The most interesting stories about Bali. Bali: interesting facts. Bury me twice

The island of Bali is home to surfing and diving, religious, environmental and beach tourism. Bali is one of the most popular tourist destinations all over the world, but despite this, much of the life of the local population is not known to the general public. Interesting facts about Bali will help you discover and learn something new and even useful. Bali is part of Islamic State Indonesia. Bali is located here on the world map.

Bali is Island of the Godswith a very varied landscape: hills and mountains, beautiful coasts And sandy beaches, curvy rice terraces and bare volcanic slopes. Surfing and diving, unique cuisine, a large number of cultural, historical and archaeological attractions - Bali has a lot to offer the tourist market, and the market really likes this offer. The island of Bali boasts big amount interesting places from a tourist point of view. A variety of excursions await you: sightseeing and thematic, exciting walks, yacht tours, and even cooking classes. Current prices for excursions in Bali, as well as a list of private Russian speaking guides can be found on the website of a special project for tourists “Experts.Tourister.Ru” - experts.tourister.ru.

It is believed that the very first settlers in Bali emigrated from China in 2500 BC.
It is noteworthy that in Indonesia, Islam is professed by more than 88% of the population, while on the island of Bali, which is part of this state, 83.5% of the population professes a special version of Hinduism. That is why pork dishes can only be tasted in Bali; in Indonesia, pork is not eaten, since this food is prohibited in Islam.
Subak is an irrigation system rice fields in Bali, was developed over 1000 years ago. Considered an objectUNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bali is just one of more than 17,000 islands that make up Indonesia.
One of the most expensive types of coffee, Kopi Luwak, is produced in Bali.
The Balinese believe that a newborn baby is the reincarnation of one of the family ancestors, and therefore the baby should not touch the ground until 3 months.
The child, regardless of gender, is usually given one of these four names: Wayan, Made, Nyoman or Ketut. This can be translated as: born first, born second, and so on. If you have more than four children, you simply start over with Wayan. Descriptive nicknames help avoid confusion. This rule is true for the lowest caste. Yes, there are 4 castes in Bali, similar to those in India.
Bali was the host of the competition Miss World 2013 . This was the first time that an International Beauty Pageant was held in Indonesia.
The climate on the island is tropical and is divided into two seasons.The dry season lasts from April to October, and the rainy season from October to April. The best time The dry season is considered to be the best time to visit, which is also more crowded. For inspiration and peace, many people go during the rainy season, when tourist flow insignificant.
The Balinese menu consists of white rice, pork, spicy vegetables and exotic fruits.
One of the most sacred temples in Bali - Pura Ulu Watu, p. located high in the cliffs on the southwestern tip of the island.
Seminyak is the center of luxury living in Bali. Hereyou will find boutiques, restaurants, cafes and fashion shows.
Ubud is the artistic heart of Bali, the center of spiritual life.The streets are filled with galleries where artists of different generations do their work. The view here is indescribableto the rice terraces. Thisgreen landscape is often chosen as best place for yoga and meditation.

According to most, Bali is a paradise with numerous beaches, exotic fruits, cocktails, massages and all kinds of entertainment.

I have long dreamed of living in Bali. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the best-selling book “Eat, Pray, Love,” fueled my desire to come here as soon as possible. We had been planning to fly to Bali for a long time, were waiting for a life map and were preparing ourselves for the trip. I imagined swimming in the ocean, sunbathing on the beach, eating exotic fruits and drinking coconut.

We arrived for two months. During this time, we met locals and learned a lot about Indonesia. Overall, I enjoyed my stay. We jumped from a waterfall, explored sunken ships with scuba gear, traveled the length and breadth of the island, reviewed almost all the local beauties and best beaches, laughed with the taxi drivers, tried the sensational Luwak coffee and mangosteen tea, which they took with them to Krakow. We took with us a lot of pleasant memories, but there are facts that are not written about on the Internet, but you need to know about them.

