POPULATION :
Known for their joie de vivre and warm welcome, Balinese people are proud of their culture, heritage, religion, and of course their tolerance and open-mindedness, characteristics that have become the true «markers of identity» of the inhabitants of «the island of the gods». The famous offerings, found everywhere (on the floor and on the tables, on the sand of the beaches and on the stalls of the shops, on the altars dedicated to the divinities as in the hotels open to guests, etc.) have become a strong symbol of Bali’s cultural and religious identity.
RELIGION :
Unlike the rest of Indonesia, where Muslims are overwhelmingly majority, Hinduism is the dominant religion in Bali (about 95% of the population). Balinese Hinduism is island-specific. It is different from that practiced in India.
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Religion occupies a considerable place in the daily life of the Balinese. Every day there are many celebrations that tourists can attend. These are more important in big cities, especially on full moon nights. Small villages prefer more authentic and intimate celebrations.
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Because of their Hindu religion, Balinese believe in spirits and reincarnation.
3 festivities are particularly important in Bali :
Galungan: this festival, which lasts 3 days, is presented every 210 days and represents the victory of the good Dharma against the evil Adharma, the creation of the universe. On this occasion, the Balinese return to their original village to honor the gods who would descend to the temples.
Kuningan: celebrated 10 days after Galungan, it honors the purification. On this day the ancestors leave the family temple. Kuningan partially immobilizes the country: service in hotels is reduced and most banks and restaurants are closed. To find out when the next Galungan/Kuningan celebrations will take place, find out because the time of year is never the same (every 210 days).
Nyepi: Nyepi means silence and celebrates the Balinese Solar New Year, which is usually around March or April. The day before, the Balinese bait the evil spirits with offerings then terrorize them at night with a din of firecrackers, screams and other gongs, all completed by a parade of giant monsters in the streets of the city. The next day, the island becomes completely silent and the inhabitants must stay at home. No noise is tolerated in the streets and no one should be outside, including tourists. Except ambulances, all motorized devices are not allowed. This obligatory silence will drive away the evil spirits who will think that the island is deprived of its population.
CUSTOMS :
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A golden rule applies to Bali: it is better to keep calm, not to be aggressive or angry, better to be patient. It is not necessary to be demanding and capricious, do not impose yourself, this can be very badly seen by the Balinese.
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Remember to take off your shoes when you go into a temple or home.
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It is strongly discouraged to touch the head of a Balinese, in Europe touching the head of someone can be seen as a friendly gesture, on the other hand it is not at all the case in Bali, it is for them a gesture that is very badly perceived. Indeed, the Balinese believe that the head is sacred since it is the seat of the soul.
THE FOOD :
In Indonesia, and especially in Bali, the food is delicious. Rice is the basic food, of course, and the national dish is called nasi goreng: fried rice with eggs, small pieces of meat and vegetables. In Bali, we feast on crayfish and frog legs so huge that we think we eat toad! And all, of course, at very affordable prices.
Here are some Balinese specialties :
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Urab: a delicious blend of coconut, beans or other vegetables, finely chopped and flavoured with spices and peppers.
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Ayam betutu: grilled stuffed chicken, served with vegetables, tapioca and coconut.
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Bebek betutu: a tasty duck Balinese specialty. Stuffed and long cooked in a banana leaf, it is always ordered the day before.
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Babi guling: stuffed pig and roasted on the spit. Excellent when not too fat. It is found mainly in Bali, the rest of the archipelago being largely Muslim.
Indonesians quickly ate in the lima khaki (literally “five legs”). They are small walking stalls where soups and rice are kept warm on coals.
Warungs are simple restaurants with benches around a table. The choice is limited, but the cuisine is relatively good. Again, the prices are very afffordable.
Rumah makan, more classic, is still an economic solution, but still a little more expensive than warung.