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! ATTENTION since
our last research trip to Indonesia severe devaluation of the
Rupiah means that the prices quoted in this guide are likely
to be widely inaccurate. We were planning a research trip in
March but have decided to postpone it until the situation stabilizes.
Bali, a small Indonesian island off the W coast of Java, attracts over 1 million tourists every year. Famed for its great natural beauty,a spectacular landscape of volcanoes, rice terraces, rain-forest and beaches. Visitors are also fascinated by Bali's unique culture & traditions, strongly influenced by Hindu, the island's main religion. |
| Bali, a small Indonesian island off the W coast of Java, attracts over 1 million tourists every year. Famed for its great natural beauty,a spectacular landscape of volcanoes, rice terraces, rain-forest and beaches. Visitors are also fascinated by Bali's unique culture & traditions, strongly influenced by Hindu, the island's main religion. |
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| Official language: Bahasa Indonesian. There is also a local Balinese language based on the Hindu cast system. Basic English is widely understood in tourist areas. |
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Java island: GMT +7 Aru, Irian Jaya, Kai, Moluccas and Tanimbar: GMT + 9. |
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Tropical monsoon climate, Hot & humid. Average temperature 25-30C, 5 degrees lower in high areas. |
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| Wet season: Oct - Apr. | Dry Season: May - Sep |
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High Season Lebaran - end of Ramadan, Independent Holidays(Aug
17) During Indonesian holidays, it is almost impossible
to take reserved seat for trains and buses. Jul-Aug - European holidays, Christmas, New Year- Australian holidays. Prices are more expensive. Bargaining possible outside of high season. |
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| Room Single - Rp20,000 | |
| Rest. Indonesian: 4,000+ | Western: 9,000+ |
| Mineral water 1.5lt - market Rp2,000, rest. Rp3,000 | |
| others: | |
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Coffee (instant) Rp1500 (local)
Rp1000 (espresso) Rp4,000-10,000 |
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| Big Mac set Rp24,000 | Shake Rp2,000 |
| Coke Rp2,000 | Beer small Rp6,000+ |
| Breakfast (local.) Rp4,000+ | Breakfast (Am.) Rp9,000+ |
| Toilet paper Rp1500? | Tooth paste (local) Rp? |
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Tampons x8 Rp7,500? (bring with you). |
Fuji film (36x100) Rp20,000 |
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Government Offices - M-Th8:00-15:00,
F8:00-12:00, Sa 8:00-14:00. Shops - 8:00-20:00 |
| Banks - M-F 8:00-15:00, Sat 8:00-12:00 |
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| Current Rate $1=Rp9,000-10,000Rp (Aug, 2001) |
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EXCHANGE No commission charged. Moneychangers rate often higher - Moneychangers in Kuta offer the best rates in Indonesia but Cheating by moneychangers is common in Kuta. Know how much you should get and count your money very carefully. Cheating techniques: 'fixed' calculators that have been pre-programmed, missing off zeros, rounding numbers down, etc. Better rates often given for higher denominations. The best rates is cash rate at money changers. |
| Rate at Airport: About 5% lower than ones in town. |
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Traveling Money: Generally
a mix of options is best - T/C's, some cash in foreign currency
(US$ is most popular) and/or a credit/cash card. If you are planning
to stay in rural areas you may not be able to change T/C's or
find an ATM facility. T/C US$ is the standard, but checks in all major currencies can be changed. American Express & Visa are the most common. Generally no com. charged. Bank rates are higher for T/c's than cash, moneychangers generally give higher rates for cash. Rates are higher in Kuta. |
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Cash US$ is most widely accepted.