Common in Bali Dengue fever. Its carriers are mosquitoes. They are poisoned in tourist places. But the most important thing is that you don’t know where the mosquito carrying this stuff might bite you. Fever is something that locals and tourists fear so much. The best protection against this is to stock up on mosquito spray and carry it with you everywhere. It is better to provide a mosquito repellent bottle at the hotel. For example, baigan. In expensive restaurants they bring this spray and you can use it. In cheaper restaurants and warungs, it is worth asking the waiters to bring mosquito spray. Symptoms of a fever can be easily confused with the flu, so if your temperature rises, you should immediately contact your local hospital before flying home. You should not self-medicate, since some of the medications we are used to, on the contrary, can be harmful or lead to death.
A couple of years ago, locals saw a python in Jimbaran. I don’t remember what size it is, but it’s huge. A catcher was immediately called. He caught a python. Tourists wanted to take a photo, but the python escaped, strangled the catcher and disappeared. Until now, no one has seen anything about him. What's all this for? If you suddenly see a snake, it is worth keeping in mind that a snake attacks in only two cases: 1) if it is wounded; 2) if she feels threatened. It will not attack on its own. It's worth letting her crawl.
About the weed. It is worth keeping in mind that maintaining, growing, or simply buying weed is a posthumous public execution. A couple of years ago, locals publicly shot two Australians who brought weed with them. And then another ten people. This is not a joke! Despite this, you can meet street vendors, especially on neighboring islands. But often they come with police officers in cahoots who will shake you out of every last penny, including movable and immovable property.
If in Thailand monks are held in high esteem, here the police are held in high esteem..
What confused me were the skinny animals: cats, dogs, cows, roosters. The cows are kept in disgusting conditions - garbage is strewn around them and, judging by the smell, they are not washed. I judge more than once. Near one of our guesthouses, cows grazed for days on end.
You should be careful with taxi drivers. I would completely cross out Uber, as there are often fraudulent transactions with it. For example, we ordered a car, and a taxi driver arrived and started haggling. In such cases, you should get up immediately. I had to open the doors on the move. The golden rule is not to get into a taxi until you have agreed on the price and route. This is not the only case. We used BlueBird taxi services, which monitors its reputation, in the No. 1 market. It is worth making sure that the stork is drawn. Often they are replaced and instead of the stork you can see another bird, a gate or something like that. A fake taxi is many times more expensive. I also recommend mobile app Grab is an analogue of Uber, somewhere in price between BlueBird and Uber. There were no surprises with him, but it’s not always possible to catch them. This is especially true for beach areas and Ubud due to conflicts with local taxi drivers.
Mostly Australians (most of all), Dutch and Russians vacation in Bali. According to locals, there are no Ukrainians here at all. But again, we were also mistaken for Russians, so this is not an indicator yet.
Last year we lived in Thailand on the island of Phuket, and I just fell in love with the Thais. People are always glad to see you, happy and don’t look into your wallet. On this occasion, I published my article on Organic Woman. The same, unfortunately, cannot be said about the Balinese. They greet you and communicate with you only so that you buy something. And if you refuse, then they may shout a few words after you and the attitude changes dramatically. By the time you get to the beach, all your ears will be buzzing with massages, taxis and all sorts of baubles. Moreover, everyone has to be refused at least 3 times - no one lags behind the first time. Even passing in silence or a short “thank you” will not help.
We concluded that the Australians have spoiled the locals and the prices in Bali are going down.
You can only change money in banks. Once we approached a currency exchange point and a local almost pocketed 20% of $200 for some taxes. First he tried to cheat on the calculator (which is very easy when you are handling millions of rupees), then he pointed out taxes of 20%. We turned around and left, changed money at a bank nearby and, of course, there were no taxes.

I didn’t want to intimidate you, but no one canceled the precautionary measures. It is worth having mosquito spray with you, when you see a snake (if you suddenly see it) just let it crawl, for grass lovers - be aware of the punishment. Overall, your holiday in Bali is pleasant and memorable.

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Pain can be described in different ways. It aches, pricks, pierces, presses, cuts, drills, drives you crazy. But at the same time, there is no life without pain. Remember the old joke: if you wake up in the morning and nothing hurts, it means you are dead.

Below are the most Interesting Facts about pain:

1. Scientists have calculated that every day every homo sapiens experiences more than a hundred pain attacks, it’s just that not all of them are recorded by the consciousness. In our brain there is a so-called “pain center” that controls pain impulses and rejects the weakest ones. This area is called the insula, and it is located deep between the hemispheres of the brain. Sometimes the “pain center” malfunctions, and then a person may experience asymptomatic pain all the time. A variation of this problem is called fibromyalgia, or “flying pain.”

2. There are approximately 500 people around the globe who never experience pain. But don’t be so quick to envy them. The absence of pain is a rare disease called syringomyelia. This disease can be inherited or occur as a result of severe brain injury. In this case, a person lacks the sensitivity of nerve endings. Usually these people rarely live even to 40 years of age. After all, the absence of pain does not mean the absence of injury. Just imagine how much damage these people cause to themselves without realizing it. Insensitivity to pain makes their body much less protected.

3. Despite the fact that the brain receives signals about pain from all parts of our body, it is the only organ that is not able to sense it, since it is completely devoid of nerve pain receptors.

4. Psychogenic pain is a symptom of depression. For example, a person thinks that his heart, his head, or his stomach hurts, but when examined, no diseases are found in him. 68% of people suffering from psychogenic pain begin to experience pain in the middle or towards the end of the working day, and 19% - in the early morning. Moreover, no analgesics help them get rid of pain. But motherwort and validol cope with this task perfectly.

