Bali Geoff Teague

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WELCOME TO BALI ...your special island
Introduction \| Travel Information \| Airport \| Business Directory \| Conversations \| Culture Customs Information(Aust) \| Electrical \| Etiquette \| Exchange Rates \| Food and Recipes \| Fruit \| Holidays & Festivals \| Hotels and Accomodation \| Travel Insurance \| Kids Activities \| Links \| Language Translator \| Map of Bali \| Medical \| Music \| Photos \| Places of Interest SEARCH THIS SITE \|Shopping \| Tours ......New! \| Travel Warnings ......New! \| Weather

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Bedugul \| Benoa \| Candi Dasa \| Denpasar \| Gilimanuk \| Jimbaran \| Klungkung \| Kuta Lembongan \| Lombok \| Lovina \| Mengwi \| Negara \| Nusa Dua \| Nusa Penida \| Padangbai Sanur \| Singaraja \| Tabanan \| Tenganan \| Tuban \| Ubud \| Ulu Watu

BALI QUICK TOUR
This month's hotspot is SINGARAJA

Recommended driver

Wayan Sudi Artha
Warung Amika (mini store)
Gang Benesari (80 metres from the Adhi Dharma Hotel)
Kuta

I had the pleasure of meeting Wayan this last visit to Bali. I found him to be honest with a great sense of humour. Wayan speaks English well and his laid back style will put you at ease. His intimate knowledge of his native island is second to no-one. Wayan has a late model patrol with good air condioner.

Email me

Welcome to my favourite holiday venue - Bali.
The aroma of burning incense combined with the smell of two stroke and clove cigarettes is a most welcomed greeting when I step off the plane and enter this Indonesian paradise island.

But back in the mid 80's, Bali was hardly touched by tourists. It has only been in the past 10 years, tour packages to Bali have become more affordable for many Australians, thus demand and supply have been created. The rest is history. Since then I have explored this small island and found dozens of places that resemble the old Kuta and relatively un-touched by western demands. As an Aussie, Kuta was the place to let it all hang out. You met new friends, bumped into old friends and left all your worries back home. I still enjoy Kuta because it still retains some magical attraction and sentiment for me, but as you get older, a little peace and quiet is high on the agenda.
Bali has something for everyone. Modern shopping facilities for the shopoholics, good surfing and diving spots, countless tours to interesting places all over the island, a paradise for art lovers to get lost in, beautiful golf courses, magnificent scenery and wildlife, good hotels and large swimming pools for those who want total relaxation or just sitting around talking to the locals.

Whatever your desires, if you have never been to Bali, you have never seen or experienced paradise.

