About Bali :: Tropical Homes Bali

ABOUT BALI

AIRPORT:
Bali's Ngurah Rai international airport is south of Kuta Beach. There are licensed currency exchange offices inside the airport in the baggage claim area and duty-free shops for departing international passengers. You will be collected from the airport as advised at the time of booking. A departure tax of 100,000 rupiah is charged, payable in cash after check-in for international flights.

BANKS:
Banks are open from 8 or 8.30 a.m. to noon or 2 p.m., Monday to Friday but be prepared to wait if you do require service at a bank. Money changers keep longer hours.

MONEY:
Currency is the Indonesian rupiah (Rp or IDR). It comes in banknotes (bills) from Rp1000 to 100,000, and various coins of minimal value. Hotels may exchange foreign currency and traveller's cheques, but money changers usually give better rates. Always count the money you are given when changing. All but the least expensive hotels accept major credit cards. So do some restaurants and shops, but they may add 3-5% to prices to cover the commission costs.

CLIMATE:
This close to the equator, temperatures remain fairly stable year round. In lowland areas they range from a nightly minimum of 24°C (75°F) to an average daily high of 30°C (86°F) in the shade. Mountain areas can be a lot cooler. The rainy season runs from September to March in Sumatra, a month or two later as you go south and east. Humidity is high at all times of the year. Click here for yearly average temperatures and rainfall.

CLOTHING:
Cool and casual. Beach wear, miniskirts and shorts are out of place in temples, where you may be asked to cover up with a sarong, as well as to wear a yellow sash tied round your waist. You can usually borrow these at the entrance, in exchange for a fee or donation.

COURTESY:
Except for a few who have learned bad habits from foreigners, Indonesians are instinctively courteous, especially to older people. It is polite to shake hands on meeting and taking leave. Only your right hand is used for passing food or gifts, and for eating. Pointing at someone with a finger, beckoning and standing with hands on hips or in your pockets are all seen as rude, aggressive gestures. It is a sign of disrespect touch anyone (children included) on the head.

CREDIT CARDS:
These are accepted at most hotels and at most of the larger shops and restaurants. Otherwise, you'll need cash.

CUSTOMS ALLOWANCE:
The following duty-free items may be taken into Indonesia: one litre of alcoholic drinks; a reasonable quantity of perfume; 50 cigars or 200 cigarettes or 100g tobacco; personal goods of a total value up to US$250.

DRIVING:
We will be happy to arrange a driver and car for the duration of your stay. If you choose to drive yourself, we can also arrange a car and you should have a licence from your own country and an International Driving License. The minimum age is normally 25, sometimes 21. In densely populated areas, roads are often choked with motorbikes, trucks, bicycles, wandering pedestrians and animals. Elsewhere, there's much less traffic and driving can be a pleasure. Traffic drives on the left, although some drivers only pull over at the last moment. Most major roads are well-surfaced, but in remoter and mountainous regions, they can be rough, tortuous and narrow. Petrol (gasoline) is available in the grade needed by most rental vehicles: pumps are marked "Premium". Diesel ("Solar") is also obtainable.

ELECTRICITY:
Most hotels are on 220-volt, 50-cycle supply, and use plugs with two rounded pins.

EMERGENCIES:
You will be supplied with a 24 hour service number for emergencies.

ESSENTIALS:
Travel light. You will rarely need anything more than summer clothes, preferably loose-fitting cottons, and Indonesia is a good place to buy casual and beach wear-the local sarong is a useful accessory. A sun hat is recommended. On visits to religious sites, you'll need to cover up. If you plan an expedition to the mountains, prepare for it to be positively chilly at night. Remember to take sun protection cream, sunglasses and hat, and mosquito re-pellent. These are also all available locally.

FORMALITIES:
To enter Indonesia as a tourist you will need a passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry. You may be asked to show an onward or return ticket. The stay is limited to 60 days. Please see this site for Visa details. If you are carrying any medication which might be mistaken for an illegal drug, bring a letter from your doctor or copy of a prescription. Weapons and ammunition are forbidden. You may be asked about cameras and electronic equipment but problems are unlikely. If you have nothing to declare, you can use the green lane. No more than Rp 5,000,000 in local currency may be brought into or taken out of the country. There is no restriction on foreign currency.