Cash is useful when leaving/entering a country or when banks
& moneychangers are closed. Moneychangers rates are higher for cash than T/c's, they're also give better rates for larger notes - 100's & 50's. |
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Credit/Cash Cards ATM's can be found in all big cities
and many tourist areas. (Listed in local info) Cash advances against a card can be made in many banks, usually there is a service charge of around Rp5,000 or 5%. Credit cards can be used in some hotels, shops, restaurants & travel agents, sometimes charge - up to 3%. With ATM machine, usually no charge. |
| ! Warning Credit card fraud occurs, particularly in tourist areas. |
| ! Warning Visa - Delta system in operation at some ATM'S. |
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Passport: must be valid for at least 6 months from
date of entry. Visa: At most entry points, 1 month visa is issuced. $25. (Should have an onward ticket but this rule is not strictly enforced.?) Visa Extension: (Officially not possible. However there are a few report that it is possible to extend at the Immigration in Denpasar though ITIS has not confirmed it yet.)? |
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Warning Bribing is common practice in Indonesia. If you arrive at immigration without an onward ticket you may be asked for money, particularly late night and early morning when there are few people around. One woman arrived in Bali without an onward ticket. She was interviewed, alone in a room with a (male) immigration officer. He asked her for US$50, she gave him A$40, then he tried to kiss her and arrange a date! |
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| AIR/airport Denpasar/Ngurah Rai International Airport, 3km S from Kuta. |
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Departure tax International
Rp75,000, Domestic Rp11,000. Facilities: Moneychangers, Tourist Info Counter, International telephone/HCD, Left luggage Rp4,000/p/day, over-priced restaurant, over-priced Dunkin Donuts, overpriced souvenir shops. |
| Flight Prices: see Kuta info |
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Indonesia has an extensive domestic flight
service Garuda Merpati,
Sempati, Bouraq & Mandala airlines
are the main carriers. Prices are standard, reductions are rare.
A 10% tax is usually included in prices listed at Travel Agencies.
Student reduction of 25%. Air pass: One coupon is usually about $100. You have to take Garuda to fly into Indonesia and apply within a certain period. However because of the currency problem, it is much cheaper to buy domestic air tickets with Rupiah. International tickets: You buy with US$(cash or T/C) Domestic Tickets: pay with rupiah. |
| SEA/Seaports |
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Ferry service every 1-2hrs
24hrs Gilimanuk - W coast. Main port for ferries to/from Java (Ketapang). Ferry service takes 2 hrs. Padangbai - E coast. Main port for ferries to/from Lombok(Lembar port) takes 4 hrs. |
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Boats: Bounty Cruise: Benoa to Gili Meno Barito: Benoa to Surabaya Java, Bima Sumbawa, Maumere Flores, Kupang W Timor. |
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Transport from Java Can take bus from most cities on Java through to Denpasar, Lovina and Padangbai, via the ferry between Ketapang (Java) and Gilimanuk (Bali). There is a bus terminal at Ketapang (Java) 2km? from the port(bemo 1000Rp) and a train station 5 min. walk away with services to/from the main cities in Java. See Bali Transport Sheet for more details. |
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Transport around Bali: Denpasar is the bus(Medium size) and bemo transport center for Bali. Bemos cost 50% more than buses. Over charge is very common for both of them. Major bus station, Ubung in Denpasar and Singaraja bus terminals post the fare list on the window of the office. For some route, it is almost impossible to take a bemo/bus with local price. |
| Taxi: Metered taxis in Kuta, Sanur, Denpasar. |
| Ojeks: Motorbike taxis. Bargain before getting on. |
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Bemo: Mini-vans run on set
routes in towns & inter city. Price varies according to distance, bargain hard. |
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!Warning:
Bemo drivers usually overcharge tourists. Getting
local price is almost impossible. There are 2 payment methods:
1) Do like the locals, don't bargain, pay when you get off, -
check Bali transport list for prices or ask locals. 2) Negotiate a price before getting on. Either way it will probably be a hassle. You will be asked to pay more if you have a backpack. |
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Shuttle Bus: Regular services between main tourist centers on Bali and Lombok. 3 times as expensive as public bemos but very popular - convenient and hassle free. It's possible to stopover at certain towns on a through ticket - eg Padangbai to Kuta, can stop-over in Ubud on route. Must check with office. 2 main shuttle bus operators - Perama & Nomad. Can book at travel agencies and hotels. Pickup at hotels. Keep the ticket with you. They allow 5-10% discount for your next trip. |
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Car/bike rental: Self drive is a great way to get around and explore the island. But driving in Bali is stressful and accidents are common. Motorbike rental from Rp30-50,000/day. Prices are negotiable, especially for extra days. Check if insurance is included. Wear a helmet & protective clothing.. Bicycles Rp10-20,000/day |
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Indonesia is a country of islands. If you
want to explore real Indonesia, you have to travel cross a sea.
