Bali is situated in Indonesia, one of the best tourist destinations in Asia. For those who plan to visit Bali, I herewith write Ten Essential Tips for Bali Vacation for your consideration.

1. To enter Bali, or Indonesia for that matter, make sure your passport is valid for six months upon entry into Indonesia, otherwise you’ll find yourself on the next plan out. You also must have proof of onward passage (i.e. a ticket out of Indonesia).

Tourist, social and business visas can be obtained from any Indonesian embassy or consulate abroad. Citizens from Asian countries comprising Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippine and Laos do not require a visa, only a valid travel document. Visitors from some thirty countries are also provided with a 60-days tourist visa issued directly upon arrival. Consult your travel agent or airlines, mention your nationality.

2. Money matters: The rupiah is the basic unit of money. Foreign currency, in bank notes and traveler’s checks is best exchanged at major banks or authorized money changers. Do change money at a reputable looking location, use your own (or the hotel’s calculator before changing), as the ones used by some places can be “a little inaccurate”. Most important; always count your money before you leave the place. Traveler’s checks are accepted at all major hotels and large shops; some smaller shops will also accept them. Passport number is required. Do not forget to take passport (or a photocopy of your ID), with you at all time.

3. When changing large amounts of money please check each note carefully as there are a number of (noticeably) fake bills in circulation.

4. There have been a few cases of handbags being snatched after one has cashed money at banks or money changers. Put your money away in your “bum-bag” or hold onto your handbag tightly.

5. Credit cards and charge cards: To day many hotels, shops large and small accept plastic, with the proviso that an additional 3% is added onto your bill. However, when traveling to the village, take rupiah with you. Keep small change handy when riding in public transports or buying drinks at warung.

6. Make sure you either have personal insurance or travel insurance that will cover in any accidents. If you rent a car (must be with insurance), beware of motorbikes, as there are too many on the road. When you park the car, always remember to remove all your properties. Crime is on the increase and can spoil your holiday. Be careful with your belongings at all times. Cases of handbag snatching have been reported, so leave important documents in your hotel safe (carry photocopies). Do not forget to look and listen while you cross the road. Cars may stops, motorbikes may not!

7. Going to Bali, dress casually. Take light clothes, as the weather is warm-to – hot throughout the year. Remember Bali is a land where prayer and eligious festivals take center stage. When visiting a temple or attending ceremonies, make it a point to respect local customs and traditions. Always wear a sarong and sash. Do not walk in front of people praying. Do not use a flash camera or point your camera to the priest’s face. Do try not to step on offerings in the street (walk around them). Women are not allowed to enter temples during menstruation.

8. Do not drug! It can carry the death penalty, and there are enough foreigners residing in Bali courtesy of the Government prison service.

9. Do not swim outside designated swimming areas on the beach, current/undertows can be very strong. Swim between the red and yellow flags. Don’t swim too far out. Do not leave your belongings unattended on the beach.

10. Health: International health certificates of vaccination against smallpox, cholera, and yellow fever are required only from travelers comprising from infected areas. Typhoid and paratyphoid vaccinations are optional but still advisable. Drink only distilled or mineral water, or water that has been boiled and eat a lot of fresh fruit – do your body a favor.

Don’t worry too much about ice, it’s a government quality controlled in established bars and restaurants. Most people traveling through Bali get the infamous “Bali Belly” at some time or other. Taking and Imodium will stop you up. At the first time of discomfort (diarrhea and cramping), drink strong, hot tea and avoid all fruits and spicy foods.

Taking charcoal tablets will help alleviate the cramping. Bali is worth a visit, plan your vacation, go on line and book your preferred Bali hotels or contact your travel agent. Thanks you readers.

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Written by Made Dertha. About the Author: Made Dertha was an English and Italian tourguide for many years in Bali, writes for Bali Turista Tours where he is the Managing Director now.

