Bali was first inhabited in 2000 BCE.  In the 14th century, under the Majapahit Empire, it became predominantly Hindu.  The Dutch ruled for most of the 19th and 20th centuries, but in 1949, Bali joined the newly independent nation of Indonesia.

It has a mountainous tropical geography with terraced rice fields and world-famous beaches.  The island has a population of just over 4 million, and its capital is Denpasar.  More than 85% of the population practices Balinese Hinduism, making Bali unique in a mostly Muslim Indonesia. 

We have been to Bali a couple of times, but the pictures here are from our last visit in December 2002.  These photos are from our old website.

There are wonderful and totally different types of beaches all around the island

A view of a volcano and a lake from
our restaurant in the center of the island

 Terraced rice fields went for miles

A village in a jungle up in the mountains.

There is still evidence of the Oct 12. bombing

The pool area at our first hotel in Kuta

The view from our hotel room in Nusa Dua

Most of them have walkways
like ours here in Ubud

But if you don't use a net
at night, you might wake up
a quart low

Four roosters ready for the evening fight

Poppies Lane, Kuta

A jungle home we spotted on a trek

Glenna at our room-side pool in Ubud

There are hundreds of inexpensive hotels
 all around the island

Indoor-outdoor bathrooms are common
at restaurants, homes and hotels

One of many little shopping streets, mainly focusing on tourists

Page 2

Resting in front of a terraced rice field

A residential street on the island

On October 12, 2002 an Al-Qaeda suicide bomber detonated a bomb inside Paddy’s Pub in Kuta. Seconds later, a much larger car bomb exploded outside of another local club, and a few minutes later, a third bomb exploded outside of the US Consulate in Denpasar.  202 people were killed, and more than 200 were injured from 20 different countries.  It sent an emotional shock wave throughout the country.  Extreme sadness and depression hung over our whole trip this time.

A wreath in memory to those who just died