HEALTH:
Well before leaving home, ask your travel agent if any immunizations (vaccinations) are required. Ask your doctor which are currently recommended, for example cholera, typhoid, hepatitis. Your polio and tetanus shots should be up to date. The threat of malaria exists in some parts of Indonesia so if you plan to travel extensively, and particularly in rural areas precautions may be adviseable. Doctors and pharmacists in your own country will have up-to-date information. As well as taking the prophylactic medicines as prescribed, try to avoid being bitten. Take an effective insect repellent with you and apply to all bare skin and around ankles, even if they are covered, as soon as dusk falls. Mosquitoes may carry dengue fever, another good reason to avoid their bites. We can access doctors on call. Pharmacies (apotik) are quite well-stocked and can make up prescriptions. Medical services must be paid for, and although charges are not high compared to many Western countries, you should take out travel insurance covering medical expenses. If you have flown through several time zones, take it easy at first. Many mild cases of traveller's diarrhoea result from unfamiliar food, too much sun and time changes. Rest, drink plenty of (non-alcoholic) liquids and don't starve yourself: many people find a diet of plain rice, bananas and tea to be effective. Be careful of the tropical sun. Sunscreen creams-not oils-with high protection factors (SPF 30 or more) are recommended.

HOLIDAYS:
On 1 January (New Year's Day), 17 August (Independence Day) and 25 December (Christmas Day), public offices and banks close. Shops, especially in tourist areas, will usually be open. In addition, many Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu and Christian holidays are observed which are governed by the lunar calendar and move from year to year.

LANGUAGE:
The national language is Bahasa Indonesia (or just Bahasa), although among themselves many people speak their own local language. It is not difficult to learn a few words and phrases of Bahasa, and everyone will respond cheerfully if you try.

PHOTOGRAPHY:
The best times to snap away are early morning when the air is clearer, and in the golden light of late afternoon. Some temples and other sites charge a small fee for allowing photography, and in some places flash is banned. If you would like to photograph local people, ask permission, and respect their wishes. With children, the problem is to stop them waving and grimacing. Most popular film makes and sizes are available. Colour print films can be quickly processed locally but transparency film is best kept until you get home.

POST OFFICE:
Post offices (Pos Kantor) are usually crowded, and it's more convenient to buy stamps at postal agencies (agen pos) run by small shops, or ask your housekeeper to make arrangements for you.

SAFETY:
Most people are naturally honest, but theft does sometimes occur, so take commonsense precautions. It will be automatically assumed that you are rich, and in comparison with most local people, you probably are. Put your valuables in provided room-safes and don't leave desirable items unguarded. Watch out for pickpockets, especially in crowded places, and carry only the cash you need. If you do have something of value stolen, report the loss your housekeeper who will arrange for documents to show your insurance company. The possession, sale, import and export of narcotic drugs is illegal and punished by severe jail sentences and fines. DO NOT get involved.

SHOPS:
Most shops open daily 9 or 10 a.m.-9 or 10 p.m. Some close on Sunday.

TELEPHONE:
The telephone system is modern, with direct dialling. To telephone Indonesia from other countries, dial the international access code, then 62 for Indonesia, then the area code (omitting the initial 0) and number. For calls from Indonesia, dial 00, then the country code, area code (omitting initial 0) and number. More recently VOIP connections have become available with the prefix (017). Look out for the efficient WARTEL offices - here you can make local and international calls and send faxes, economically and without delay.

TIME:
GMT+8.

TIPPING:
A service charge of 10 per cent is added to most hotel and some restaurant bills. Tipping is not expected in small local eating places but always appreciated!

TOILETS:
Establishments intended for Western visitors have Western-style facilities. Elsewhere they are likely to be simpler, and in rural areas rudimentary.

TRANSPORT:
Buses are cheap but generally overcrowded. It is more comfortable to use a bemo, a minibus or van following a fixed route and picking up and setting down passengers all along it. There are supposed to be fixed fares for all journeys but most drivers will charge as much as they can get away with. All taxis should be equipped with a meter - insist that the driver uses it.

WATER:
Drink only bottled mineral water.