A Wonderful Island Called Bali, Essay Example

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This Wiki will illustrate a wonderful island called Bali. The Indonesian island of Bali is a lovely destination for both adventurers and for those who seek relaxation. The water off the coast of Bali’s white beaches are a perfect spot for scuba diving, along with the dense jungles, there are full of monkeys and stone temples that could actually stimulate visitors for an exploration. Hiking from the rugged path to the highest point of Mount Batur, visitors will be rewarded with a spectacular scenery. After all the actions and movements, what can be a better refreshment than having a massage at one of Bali’s luxury spas.

In this Wiki, it involves several different perspectives to analyse the whole island, starting with the physical geography section which covers the environment such as the land, air, water and life. Followed by the human geography section that evaluates the social, cultural, political, and economic aspects of Bali. The next section will be “destinations”, this part will focus on the features of Bali that the tourists participate. Continue with the section of tourists: what kind of people are most likely to visit the island and carry on to the “systems” part, this is a geography-oriented section that focuses on mapping “the beaten path,” sites which are “off the beaten path,” and other geographic concepts. Lastly, it describes a 15-day trip that I would take to the island in the “My trip to” page.

I think I am a very open-minded person who loves travelling a lot. The reason why I love to travel is pretty simple, travelling makes me happy and excited. In every journey to whatever countries, you might have an unfamiliar experience, which makes travelling exciting. In my opinion, travelling can open your eyes, seeing something that you might have never seen before and sometimes you might also learn who you are, facing all the challenges it presents and opportunities during the trip, you may discover who you really are. I have been to plenty of countries between Europe and Asia but focusing on the Asia journeys, I have been to Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and China. Out of all those places, I have never been to Bali so far and based on its features within the island, I would really like to visit there at least once in my life. When I do travel, money is always not my first concern because I would rather save a lot of money and spend it all in the trip than counting how much did I spend on every single thing. In that case, I consider myself as a luxury tourist.

Physical Geography Page

Bali is a part of the Indonesian archipelago. It is one of the provinces of Republic Indonesia. Bali is made up of a group of islands (archipelago) connecting South-East Asia and Australia. It is a small island and it only has 5,630 square km of land.¹ It is physically located south of the equator 8^o and east in longitude 115^o. The island lies between Lombok and Java. Bali’s land is green year around due to the high rainfall.² It is surrounded by beaches, either golden sand or black volcanic. There are many mountains inland in Bali, some active and inactive volcanos. It has breath taking rice terraces with is complex and an important part of the land.³ The rice patties are a vital part of the ecological system and are supported by the intricate irrigation network. The land also produces corn, vegetables, fruit, cloves, tobacco, tamarind, cocoa, tea, coffee, vanilla, soy beans, chillies, and copra.

The air in Bali depends on the season. January through April is around 80% humidity and can be considered unbearable.⁴ It is considered Bali’s hot season. The temperatures are on a continual rise during this time and combining it with the high humidity, it can make it feel even warmer and at times uncomfortable. Bali’s dry season also falls from April to September. Even during the dry season, it can produce an occasional rainfall. The locals are sometimes surprised that the rainy season can be dry and the dry season can be rainy.⁵ The rainy season is from October to March. The air in Bali’s central mountains is normally cooler and produces more rain than the coastal areas that are lower. At night the temperatures in the higher locations near volcanos can decrease 15 degrees. The south of Bali, Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, and Denpasar has more rain than the southern peninsula Bukith. Denpasar has varying temperatures during the day depending on the rainy and dry season. The time of year directly influences the quality of air and the environment that the island offers.

Bali is known for the beautiful water that surrounds the island. It is a large part of the tourist attraction. The sea water temperatures peak around May 4th from 84 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit and are at their lowest temperature around September 14^th when they range from 79 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit.⁶ The sea water temperature is warm year around and it makes Bali a year around destination for vacationing, swimming, and surfing. There is some concern about the river water and its potential for contamination. Activist warn that raw sewage has a way of making its way into the rivers and contaminating them.⁷ The water issues are greater from October to May, during the rainy seasons. The country does not have a sewage plant to treat the island’s overflow in the urban areas that are densely populated. There is also the concern from tourist drinking the water in Bali. Bali’s tap water provides quality that is very uncertain, and it can cause many of the tourist to experience ‘Bali belly’.⁸ The water is beautiful and inviting, but it is not advised to drink it.

