27 Interesting Facts About Bali You Never Knew
Before the COVID pandemic, Bali was one of the most visited destinations in the world. While most people know about the Ubud Monkey Forest, and the great surfing conditions, today we wanted to bring you some of the lesser-known, but even more interesting facts about Bali, to give you a better grasp on this Indonesian island.
As its popularity shows no signs of slowing down, slowly but surely traditional Balinese ways are pushed out of the limelight to make way for the flocks of tourists who simply want to experience white sand beaches and cocktails on tap. But, if you can dig a little deeper, you'll find plenty of culture within Bali, which shouldn't be forgotten, as there is so much in the way of local customs and heritage that can't be found anywhere else in the world.
14 SUPER Interesting Facts About Bali
If you're planning a trip to Bali anytime soon, make sure you know these facts. While some are just for fun, some are crucial to making sure you are a responsible and respectful tourist.
Bali is home to the most expensive coffee in the world
Kopi Luwak coffee can cost up to $600 per pound, and a cup of Joe can set you back almost $100. The reason for its expense is the way it's made, which might put you off.
The coffee is made with partially digested coffee cherries that have been eaten by a civet, which is often mistaken as a type of cat but is more closely related to a mongoose. It's not glamorous, but the coffee cherries are collected once the civet defecates and used to make Kopi Luwak. The beans are cleaned thoroughly and then roasted at over 400°F, so you don't need to worry about the cleanliness of the coffee. There are many companies offering coffee tasting experiences in Bali, which include the opportunity to try Kopi Luwak.
80% of Bali's economy is related to tourism
Bali has been hit hard by COVID because the island is so dependent on tourism. From luxurious resorts to surf lessons, around 80% of the island's economy comes from tourism. Because of this, Bali is now one of the richest islands in Indonesia. Interestingly, 85% of the tourism industry is handled by non-Indonesians.
Bali is made up of 4 islands
This fact about Bali comes as a bit of a surprise to most, but Bali is made up of 4 islands, the island of Bali of course, as well as Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan, which are all just off the coast of Bali. It takes just 30-45 minutes by boat to access these islands.
There are just 4 names
Naming a child can be a stressful experience. After all, the child will have the name forever, and there are many factors to take into account - do you like it? Is it too different? Will they be teased? Could it have a funny nickname? The Balinese people don't have to worry about any of that as there are just 4 names used on the island, which are Wayan, Made, Nyoman, and Ketut. These names correspond with the order in which the babies are born. Wayan means firstborn, Made is second, Nyoman is third, and Ketut is fourth. You might be wondering what happens if a Balinese couple chooses to have 5 or more babies, and in that case, the cycle repeats. The fifth baby is called Wayan Balik, which translates to "Wayan again".
Bali has 4 abandoned airplanes
There are 4 abandoned airplanes scattered across the island of Bali. There's a Boeing 737 in South Kuta, a Boeing 737-200 near Pandawa beach, a McDonnell Douglas DC10 near Kuta beach, and a Boeing 737-200 in West Bali. All of the planes have different stories of how they came to be on the ground in Bali, and you can visit some of them and take a look around.
Babies are carried everywhere for the first 3 months
When we say everywhere, we mean EVERYWHERE. This is because babies under 3 months are considered to be holy. They are widely thought to be halfway between the spiritual world and the earthly world, as well as being a vessel for the spirits of their ancestors, meaning the birth of a baby is uniquely special for the Balinese people, and as such, a baby is not allowed to touch the earth for their first 3 months. These 3 months are Balinese months, which are different from what we as westerners know to be months, and equate to 110 days.
It is polite to leave food on the plate
This would be an easy way to insult the Balinese, but luckily it's very easy to get right. Always leave a little food on your plate at the end of a meal. Not only is this a signal to your host that you have had enough to eat, but a little is left as an offering to the gods.
Bali has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is described as an area of "outstanding universal value". There are currently 1,154 sites all over the world, and this small island in Indonesia is home to three of them. They are Pakerisan Valley which is made up of stone-carved shrines from prehistoric times, Jatiluwih Rice Terraces which are almost 500 years old, and Taman Ayun Temple, which dates back to the 18th century.
Balinese is a Hindu Island
This is one of our most interesting cultural facts about Bali because Indonesia as a whole is mostly Islamic, however, Bali bucks the trend as the majority of its people practice Hinduism. Not just Hinduism either, the Balinese have their own version, called Balinese Hinduism, which differs from the traditional Indian religion, and is a cross between Hinduism and Buddhism. One of the main differences is that the Balinese only worship one God, whereas traditionally Hindu people worship 33 gods.
