Bali

Asiatic water buffalo are used for ploughing rice fields in Bali. They are well-adapted to use in the flooded fields, as this is their natural habitat.

Ruined gateway to a traditional village temple in Bali. The temple walls usually enclose a number of gilded shrines, flowering trees, pavilions, and courtyards. There is a bell to summon villagers to meetings or feasts. Many temples have at least one meru, a pagoda-like construction with tiered roofs, built in honour of the gods.

Lakeside temple, Pura Ulun Danu, at Candi Kuning on Lake Bratan, Bali. The temple was consecrated in 1633 and is dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. The lake is 1240 m/4070 ft above sea level, which gives it a more temperate climate than other parts of the island.

Village huts near Singaraja, on the north coast of Bali. The island is mainly agricultural, with rice as the staple crop.

Rice terraces in Bali, Indonesia. Around 60% of the population of Bali works in agriculture, and rice farming is an integral part of everyday life.

Island of Indonesia, east of Java, one of the Lesser Sunda Islands; area 5,800 sq km/2,240 sq mi; population (2000 est) 3,151,200. The capital is Denpasar. The island has many volcanic mountains, and the highest peak is Gunung Agaung (3,142 m/10,308 ft). Tourism is a major source of revenue, and other industries include gold and silver work, woodcarving, weaving, copra, salt, and coffee. Arts include Balinese dancing, music (the Gamelan), and drama. Bali's Hindu culture dates back to the 7th century, but the island became a Dutch colony in 1908.

In 2002 a car bomb exploded at a nightclub in the tourist centre of Kuta, killing about 200 people and injuring some 300, mostly Australians. The Indonesian authorities blamed Islamic extremists belonging to Jemaah Islamiah, thought to be linked to the al-Qaeda international terrorist network.