Lastly, in the physical geography page, it is important to consider the life in Bali. Bali is full of active volcanos that affect everyday life. For example, the Mount Raung volcano that is on the island of Java has continually disrupted flights into and out of Bali. In early July it began to spew silica-based, corrosive volcanic ash.⁹ Bali has their own volcanic concern that affects life and tourism in the country. Even though Gunung Agung has not erupted since 1963-64, it is still considered active. The large, deep craters still occasionally release ash and smoke.¹⁰ The Mountain appears to be perfectly narrowed, even though it has large craters around it. Bali’s peak tourist season is directly affected by the volcanic activities, but it also can provide the reason why tourist visit Bali. July is the main time when Mount Raung is considered to be unpredictable.¹¹ It can provide many challenges for individuals to get into and out of Bali.

Human Geography Page

The people of Bali are generally referred to as the Balinese community. It is oriented by to main structures, the traditional social structure and the formal social structure. The formal social structure has been bound by the Balinese integrity to the Republic of Indonesia and the traditional structure was established before the Hindu era.¹ The Balinese society is known for being extremely community oriented.² There is no way for an individual to live in solitude in Bali. Society holds village meetings and if the individual ignores the invitation it results in a warning. The village can take action if three warnings are ignored. Land is property of the community, and if the village does not like you, it can take way the privilege of the land. The Balinese community are traditionally bound together by various aspects of their social life. The have an obligation to pay homage to their temple.³ The social aspect mandates community involvement. The irrigation system organization requires property owner’s participation. The social status is dependent upon the involvement in the community. Patrilineal principles dictates the family relationships and each village has their own social organization.

Balinese have a strong cultural system in place. It is considered to be very unique from the outside looking in. Outsiders say that Balinese people have accomplished self-content.⁴ There is no exaggeration when asking a Balinese what heaven is like, many would say it is Bali without mundane life worries. Bali is the place where many want to live, die and be reincarnated to. The Balinese people are also extremely devote and spiritual.⁵ There are over 10,000 temples in Bali. The Balinese believe that the seas host the demons and the good spirits take habitat in the mountains. Most of the mountains in Bali have three main temples. The Pura Puseh, which is the temple of origin, and is devoted to the founder of the village. The Pura Besakih which is the mother temple, and Mt Agung. Bali’s culture is known for its unique, vibrant and rich arts.⁶ Hinduism is the main religion in Bali and it is a major influence in its development and culture.

The political areas of Bali directly influences every aspects of operations and life in Bali. Despite the beliefs of the general public, the political governance does not allow for bungalows to be placed over the sea.⁷ The Indonesian law dictates all political aspects of Bali and the country expectations. The political law establishes that all the sea surrounding the country is property of the government. There is no resorts or hotels that can be built over public water. Indonesia holds both Parliamentary and Presidential elections. The opposition to the Indonesian Democratic Party first took place in April 2014 with 19% votes in opposition.⁸ The party had hoped to win with 25 to 30 percent support from parliament. In order for a party have parliaments support of 25% popular vote or a total of 20% of the seats for the chosen candidate.  There is still much debate over the political process including those who believe it is fraudulent.

The economy of Bali is partially dependent on the agricultural life.  They are known for their rice crop, and the rivers of Saban, Ayung, Unda, Petanu, Sungsang, Yeh Sumi, and Balian that carries the water from the highland into the sea.⁹ The country has four main lakes, Lake Buyan, Lake Batur at the crater of Mount Batur, Lake Temblingan, and Lake Bratan. Bali’s economy is also heavily dependent on tourism. For over thirty years, Bali has become one of the world’s more premier tourist destination.¹⁰ The country has over two million visitors a year. The island plans on developing the island with the focus of tourism and obtaining new visitors. Tourism has grown to be Bali’s main economic source. It supports about 58,000 jobs and more than 20% of the sectors depend on the tourist attraction. Tourism contributes to about 70-80% of the total economic support.

Destination Page

Tourists need quality places to stay when they visit Bali. Villa Semana provides ten different options for villas that the guests can choose from. They offer private pools, outdoor showers and complementary fruit brought daily. Another luxury resort is Viceroy Bali. They offer 25 different villas that their guest can choose from with rooms offering private pools, marble bathrooms, living areas and a view of the Petanu River valley.¹

Tourist can go on hikes and see Bali outside of the beach. Depending on the weather, visitors can go to see the rice fields in the Jatiluwih Mountains.² Hikers see the community, while enjoying the view that the rice terrace can provide. It is very relaxing and allows the visitors to have a calm experience during all of their tourist destinations. Bali offers a beautiful view and opportunity that visitors can see if the weather permits.

