About Bali

General Information

Bali is home to about 3.2 million people. About 95 percent are Balinese. The other five percent are Chinese, Muslims and other minorities. About 80 percent of the island’s population live in the southern part of the Bali. Much of the western part of Bali is uninhabited jungle, where tigers lived until the 1940s.

Bali has long enjoyed the reputation of being an enchanting place where everyone seemed to be an artist, everyday was a festival, fruit and flowers grew in abundance, and gentle heavily-made-up little girls perform mystical dances. In the minds of many people minds Bali is as close to paradise as you can get. It has beautiful scenery: temples, rice terraces, beaches, volcanos and beautiful villages placed among lush vegetation.

History

The history of Bali covers a period from the Paleolithic to the present, and is characterized by migrations of people and cultures from other parts of Asia. In the 16th century, the history of Bali started to be marked by Western influence with the arrival of Europeans, especially the Dutch. After a long and difficult colonial period under the Dutch, Indonesia became independent in 1945 (or 1949, depending on your views…). Bali retained its traditional cultures, many of which have made it so appealing to tourists looking for a cultural experience in a stunning location.

The People

Bali was colonized by Hindu invaders in the 9th century and, unlike most of the rest of Indonesia, the island refused to bow to Islam when it arrived several centuries later. Bali is the only Hindu island in Indonesia and contains one of the largest concentration of Hindu people outside of India. Balinese Hinduism incorporates elements of animism and ancestor worship, draws few distinction between secular, religious and super natural life; and makes no real distinction between the living and dead. The arts are held in high esteem and artists include painters, woodcarvers and basket makers. One thing you see everywhere are wonderfully carved and colored wooden flowers. The Balinese are regarded as warm, mellow and fun loving.

Climate

Bali lies eight degrees south of the equator and enjoys a warm, tropical climate year-round, with the most pleasant weather from May until September when the trade winds blow. It can get quite cool in the mountain regions. Humidity is highest between November and March, during the rainy season. Even during the heaviest downpours, however, the sun is rarely hidden for long. The average temperature is 27°C. Pemuteran, in North Bali, is in the rain shadow of the mountains and is located in an arid narrow strip, averaging only 55 rainy days per year.

Language

Bahasa Indonesia is spoken by all Balinese. Developed from old Malay it has become the Indonesian archipelago’s unifying national language. English is increasingly spoken in the main tourist centers, along with some French and German.

Currency

The national currency is the rupiah. Over the last several years, the rupiah has ranged from 10,000-12,500 per Euro/US dollar. It is recommended to carry a calculator.

Money-changers readily change most currencies but not always traveler’s checks. When changing money, always ask if there is a commission. Credit cards are accepted by hotels and establishments in larger areas. A 3% – 5% charge may be added to your purchase when using a credit card. In tourist areas ATMs are readily available and dispense rupiah at the going rate.

Getting Around

Getting around in Bali is very straightforward, as it seems everyone knows someone who is a ‘driver’. This is a popular job in Bali – so popular in fact, that people are very upset about the local Uber equivalent, called Grab. In Ubud, you will see signs telling you not to use Grab – these are put up by the drivers.

Anyways, while Grab is slightly cheaper, it is very easy and still cost effective to use a ‘driver’. It may be worth asking to see their car before committing, or asking if they have air conditioning, if you are travelling long distances.

Prices are much cheaper than Canada, New Zealand or Holland. A three hour drive will cost you about $70US. Almost all accommodation providers have someone they will recommend, and we also have a driver who is keen to drive everyone everywhere.

Immigration Requirements

Visitors from 140 countries – including Canada, Netherlands, UK, New Zealand, Austria and United States – are granted a FREE tourist visa. Visas are valid for up to thirty days and are non-extendable. Passports must be valid for at least six months from the arrival date. There is no entry or exit airport tax.

Health

A doctor is on call 24 hours a day in Pemuteran. In certain areas of Indonesia there is a chance of contracting mosquito-borne diseases, such as Zika. Zika is considered a health risk if you are pregnant, or are trying to get pregnant. Please discuss with your doctor before committing if this is the case. Reasonable precautions, including the use of mosquito repellent will minimize your risk.

Malaria is not present in Bali; however, it is in other Indonesian islands.

Most tap water is not drinkable; however, bottled water is readily available.

Other Travel Tips

Electricity: 220-240 volts AC, 50 cycles, with two round pin plugs, the same as European plugs. For those not coming from Europe, converters can be bought easily at the airport.

Time Zone: Bali uses Central Indonesian Time. It is plus eight hours GMT, the same as Singapore.

Clothing: Loose, casual clothing is recommended. In the dry season, April to October, a light sweater may be useful in the evenings. At higher elevations, the temperature is cooler.

Tipping: If the service has been good a tip of about 10% is very appreciated.