5. Women have a higher pain threshold than men. This is due to the fact that estrogens, female sex hormones, have a natural analgesic effect. In men, the stress hormone adrenaline is responsible for suppressing pain. That is why a man is able to receive, for example, a fatal injury in a fight, but continue to fight. However, in peaceful life he can be knocked down by an innocent prick.

6. Our body has a “pain memory”. This is evidenced by phantom pain. When a person loses a leg or arm, the brain at a subconscious level refuses to perceive this and searches for the lost limb, irritating it with the help of nerve endings that no longer exist.

7. It turns out that you can feel someone else's pain. True, this does not guarantee that you will be able to alleviate it. For example, you may feel the same pain that another person feels, albeit in a mirror image. This is because the “pain center” processes the visual signal and projects it onto your body. This is called the phenomenon of empathy, and only humans can experience it.

8. Hot peppers can help relieve pain. Scientists found in it the substance capsiacin, which is a blocker of pain impulses. Capsiacin is also found in mustard and horseradish. Doctors recommend eating these foods for people with chronic pain syndromes (arthrosis and neuralgia). Recently, scientists have been actively working on creating an anesthetic with capsiacin molecules.

9. There are a number of foods that irritate nerve endings. For example, Parmesan cheese, vinegar, smoked meat, chocolate and foods containing monosodium glutamate (sausages, canned food, instant soups) can cause headache attacks.

10. Helps get rid of chronic pain gems. There is even a technique called lithotherapy (from the Latin litas - stone). Of course, psychotherapy plays an important role here. However, topaz and malachite help get rid of pain in the kidneys and joints, sapphire and amber - from headaches, emerald - from heart pain, and jewelry with amethyst will help relieve hangovers.

World Travel

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29.07.16 11:38

Are you going to visit Bali? Interesting facts about this island will help you better navigate and protect you from mistakes. Everything in Bali - the beaches, the tropical climate, the gorgeous exotic vegetation, the large number of entertainment venues, the amazing cuisine and culture - is worthy of your attention. This is an oasis of Hinduism in a Muslim country, and although the Balinese are friendly and love tourists, it is better to stick to the rules and respect the customs of the island.

About tasty and very tasty food

As you know, Muslims do not eat pork, but Bali is inhabited mainly by Hindus, and pork dishes can be found on every corner. The Balinese consider the pig to be the personification of laziness, and when they feast and eat the pig, they imagine that they are getting rid of laziness in themselves. Sweet pork, poached pork in coconut milk, whole roasted pig - all served with rice, chips and fried vegetables. It is necessary to note this fact: Bali is a real kaleidoscope of cuisines from different nations of the world; the food culture here is very high. You can get everything from succulent meat to fresh seafood, from a traditional buffet to a five-star restaurant.

So many namesakes!

When you communicate with local residents, you will find that many of them have the same names. Here's the second interesting fact about Bali - it has its own system of naming children. The first-born is usually called Putu, Wayan, Gede (we cannot guarantee the correct pronunciation! - editor's note). The second child is named Kadek, Made or Nengah. The third will be called Command or Nyoman, and the fourth will be Ketut. If parents have more than four children, everything is repeated in a circle (Putu, Wayan, and so on).

Not taller than a palm tree

If you explore the entire island, you will not find a single skyscraper. And this is not a consequence of the weak economy; there are first-class hotels here, occupying buildings no higher than four floors. Why? The answer is simple: the Balinese authorities prohibit building houses higher than 15 meters ( average height coconut palm). This tree on the island symbolizes wisdom, and the buildings built by people symbolize power. The Balinese do not want to have power greater than the wisdom of life.

About nightlife and transport

But this fact about Bali will appeal to those who are used to spending time on the dance floor and love noisy parties. The Indonesian resort of Kuta, located in Bali, offers entertainment 24 hours a day. Legian Street is teeming with nightclubs, cafes and pubs.

But with public transport Bali is tense! There is practically none. The local population gets around on bicycles, motorcycles and scooters, and tourists only have taxis and a few shuttle buses, which are not enough for everyone. So you'll have to walk.

Protected by Pecalang

A terrorist bomb attack more than ten years ago shook the entire island, but now it is calm. Despite that long-standing tragedy, Bali remains one of the safest places in Indonesia. The crime rate is extremely low, people believe in karma and do not want to anger the gods. Therefore, they avoid conflicts and are very hospitable. And, by the way, although there is nominally a police force on the island, order is maintained by local authorities called pecalang. Its representatives are easy to distinguish from the rest of the population by their special headbands.

