Islands have always held a special fascination for tourists across the globe. And, Bali is no exception. An Indonesian island, Bali is the biggest tourist destination in the country. One of the major attractions of this place is its rich cultural heritage. A hub for art, Bali is highly regarded for its sculpture, dance, painting, metalwork, music, etc. Inhabited mainly by migrants from the mainland of Asia, Bali has a history dating back to 3000 B.C. It is, therefore, befitting that the traditional practices of this place have survived the test of time. An unadulterated Bali bears testimony to this inarguable fact.

Art enjoys an exalted position in Bali. The people of this place are deft craftsmen and prodigiously gifted musicians. The Gameplan music of this place is renowned all over the world. A musical bonanza created from an ensemble of instruments, including Xylophones, Drums, Metallophones, Gongs and Flutes, the art is a treat to both the eyes and the ears. In addition to this, Bali is famous for its handicrafts, woodcarving, and dance forms. The Pendet, Baris, Topeng, Barong, Kecak, and Legong are some of the most popular Balinese dances. Despite constant inflow of foreign immigrants, the legacy has largely remained untouched and these art forms are ample proof of this.

One of the most popular and widely-watched events in the world is the event preceding Nyepi, the New Year celebration of this place. Bali prides itself for the spectacular performance, where large, colorful sculptures known as Ogoh-Ogoh monsters are lined up along the streets, and later paraded and burnt.

For a tourist, the island of Bali is nothing less than a masterpiece painted by an accomplished artist. Lush green paddy fields, dense forests, picturesque beaches and mountains that kiss the sky make for an amazing view. The scenic beauty of this island, coupled with grand temple architecture and interesting ceremonies, make Bali a prime tourist spot.

The prehistoric roots of Bali are exemplified by stone pillar inscriptions and intricate rock-cut memorials located at Gunung Kawi. Although marred by violent carnages and blood-shed, Bali has changed little in terms of its value systems. The Hindu legacy of the island is still visible in the Balinese community practices. Tourists visiting Bali would find the Gunung Kawi monument, the Museum Le Mayeur and Puru Ulun Danu Bratan veritable sight-seeing locations offering records of Bali’s ancient history and heritage.

Everyone knows about the constant talk about going green and helping are planet’s environmental issues. But, are there any rules to follow or should we really be concerned? That is why I decided to write this “Green Guide for Today’s Household”, a short guide to help you make decisions about green living.

The first thing I would like to discuss is the products we buy and how each person can do their part. Many items that we use around the house are very toxic because they contain chemicals that can either harm us or our waterways. Many manufacturers are seeing the need and concerns for better eco-friendly products. I have even noticed special shelves in our grocery stores that feature green products. So, the next time you buy your cleaning products, buy green and help our environment. This is one small way we can all help by being aware of the products we purchase.

If you have a garden or yard that you keep groomed all of the time then I know the challenge it is to keep the pest away. Pesticides also come in green mixtures that work as well as the dangerous ones sold by many big chemical companies. That also gets me on the subject of water use. Try this; get yourself a 55 gallon drum so that you can collect rain water. Use the rain water to water your yard and garden in exchange you are saving our number one natural resource and besides natural rain water is better than our treated drinking water. Again, you are helping our planet by saving water.

Many of our foods contain preservatives that would scare anyone. It seems like we become the foods we eat. It is really time to take a good hard look at what we put in our mouth. You can help save problems with your health by buying items that are organic, that do not contain preservatives or other things that might make you glow in the dark. We know that some of these items in our food have been tagged as cancer causing, but who knows the long-term effect on our children many years from now.

This next item really is in a class of its own and that is energy. There are many ways that you can contribute to saving energy. One way is to cut back on your energy usage; use less hot water, set your heating and cooling thermostat to either higher setting during the summer and a lower setting during the winter, wash your clothes in cold water, are just a few examples of ways to save energy at home.

In this short green guide I have listed a few ways you can contribute to a greener lifestyle. If each and every one of us would do his or her part we can stop the depletion of our natural resources.