of income include traditional wooden boat building, farming peanuts, sweet potato, and fishing.Village life is very slow and enchanting. Very few cars and motorbikes are seen on the roads. The people are steeped in tradition, and one could imagine Bali being like this island, thirty years ago.Although the island is small there are many things to do. Fishing, diving, surfing, mangrove exploring, discovering natural fresh water springs, underground cave house exploring, cycling around the island. A visit to the bat caves on a nearby island, or a picnic at dream beach. Try catching mud cabs in the mangrove area at the back of the island. There is something for every one at Nusa Lembongan.