Visit and Travel Around Bali, Learn About Bali

Religion

Thought 90 percent of the Indonesian population is Moslem’s, in Bali 90 percent follow Hinduism.  The left hand is considered unclean and therefore, when you hand something over or shake hands, make sure to do so with your right hand.  Also, don’t touch some one’s head, and when you visit a temple, avoid wearing revealing clothes, ( Menstruating women are not allowed to enter a temple).  Sometimes you are required to wear a sarong or sash before entering a temple (some places rent these out of charge)

Currency & Exchange

The basic Currency is rupiah ( Rp.),

The bill are:  Rp. 100; 500; 1.000; 5.000; 10.000; 20.000; 50.000; 100.000.

The coins are : Rp. 100; 500;1.000

Money below Rp. 100 is rarely in circulation. You might get candies instead of small change.

Water

Though water in most parts of Indonesia is soft water, the tap water in Bali is hard.  Never drink from the tap and always be sure to use bottled water.  Be careful with ice as it is often made from water that is not purified.

Time difference

As Indonesia is long from east to west, there are three time zones.  Bali belongs to the central time zones.  While Jakarta and Yogyakarta, the west time zone, so there is a difference  of one hour between Bali and those areas.  When you are going to Yogyakarta, don’t forget this one hour time difference.

Tipping

Tipping is not usually necessary in major hotels and restaurants as a service charge is added to your bill.  But if you ask someone to do special service, it is OK to give a tip.  Currently, tipping for room service is somewhere from Rp. 10.000 to 50.000.

Telephone

When making domestic calls in same area, dial the number directly.  When calling outside the area code beginning with 0 and then the number.  There are public phones but it is likely that they will be out of order.  Use WARTEL – a privately owned telephone service company – or call from the hotel.

Language

The Official Language is Indonesian.  Balinese speak together using Balinese.  At hotels and many restaurants and major tourist sites, there are staff capable of speaking English and major foreign languages.

Climate and Clothes

Bali has a tropical monsoon climate.  In which April to September is dry season and October to March, the rainy season.  Bali is hot throughout the year but during the dry season it may get chilly at night and early morning.  A jacket will help.

Voltage

The voltage and frequency in Indonesia are 220 volt and 50 hertz respectively.   The plug is a C type:   two round pin as shown above.  When using an electrical appliance from another country, you might need a transformer and plug adapter.

Credit Cards

Major hotels, restaurants for tourists and duty free shops accept credit cards.  But there are cases when a handling charge of a few percents is added.  The exchange rate at the time of using the card in Bali will be different from when it is billed to you in your country.

Protecting Valuables

There are cases of pickpockets, luggage stealing and purse-snatching.  When you go out, don’t take valuables with you and when you walk on the sidewalks, don’t carry your bag on the road side.  Keep valuables, including your passport and cash, in the safe deposit box at your hotel.

Narcotics (Illegal drugs)

There are many foreigner tourist arrested because of involvement with narcotics.  Just by possessing narcotics results in severe punishment in Indonesia.  So never get involved in narcotics.

On Street Survey

You might encounter someone who says he/she is talking a survey on the street or beach.  When you fill in the sheet, he/she tells you just won a prize or hotel voucher and ask you to come a place where you are told to buy an expensive membership or product.  To avoid becoming involved in trouble, don’t disclose casually to a stranger either your name, the name of your hotel, or your room number.

Hot Water Supply at Your Hotel

Hotels use hot water supply tank there are times when hot water does not run very well, when many people are using hot water or when you use the bathtub or shower one after the other.

Card Gambling ( Blackjack)

These people come to you with a smile and invite you to take part in gambling, such as cards (blackjack), and the steal your money.  They maybe Indonesians or non-Indonesians.  If you go their house, they won’t let you go easily and there have been times when victims have been forced to pay large amount of cash, hand over valuables or use a credit card.  As a gambling is not allowed in Indonesia, you won’t be able to resort to legal procedures.  Be careful when stranger invites you go to somewhere with them.

Travel Tips,  Useful Knowledge When Travel to Bali

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Bali culture is  a very  unique  culture from many Indonesian culture, If you’re considering going on a vacation to  visit Bali, one of the “must-do” things is to check out the interesting cultural site sand forms of entertainment that are available to tourists.

