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Bali island |
Sea, sun and sand are only part of the lure of Bali, which also offers
visitors marvellous volcanic landscapes, a rich culture and a friendly
people, says Brian Johnston.
Bali may be a mere dot on the world map but it punches well above its
weight when it comes to tourism, luring millions of holidaymakers to its
shores year on year. There are those who lament the passing of Bali’s
original image as an unspoiled “paradise” of white-sand beaches, lush
interiors and tranquil villages. Yet, while it’s true that there are
swatches of coastline now adorned with concrete and shopping malls, it
isn’t difficult to find the Bali that has seduced western visitors since
the early decades of the twentieth century: surf pounding on golden
sands, coconut trees nodding in the breeze, rice terraces piling up the
sides of the hills in swathes of shimmering, iridescent green, volcanoes
on the horizon, and the amazing richness of Bali’s religious, dance and
cultural heritage.