Gifts to the Gods

You will walk through the streets and be surprised at how many plates of food and coconut leaves with sweets, flowers, incense or rice are around. These are offerings to the gods and are an important part of Hinduism. For daily basic prayers, one gift the size of a human palm is enough. Most often, offerings (kanang) are placed at shrines, but also at intersections, pillars, at the entrances to houses and simply on the streets. If you accidentally step on one of them, it doesn’t matter, the main thing is not to interrupt the ritual.

Not a minute of silence, but a day of silence

Another interesting fact about Bali that may also come in handy. One day a year is declared a day of silence (niepi), usually in March (it is better to find out the date in advance). Because on this day everyone, both locals and tourists, should not leave their homes, the streets seem to die out. At home (or in hotel room) you need to sit quietly, do not turn on the lights or TV (there is no broadcasting that day anyway).

Do you want a villa for a million?

Property prices in Bali are considered the most expensive in Indonesia. Most villas are rented out to tourists rather than sold. Of course, there are excellent hotels here, the rooms in which are quite tolerable. But if you want to rent a luxury villa with ocean views and a private beach, prepare to shell out some cash. One of the most luxurious villas is located in the Canggu area - a mansion with seven bedrooms and a plot of land on the embankment of 1.63 hectares. For just one night stay in this villa you will pay more than 6 thousand dollars. You can buy such luxury for about 1 million dollars.

Visiting the monkeys

They say that you can easily meet a celebrity in Bali - Paris Hilton, Vanessa Hudgens and other stars love to come here. But much more often than celebrities you will come across... monkeys. They are cute, but they are still wild animals, so be careful around them. At the Uluwatu Temple, there were cases where monkeys carried tourists' belongings. They don't care about your shoes, wallet or glasses. But cunning primates will give them to you only in exchange for a treat. If you want to watch the monkeys for a little longer, here's one last interesting fact about Bali: go to Ubud, there's a Monkey Forest, admire the macaques as much as you want!

Bali is small island V Indian Ocean, country Indonesia. If you are planning to go there, then I suggest you read 20 interesting facts about Bali.

1. The area of the island is 5780 km², its length is 150 km from east to west and 80 km from north to south.
2. There are only two big ones in Bali active volcano: Gunung Agung (3142 m.) and Gunung Batur (1717 m.) are located in the northeastern part of the island.
3. The largest eruption of Gunung Agung was recorded in 1963.
4. There are only two seasons on the island: dry (June-October) and wet (November-March), the greatest amount of precipitation falls in January-February.
5. Bali has a total population of 3,890,757 people (2010).
6. The majority of Balinese (83.5% of the population) profess a local version of Hinduism called Agama Hindu Dharma. 13.3% of the population are Muslims.
7. There are about 20 thousand temples in Bali.
8. Denpasar is the capital and The largest city islands. Kuta is a city of eternal parties. Ubud is the center of Balinese artistic and creative life.
9. The most common transport among the local population is a moped or scooter.
10. The bulk of today's Balinese are descendants of people from the Javanese Majapahit Empire, which collapsed under the pressure of Islam at the beginning of the 16th century. The indigenous inhabitants of the island are a people called "Bali Aga", which means "inhabitants of the Balinese mountains", although they themselves do not like this name and prefer to be called "Orang Bali Mula" ("original Balinese") or "Bali Turunan" ("Balinese") descended from heaven").
11. When a girl gets married, she moves into her husband's family house. She becomes a member of his family, helps his older relatives, takes care of his family temple and honors his ancestors.
12. A man can have up to four wives, however, he can take a second one only with the permission of the first, a third, with the permission of both first ones, etc. But the basic rule is that he must provide for them all equally.
13. In Bali there are only four names, the same for both boys and girls: Wayan, Made, Nyoman, Ketut, which literally means “first”, “second”, etc. according to birth order.
14. There are 4 freshwater lakes on the island: Batur, Beratan, Buyan, Tamblingan.
15. Bali has 230 official holidays per year.
16. It’s 1940 in Bali now.
17. On the island there is a ceremony for filing teeth at the age of 16-18 years. This is done with the aim of pacifying the 7 most important vices in Bali in a person - lust, greed, anger, sadness, arrogance, jealousy and drunkenness.
18. The right hand is a sacred part of the body among the Balinese. For example, you can take and give an item only with your right hand
19. Volcano Agung (3142 meters) in Bali is considered the most sacred place on the island. All the temples of the island face in its direction and all Balinese sleep with their heads towards this volcano.
20. Balinese celebrate New Year in complete silence (Nieppi). For 24 hours, no one on the island leaves their house. All restaurants, offices, schools and shops are closed.

Hotel deals in Kuta

Read other articles on the island of Bali:

Excursions to Bali - popular excursions to Bali, description and cost, reviews
Lake Bratan and the main “water” temple of the island - Pura Ulun Danu
Green Bowl beach - spot only for professional surfers
An abandoned hotel in Bali and our visit to the hotel during a thunderstorm