Bali was inhabited around 2000 BC by Austronesian people who migrated from Southeast Asia and Oceania through Maritime Southeast Asia. Due to this, the Balinese are closely related to the people of the Indonesian archipelago both culturally and linguistically. The culture was strongly influenced by Indian, Chinese and especially Hindu culture, which is why Bali has the largest Hindu population in all of Indonesia, and the Hindu culture is everywhere. For obvious reasons, Bali has a huge tourism industry, with tourism-related business making up 80% of the economy. Due to this, there are a variety of different languages spoken on the island. Second to Indonesian is Chinese, with English coming in third. Other languages spoken are French, German, Japanese, Korean and Russian, to name a few. The cuisine in Bali is a reflection of the diverse group of tourists attracted to the island. We had some of the best schnitzel we have ever had while in Bali, a day after eating at a chinese buffet (not the best Chinese we have ever had.) If veganism is your thing, you will have no problem accommodating your diet in Bali as vegan shops and restaurants seem to be everywhere. For the more carnivorous of us, the sate and Babi Guling are unmatched.
Since Bali is quite near the equator, the climate really doesn’t vary much throughout the year. You can expect a lot of heat and high humidity, there really is no escaping that so pack accordingly. You can get a bit of relief with higher elevations, but it is best to just prepare for the heat.
Bali is a popular destination for yoga enthusiasts and extreme travelers alike. That is just a testament to how diverse the tourism on the island is. You can book a 5-star yoga retreat, or go backpacking and hostel hopping, Bali has it all. Whether you are on a budget, or money is no option, Bali has it all.