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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Useful Knowledge When Travel to Bali
October 14th, 2009 · No Comments · Jobs News
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