Bali Island is a small beautiful island and a part of Indonesia archipelago with the panorama and unique culture are there surrounded with the tropical situation has completed this island as dream island for a vacation. As to how this island is located in the tropical situation, Bali has much kind of the interesting to be seen and enjoyed and it come from the rice paddies tripping down hillsides, beautiful panorama, volcanoes soaring up through the clouds, tourism activities and attractions, 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, daily community ritual and a lot of things make your holiday unforgettable. 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 and the day you will get the enjoy of the sea breeze from the blue sea water which completing your dream holiday is come true. Bali is the Island of God in Paradise is perfect destination for your holiday, enjoy the paradise with your family and collages and meet Bali will offer 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 it self according to the ancient inscription of Blanjong written 835 Saka or 913 century which is released by Sri Kesari Warmadewa Kingdom that Bali Island is called 'Bali Dwipa' where the meaning is Bali means come back, offering, sure and other words related to this meaning, meanwhile Dwipa mean island. The Bali Dwipa might be given by traditional merchants from India where the first time they arrive in Bali they met the local people full with the religious activities by using the offering (banten). Base on this event they called Bali is Bali Dwipa.
GEOGRAPHIC
Bali Island is one of the province in Indonesia and this province located between Jawa island and Lombok island. The area frame of this island from the north is surrounded by Bali Sea ( Laut Bali), in the east limited by Lombok Strait, in the south limited by Indian Ocean and in the west is limited by Bali Strait. The Bali Province is consist of Bali Island, Nusa Penida Island, Nusa Lembongan island, Nusa Ceningan Island and Menjangan island wth thorough out of this are about 5.632,86 Km2. Base on the administration, Bali consist of 8 districts, 53 sub districts, and 674 villages.Bali island is a strategic area because this area it self connecting the transportation between Jawa and Nusa Tenggara. Bali also located between Asia and Australia. Geographically in the center of Bali, some mount spread out on this island like Agung Mount (3.142 meters) Gunung Batur (1.717 meters), Abang Mount (2.152 meters) and Batukaru Mount (2.276 meters). Beside of mountain, Bali also has some lakes like Batur Lake (1.605 Ha), Beratan Lake (375,6 Ha), Buyan Lake (336 Ha) and Tamblingan Lake (110 Ha).
Bali island is a tropic area which is influenced by two seasons a year that is Dry Season and Wet Season. The temperature is about 24,0” C - 30,8” C and the humidity is about 79%.
BALINESE PEOPLE
Bali population based the census on 2001 has reached 3.156.392 and Balinese it self is not stay in Bali Island but also spread out through Indonesian island. Bali race is a group of community banded by the awareness or oneness of culture. The Balinese Traditional is much banded by the social live aspect like conduct the pray in the temple, to place in the certain area together etc. The Balinese were not able to develop and sustain their extremely complex agricultural economy for centuries on end without a very organized community structure. The basis of this community structure is called Subak and Banjar. Everyone who owns a rice paddy must join the Subak in their village. The Subak controls who will plant rice and when (plantings are staggered so that pestilence is minimized). As well and more importantly the Subak ensures that all farmers receive their fair share of irrigation water since traditionally the head the Subak was the farmer whose field was at the bottom of the hill and water first had to pass through everybody else's field before it was allowed to irrigate his.
The other important community structure, the Banjar, organizes all other aspects of Balinese life (i.e. marriages, cremations, community service, festivals and the like). When a man marries he is expected to join the village Banjar and must participate in community affairs. Meetings are held at a large open air building called the Bale Banjar
CULTURE & RELIGION
The main religion practiced in Bali is a form of Hinduism called Agama Hindu Dharma, where the Hindu it self is consist of some of religious sect but in Bali all of Balinese are Hindu Ciwa. The two religion (Hindu and Buddhist) arrive from Java and to some extend from India during the 8 th to 16 th centuries. The main symbol of Balinese Hinduism is the Swastika or wheel of the sun.
An important belief is that elements of nature are influenced by spirit which have be appeased. As such offerings (Sesajen) made from agriculture product are offered to this spirit. It is believed that Mount Agung is the abode of the gods and the ancestors. As such, it is revered as the `mother` mountain and is highly sacred to the Balinese.
Religion in Bali according to three principles; Desa (place), Kala (time) and Patra (circumstance). Hinduism ackn2owledged five pillars of faith. They are believe in the one Supreme God ( Sang Hyang Whiddi Wasa ), belief in the soul as the universal principle of life and consciousness ( atma ), belief in the fruition of one`s deeds ( karma pala ), belief in the process of birth and death ( samsara ), and belief in ultimate release (moksa). The religious rites of the Balinese consist of the human rites ( Manusa Yadnya ), the rites of the dead ( PitraŹ Yadnya ), rites of the gods or temple rites ( Dewa Yadnya ), rites of the demonic forces ( Buta Yadnya ) and ordainment rites ( Rsi Yadnya ). Holy water, fire, ash, geese, duck, eggs and dabdab tree leave are purifying elements used in the ritual.
