*ARTS AND CULTURE*
 
TRADITIONAL DANCES:
Balinese dances are taking place all of the time, all over the island (especially in Ubud) and they are open to anyone.
Admission is usually Rp.7,000-10,000(about US$1.1 or JPY130). Some of the common dances are Kechak, telling the tale of
the quest of Prince Rama to rescue his wife Sita after she had been kidnapped by Rawana, Barong&Rangda,
which is a battle between good(Barong) and evil(Rangda) and Legong, which is the most graceful of balinese dances performed by
a young girl. 
GAMELAN ORCHESTRA:
In Bali, you seem to hear gamelans playing all the time everywhere you go.
The Gamelan orchestra is made up entirely of percussion instruments, some of which are Gong Ageng, which is suspended on a wooden frame,
made of bronze and is about 90cm in diameter, Ketuk, which is a small kenong tuned to a certain pitch, marking subdivisions of
phrases, Saron, which is the basic instrument-type of the gamelan, a xylophone with bronze bars
and are struck with a wooden mallet.  
MUSEUMS IN UBUD:
It was in Ubud that the modern Balinese art movement started, where artists first began to abandon purely religious and court scenes
for scenes of everyday life. Below are the two main museums in Ubud, where you will discover Balinese culture and customs described vividly on the
detailed, excellent works. Museum Puri Lukisan: On the main street of Ubud, the Museum Puri Lukisan, Museum of Fine Arts, was established in the mid-50s and displays fine examples of modern art. You enter the museums by crossing a river gully beside the road and wander from building to building through beautiful gardens with pools, statues and fountains. Open 8:00-16:00(everyday). Admission Rp.2500(about US$0.3 or JPY30). Museum Neka: Continue beyond the suspension bridge and Campuhan and 1 km or so up the road is the Museum Neka. Housed in a number of separate buildings the museum has a diverse and interesting collection, principally of modern art as well as a variety of works by western artists resident in Bali. Open 9:00-17:00(everyday). Admission Rp.2500 (about US$0.3 or JPY30).  
RELIGION: The Balinese are nominally Hindus but Balinese Hinduism is half a world away from that of India. They believe that spirits are
everywhere, an indication that animism is the basis behind much of Balinese religion. In the Balinese world good spirits dwell in the mountains and bring prosperity
to the people while giants and demons lurk beneath the sea and bad spirits haunt the woods and desolate beaches. The Balinese live between these two opposites and
their rituals strive to maintain this middle ground. You can see their religious lives everywhere in Bali, there are temples in every village, shrines in every field,
offerings being made at every corner. 
SPA/MASSAGE
Spa and massage centers in Bali will provide you the unforgettable relaxation with the balinese traditional massage 'Mandi lulur' and
the floral, aromatic bath. Major spas are located in Legian, Sanur, Nusa Dua and Ubud area and the cost will be around Rp.60,000 (US$8 or JPY810) for one or two hours' massage.
 
FOOD
Indonesian dishes served in many restaurants and hotels include 'Sate' (charcoal-grilled skewers with small pieces of chicken, beef, pork or prawns)
served with a peanut sauce, 'Gado-Gado' (a half-boiled combination of various vegetables with peanut sauce), and 'Nasi Goreng', tasty fried rice with either meat or shrimps.
You should not miss one of the Balinese specialties, Babi Guling, the crispy skin and pieces of grilled suckling pig which is a specialty of the town of Gianyar.
Most popular drink among the foreign visitors to Bali is Arak: a colorless, sugarless spirit distilled from either Brem or Tuak
(Tuak is a sweet palm wine made from the juice of the coconut palm flower,
Brem is made from black glutinous rice and coconut milk) with 20% to 50% alcohol content.
It is usually served 'on the rocks' as "Arak Attack" or "Arak Madu" (Arak, lemon or orange juice, and honey).
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