Another destination for travelers would be to climb and hike Mount Batur at Kintamani. Located at the highland in East Bali, Mount Batur caldera in Kintamani offers a unique experience. The climb takes the tourist to the summit of an active volcano, it offers a great experience for any moderately active traveler.³ The tour offers a sunrise hike which allows the individuals to experience the beautiful wakening of the morning while traveling up the mount.

Tourist should visit Air Sanih, it is one of the natural pools that Bali Island offers, and it is supplied by fresh ground spring water. There is only two places on the island that offers fresh spring water swimming.⁴ The two locations are Tirta Gangga Water Park and Air Sanih. Tourist who visit the north part of Bali have the unique opportunity to enjoy fresh water pool while being surrounded by the beautiful tropical atmosphere. It also offers many of the amenities of the island such as food and beverage while visiting these pools.

Bali offers diving for those adventurous travellers at the internationally accredited Dive Centers.⁵ The company provides an underwater adventure and opportunity to explore the underwater world of Bali. They provide snorkelers and driving instructors for all level of underwater activities. There is also the first time scuba diver experience. The company is not only dedicated to the experience, but also maintaining the highest safety standards, diving instruction and professional care. The experience is available individually or for group excursions. There is also photos available for keepsakes.

The destination page also provides the consideration of what part of Bali to visit. Kuta is one of Bali’s most visited holiday destination.⁶ Kuta is located in the southern part of the island and is known for its fantastic surfing beach. The location offers top accommodation options for family and friends. They have luxury and budget resorts and hotels. All lodging is located conveniently within walking distance of dining, shopping and entertainment. Kuta is also known for the wonderful nightlife which also attracts a large number of younger travelers every year.

Another traveling option is to visit South Kuta. South Kuta has beautiful beaches which are far less crowed and safe for swimming. This destination offers luxury hotels and other accommodation for not only the holiday traveler but for tourist year around. It holds the very popular WaterBom Waterslide Park nearby, it is one of Asia’s largest theme water parks.⁷ WaterBom offers fifteen world-class waterslides and many attractions for adults and kids alike. There is recreational activities, fine dining, and boutiques for visitor’s needs.

Legian is another tourist destination, but it is more laid back and relaxing than some of the other main areas. It still offers fantastic dinning, shopping and entertainment.⁸ Legian has the natural beauty of this island, and is not as popular as central Bali. It is not considered a party area and is more tranquil than other areas. It still has a surf beach and Legian allows visitors to explore the island at their own pace. The location offers a rich culture showcase and has shopping, dining, and other relaxing activities.

Seminyak offers some of the highest end shopping and boutique spa hubs on the island.⁹ Seminyak is located north of Legian and has a huge array of luxury accommodations. In addition they have fine dining options and is far more stylish than the central areas of Bali. Seminyak is also far more relaxing than the main part of the island. This part of the island is known for the breath-taking sunsets and beautiful beach setting. Seminyak also has a charming Belinese temple that provides beachside ceremonies.

Tanjung Benoa is located north of Nusa Dua and is known for being Bali’s water sport capital.¹⁰ It is located on the southern peninsula of Bali. It offers unique Chinese temples, Balinese shrines, white sand, and calm water. They offer an endless range of water activities that include fly fishing, water jetpacks, fishing tours, jet skis, banana boat rides, underwater sea walks, and parasailing. It is known for being the most popular destination location in Bali for water sports and the beautiful environment that only Bali can provide.

Tourist Page

Bali’s 2013 goal was to attract 3.1 million foreign guest, they exceeded their target by having 3.27 million foreign tourist arrive on the island.¹ The total number of tourist that visited Bali from January to December 2013 totalled 3,278,697 individuals. It was a total increase of 13.37 percent over 2012. The country is heavily dependent on tourism as a part of their economy and they are finding ways to continually increase visitors yearly.

A large part of the economy of Bali is dependent upon the money that tourist brings in. The ministry budgeted tourism promotion at $98.3 million, a small price to pay for the potential return.²  The budget set by the government has more than quadrupled. Promoting Indonesia is the best way to increase tourism and get the general public aware of all the country has to offer. The potential is a great return on investment for reaching new visitors to the country.

The rapid growth in tourism has had a great impact on the natural environment and has directly affected the water resources.³ The large number of tourist have also increased pollution and created localized flooding. There is also a great pressure being put on the island’s infrastructure. Bali has also faced an increase of waste due to the population rise and increase in number of tourist.