How It All Started For Me
What inspired me to start this project was the fact that I can now access this internet site from Bali, if I ever needed to. In 1980 when I first visited Bali, it was only an hour stopover on a football trip to Jakarta. We stayed within the confines of Ngurah Rai airport (I Gusti Ngurah Rai was a local Balinese from Marga, who led the fight against the Dutch forces in 1946) The airport was small and there were hardly any tourists in sight. When my wife and I re-visited Bali in 1985 for a seven day holiday, she and I were a little culture shocked. The trip from Tuban into Kuta revealed that this place was a little primitive. Kuta was just a scattered village with dozens of little stalls and makeshift houses with hardly any gardens and lots of chooks and mangy looking mongrels roaming freely on the little narrow, potholed roads. People were cooking their evening meals on campfires and kerosene stoves, and there were acres of vacant land along Kartika Plaza and Legian Road. Only a few restaurants and a few hotels were located in this sleepy little seaside village. There were no Mata Hari stores, McDonalds or Timezone. But there was an appealing relaxed and laid back atmosphere. Hardly a hawker on the street and there were these new smells and aromas.
Homesick After 3 HoursMy wife, Nancy, was very quiet. She hardly said anything on the way as she looked through the windows of the bus at this new and totally foreign enviroment. I had this gut feeling she was not particularly impressed with what she saw. The strange smells and aromas, the humpy type dwellings and the lack of western civilisation, for her, were intimidating - to say the least. I liked what I saw, I could imagine what other tourists on the bus were thinking as we headed for our respective hotels. The worst of my fears came to light only three hours after we arrived in Bali. Nancy wanted to go back home - immediately. This was not what she had expected. Unfortunately for her, Qantas were not due back in Bali until the following Sunday. There I was, right in the middle of Kuta with a homesick wife and not a quick solution in hand. Bugger this. It was getting dark, so I did what any Aussie male would do and headed for the nearest bar. Nancy had no choice but to tag along or swim back to Perth. On our way to the bar we bumped into a girl who seemed to be upset and distressed. She and her boyfriend had just arrived in Bali that day and had an argument. She also wanted to go back home and was on her way to find an aeroplane heading back to Sydney. I told her the bad news and we asked to her to come and join us for a drink. This chance meeting was an act of fete. It wasn't long after that the three of us we were sitting down at the Kuta Beach Club bar (the place we stayed) and started to toss down a few bundies and coke. Later, the boyfriend rocked up and sheepishly joined our session at my invitation. Both he and I had something in common - we were stuck with two homesick females and seven days to kill. As we progressed through the night, the girls were starting to look happy and later were making plans to go shopping the next day. Things started to look up. Four hours later the girls had got over their homesick blues and were looking forward to the next day. As from that night, the four of us hung out together and we all had one of the most enjoyable and memorable weeks of our lives. We have all remained friends and Nancy and I have since made the journey back to Bali six times. As I look at Kuta now, I am disappointed that the charm and character of this once sleepy, laid back village has been bulldozed away. The complacent and unaware say it is progress. I just feel sorry for those who never got the opportunity to see the old Kuta. Ironically, the memory of that first day in Bali, is one of my happiest.

AUSTRALIAN CUSTOMS & QUARANTINE REGULATIONS
Click here for information

Indonesian Language Translation Dictionary
English to Indonesian Indonesian to English

Listen to some Bali music in Real Audio
Barong | Legong | Bonasari | Degung
Play the gamelan - Click here

TRAVELLERS' TIPS FOR BALI
AIRPORT PROCEDURE AT NGURAH RAI INTERNATIONAL:
ARRIVAL. You first pay your Visa On Arrival at the VOA booths parked just in front of the very slow Indonesian Customs booths. Money changers can be found before arriving at VOA. VOA can be paid in AUD$, US$ or credit card. Any change given will be in Rupiah. From VOA you line up at the Customs passport check in. From here you proceed to baggage collection via personal baggage check. Note if you get a chalk mark on your hand baggage, you will probably be checked by Customs on your way out. After you collect your suitcase luggage you will be offered help by the local porters. If you need to use them then you can pay them what you think its worth. I have found a dollar coin is quite welcomed. Otherwise I don't use them. Taxi service is located at the front of the terminal. A taxi to Legan is usually 50,000 Rupiah.
DEPARTING BALI: You may find yourself in several queues as you try and get to the departure lounge. Often there will be a ticket check before you reach the ticket/baggage check in counter. After check in you would go to pay Departure Tax of currently 100,000 Rp per person. From there you go through two more checks before a body/hand luggage search just in front of the departure lounge.
WHAT TO TAKE TO BALI
Travel insurance (usually starts at $A100 for a week)and is absolutely recommended. Check this site for travel insurance.
As little as possible in western clothing. The following items are plentiful and cheap in Bali - underclothing, sox, joggers, shoes, all types of women's, men's, boys' & girls' clothing including shirts, tee shirts, polo shirts, shorts, trousers, dresses, skirts, blouses, tops, shawls, stockings, bras, belts, hats, jewellery etc, etc. and there is literally hundreds of acres of it in Bali. Sometimes in August through to January you can actually experience a cool evening or two (20˚C). Cheap toiletries such as soap, deodorants, hair creme, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs , brushes etc. can be purchased at most super and mini marts. Don't forget Bali clothes and shoe sizes are a lot smaller than western sizes. If you plan visiting the mountain region, you may need a pullover or light coat if you feel the cold. May pay to bring one from home.