Bali has its own mantra
If you've ever been to Costa Rica, you won't get far without hearing "Pura Vida". Translating to "pure life" it is more than a mantra, but is a Costa Rican way of life. In Bali, they have their own way of living, "Tri Hita Karana" which means harmony with God, harmony with nature, and harmony with the community.
The Balinese make daily offerings
In Bali, you will see offerings outside every home. These are called Canang Sari and are made every day to thank God in praise and prayer. The Balinese live in family compounds, and each compound puts a minimum of 15 Canang Saris forward every day. The offering is made up of a base that is often made from woven banana leaves or coconut leaves, and usually encompasses flowers, fragranced oil, and rice, among other things. Each object within the Canang Sari has a purpose, for example, the rice represents the spirit that gives life to the universe.
There is 1 day of silence every year in Bali
Another of our Bali culture facts is that the new year in Bali is marked by Nyepi, a day of silence over Bali, where the whole island shuts down, and the people spend the day fasting, meditating, and praying. On this day, you won't see any cars or mopeds on the roads, and the island is thrown into pitch darkness as night rolls in, without a single light to be seen.
The Balinese year is 210 days
We're all very used to a 365-day calendar, but the Balinese use a different calendar, or should we say two. The two calendars the Balinese use are the Pawukon calendar which is a numerical 210-day calendar, and the Saka calendar, which is a lunisolar calendar, which starts every Nyepi - the day of silence we spoke about in our last fact. The interesting point about these calendars is that they are not synchronized as the Saka calendar is made up of 12 months consisting of 30 days each, which is similar to the calendar we all know in the western world.
Bali is part of the Coral Triangle
Don't worry, the Coral Triangle is NOT similar to the Bermuda Triangle, and you won't go missing without a trace by hopping on a plane to Bali.
The Coral Triangle" is lovingly known as the "Amazon of the ocean" and is a collection of reefs that host over 30% of the world's coral and span 5.7 million square kilometers (2.2 million square miles). These areas are known for being extremely diverse, and brimming with life, including 500 varieties of coral and 37% of all reef fish species, as well as the world's largest mangrove forest.
It is called the Coral Triangle as it roughly makes a triangle in the ocean between Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste.
Mount Agung is the most sacred place in Bali
All four mountains in Bali are considered sacred, as, in their religion, the mountains are where the Gods dwell, but Mount Agung is thought to be the spiritual center of the island. It is home to one of Bali's most important temples, Pura Besakih, and the Balinese people believe the mountain was brought to Bali by the first Hindus. All temples on the island face Mount Agung, and locals try to sleep facing the mountain.
Indonesia is one of the most populated places on Earth
Some are surprised to learn that Bali is not a country in its own right, and is in fact an island within the country of Indonesia. Indonesia itself is made up of 17,508 islands, 6000 of which are inhabited, and is the 4th most populated country in the world, behind China, India, and the United States. Over 276 million people live in Indonesia, 4.4 million of whom live in Bali.
More Facts About Bali
Here are some more facts about Bali that we think you'll find interesting.
When a child hits puberty, the Balinese celebrate with a tooth filing ceremony.
Bali has the highest density of spas in the world, with over 1200 spas on the island.
As well as being an island, Bali is also a province, including over 30 islands.
Bali is antipodal to Venezuela.
Experts believe Mount Agung is likely to have a large eruption in the next 100 years.
Mount Batur has 4 villages that sit on its rim and a huge crater lake inside.
Australians are the top visitors to Bali, followed by the Chinese.
Bali was named the Top Global Destination by Trip Advisor in 2021.
David Bowie had his ashes scattered in Bali in a Buddhist ceremony.
There is a "ghost town" abandoned theme park in Bali that you can visit for a fee.
Japan occupied Bali in WW2.
Final Thoughts On Bali Facts
After reading these, you'll now be able to wow your friends and family with your knowledge of Bali. We hope these facts about Bali have shown you the REAL Bali, behind the beach clubs and attractions. The island is full of uniquely interesting cultures, and we highly recommend visiting at least once. If you choose to visit Bali and discover a few facts of your own, be sure to tell us all about it in our community, a hub for female travelers, which connects women around the globe to share stories, photos, and experiences.
If you're interested in visiting this region of the world, check out these 5 beautiful islands in Indonesia.