The Balinese are extremely devout and no day goes by without making offerings to the gods. These daily offerings - called Banten are a major part of Balinese life. You will see these offerings nearly everywhere in Bali. Made of flowers, cigarettes, cookies, rice and even sometimes money (the actual items used are not as important as the process of making and offering it to the spirits) these offerings are given to the good spirits in hopes of continued prosperity as well as to the evil spirits as an appeasement
SIMPLE ETIQUETTES
The Balinese are inclusive by nature and take great pride in their heritage and therefore do not mind visitors observing ceremonies and traditional dances, just as long as you follow a few simple, basic points of etiquette. (After all, how would you like a group of foreign speaking tourists invading your wedding or funeral of a close relative to snap a few photos?). First, dress appropriately - smart casual is appropriate - swim wear is not appropriate. Two, be quiet and respectful. Cameras and camcorders are ok - but do be unobtrusive. Also do not step in front of anyone to snap a photo and do not sit higher than the local priest presiding over the ceremony. As well, Do Not touch or pat anyone (including children) on the head.
When
visiting temples be aware that you should wear long pants or a sarong with a selendang tied around the waist (men and women). Whilst you can take your own every major temple has selendangs to borrow for a small donation. It is extremely bad form (in fact it's taboo) for women who are menstruating to enter a temple. Lastly a word about being stuck in traffic. If you do find yourself stuck in traffic for no apparent reason you may have come up on a Balinese procession on the way to temple. Be patient. No amount of honking the car's horn is going to speed things up and it's rude to try and pass.
COMMUNITY SISTEM
One of the image of the Balinese unique is collectively strong oneness among Balinese and there are seven things wrapped the Balinese to be a strong community which has the identity and tenacity of culture:
(1) most of them bound by Hindu Religion as a pioneer of religion in Indonesia.
(2) They are bound with some of praying place (Pura),
(3) Balinese people bound by family system,
(4) They are bound by the community surrounding them like Banjar or Desa Pekr2aman.
(5) They are also bound by race system which get in heritance from the ancestor patrilineally
(6) Some of Balinese farmers are bound with Traditional Irrigation System which is called Subak,
(7) Balinese also bound by Indonesia Government System.
In general the Balinese Community System are oriented by two structure (Social Traditional Structure and Social Formal Structure). The Social Traditional Structure has based on the long story from pra-Hindu until now and Social Formal Structure is bound of the Balinese integrity into Republic Indonesia since 17 August 1945. The most familiar Balinese life concept which is called "Tri Hita Karana" and it is believe will bring them into prosperous where this concept has three angle point in the Balinese in order to keep the good balance between human and environment, human and human the last one human and god.
'BANJAR' is a group of social community which has band of area, activities and social life. The purpose of Banjar is to held each other in line with the social activities like wedding ceremony, people death, take a part of refurbishment of temple, road, cleanliness of the area, security protection and do all the activities together in economic , social and ritual field. The Banjar is lead by Klian Banjar which is consist of 50 - 200 family leader.
'SUBAK' is a social-economic organization to organize the irrigation system in Bali where the member it self is from the owner of the rice field. The focus activities of Subak is around the irrigation of the rice field and beside of that it is also has the economic activities and done some religious activities in Pura Subak. In Bali there are about 1300 Subak, where the structurally consist of Subak Tempekan and Subak Gede. Subak it self is lead by 'Pekaseh' and he/she organize and arrange the water irrigation system, irrigation maintenance, to schedule the rice plantation including the cleaning of insect program.
'SEKAA' is a group of social community which has proposed to conduct the special event and inclined based on voluntary. The Sekaa is built based on the same propose, norm and activities. In Bali there are a lot of Sekaa which effect to all aspect Balinese life from the security, social, environment, religion, economic, art etc. The most of Sekaa in Bali is more glow is Art Sekaa and based on survey is about 1500 organization.
'GOTONG ROYONG' is a fundamental of Balinese solidarity which is used on the day life of Balinese based on reciprocity where the activities given will get the obligation to return as sociality. A base of Gotong Royong is forming to help each other and free social activities.
COSMOGONY & TRIHITAKARANA
The Balinese Concept is fundamental from the Hindu Religion concept which more popular called TRI HITA KARANA where nowadays this concept is become the point of the hotel, restaurant and other building assessment in the world. The Balinese Traditional Architecture is not only monumentally, but also has the aspect philosophies and religious. The cosmogony is oneness of three world (Tri Bhuana) which is called Bhuhloka, Bhwahloka, and Swahloka. Each of this world (Loka) has habitants it self. In line of this three concepts cosmogony, it is also has contextual with Hindu Religion Concept which is called 'Tri Hita Karana'( three of the harmony, balance to create the peaceful and happiness) The Tri Hita Karana word is come from Sansekerta Language which has meaning to keep the harmony and balance between human to God, human to human and human to environment. These three concept is most popular spread out as follows:
' Parhyangan ' is one of the three concept related to the god. On this stage the human is demanded to keep the harmony and balance with god. This concept has huge meaning where the Balinese discipline and full confidence to do this. It is not only including to pray at the temple, however it is cover all the activities which has a good thing in the life like build the temple, cleaning the temple, keep the religion symbols well a lot of thing we can do on this concept.
'Pawongan ' On this concept is required to keep the harmony and balance between human to human and this concept has emphasized how do we keep good relation with others. The simple way we have to do to implement this concept are to conduct three good thing like: to think the good thing, to speak the good thing and to conduct the good thing. By conducting these three good thing which is called ' Tri Kaya Parisuda ' ensure we can conduct this concept.
' Palemahan ' this word is come from 'lemah' mean land, environment. Generally the Pelemahan in Tri Hita Karana is all aspect related to the environment. Base on this concept the Balinese has treated the environment well and they believe that the good environment will give their life better. Once example the Balinese treat the environment that on the 'Tumpek Uduh' based on the Balinese calendar, the Balinese give the offering to the tree with the purpose that the tree has given them prosperity and a lot of thing they can do to keep the harmony and balance with the environment.
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