Thongs are okay but can be dangerous in the wet and some of the terrain, especially the tiled floors that abound in Bali hotels, shops and restaurants. Best are joggers or sandals.
Cash (best trading commodity) Avoid MONEY CHANGERS who offer to pay you in less than 50,000Rp notes. They are likely to rip you off for any amount,no matter how cautious you are. The 2 rates shown in the same box on the MC signs are for AUD$50 and $100 notes. The lesser figure is for $20, $10 and $5. The right side of the board is the rate for traveller's cheques.
The Kodak shops are well known for their honesty and integrity, as well as the guy up the end of the road at the Adhi Dharma, the last booth in Poppies lane as you approach the beach end, the booth next to Mata Hari's in Kuta and a couple in Legian Road.
Watch carefully and ALWAYS count your money LAST when dealing with a money changers
Travellers' cheques My second preference as they trade less than cash but more safe to carry. ( Don't forget to record cheque numbers and keep separate.)
Credit card - Visa, Mastercard, American Express, can be handy. Refer to ATMs ( auto teller machines) below..... just for a little peace of mind.
ATM's are plentiful, reliable, give a reasonable exchange rate, but subject you to moderate bank charges for each transaction

Carrying money and valuables around - grab a bum bag or fanny bag as the yanks call it and wear it in a fashion that it is around your waste with the wallet dangling above your crotch, concealed under a tee shirt or blouse. These are cheap to buy in Bali and perfect for concealing your precious money [uang]and any small useful items that you may need to carry. There have been reports of bag snatching from bandits on motor bikes. Shoulder bags and handbags should never be carried in Bali.
A small first aid kit with some anti diarrohea tablets (imodium), charcoal tablets (taken at the onset of bali belly) betadine (iodine), panadol, anti fungal powder, bandaids and tweezers.
There are chemists in Bali [rumah obat] or [apotik]
If you need medical attention, then you can visit the
Bali International Medical Centre,24 X 7 service,
Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai No 100X
Kuta, 80361, Bali
(near the large roundabout on the way to Sanur)
TELEPHONE : 761263
EMAIL: bimc@dps.mega.net

Take a camera if you want to capture the moment. Digital processing onto CD or paper is now common place and still cheap. Most Internet cafe's will let you download your digital camera images onto your USB flash drive for about 5000 Rp. Printing and developing is cheap, but film is still much cheaper to buy at home. Note that a polarising lens is necessary if you are fussy about your pics. This prevents your pics looking washed.

International drivers licence is recommended (although not required by law in Indonesia)if you are going to do any driving or motor cycling. You must also carry the registration papers for the vehicle or bike that you are driving or riding. If you have an accident here involving a local, you will definitely need it. If you have a minor accident, be careful. Local people who were not involved in the accident may chase you for money, claiming damages. I have seen it happen and the best thing I can advise that if you have to stop, then you suffer the consequences.Damage Insurance usually covers you for anything in excess of the first US$300.

