The Bali People
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THE BALINESE

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the heritage, since Bali is rich with writing heritages in the form of ethics, stories, myths, songs, chronicles and historical documents written in various style of Bali nese scripts.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.

Aceh People Culture
Ambon Archipelagic Culture
Balinese Culture
Batak Ethnic Culture
Bugis People Culture
Indonesia Chinese Culture
Dayak Interland Culture
Flores Island Culture
Javanese Culture
Mentawai Island Culture
Minahasa People Culture
Minangkabau People Culture
Nias People Culture
Sundanese Culture
Timor People Culture
The West Papuan Tribes
See Articles on Bali
Amed Bali Hotels
Denpasar City Hotels
Candidasa Hotels
Jimbaran Hotels
Kuta Bali Hotels
Kintamani Hotels
Krobokan Bali Hotels
Lovina Bali Hotels
Legian Bali Hotels
Lembongan Hotels
Nusa Dua Hotels
Sanur Bali Hotels
Seminyak Hotels
Tuban Hotels
Ubud Bali Hotels
Padangbai Hotels
See more Bali Hotel List
Bali Island Rich Culture Tours
Flores Island of Hobbit 3-lakes
Java Island Tour Selection
Komodo Dragon Expedition
Lombok the Sister Island of Bali
North Sumatra Island Tours
Orangutans Bohorok Sumatra
Orangutans Camp Leakey
Toraja Land South Sulawesi
West Papua Adventures
Table of Distances on Bali

Villas in Bali
Bali Liburan Murah


Below list selected budget and cheap hotels of Bali.

Kuta Central City
Legian Town
Nusa Dua Area
Sanur area
Seminyak Area
Tuban Town
Ubud and Surrounding
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