The capital Denpasar had an increase of solid waste, 20 percent of it was not even collected or disposed of. Bali’s beautiful landscape is being covered in waste.⁴ The excessive tourism has caused the landfills to be created and excess waste to be placed in canals or left on the streets. It challenges the beauty of the environment that has encouraged and increased tourism to Bali. Bali still remains the tourist destination for vacations and holidays.

Tourism to Bali has also sparked other environmental problems. Due to the mass tourism that is taking place, the quality of water in the coastal areas has declined, and there has also been destruction of the coral reefs.⁵ The masses of hotels being built along the coast as well as other areas have been done so without regard to the waste disposal capacity and water supply needs. Commercial development only focuses on capitalizing on tourism, not the resources of Bali.

A popular tourist attraction is Candi Dasa, which attracts those who are trying to escape the crowds at other Bali locations. The tourism increase has increased the strain on the natural environment. The mining in Candi Dasa has stopped and it is assumed that the excessive tourism has taken all the coral.⁶ The officials want the building of breakwaters to cease in order to stop the coastline from being ate away at.

Bali is a tourist holiday destination.⁷ Many visitors see Bali as a great opportunity to escape their lives and enjoy the cultural attractions and beautiful weather that the island has to offer. Bali also provides tourists the opportunity to shop in their unique boutiques and experience the holiday in a new type of paradise. The holidays are one of the most popular time for tourists to travel to the island.

Tourism is growing in Bali and it has created a modern paradox between the traditional and ancient culture.⁸ The culture is very present in the modern living. Many tourist travel to Bali not only to enjoy the beautiful environment, but to also experience the rich culture that Bali has to offer. The Balinese people hold their customs, cultures, and religion true, and it provides tourists a valuable view into the life of the natives.

With the increase of tourism, regardless of the reason, there are other factors that Bali needs to factor into. The island has had surges of violent robberies against foreigners, taking advantage of tourists.⁹ The police and law enforcement were ordered to shoot the criminals in efforts to allow tourist to feel safe and to keep the number of visitors on the increase. Any place that tourists are involved, there is a direct threat for native violence and theft.

Systems Page

Bali has many attractions on the beaten path, one of them is in Kuta. There are many individuals who visit to learn to surf. There are several freelance surfers and local schools that provide surfing lessons.¹ The breakers and sea provide a great ride for beginning surfers and even for those who are advanced.

Kuta also has an abandoned plane located in the middle of nowhere. It is random to have an abandoned plane in Bali, but many have found it a destination attraction. The Boeing 737 use to fly across Bali, and now is resting near a Dunkin Donuts.² Even though no one really knows why it is there, it still serves as a tourist attraction. The plane was abandoned based on a lack of funds necessary for development.

Tourist can then bask in the sea of gold. Bali has amazing fields of Marigolds which are on the roadside between Kintamani and Bedugal.³ Marigolds are important in the Balinese culture because the golden color is associated with the Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa who is the Supreme Balinese God. For those who are out site seeing, seeing the sea of gold is a picture perfect opportunity for the Nusa Penida is an island located off the south shores of Bali. There is an unspoiled limestone chunk where the Bali kings would execute their criminals during history times.

It is not a small village with a wonderful sea-side cliff. The scenery is perfect for tourists to get away from the traffic and crowds and enjoy the beauty of Bali.⁴ There are beautiful caves, paths and beautiful villages to see.

Another place to visit is the Magical Ubud. This is the cultural center of Bali and it provides yogis, artists, spiritual seekers, eccentrics, gurus, health enthusiasts and mystics.⁵ It is an experience that tourists are not usually exposed to in their vacation environment. The bewitching power of Ubud is a great opportunity for tourist to see the deep culture of Bali while broadening their horizons.

There are also several places to visit off of the beaten path. A great detour is to make a wish in the woods on the Giant Banyan Tree.⁶ Bali has several banyan trees and the Balinese people believe that there are spirits that inhabit them. The giant banyan tree is located in the village of Gesing. Tourists visit the tree and make a wish, hoping the spirits grant them or go and enjoy the beautiful scenery that encompasses the tree.

The sacred and secret canyon of Sukawati is located near Pura Beji Guwang. The canyon is incredible and is it known for its ability to captivate and inspire the visitors.⁷ It provides tourists and artists, or anyone really an opportunity to see a masterpiece of nature. It is known for being a secret canyon, and it is a great way to escape the crowded the tourist locations of Bali.