Innoculations against maleria, typhoid, hepatitis A & B if you are going to visit remote areas of Bali. It is considered unecessary to take malaria tablets otherwise. See your doctor if you are in doubt. I have have never taken this precaution mainly because of my superstition of these medicines and that I have stayed close to the tourist centres.
Cheese, wine, pressed cold meat such as ham are rather expensive in Bali. You might have room in your suitcase to pack a packet of cheese, ham and a wine casket or two. Note: If you bring wine into Bali, wine is counted as part of your limit of alcohol and you can only bring in one litre - legally. Cheap wine can be bought out various liquor stores in Bali at a starting price of about 100,000Rp.Beer is plentiful in Bali and rather cheap and of good quality. Gin is a local Indonesian product which is plentiful and rather cheap in Bali. Biscuits in Bali are very basic and taking a packet of Ryvitas with you usually doesn't go astray. Tomatoes, onions, tuna, coffee and tea (Java black tea is nice) cool drink are cheap, of good quality and in good supply if you enjoy an afternoon snack. Most other items you consume at home are available in the Balinese supermarkets (eg. Bintang, Gelael Dewata, Supa Nova, Kencana, Mata Hari, Makro, Tragia, Mini Marts).
Laundry services are available at almost every hotel in Bali. If you like to do your own washing and ironing, it usually takes a good day for clothes to dry in Bali. The a/c is usually the best place to dry your stuff. Irons are cheap to buy (around 20,000 rp+ )
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Things You Should Be Careful About
Always check the swimming pool before you dive in. Some Balinese hotels still don't get the chlorine/acid levels right. If the chlorine smells strong,then they have obviously overdosed the pool. If the pool is a little foggy then the Ph level may not be right. There are a lot of unreported cases of eye and skin burns especially with children, caused by overdosing with chlorine. On the other hand some hotels underdose the pool. This has lead to a lot of cases of ear infection. If you can, bring some waterproof earplugs or Blutac from home. These are hard to obtain in Bali.
Drinking any water that has not been boiled. This includes brushing your teeth and rinsing with tap water. Bottled water is cheap and is available in 4 litre and 1 litre bottles and the smaller 350 ml and 500 ml bottles.
Driving without a licence and without possession of vehicle registration papers. Police do random checks and it is not worth getting caught.
Travelling without insurance. You pay a lot of money to go on a holiday, the peace of mind of having travel insurance is well worth the outlay.
Visiting areas where there is a chance of contracting disease, without taking the necessary medical precautions
Walking alone at night, especially after a few drinks. Bali isn't a perfect world.
Eating raw fruit or veges without washing the skin in boiled water or contacting the skin of the fruit with your mouth
Mixed fruit drinks can cause stomach upset in some people. If you suffer an attack of "Bali Belly" (diarrhoea), immodium has been proven effective for most people. Drink bottled water to prevent dehydration. Charcoal tablets taken at the onset of diarrohea, can help reduce the severity of attack. Raspberry Cordial is a well known preventative for Bali Belly. Taken strong with bottled water daily is wise.
Balinese marijuana and any forms of drug. The stuff is said to be very low grade. Police undercover usually hawk the stuff in hope that a sucker will take the bait and thus earn them some big money. The penalties are severe and spending time in a Bali prison ain't paradise.
Magic Mushrooms. Some people get different reactions ranging from being real happy to suffering short term paranoia.
Walking around with an unsecured handbag or with a wallet in your back pocket. Both practices should be discouraged as bag snatching and wallet lifting does happen in Bali. Get a bumbag.
Be wary of cooked prawns without inspecting them before cooking. They should be nice and firm with a fresh seafood smell.. Take a calculator if you are not confident with your maths.
Try not to tread on the Balinese rice offerings that are laid out on the pathways, before aound 11:00am. This really annoys the Balinese.
Confrontation with the hawkers. If they are really giving you a hard time, ignore them. They are always watching your eye movements and if they detect the slightest hint that you might be interested in their wares, then they will hang around you like flies. Be firm but polite if you are not interested in buying. If they are really hassling you mention "polisi" (police). The best way to avoid the hawkers is to act as though you are on a mission and show that you have not the slightest interest in their wares.
Don't travel without a basic first aid kit, consisting of at least some anti septic, Panadol, diarrhoea tablets (immodium ), charcoal tablets, bandaids, anti fungal powder, and a bottle of sun block. Most of this stuff is available in Bali. Toothpaste is handy to put on stings and bites. Tea tree oil is a good all rounder and a bottle of the magic stuff will never go astray. It is an excellent anti-fungal treatment, an anti-bacterial dressing, relief for muscular pain, inhaled for respiratory and sinus complaints and effective in relieving sore throats, ear infections and toothaches.

