Balinese Barong

Barong is a fictional character in the Mythology of Bali. He is the king of the spirits, leader of the hosts of good, and enemy of Rangda in the mythological traditions of Bali. Banas Pati Rajah is the fourth "brother" or spirit child that accompanies a child throughout life. Banas Pati Rajah is the sprit which animates Barong. A protector spirit, he is often represented by a lion, and traditional performances of his struggles against Rangda are popular parts of Balinese culture with tourists.

The lion barong is one of five traditional Barong. In Bali each region of the island has its own protective spirit for its forests and lands. Each Barong for each region is modeled after a different animal. There is a boar, a tiger, a dragon (or serpent) and the traditional lion. The lion is the popular one as it comes from the Gianyar region where Ubud (the home of tourist viewed ritual) is located. Within the calonarong, the dancedrama where the Barong appears, the barong responds to Rangda's use of magic to control and kill her to restore balance.

Source: Wikipedia, Photo from A Trip to Indonesia (2001).

around the island

There are nine towns/cities in the island ( Badung, Bangli, Buleleng, Denpasar, Gianyar, Jembrana, Karangasem, Klungkung, and Tabanan) each offering different kind of experience. Originally part of Denpasar, Badung is part of the southern part of Bali which enjoys the wealth primarily from the well-developed tourist industry. The city offers an ample choice of destinations including Kuta, Nusa Dua, Sanur and Sangeh.

Kuta beach is always full of visitors. There much more foreigners than the locals, making the area look not unlike a typical crowded beach in Europe. Some people will find it too jam-packed, it is not suitable for relaxation-oriented visit. It might be the only beach in the country where you can find many women go topless. Nusa Dua offers different kind of atmosphere. Given that it is an enclaved area with international standard, the beach is not that crowded. Many high class hotels are part of the area including Nikko, Grand Mirage and Sheraton.

A cultural heritage

In one island, you can find the richest and most exotic cultural heritage on earth.

The island of the gods

Every avid traveler would have known --or at least heard about-- Bali. It is the eastern-most island of the Lesser Sunda chain of islands, flunked by Java and Lombok of Indonesia. The chances are that foreigners would have known Bali better than the country it is part of.
Often dubbed as the paradise of the east, Bali seems to offer something for everyone. Called the island of the gods by the locals, it has beautiful mountains, lakes and beaches all nestled in tropical climate for nature beauty lovers. Many of its beaches are a friendly home for diving and snorkeling. Notable among the beaches are Sanur, Kuta, Candi Dasa, Lovina, Pantai Seseh, and Tegal Besar.

Meanwhile Bali is packed with highly developed arts including indigenous music (gamelan), dance, metalworking, sculpture, painting and leather all often combined into art festivals or exhibitions. In the island, visitors can enjoy a truly relaxing stay, while experiencing a unique and rich cultural heritage unparalleled by any other destinations in the world. It is no wonder that over the years, Bali has been voted to be the most enchanting travel destination in the world by readers of literally all major travel magazines.
So, what makes Bali the ultimate destination for travelers? Read on ....