The Balinese belief system is a unique hybrid of Hinduism, animism and ancestor worship \u2013 and Gunung Agung is at the heart of this system. It is the abode of the ancestors, the sacred seat of the Hindu god Siwa, or Shiva \u2013 otherwise known as Batara Gunung Agung, home to Bali\u2019s most sacred temple, Besakih. \u00a0Every village temple is built to face it and the Balinese orient themselves by it. Ask a Balinese for directions and they\u2019ll be explained according to the four cardinal points – north, south, east or west. Forget road names! And north usually means in the direction of Gunung Agung. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Gunung Agung is highly active \u2013 it last erupted in 1963, \u00a0at a time when volcanology on the island was virtually non-existent. The response to the volcano\u2019s recent activity has been far more rigorous. Locals living within the exclusion zone (10 kilometres at time of writing) have been evacuated and experts have been laser focused on seismic readings, lava levels within the crater and so forth.<\/p>\n Relatively minor magmatic eruptions occurred on 25 and 26 November – that is molten rock was ejected from the crater. As of December, the volcano has quieted down considerably. What does this mean for those planning to visit Bali? First of all, it is perfectly safe! Bali\u2019s airport, all of its southern resort districts and Ubud in the central highlands all lie scores of kilometres away from the exclusion zone. And that includes all of Karma\u2019s resorts! Then there is the issue of travel disruption. As you will probably know, Bali\u2019s Ngurah Rai airport was shut for a couple of days and flights were cancelled during the November eruptions, as ash clouds can be dangerous to aircraft. But all the signs right now are that the volcano has calmed down, with no ash reported on the ground in December and little steam emerging. It may well be that the minor eruptions last month reduced the pressure beneath the crater, making a major eruption less likely. <\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/devp.karmagroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/181151esrjczms5wcrajeq-1024x624.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/devp.karmagroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/KG_SM_Bali-is-Safe_1080x1080px_171206-1024x1024.jpg\")
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<\/p>\n![\"Karma](\"https:\/\/devp.karmagroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/KRES_RESORTS_BANNER_KRC-1024x380.jpg\")
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