First, you should check out Balinese dance as one of unique Bali culture when you visit Bali. This is a highly developed art form in Bali,  it is extremely ritualistic and the moves are memorized and  unwavering. It requires intense coordination on the part of the dancers and can be an amazing sight to witness.

You can catch a quality Balinese dance performance in Bali anywhere there’s festival or celebration, and you’ll find exceptional performances in and around Ubud.

The dancing is accompanied by Gamelan music, a sort of traditional village band that plays in the background. Second, you’ll want to see if there are any festivals or public rituals going on related to the Balinese version of Hindu. They often have many publicly accessible celebrations that you can attend, and it’s a great way to soak in the culture.

In fact, many of the performances are deliberately secular in nature, so you won’t have to worry about intruding on someone else   religious practices.

Third, you ought to check out the local painting styles.  Until the tourist invasion, the acts of painting or carving were purely to decorate temples and shrines and to enrich ceremonies. Today, with galleries and craft shops everywhere.

Art is ubiquitous in Bali – from the lowest peasant to the upper crust, the Balinese have their own unique painting style and there are many excellent works of art available to view or even purchase.

The art doesn’t just stop with paintings – they do traditional masks, various other adornments and jewelry, and some interesting statues that you’ll want to take a look at. You could even look around for local craft fairs or shops that cater to tourists – you’ll likely be able to pick up some great, cheap pieces to bring back home with you as  a gift for your friend or family.

Visit Bali, Bali Culture

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What is it about Ubud that one should visit this beautiful village? Because Ubud has much to offer; from its stunning panorama of Ayung River valley and the terraces rice filed, its most talented artist, its typical traditional market and myriad of shops that line the road is a heaven for shopping, its undying culture, its serene environs and plentiful of nice small hotels and restaurants and many more.

Ubud has no great beaches to speak of, no mountain lakes, and no grand hotels. Yet it has the richness of soil and it is the center of Bali’s art and culture. If you don’t stay in Ubud, or you don’t have much time during your Bali Holiday, a visit is worth because it would offer you a memorable stay in Bali.

Driving out of bustling Denpasar, the tranquil green of rice paddies contrast sharply with the boisterous sounds of the city.

Palm-leaf carvings of Dewi Sri (the Rice Goddess) guards over the crops, and small thatch huts dot the rice fields, giving shade to those who work them. Temples and small shrines can be seen along the way, women lay out offerings of flowers, rice, incense and holy water to placate evils spirits and please the good one.

Even with the great influx of tourism, village life basically goes on the same. Almost every village on the way up to Ubud specializes in some kind of art form. You can stop off and see the artisans at work in their studios.

Many places near Ubud make beautiful side trips. Morning walk through the villages lead to out-of-the-way retreats. The route to Tegalalang offer beautiful views of terraces rice field and myriad of art studios, Mas, Penestanan and Peliatan, the centers of wood carving and painting, Sayan offer a stunning panorama of Ayung River valley and still home to spectacular view of gorges and palms and rice fields. Campuhan , the place where three rivers meet – a sacred site. There is a very beautiful templecalled Pura Gunung Lebah is worth a visit.

To the north is Petulu village is known for many things but the most spectacular is the kokokan or white herons. Every morning at dawn and the afternoon around three or four o’clock, you can see them circling the trees in droves.

To the south a short walk you will arrive at Monkey Forest. To visit it, one must by a ticket. There are hundreds of tame monkeys and a temple stands in the middle of the forest. In the center of town the interesting places to see are the Puri (the court of palace of former kings), here every Sunday morning at 10 o’clock dozen of young girls study traditional Balinese dance.

Ubud main market just opposite the Puri offer varieties of merchandises; Produce, dry goods, linens, T-shirts, paintings, wood carvings, even traveling medicine men appear here. Closed to market you can visit Puri Lukisan (Museum of Paintings). Established in 1954, it is dedicated to showing the works of local painters. It is the excellent place to get an overview of the stylistic differences between artists.

Ubud is a picturesque township and visitors have been attracted by its charm and beauty for decades. If shopping is your interest, Ubud has a myriad of shops which line the road to Monkey Forest and the Museum Puri Lukisan. Don’t forget to bargain!!! If art is your interest, in Ubud, Mas and Peliatan, one can study dance, music, painting or a number of other art forms.