Pelni ships connect between remote islands. Traveling with these
scheduled boats may be interesting. However it is hard to take
them because they don't run frequently, delaying is usual, and
it is very uncomfortable because of the low quality. There are many boat owners/agents are operating
in Indonesia. |
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| Post offices: M-Sa 08:00-20:00 in large town. M-F only in small towns. |
| Postage prices for postcards vary. Size was one reason given for the difference. |
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Price in Rupiah |
Japan | UK | USA | Aust. |
| Post Card (small) | 600 | 6-900 | 6-900 | 600 |
| Letter (10gr) | 1,000 | 1,400 | 1,500 | 1,000 |
| Airmail parcel 0.5kg | 30,000 | 40,000 | 33,700 | 33,200 |
| 1kg | 39,000 | 49,000 | 46,500 | 38,600 |
| 2kg | 52,500 | 76,000 | 83,200 | 55,600 |
| Sea mail parcel 1kg | 36,000 | 33,700 | 19,800 | 27,400 |
| 3kg | 42,400 | 44,100 | 36,300 | 33,200 |
| 5kg | 49,800 | 55,200 | 53,000 | 40,100 |
| Small package to anywhere: 1kg = 15,000,2kg = 25,000 | ||||
| Telephone |
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Services are improving. Wartels
(Telecommunication Offices) public & private, are everywhere,
many are open 24hr. Check local city info. Payphones: Local calls cost Rp100 (1min.). Domestic and HCD calls only. Very hard to find ones working. Also they accept only old coins. Not practical to use them. Cardphones: Usually have IDD facility. Common in tourist areas, airports. Phone cards from 75 units - Rp30,000?+, available from Wartels, some kiosks, restaurants & shops with the sign 'Sedia kartu telepon'. |
| IDD International Direct Dialing: Access Code 001 or 008 + country code + area code + no. |
| Operator 101, Int Enq 102 |
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IDD facilities are available at Wartels (Telecommunication Offices),
many hotels and from most card-phones. There are a few different
"grade" of Wartel store. Official Wartels offer HCD/collect
call/discount rate. But private ones offer one rate(highest)
to each country. 3 different rate. standard, premier, discount. |
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Charge(3 min.) to Japan
Rp15,000, UK/Canada
Rp17,000, Rest
of Europe Rp20,390, USA Rp15,000;
Australia Rp15,000. |
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Charge(Fax 1 page) to Japan Rp8,500,
UK/Canada Rp9,500,
Rest of Europe Rp11,000,
USA Rp8,500, Australia Rp8,500. |
| ! Warning The price varies between companies. Check around |
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HCD Home Country Direct: Dial 001 + 801 and the following number. Australia: 61(Telstra) or 0611(Optus), Canada 16,France 331, Germany 49, Japan 81(KDD) or 0812(IDC), Korea 82(KT) or 0822, Netherlands 31, New Zealand 64, UK 44(BT) or 0441(Mercury), USA 10(AT&T) 11(MCI) or 15(Sprit) |
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Cheap hotels are called "losmen".
They have usually double rooms only and include free breakfast
& tea/coffee. The costs start from 6,000Rp. The more travelers
the town has, the cheaper the rooms are. The cheap rooms start
from sb d15,000Rp.
