Visiting Bali

One is never quite prepared for the reality of Bali. Emerald hillsides curving spectacularly against  azure skies, satin-ribbon beaches, the sensual fragrance of frangipani and jasmine, timeless temples and a culture of slow grace… for a very small island, Bali packs a huge punch as a travel destination.

Arguably the best known island in the Indonesian archipelago, Bali on a map, looks rather like a large, exotic fish facing westwards. Its central and eastern regions are mountainous. Mount Agung, the highest point is a volcano, last active in 1963. Coral reefs rim the island. Southern Bali has white sand beaches while those on the northern side have black sand. Just eight degrees south of the equator, Bali enjoys a tropical climate with temperatures averaging 88° F(31° C). The best time to visit is in the drier months between June and September when humidity is low and fresh, cool breezes temper the daytime warmth.

In predominantly Islamic Indonesia, Bali is a Hindu enclave. Over 90 percent of the population is adherents of Balinese Hinduism, which is a fascinating amalgam of Hindu, Buddhist and native deities, besides local practices like ancestor worship and animism. Religion pervades every aspect of existence here.

Life has never been the same since the twentieth century traveler stumbled upon Bali. The island makes more money from tourism than the rest of Indonesia, with agriculture now taking second place in the local economy. It’s not hard to figure out why.

From sinfully luxurious hotels to quaint, family-run outfits, Bali has a wide range of accommodation. The western coastline boasts of world class surf spots; the eastern side is better suited for family vacations. Kura and Seminal are towns synonymous with Bali’s happening nightlife. If you’d rather poke around off the beaten track, visit smaller islands like Nusa Lembongan with quiet beaches and no vehicular traffic

The drive through mountains to the northern coast is manna for the tired, urban soul. Terraced paddy fields interspersed with coffee, vanilla, cocoa and spice plantations make a pretty picture. Exploring the misty trails around the volcanoes is a must-do (you can take a walk across the crater lake at Mount Batur).

Art and life are a seamless blend for several of the locals. Many Balinese work in their fields by day and turn into artisans at night. Religious beliefs are an intrinsic part of artistic traditions. Gold and silver jewelry, textiles, woodcraft, stone carving, painting and metalwork – Bali has it all. A visit to artisan villages like Batubalan, Mas, Celuk, Pengosekan and Sukawati will leave your pocket lighter. Most travelers also do the rounds of art galleries and shops at Ubud, the cultural center.

If you’re lucky, you could catch a religious festival in progress involving community dances and worship. If not, there are staged performances for visitors.  Typically, a Balinese dance performance is a heady combination of theater and entertainment based on mythology; often, there’s a fun, interactive element with performers dressed as exotic creatures bounding into the audience.

There are around 20, 000 temples in Bali of which Besakih or the “Mother Temple”, on the way up to Mount Agung, is the largest and most revered. A trip to the seventeenth century Taman Ayun temple can be combined with a tour of the Monkey Forest, home to around 300 Balinese macaques.

A Whole New World of Entertainment

17.2 million square feet of world culture, out of this world shopping, around the world food and of course fun for everyone; that’s the Global Village in Dubai.  Fire breathing men from Moscow, a human cannon ball, drummers from South India, amazing street performers and crafts and cuisine from around the world, that’s what makes the Dubai Global Village such a crowd puller every year. This multi cultural theme park is the tourist hotspot of our times. Located in Dubailand, this phenomenal entertainment project is spread over 17.2 million sq. ft. and draws in millions of visitors every year since its opening in 1996.   Keeping in tune with the global theme of this entertainment village the shows and events are drawn from all over the world.  Performances from the US to the Far East and all the countries in between come to life on a grand stage. So, while one can easily groove with the vigorous dancers of Africa, one can just as easily sway to the mystic beats of Sufi music from India. On one hand there is the fun of an American country dance, on the other French fashion of the 1890’s come alive in a traditional dance.   The whole idea is to feel the pulse of world culture and this goes to a new level with the Community Stage. Here people are encouraged to match steps with others or showcase their own talent. For those with shopping on their mind things couldn’t get bigger than the Global Village. The place boasts of country specific exotic pavilions where craftsmen from the world over congregate. Again the buyer is spoilt for choices. An ethnic Japanese kimono? They have it!  A silken carpet? Of course, it’s here! And there are enough ATMs and foreign exchange booths inside to help shoppers indulge.  To round off the entertainment package there is also a grand Fun Fair with rides for everyone in the family. Needless to mention, the restaurants, cafes and kiosks here provide a most exciting culinary journey around the world. This village opens in the evening and stays on well into the night seven days a week. Monday nights are reserved for families only. A robust public transport system is in place to commute to and from the Global Village and ample parking space. Apart from the normal entrance fee there is also a VIP package which includes a number of entry tickets, funfair coupons and also the use of the VIP car park.   On the radar of the most happening places today, the Dubai Global Village is surely a place to up the cultural IQ and carry back some wonderful memories.

Egyptian Leather Work – African Gifts

Murals from 4000 BC depict Egyptians wearing high heels made of flexible leather pieces and held onto the foot with leather ties, while panels of gilded leather work appear in some of the tombs. One of the earliest examples of Egyptian leather work is a 980 BC canopy of appliqued leather. And the Egyptian Mathematical Leather Roll, featuring a table of fraction expansions, dates from the Middle Kingdom period.

Egyptians now offer us affordable and practical leather items like wallets, boxes, jackets, cigarette cases, shoes, bags, even dog collars, some accented with gold leaf.