Art
& Festival
There are several festivals
on Bali, most involving music, dance, religion and art; all of
which are held very close to the hearts of the people. Two of
the major festivals are 'Galungan' and 'Nyepi'. 'Galungan' is
the major feast of the wuku calendar. For ten days the Gods are
said to visit the island and mythical lion dogs prance between
temples and villages in celebration. The eve of 'Nyepi' involves
the noisy banishment of lingering evil by using gongs, drums and
flame torches. On 'Nyepi', the whole of Bali is quiet. People
stay at home and do not cook, pretending they are not there in
order to fool evil spirits into believing the island is uninhabited.
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Bargaining
Difficult for many first timers
but once you get the hang of it you’ll never pay retail again!
However, not everybody wants to bargain anymore. Many of Bali's finer
retailers now refuse (price tags generally signify a fixed price)
but bargaining is still the norm in the art markets, trinket and T-shirt
shops. But don’t get cheesy. Nothing is more irritating nowadays
than watching a well clad tourist trying to squeeze the last 1,000
Rupiah (about 10 US cents) out of a shopkeeper. Just remember how
much it cost to get to Bali. So what is the value in not taking home
that beautiful wood statue? Negotiate a good price and take home a
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Bali Dining
Rice is the staple food in Bali
and is often included in accompanying dishes and sometimes in soups.
Chicken, beef, and seafood are either steamed, braised stir or deep
fried and even grilled over coconut husks. Chilli, coconut, garlic,
ginger, saffron lemon grass and several kinds of shrimp paste are
just some of the ingredients that give Indonesian food its unique
flavour. Lunch and dinners are served with a choice of main courses
and vegetables, usually well spiced and aromatic, but not too hot.
'Sate' (charcoal-grilled skewers with small pieces of chicken, beef,
pork or prawns), a somewhat up-market delicacy is served with a
peanut sauce and on a number of restaurant menus. For a more down-to-earth,
but authentic experience of Indonesian food, many markets and stalls
operate day and night and tropical fruits are in abundance and shouldn't
be missed.
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Visa
Visitor from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, Canada,
the USA and most of Western Europe don't need a visa to enter Indonesia.
Provide you to have a ticket out of the country and your passport
has at least six months' validity at the time of your arrival, you
will issued with a tourist card which is valid for a 60-day stay,
not two months - some traveller have been fined for overstying by
only a day or so.
It's not possible to get a extension on a tourist pass, unless
there's a medical emergency of you have to answer legal charges.
If you want to spend one more time in Indonesia you have to leave
the country and re-enter.
If you have a good reason for staying longer, eg for a course or
study, or for family reason, you can apply for a 'social visa'.
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Money
The unit of
currency in Indonesia is the rupiah (Rp). You get coins of 25,50,100,500
and 1.000 rp. The Notes come in 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000,
50.000 and the newes series of notes for the higer denominations
-100,000
Exchange Rates
The exchange
rate is not artificially set - it is a more or less free market
rate. You may check the money converter
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| Useful Numbers
Taxi
Taksi Praja : 289191, 289090
Taksi Bali : 701111
Medical
AEA International (Medical Evac) Jl. Hayam Wuruk 40, Denpasar. Tel
: 228996
Bali International Medical Center Jl Bypass Ngurah Rai 100X Denpasar.
Tel : 761263
Rumah Sakit Dharma Husada (Hospital) Jl. Panglima Sudirman No.50,
Denpasar. Tel : 227560
Kuta Clinic : Jl. Raya Kuta No.100X, Kuta. Tel : 753268
Nusa Dua Clinic : Jl. Pramata No. 81A, Nusa Dua. Tel : 771324
Rumah Sakit Umum Sanglah (Hospital) : Jl. Diponegoro, Denpasar.
Tel : 227911
Emergency Numbers
Ambulance : 118
Fire : 113
Police : 110
Search & Rescue : 51111
Red Cross : 26465
Operator Assisted Calls
Within Indonesia : 100
International : 101
Directory Information
Bali : 108
Indonesia : 106
Credit Card Enquiries
American Express :
Galleria Nusa Dua Shopping Center. Tel : 773334
Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Sanur. Tel : 288511 ext. 111
Mastercard :
Bank Central Asia, Jl. Cokroaminoto, Denpasar. Tel : 222652
Visa Card :
Bank Duta, Jl. Hayam Wuruk 165, Denpasar. Tel : 226578
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Tipping
Advice
A
service charge of ten percent is usually added to restaurant bills.
If no charge is added, a gratuity of between five and ten percent
would be appreciated though not necessarily expected. Tipping taxi
drivers and other service personnel is recommended. However, keep
the amount at a reasonable level. As the currency of Indonesia has
a tendency to be erratic, it is wise to check the relative values
of the Rupiah on a daily basis
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| Bali Climate
Bali
is tropical being situated roughly eight degrees south of the equator.
There are two seasons, wet and dry. The dry season runs from April
to September and tends to be slightly hotter than the wet season,
although the wet season is much more humid. The temperature all
year round tends to hover around 30 degrees Celsius (Mid. 80's degrees
Fahrenheit).
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Language
- The national language is Bahasa Indonesia. English
is spoken by most of the younger people.
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Custums & Tradition
Shorts
and mini-skirts are not allowed in and around temples. It is a custom
to take off the shoes in temples, on festivals grounds and in private
houses. We strongly recommended these customs to show your respect
for the religious traditions.
Embracings and intimate touchings are not well seen in public. Nude
or topless bathing is forbidden.
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Electricity
Most hotels use 220 volts, 50
cycles and a round, two-pronged slim plug. Bathroom shaver plugs
usually have a transformer switch. We suggest taking an adaptor
for your appliance.
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Driver's License
If you wish to hire a car you
must be over 18 years of age and posses an International Driver's
License or license from ASEAN countries.
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Getting Arraund
You will find a range of chauffeur
driven limousines, self-drive cars, taxis and hotel courtesy cars.
Many taxis are not metered so it's wise to negotiate the fare before
you climb aboard. Bemos are a unique form of transport. They are
a mini-van masquerading as a communal bus. You simply hail the driver
and negotiate the fare that suits you both. Motorcycles can also
be hired in many places but special care should be exercised at
all times as road and traffic conditions can be somewhat hazardous
in certain locations. Traveling around Bali is made all the easier
because everywhere you go you'll find friendly people only too happy
to give you advice and directions on how to get where you want to
go.
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Accommodation
As you can imagine
there's an enormous variety of accommodation available in Bali.
It varies from magnificent five star resorts to simple jungle cabins,
depending on the location and your holiday budget.
Check out these great selections. click here
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Bali Hotels
by Regency |
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Activities |
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Parthner
Links |
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