The acceptable level starts from
ab d25,000Rp, often with free bf/tea/coffee. Indonesian Holidays: X-mas - new year holiday & the end of Ramadan. Independent day holiday. The price may become more than triples Avoid rooms near the mosques. At the time of prey, you will suffer from the incredible large sound from their speakers. |
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Rice (Nasi) is the basis
of most Indonesian meals. Noodle (Mie) is common in Chinese dishes. |
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There are many regional specialties. More expensive international dishes are widely available in the tourist areas. Street hawkers and Warungs offer the cheapest local food. Check the level of hygiene first |
| Balinese Specialties |
| Lawar - Chopped and shredded Papaya, Jackfruit, green beans, coconut and leaves, served with other dishes; |
| Babi Guling - Roasted pork, stuffed with herbs & rice; |
| Betubu bebek - Smoked duck; Bubuh Injin - Rice pudding with coconut & fruit |
| Indonesian Specialities |
| Sate- charcoal-grilled chicken or mutton pieces usually served with peanut sauce |
| Nasi goreng- fried rice |
| Nasi campur- cold rice served with meat, vegetables, tofu and fermented beans |
| Gado gado-salad with peanut sauce and prawn crackers |
| Cap cai - fried vegetables |
| Ayam goreng - fried chicken |
| Mie Bakso- noodle soup |
| Rijsttafel - rice with as many as 15 different side dishes. |
| Deserts |
| Pisang goreng - banana fritters |
| Bubur - sweet black rice with coconut milk |
| Es buhah & es campur - crushed ice with fruits and condensed milk. |
| Drinks |
| Kopi - Coffee, local coffee is excellent and cheap, from Rp200. More expensive nescafe and expresso is also available |
| Fruit juices/shakes are available in every travelers-style restaurant. |
| Bottled beer, & soft drinks are available everywhere. |
| Fruits |
| Rambutan: similar to a lychee, has hairy, red skin. |
| Durian: huge, smelly, spiky fruit |
| Nanka (Jack-fruit) similar to Durian, used a lot in cooking. |
| Manggis (Mangosteen) round, purple fruits with soft white clusters inside - delicious. |
| Belimbing - star fruit. |
| Tap Water |
| Not drinkable. Buy mineral water or purify/boil. |
| Ice |
| Ice is generally safe because it is government regulated, but the handling of ice may not be hygienic |
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Visitors everywhere should try to observe local customs in order
not to cause offense. Listed below are some basic Indonesian customs. See South East Asia customs page for more details. |
| Toilet: Squat toilets are normal. Toilet paper is not common - Locals wash with their left hand. |
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Left hand Considered dirty
for reason above. Always use your right hand to give/receive anything from anyone. |
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Tipping:
Not usual except for porters and at high class hotels
& restaurants. Service tax is often added to bill. |
| Dress: Modest clothing is appropriate particularly when visiting temples. |
| Cigarette etiquette: When passing lighted cigarette to someone,Hold the lit end in your palm. It is offensive to point the lit end at other people. |
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At Temple: Everyone should
wear a sash when entering a temple. A sarong is also necessary
if legs are not covered. Sash/sarong rental is common at temples
but you might as well buy a set. Women who are menstruating & people with open wounds shouldn't enter temples. |
| During ceremonies: visitors should show respect, be discreet with cameras & videos. |
| Getting angry: You should avoid anytime because it means insulting. Getting angry or razing voice does not solve any thing. |
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| Department stores and markets have fixed prices but bargaining is usual in markets, stalls and tourist shops. |
| ! Warning Hassle from hawkers is very aggressive in places like Kuta & Kintamani. |
| Souvenirs |
| Batik, Ikat, ethnic-style clothing and sarongs, puppets, masks, jewelry, woodcarving, basket ware, paintings and ceramics. Ubud & Kuta are the main shopping centers. |
| Voltage/Plug type 220 volts, rounded 2 pronged. |
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The highlight for many visitors are the superb, highly professional
gamelan music & dance performances, based on the ancient
Hindu Ramayana & Mahabarata myths. Though local performances often last many hours, there are many shorter versions performed in the main tourist areas. Ubud has the largest program. A calendar of performances, explanation & price list, are available from tourist offices & travel agencies. |
| Music: |
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The Gamelan orchestra plays at many temple ceremonies, dance
and wayang puppet performances. Gamelan is made up of mainly percussion based traditional instruments. |
| Dances: |
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Kecak Also known as 'monkey dance',
is a very exciting, male dance. Though it was first performed in the 30's, it has much earlier origins in Sanghyang trance chanting. The music accompaniment is not the usual gamelan but a male choir, chanting the distinctive Ke chak-ke-chak sound that gives it its name. Based on a Ramayana story of King Rama's attempts, with the aide of a monkey army, to rescue his wife Sita, held captive by King Rawana. Legong An elegant, classical dance accompanied by gamelan, in which the principle dancers are girls or very young women. Legong tells the story of the plight of Princess Rangkesari, held prisoner by King Lakesmi and Prince Daha's attempt to rescue her. Barong & Rangda A trance dance that tells the story about the fight between good and evil, good in the form of Barong, a humorous character played by 2 men in a lion-like costume (like a pantomime horse). Evil in the form of his opponent the Witch Rangda. |
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DIVING SURFING |
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The temple is the center of Balinese festivals and ceremonies.
