| Bali island in Indonesia is renowned for its | | | | in a giant caldera that contains a lake that |
| natural beauty and as a fabulous tourist | | | | is a few miles long and over a mile wide. |
| attraction. However, the island is also known | | | | Mount Batur is actually a very active volcano |
| for its terrorist attacks in recent years. | | | | and can erupt moment as it erupted with great |
| Since then, the people of Bali have recovered | | | | frequency but the eruptions are less violent |
| and the island is now a hotspot for tourists | | | | these days except in a giant eruption in 1917 |
| from all over the world once again, | | | | which claimed thousands of lives and |
| especially for its beach resorts and volcano | | | | destroyed hundreds of temples and villages. |
| helicopter tours. | | | | |
| | | | Hiking up Mount Batur in the wee small hours |
| The island's ecology and geography are | | | | of the the morning has become something of a |
| greatly influenced by the towering mountain | | | | "must do" thing for many tourists in Bali. |
| range of volcanoes that dominate the island. | | | | You will need to bring along a sweater as it |
| These majestic volcanoes created Bali's | | | | can get a little chilly at the volcano |
| stunning mountainous landscape and they | | | | summit. |
| occasionally regenerate its soils and help | | | | |
| produce heavy rains that provide this resort | | | | There is also a little coffee shop at the rim |
| island with precious fresh water. | | | | selling drinks for thirsty hikers and many |
| | | | children and women in flip flops balancing |
| The Balinese considered the island's many | | | | buckets of soft drinks on their heads |
| volcanoes, lakes and spring as sacred and | | | | scampering around trying to earn your tourist |
| treat them with respect and awe. If you are a | | | | dollar. As the sun rises, you will get a |
| tourist traveling to Bali for your holiday | | | | picturesque view of Lombok and other |
| vacation, you will be awestruck with the | | | | surrounding islands. |
| sheer majesty of the volcanoes. These natural | | | | |
| landscapes are major tourist attractions and | | | | One very interesting hike on Mt Batur is the |
| many tourist go sightseeing the volcanoes on | | | | climb down the inside of the crater from |
| helicopter tours so that they can view the | | | | Penelokan to Kedisan. There are boats at Toya |
| volcanoes in all its splendor and take | | | | Bungkah Lake to take you across the lake to a |
| awesome pictures. The island is still | | | | village called Trunyan. This village is |
| continually being formed by volcanic | | | | notorious for its mortuary traditions because |
| activities. | | | | instead of cremating or burying their |
| | | | deceased, the Trunyan villagers leave dead |
| Bali is located over a major fault zone where | | | | human bodies to decompose naturally in a |
| the Indo-Australian plate collides with the | | | | designated cemetery. |
| Sunda plate. In 1963, a violent eruption on | | | | |
| Mount Agung killed thousands of people and | | | | Although Bali is known for rice cultivation, |
| utterly destroyed many rice fields and | | | | its volcanic soil is actually not well suited |
| irrigation network. | | | | for such activities. The soil is finely |
| | | | textured and well drained, so water soaks |
| The dramatic lava flows on the north eastern | | | | through the soil rapidly and thus precious |
| faces of Mt Agung is the newest landforms, | | | | water is wasted. The solution therefore lies |
| showing what the island may look like in | | | | in repeated and vigorous ploughing which make |
| ancient pre-historic time. It is a | | | | the soil less permeable. |
| fascinating sightseeing experience, almost | | | | |
| like a scene out of Jurassic Park. | | | | So if you are visiting Bali for your holiday |
| | | | vacations, do not miss out a sightseeing trip |
| Perhaps, the most popular volcano for | | | | to view Bali's majestic volcanoes, better |
| tourists to visit and go sightseeing is Mount | | | | yet, take a helicopter tour of this |
| Batur. This grand old dame of a volcano sits | | | | spectacular tourist attraction. |