There is also Bali Asli in the Karangasem countryside. It provides tourist an opportunity to explore the laid back village life that occurs in Bali.⁸ The Karangasem country is full of natural beauty with volcanoes in the backdrop and full of greenery. It offers several experiences such as a day in the life of a fisherman and of a Balinese woman. It is an authentic look at how locals live and what life is like in Bali.

Bali’s off the beaten path also offers of Nusa Lembongan. It is a small island on Bali’s southwest side.  It offers a relaxing environment with diving, surfing and snorkeling.⁹ It is not a destination location in Bali, however it provides tourist an escape from the busy areas that most people frequent and an opportunity to enjoy many different amenities.

The Kintamani cops is from Ubud and it provides beautiful Tegalalang rice terraces. The immaculately manicured hillsides provide an impressive landscape for all who ride by.¹⁰ The air in this area is noticeable cooler and the village offers more tradition. It allows tourist to escape the fancy restaurants and spas, and experience the culture of Bali in a more traditional manner. There is a beautiful jungle all around, and only to be interrupt by occasional villages and farms.

My Trip to Bali

As a luxury tourist, a trip to Bali was a must go to destination.  The first place we will visit is the Ubud Area of Bali. Below is a day by day itinerary for our trip to Bali:

Day one: We will arrive at the Villa Semana in Ubud. The first day we will stay around the resorts enjoying the tropical greenery atmosphere. There is plenty to do at the villa including the infinity pool and warm sunshine. In the afternoon we will enjoy a Balinese massage treatment at the spa.¹ We will dine at the Pondok Thai Fusion restaurant and enjoy the villa for the night.

Budget: Villa Semana $836; Spa Treatment $200; and Food $120 = $1156

Day two: We will stay at the Villa Semana in Ubud for the second day. We will eat breakfast at the villa and venture out into the community. The first destination is magical Ubud. We will spend the day enjoying the culture and all that this community has to offer.² This community provides food, shopping and many other activities that we can enjoy the entire day. We will return to the Villa at night and enjoy the bar at the resort.

Budget: Villa Semana $836; Magical Ubud $350; Transportation $50 and Food and spirits $200 = $1436

Day three: today we will move to Viceroy Bali. It is another luxury resort located in Ubud,

Bali.³ We will spend the day biking through the countryside enjoying the beauty of Bali.⁴ Along the way we will stop at the local shops and pick up any items that we want. At the end of the day we will return to the resort for dining and spending the evening by the pool.

Budget: Viceroy Bali $695; biking $100; shopping $100; and food $125 = $1020

Day four: We will remain at the Viceroy Bali for an additional day. We will head out early to experience a hike Mount Batur. It is a sunrise tour so we will be out early. The Hindus believe it is a sacred mountain.⁵ We will spend the afternoon at the resort and head out for a luxury dinner in town. We will find a great place for dancing and spending the night partying in Bali.

Budget: Viceroy Bali $695; transportation $100; food $175; and entertainment $200 = $1170

Day five: on the fifth day we will travel to South Kuta. We will stay at the Mulia Villas – Nusa Dua Bali.⁶ We will spend the early afternoon shopping and then we will participate in high flyers.⁷ We have always wanted to do the circus activities and now we can do it surrounded by Bali’s beauty. We will return to the resort for dinner and enjoying the amenities that the resort has to offer. We will wrap up the evening with a walk on the beach.

Budget: Mulia Villas $730; transportation $100; food $200; and shopping $300 = $1330

Day six: The sixth night we will stay at the Mulia Villas – Nusa Dua Bali again. We will spend the morning at the resort resting and having breakfast before heading out to diving and scuba activities. They offer many diving options for first time divers.⁸ We will spend the day on the beach and enjoy jet skiing and other recreational activities the community offers.⁹ In the evening we will return to resort and get ready for our last day.

Budget: Mulia Villas $730; transportation $100; beach rentals $300; diving $250; and food $200 = $1580

Day seven: The final day we will spend the day at the Mulia Villas – Nusa Dua Bali. We will go to town and get last minute shopping in.¹⁰ We will spend the evening at the resort packing enjoying our final evening in Bali. We will order room service and visit the spa one last time. There was a lot to see and do in Bali and it definitely demands that we return for a visit in the near future. Budget: Mulia Villas $730; transportation $100; shopping $500; spa $230; and food $200 = $1760