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Places to Visit
Name Address Description C ontact
Taman Burling Bird Park Jalan Serma Cok Ngurah Gambir,
Singapadu, Gianyar See Bali's exotic bird life
Open from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm daily. Ph: 299-352
Bali Adventure Tours White water rafting, River kayaking, Mountain cycling, Elephant safaris, Jungle trekking, Paragliding, Rice padi trekking. Ph: 721 480
Humpback Camel Surfaris 3 hour camel surfari along a peaceful beach, visiting a traditional village along the way. Departs 9:00am daily. Cost $aud50.00. Ph: 461 371
Waterbom Park Jalan Kartika Plaza, Tuban, Kuta. Enjoy the day here with the many water adventures. Food and drinks available. Opens from 9:00 until 6:00 pm daily. Costs about $aud20 entry. Ph: 755 676
Monkey Forest End of Monkey Forest Road,
Ubud Natural forest where some mischievious monkeys roam free. Small entrance fee and small stall selling bananas, peanuts etc to feed monkeys
Bali Barat National Park ( Taman Nasional Barat ) About an hour's drive from Lovina You have to go with a guide. This cost about 5000 rp plus entry to the park which is about 500 rp. The park is quite large in area (approx 76,000 hectares ) and is home to abundant wildlife such as wild pigs, leaf monkeys, barking dear, green fowl and the rare Bali starling and many other varieties of birds and animals. Staff are very helpful.
Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park Situated on a limestone escarpment overlooking the South Bali tourist region, Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park shocases the art and culture of the Island of the Gods amid dramatic natural backdrops and breathtaking panoramic vistas. Located fiften minutes from the international airport and less than an hour from most major hotels and resorts, GWK is one of the island's premier venues for artistic performances, exhibitions, and conferences as well as for sightseeing and relaxation. Jl. Raya Uluwatu,
Bukit Ungasan-Jimbaran 80361
Tel.62-361-703615 Fax.62-361-703617
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Does it snow in Bali? This may occur in the year 3050. Here is my impression of it snowing in Bali. Heaven forbid!

Click here for map of Bali
Top of This Page My Home Page

If you would like to seek any other info on Bali or otherwise recommend or advertise a hotel or business in Bali, then please email me.gnaxl@hotmail.com

This site updated 14th August, 2006

Places to Visit
Name	Address	Description	C ontact
Taman Burling Bird Park	Jalan Serma Cok Ngurah Gambir, Singapadu, Gianyar	See Bali's exotic bird life Open from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm daily.	Ph: 299-352
Bali Adventure Tours		White water rafting, River kayaking, Mountain cycling, Elephant safaris, Jungle trekking, Paragliding, Rice padi trekking.	Ph: 721 480
Humpback Camel Surfaris		3 hour camel surfari along a peaceful beach, visiting a traditional village along the way. Departs 9:00am daily. Cost $aud50.00.	Ph: 461 371
Waterbom Park	Jalan Kartika Plaza, Tuban, Kuta.	Enjoy the day here with the many water adventures. Food and drinks available. Opens from 9:00 until 6:00 pm daily. Costs about $aud20 entry.	Ph: 755 676
Monkey Forest	End of Monkey Forest Road, Ubud	Natural forest where some mischievious monkeys roam free. Small entrance fee and small stall selling bananas, peanuts etc to feed monkeys
Bali Barat National Park ( Taman Nasional Barat )	About an hour's drive from Lovina	You have to go with a guide. This cost about 5000 rp plus entry to the park which is about 500 rp. The park is quite large in area (approx 76,000 hectares ) and is home to abundant wildlife such as wild pigs, leaf monkeys, barking dear, green fowl and the rare Bali starling and many other varieties of birds and animals. Staff are very helpful.
Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park	Situated on a limestone escarpment overlooking the South Bali tourist region, Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park shocases the art and culture of the Island of the Gods amid dramatic natural backdrops and breathtaking panoramic vistas. Located fiften minutes from the international airport and less than an hour from most major hotels and resorts, GWK is one of the island's premier venues for artistic performances, exhibitions, and conferences as well as for sightseeing and relaxation.	Jl. Raya Uluwatu, Bukit Ungasan-Jimbaran 80361 Tel.62-361-703615 Fax.62-361-703617

Recommended driver

Wayan Sudi Artha Warung Amika (mini store) Gang Benesari (80 metres from the Adhi Dharma Hotel)Kuta

Wayan Sudi Artha
Warung Amika (mini store)
Gang Benesari (80 metres from the Adhi Dharma Hotel)
Kuta