If there’s one thing you’ll notice on Bali holidays, it’s that everyone seems to have the same names: Nyoman, Wayan, Komang… Why? Well, in a system of beautiful simplicity, every child, male or female, is called by the order of their appearance in the family. So the first-born is called either Wayan or Putu, the second is Made or Kadek, the third is Nyoman or Komang, and the fourth is Ketut. Once a family gets up to five kids, they start all over again.

2: The Island Shuts Down For One Day Every Year

Denpasar airport is the only international airport to close for 24 hours every single year. On Nyepi, Balinese New Year, all flights to Bali stop, and the entire island shuts down for a day of meditation and contemplation designed to fool the demons into believing that everyone has left. Hotels and hospitals still work, but you are not allowed to leave your room – and can be fined hundreds of dollars for walking the streets.

3: People Tell Directions By The Sacred Mountain

The Balinese don’t use the traditional compass points – North, South, East and West – or, for that matter, left and right. They tell directions by the sacred volcano at the heart of the island, Gunung Agung, which is traditionally the home of the gods.

4: The Ancient Temples Are Not That Old

One of the most stunning aspects of Bali is the sheer number of temples, many of them covered in moss and apparently very, very old. It’s true that some temples have been there for many hundreds of years. But each will be rebuilt every three or four generations – often in stages. Why? Because the stone used to carve the amazing sculptures is so soft that it erodes rapidly in the humid climate.

5: Bali Has A Caste System

Hindu India is famous for its caste system. And in Bali, although the Hinduism practised is a fusion of animism and Buddhism with traditional Hindu beliefs, a caste system still persists. There are three different levels of Balinese language, high, middle and low, each with different words for common objects, and each caste will use a different language. At a cremation in Bali, only high caste families can burn their deceased in a sarcophagus shaped like a bull.

6: The Tallest Building In Bali Is Not Very Tall At All

Looking for skyscrapers? You’ll be disappointed. The tallest building in all of Bali, which sits in the East Bali national park, used to be a watchtower for rangers to look for poachers. Now the Inna Beach Hotel holds the crown, with a whopping nine storeys.

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