Most festivals in Bali follow either the Hindu-Javanese, Waku Calendar - 210 day year divided into weeks of 10 days or the Hindu Saka Calendar of 356 days. Many festivals are held around the full moon period in April and at end of September. |
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Waku-Calendar Festivals Odalan festival Held by every temple on its anniversary, every 210th day, lasts 3 days. With over 20,000 temples on Bali, there are many opportunities to see this festival. 1st day - Procession of the village women to the temple. The women wear traditional clothes, and carry offerings of fruits and rice cakes arranged in a pyramid, on their heads. The food is left at the temple for 3 days then eaten. Gamelan, dance and wayang puppet performances are held in the evenings. Cockfighting also takes place. |
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Galungan (Balinese New Year)
10 day festival. In honor of the creation of the world. 1st Day - Food offerings are taken to temples. Barong dancing takes place in the evening.. |
| Kuninggan Last day of New Year holiday, ancestors are honored. Temples are decorated with flowers and offerings are made. |
| Pengerupuk Last day of Balinese Year, according to the Saka calendar. Purification and sacrificial ceremonies at temples are carried out.Priests chant to get rid of demons. In the evening torchlit parades take place featuring monsters and demons. Best in Denpasar. |
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| Jan 1 | ph | New Year's Day: On New Year's Eve street festivals and carnivals are held. Paper trumpets are sold and can be heard blown everywhere. |
| ? | Imlec Chinese New Year. | |
| Apr 13 | ph | Wafat Isa Al Masih: Good Friday.(Christian) |
| Mar 25 | ph | Nyepi: Balinese Saka New Year & day of silence. torch parade night before.You should stay in your hotel. |
| Mar 26 | ph | Muharram: Moslem New Year. |
| Mar 5 | ph | Idul Adha: Moslem Day of Sacrifice. |
| Apr 21? | Kartini Day: Women wear national dress to commemorate birth of Raden Ajeng Kartini, founder of womens' rights movement | |
| May 7 | ph | Hari Raya Waisak Day: Buddha's birth/death, Procession from Candi Mendut to Borobodor held. |
| May 24 | Kenaikan Isa Al Masih: (Christian) | |
| Jul 4 | ph | Maulud Nabi Muhammad: Birth of Mohammad. Festivities start one week before. |
| Aug 17 | ph | Independence Day: Events held throughout the country. |
| Oct 15 | ph | Isra Mi'raj Nabi: Prophet Mohammad's Ascension Day. |
| Nov 15 | Ramadan: starts | |
| Dec 15? | ph | Ramadan: ends |
| Dec 25 | ph | Hari Raya Natal: Christmas Day. |
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| Ubud: Bali's cultural center and its most attractive town, is an excellent base for exploring Bali, has some of the best value food and accommodation options in Indonesia. |
| The beaches |
| South Bali: Kuta, popular beach resort near the airport, overdeveloped, noisy, hassly, has excellent facilities; Sanur, an up-market resort, with limited interest to the backpacker; |
| East Bali: Candidasa quieter & less developed than Kuta but without much beach, backpackers are increasingly staying at the nearby small coastal towns of Padangbai & Ahmed, which are not as developed, have beautiful white sand beaches and great snorkeling. |
| North Bali: Lovina, a black sand beach, popular with backpackers. The place to see dolphins. |
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| Many in major tourist destination. Kuta, Ubud, Lovina, Padangbai, Candidasa, etc. Prices 100-300Rp/min. The speed is usually slow. |
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