Bali and Its Attractions

Rice Terraces at Bali, Indonesia
Photo by: riza, Creative Commons

Bali is an island in Indonesia that is located at the extreme west of the Lesser Sunda Islands, between Java and Lombok. Indonesia has over seventeen thousand islands with a population of more than 200 million. It also has almost 400 volcanoes, out of which 70 are still active. Though the primary languages are Balinese and Indonesian, English is a common third language and is used for commercial purposes. Most of the local population is either Hindu or Muslim, but there are pockets of Christianity and Buddhism as well. The first people to inhabit Bali were Austronesians in 200 B.C. who had initially migrated from Taiwan. The Bali culture had a lot of influence from Indian and Chinese culture.
Bali is one of the most commercial places in all of Indonesia. It attracts tourists because it is known for its beautiful rice terraces, temples, art, dance, painting, leather and music. Tourists come from all over the world to see its culture, natural beauty, art, and paintings.
Bali has no rail tracks and there are only coastal roads. The entire island is enclosed by coral reefs. The beaches in the south have white sand and the ones on the north and west have black sand.