10 things you never knew about Bali

When people say ‘Bali’, we often assume they’re referring to just one of Indonesia’s 17,000 islands, and they usually are. Almost every visitor arrives in the capital city of Denpasar and travels straight to one of the main island’s beach resorts or mountain villages. Most don’t realise Bali also includes three smaller islands off its southeastern coast. Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan can be reached by boat and make a fantastic off-the-beaten-track day trip or overnight stay.

While the weather in many of the world’s favourite destinations fluctuates with the seasons, Bali’s temperatures only change by a few degrees throughout the year. Winter averages of 26°C and summer averages of 28°C make Bali one of the most consistent climates in the world. Technically, Bali has a wet season which lasts from November to March, during which time visitors can enjoy great deals on hotels, but these months are more likely to be marked by increased humidity and short afternoon showers than lingering rains or storms.

Ask your geography teacher which part of the world will most likely offer the best diving, and you’ll probably see them point at Bali. Indonesia’s most famous beach destination sits in the heart of the ‘Coral Triangle’, a region covering 1.6% per cent of Earth’s oceans but is home to 76% of all known coral specials. The waters around the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste support almost 600 different species of reef-building corals, six of the world’s seven marine turtle species, more than 2000 species of reef fish, and vast populations of tuna.

Standing tall in the centre of the main island, the 3,000-metre Mount Agung and the 1,700-metre Mount Batur represent a challenge for hikers seeking elevated views of Bali’s tropical scenery, a landscape they helped to shape. Both Agung and Batur are still active volcanoes. Batur hasn’t erupted since 2000, but lava has flowed from Agung as recently as May 2019. Don’t worry, though, as experts are constantly monitoring both peaks and safety procedures are in place should they ever be needed.

While Indonesia as a whole is over 85% Muslim and around 10% Christian, more than 90% of Balinese people consider themselves to be followers of Hinduism. You can see this influence in the islands’ wellness practices, such as yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda-based therapies. It’s also evident in the intricate temples and shrines which stand on cliffs, over the ocean, beside lakes, and on mountainsides. Bali also has its own spiritual philosophy, Tri Hita Karana, which encourages living in harmony with God, nature, and the community.

While Hinduism isn’t a strictly vegetarian religion, its focus on non-violence and compassion towards all creatures makes vegetarian and vegan lifestyles popular with many practising followers. By extension, vegetarian dishes are a major focus of Balinese cuisine, and excellent meat-free restaurants can be found in all areas of the islands. Ubud and Canggu are particular hotspots for plant-based dining, while substitutes like tofu and tempeh are common inclusions on menus in every town, resort, and hotel.

Bali’s rice fields are among its most beautiful landscapes and are vital to both the cuisine and the economy, but the systems around these fields are truly special. Initially developed in the 9th Century, Bali’s farmers use a unique Subak irrigation system that applies spiritual and cooperative principles to support the crops, environment, and ecosystems that sustain them. While the rest of the world is scrambling for sustainable agricultural practices which allow the productivity it needs, Bali has been using its own for over a millennia. UNESCO has dubbed it a ‘combined work of nature and humankind [that] expresses a long and intimate relationship between peoples and their natural environment’.

Agriculture and tourism aren’t the only industries in Bali. The islands also enjoy strong traditions in creative arts and crafts. While artisans can be found in towns and villages all over Bali, Ubud is often considered the cultural capital and is filled with workshops, markets, and galleries showcasing local fabrics, carvings, and paintings. For jewellery lovers, in Ubud and smaller towns like Sidemen, you’ll find a wide choice of intricate and custom-made silver pieces, from necklaces and bracelets to rings and earrings that make beautiful gifts or unique souvenirs.

If you ever need to ask what day it is in Bali, you might receive a confusing answer. Said to have originated from the rice growing cycles, Bali uses its own Pawukon calendar, which has only 210 days each year, and that’s the simplest thing about it. A week in the Pawukon calendar can be anything from one to ten days. In fact, it’s all of those lengths at the same time. Confusing? A little, but don’t worry, Bali hotels also use our Western Gregorian calendar for reservations. Otherwise, you’d never know when to check out! But that might not be such a bad thing…

While gold and tan are the most common colours of sand in Bali’s popular resorts, some beaches look very different. Bali’s east coast, from Masceti and Kusamba to Amed and Tulamben, is covered in volcanic black sand bays, a striking contrast against the blue sea and green trees surrounding them. Further south, Jungutbatu Beach on the small island of Nusa Lembongan and Balangan Beach on the Bukit Peninsula are the best places to go for those Insta-perfect white sands. If you want to see a rare pink beach, you can, but you’ll need to turn your Bali holidays into a multi-centre and add a few days on the islands of Komodo National Park.