The best way to meet a teacher is to find a style that appeal to you (by going to galleries and watching performances) and than approach the artist directly about lessons.

While you are in Ubud and need more complete information, you can visit Bina Wisata a local Tourism Bureau. It prepare map of Bali and Ubud. There is a massage board, small book store and a printing press on the premises. It’s about 500 m past the market.

Waka Namya Resort is a nice place to stay. It offers free luxury shuttle service to the center of town and to the Rudana Museum and Arts Gallery; it is one of the best galleries in Ubud. It also offers a free tracking to the rice field.

Excellent service and very friendly staffs. I know the managervery well, so I sand many guests to this resort. Waka di Ume, Komaneka, Santi Mandala Resort and Maya Ubud are also very nice place to stay. For more affordable accommodation you can choose Ubud Sari; small, charming and rustic ambience. It has a complete Spa and Beauty Salon service, Yoga, Chiropractic, Healing Week in Bali Program. Raw Health Food Program and Colonic Hydrotherapy.

So Ubud has many attractive objects can be seen for your Bali Vacation. And do not hesitate to choose beautiful Bali for your holiday. Bali is a small, beautiful island in Indonesia, the ultimate tourist destination in Asia.

The quickest and easiest way to find Bali hotels at your destination is to go online and visit a hotel reservation website. Do a search for Bali you are traveling to and you will be presented with a list of available hotels in Bali, Choose your preferred Bali Hotels.

About the Author: Made Dertha was an English and Italian tour guide for many years in Bali, writes for Bali Turista Tours where he is the Managing Director now.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Visit Bali, Do Not Miss Beautiful Ubud For Your Bali Vacation

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Visit Bali, the fabled “Island of the Gods” Has been enchanting visitors for centuries with its rich cultural traditions and spectacular panoramas.  From lofty, mist enshrouded volcanoes and cool mountain lakes down through terraced rice fields to a golden strand lapped by azure waters, every square inch of Bali offers a fresh and unforgettable image. No less enchanting are its people, some 2.7 million souls whose artistry and piety are recognized throughout the world.  Balinese Hinduism, a complex fusion of Indian cosmology, Tantric Buddhism and homegrown mythology, is the primary faith of Bali’s inhabitants, and so deeply woven into the fabric of their daily lives that the line between the spiritual and the material is blurry at the best.

Those of you keen on delving into the island’s fascinating culture will have plenty of opportunities, as colorful ceremonies and traditional performances occur with the regularity of sunrises.  Most  hotel offer nightly dance shows of one from another, tailored to tourist audiences none the less exquisite.  The hill town of Ubud, the island’s premier arts center also has a full schedule of performances, and the nearby stone cutter village of Batubulan is famed for its Barong lion dances.

The Shoppers among you will find Bali a treasure house handicrafts and fine work of art. The Balinese are incredibly gifted artists and craftsmen, and their material creations are imbued with the same sense of wonderment with which they regard they universe.  Stone and wood carvings, traditional and modern paintings and intricately designed jewelry in gold and silver are readily available in shops and galleries throughout the island.

Bali offers not just various customs but also various “adrenalin pump” parks. Many exciting amusements are available in Bali, with something new opening all the time. The number of offshore and inland attraction are on the rise because many tourists want them. This tropical paradise has a unique blend of modern tourist facilities combined with wonderful shopping and a rich past and heritage. After white water rafting that has gained popularity in Bali, comes offshore rafting or ocean rafting. The more adventurous sort of amusement has now become an alternative sport for tourists. Meanwhile white water rafting is still a popular activity with trips on Ayung, Telaga Waja, Unda Rivers, etc. The tourists can refresh their mind by watching beautiful scenery along the route. Those are not enough, some of the best surfing beaches in the world can be found on the western side of the island whilst conversely the eastern side is a wonderful haven for families, with beautiful white sand beaches and gentle seas.

As for recreation, there is no shortage of options.  Nature walks, horseback riding, diving, surfing even bungy jumping and white water rafting, await the adventurous here.

Visit Bali, Visit Bali

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