The paradise island of Bali is very popular with tourists eager for an exotic holiday in the hot tropics. And it is not surprising – in few places you can still see such wonders of nature, without overpaying for the vacation of huge money. Of course, Balinese hotels are not too cheap, but in any case, you can relax here much cheaper than, for example, in the Maldives or the Canaries. Yes, and there is definitely a look at that.
Contrary to the common pronunciation among Russian tourists, the emphasis in the word “Bali” is placed on the first syllable, not the last. The population of Moscow is three times larger than the population of Bali. Even in the rainy season, the lingering rainfall is not here. Rains are usually short and almost always come only at night. Over 80% of Balinese practice their own religion based on Hinduism, despite the fact that Indonesia, which owns the island – a Muslim state. The shamans of the local population are more respected than doctors. That is why there are few pharmacies and hospitals – due to the lack of clientele. There are no wallpapers in houses in Bali. The walls are simply painted, even without plaster. And the windows are very small, and are often located under the ceiling. Cutlery here is also not in honor – the Balinese usually eat with their hands.
Religious ceremony in his native village in Bali is a significant reason not to go to work. Raising the voice in Bali is categorically not accepted. Who shouts – that is a priori wrong. Just like in Thailand. Public transport on the island is developed very poorly. The best way to travel for a tourist who does not want to overpay for a taxi is to rent a motorbike. Unless, of course, he knows how to drive it and is not afraid of the chaotic local traffic on the roads. In Bali, more than 20 thousand temples, including many “home”. The official temples here are just over 6 thousand. The word “Bali” in Sanskrit means “hero.”
In traditional Balinese villages, there is still a ban on finding a spouse from another village. You can only from your own. There is a caste system in place, as in India, though not so tough. No important action is performed on Bali without the attendant rituals. There are more of them here than in any other country in the world. There are many volcanoes on the island. For obvious reasons, in perspective this is quite dangerous. There are three different levels in Balinese, and the required one is determined based on who you are talking to. The error can be regarded as an insult. Cockfighting is very popular in Bali, as in the Philippines. The Bible was first translated into Balinese in 1990.
In Bali, there are practically no buildings above two floors. The dead here are cremated, and not buried, as in most other countries. Balinese use three calendars at once. The Gregorian habitual to us is needed mainly for communication with tourists. In local cigarettes, tobacco is sometimes mixed with cloves. At the beginning of the 20th century, women in Bali went topless, but with the arrival of Europeans, this was considered indecent.
Men became the “labor force” here only a few decades ago. Prior to this, all major works, including hard work, in Bali were carried out by women. And now it is noticeable that women work mostly, while men sit in front of the TV or relax in the shade of a palm tree. In 1906, the Dutch fleet occupied the island. The royal family, as well as representatives of many local noble families of Bali, preferred suicide to surrender. White, black, red and yellow in Bali are considered sacred. The Balinese name directly speaks about its belonging to one or another caste. The Shudras, labor caste, which makes up about 80% of the population of Bali, have no differences between female or male names.
