The Ritz-Carlton, Bali, is the first Asian resort for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., opened November 29, 1996, Built on 70 hectares (173 acres), the 323-room resort hotel is perched on a bluff overlooking the Indian Ocean. It is four stories, following the basic Balinese architecural principles that no building should be higher than coconut palms. The hotel includes 36 one and two-bedroom villas. The majority of the guest rooms have ocean views. Located in Jimbaran in Southwest Bali, eight degrees south of the equator, the hotel is a 15-minutes drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport.

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Canggu - Canggu is the coastal Bali as its best. Known for sunbathing and surfing, Canggu is for those looking for a quiet beach where the life is easy and relaxing. Traditional Balinese fishermen here still use the beach and sea for livinghood, it offers a unique view to behold. Canggu offers the visitors a double magnificent scene to see, a beautiful beach in front of you and mesmerizing rice fields complete with their wildlife – thousands of birds and butterflies are right behind you.

Canggu Map

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Kertalangu Cultural Village, as its slogan says is a new concept destination in Bali. Situated in the middle of the rice field in Sanur area Kertalangu gives a rural nuances yet easily reached from the city center. Strategically located on the By Pass in in Kesiman Kertalangu, Padang Galak, East Denpasar, Kertalangu Cultural village is only 15 minutes away from the airport and 10 minutes drive from the city center.

Kertalangu Cultural Village covers 80 hectares area, houses 16 types of handicraft industries , recreational and tourist facilities, organic farming facilities and rows of rice fields which also serves as jogging track. Upon arrival in this cultural village, gallery and shop selling ornamental plants and earthenware on the side of the thoroughfare greet visitors. There are also an open-air restaurant with a stage and a sound system, workshop center, art market, and other tourism facilities in the main area.

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Balinese dance is an aspect of Balinese culture that undergoes many changes and gets many influences from various sources. These changes and influences create add a new flavor to the established genre of Balinese traditional dance. An example of a traditional dance genre that gets many changes and influences from various source is the Baris (warrior dance).

The changes and influences give birth to what is called ‘Modern Baris”. The modern Baris at first introduced in solo Baris performance, a new development of classic Baris Gede. It is not clear when or where the first modern variations on the old Baris Gede was introduced, but they seem to be an early twentieth century development. The modern Baris dance is performed by a soloist, for some fifteen minutes, accompanied by gamelan gong. The dancer wears a distinctive costume based on that of Baris Gede, with its shimmering pointed helmet. The basic movements have also been taken from the older dance, but have been refined and embellished in considerable degree.

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Farmers of central and south Bali, which cultivate the lion share of the rice fields in the island of Bali only need to glance up to clouds which hanging around Mount Batur to be reminded of the ultimate origin of the water that flow into their fields and become the lifeline of agriculture in central and south Bali. Yes, in the crater of Mount Batur, stretching over 1,718 hectares is Lake Batur, an immense fresh water lake that is regarded as the ultimate source of water for rivers and springs that provide irrigation water for central and south Bali.

Lake Batur is regarded as the abode of Dewi Danu (goddess of the lake) which controls all the water that flow from this lake hence all the water that flow into the rice fields in central and south Bali. Since the rice fields are greatly depends on flow of water from the lake, the farmers of central and south Bali has a strong relationship with the goddess of the lake, spiritually all the rice fields which draw their water from the lake are belong to the goddess of the lake. This relationship is succinctly defined in a sacred manuscript known as Rajapurana Ulun Danu Batur, which is kept in the temple of the lake, “Because the goddess makes the water flow, those who do not follow her laws may not posses her rice fields”.

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This shot was taken from Gumang Hill and Wikipedia says:

Mount Agung or Gunung Agung is a mountain in Bali. This stratovolcano is the highest point on the island. It dominates the surrounding area influencing the climate. The clouds come from the west and Agung takes their water so that the west is lush and green and the east dry and barren.

Gunung Agung last erupted in 1963-64 and is still active, with a large and very deep crater which occasionally belches smoke and ash. From a distance, the mountain appears to be perfectly conical, despite the existence of the large crater.

From the peak of the mountain, it is possible to see the peak of Mount Rinjani on the island of Lombok, although both mountains are frequently covered in cloud.

The lava flows missed, sometimes by mere yards, the Mother Temple of Besakih. The saving of the temple is regarded by the Balinese people as miraculous and a signal from the gods that they wished to demonstrate their power but not destroy the monument the Balinese faithful had erected. However, over 1,000 people were killed and a number of villages were destroyed in this eruption.

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