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TRAVEL SPOTLIGHT | ||||||
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Isle of the Gods With serene temples, tranquil beaches and mesmerizing dive sites, Bali is a paradise on earth by John Anderson With its miles of white-sand beaches, stunning tropical landscape, fascinating culture and friendly locals, Bali is well deserving of its status as the jewel of the Indian Ocean and as one of the most exotic destinations in the world. A diminutive island within Indonesia’s vast archipelago—at 2,175 square miles, it’s smaller than the state of Delaware—Bali remains the most popular of the country’s many destinations, with more than two million visitors a year. While Bali is becoming more accommodating for the luxury-seeking traveler (there are two Four Seasons hotels and plush resorts from Bulgari, The Ritz-Carlton and the Conrad), the island’s indigenous charms and attractions are found outdoors among its beaches, temples and verdant interior. Bali is, after all, mostly a province of small villages devoted to agriculture; but its location just eight degrees south of the equator and its year-round tropical climate make it a tourist haven. 
Two women take part in the Barong Dance, which portrays the
struggle between good and evil. Photo courtesy of ©Shutterstock, Inc. |
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