Bali geographically located in the tropical zone has only 2 seasons, that is wet seasons and dry season. West season normally starting October until April, while dry season starting April until September. A part from natural season, a social life season are also known as other countries in the world. Some season even worst when the holiday is at the same time with international vocation such as July, August, Christmas and New Year. During these holiday seasons Bali in whatever condition so far has always been full with travelers. It has been well recorded by the service provider in tourism that during these seasons with the excessive demand of services, have given more advantage. That is why all prices during these season are higher. Hotels put surcharges on their regular discounted rates. Although prices are higher it does not mean quality of service then increases, this is just because of the law of supply and demand. Even tour organizers worry of the over capacity of all staffs in the service providers which could bring the focus less intensive, and in turn lowering the quality of service. Among above holiday seasons, Christmas and New year are the most crowded situation as most companies giving annual leave or long weekend during these dates. These season is called peak season to emphasize on high season of july and August. Rates are higher during this season compared to July and August.
Other Holidays
There are many other holiday season which do not affect the rates, but often high occupancy. These holidays come from both national or international seasons such as
7 January 2008 : Chinese New Year holiday and hotels in Bali will be fully booked during the date. Especially dates from 6 to 8th January will be totally overbooked. This has been going since many years.
23 January 2008 : Galungan Hindu Ritual. It is not national holiday yet it is for locally commemorated in Bali and conducted with minimum leave of work by changing the weekly leave or other ways yet for Balinese praying to their temple will be certainly be presence. Actually being in Bali during this day would give special experience of the most festive season of Bali. Service staffs might change in more frequency to give time of staffs to go for praying. One must have been aware of the possible effect of changing staff, which should be respected.
2 February 2008 : The same situation as Galungan, only less festive and only half of the day that people joining the ceremony.
7 March 2008 : Hindu New Year celebration, called Nyepi. During the dates of 6 and 7 March the situation will be very specific. "Nyepi" is Balinese common word derived from the root of " sepi " meaning quiet. To form intransitive verb it got nasal sound [ N ] referring to the situation of " stay in quietness, focusing or contemplating ", so as if it is no sounds is heard outside the focus of the mind. From the point of ritualistic religion this day is marked with the ceremony which basic purpose is to look back and have an overview of all previous deeds and direction of one's life, and bring back those small deviations into their right tract. Since Balinese do not relay all their life on reasoning of physical matters, they also beg the benevolent of nature's power (gods). The very basic of human is the " wish " which is believed to have born the greediness and in turn have born the evil spirits, which always give temptations to human beings themselves. In this day one will evaluate and discard all their misdeeds, and looking forward to the god blessed one.
One day before Nyepi From around 18.00 Central Indonesia Time, it is conducted a ceremony called " Ngerupuk " at every village ( Balinese : Banjar ). Today the ceremony has been conducted in some what same procedure and with same ritualistic materials. In the past it was only a praying activity to the gods for entering the " Nyepi " day, and praying for everything be in good and smooth. This is followed with the deafening sounds of beaten can, bamboo, and other materials, fire parades, and the sounds of the " lesung" produced by interwoven hits between a canoe and base ball stick like tools used to clean the rice. Later around the year of 1970s it was followed by a parades of " ogoh-ogoh ", a monster made to look like any frightening faces. This monster will be held around the village or along the main road by many youths, or following the main roads, and often last until 22.00 mid-night. The purpose of all of these is to put away all evil spirits from human mind.
17 August 2008 : the celebration of Indonesian independence. During this time all shops, government offices are closed, yet for those already staying in Bali has no problem for the activities such as sightseeing, tours or any pre-arranged program.
20 August 2008 : Galungan Holiday for Balinese only, same as above information.
30 August 2008 : Kuningan Holiday for Balinese only, same as above information.
1 October 2008 : Moslem Holiday of Idul Fitri. Bali will be fully booked during this holiday usually from 23 September through 3 October.