Bali, Indonesia travel tips

Indonesia Visa

Passport holders from the following countries/territory are not required to obtain a visa (Visa Exemption) when entering Indonesia for tourism purposes: Brunei, Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam.

Other passports need to have an Indonesia Visa [Visa on Arrival or Electronic Visa (E-Visa)] and the application for an E-Visa can be completed through the below website:

https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id/web/services

In our experience, you should apply and receive Indonesia E-Visa before flying to the country instead of getting a Visa on Arrival. The reason is that applying and receiving Indonesia E-Visa by yourself is quick and simple. Moreover, with E-Visa available, when you arrive in Bali or other airports in Indonesia, you will be able to enter the country quickly and you don’t need to wait too much time at the airport to apply for an Indonesia Visa on Arrival.

When you start to apply or after receiving your E-Visa, kindly take time to double check and make sure all the information in the E-Visa are exactly with the information in your passport and in your international flight (Ex: full names, number of passport, date of expiry, date of birth, gender, period of entry Indonesia, name of airport/city when entering Indonesia, etc.)

For more details about the country that need to apply the Visa or no need to apply (Visa Exemption), kindly open the below link of the Indonesian government:

https://www.imigrasi.go.id/wna/daftar-negara-voa-bvk-calling-visa

Do’s and Don’ts in Bali

Some useful words make your trip easier

Hello => Halo ; Yes => La ;  No => Tidak ;  Thank you => Terimah Kasih ; I’m sorry => Saya minta maaf

Wear proper clothing

When you’re exploring Bali, dress appropriately, especially when visiting temples and sacred sites. Wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Sarongs are often provided at temple entrances if you’re not dressed appropriately, but it’s a good idea to come prepared with your own.

Respecting local religion and sacred places

In Bali, religion plays a vital role in daily life. The majority of Balinese people practice a unique form of Hinduism, and their temples and sacred sites are scattered throughout the island. It’s essential to show respect when visiting these places, even if you don’t share the same beliefs.

Exchange money at legal money changers

Money changers are abundant in Bali, but not all are created equal. Make sure to exchange your currency at reputable and licensed money changers to avoid scams or receiving counterfeit bills. Checking the current exchange rate before you go can also help you spot any discrepancies.

Bring local cash 

Although card payments are widely accepted in many areas of Bali, it’s also a good idea to carry some Indonesian Rupiah for places that don’t accept the credit card. Small denominations are especially useful for taxis, small shops and local markets.

Drink bottled water only

It’s not recommended to drink tap water in Indonesia. Instead, the purchase of bottled water in local groceries and stores will be the best solution.

Overpackaging  

Pack light, as Bali’s warm climate calls for lightweight clothing. You can easily purchase essentials like sunscreen and swimwear locally, so there’s no need to overburden yourself with luggage.

Underestimate the time on the road

Normally, it will take 1-1.5 hour to the airport if you stay at the hotels in Kuta or Seminyak but as the traffic is quite high in Bali, so to avoid delays like missed flights, especially for the international flights, we would suggest you to go to the airport early.

Don’t climb sacred trees

Some sacred trees are considered holy by the locals and are often wrapped in colorful fabrics. Climbing these trees or tampering with the offerings is disrespectful and offensive to the Balinese people.

Don’t forget to wear a good helmet on a motorbike

Whether you’re driving a motorbike or being a passenger, wearing a good helmet should be non-negotiable. The roads in Bali are notoriously chaotic and accidents involving tourists do happen fairly regularly.

Don’t ignore local foods

Indulge in Bali’s culinary delights. Don’t stick solely to familiar dishes or at the restaurants. Instead, try local specialties like Nasi Goreng, Otak Otack, etc. Street local food vendors offer delicious and affordable options.

Don’t swim in unsafe waters

Some Bali beaches have strong currents and dangerous rip tides. Pay attention to warning signs, and only swim in designated safe areas to avoid accidents.

Popular local food in Bali, Indonesia

Nasi Goreng

Nasi Goreng is a type of Indonesian fried rice which has a rich seasoning. The locals often add many spices such as chili, onion, garlic, and tomato sauce. Nasi Goreng is fried with seafood and fried eggs and served with puff pastry. In addition, Nasi Goreng can also be combined with chicken, beef, etc. When eating, you will feel the rich, fresh taste of seafood and the characteristic spicy aroma of Indo chili peppers.

Soto Ayam

Soto Ayam is a type of chicken soup which is one of the most popular soups on the Indonesian menu. The dish has a clear, low-fat broth, fragrant with garlic, chives, and turmeric.

Rawon

Rawon is a beef soup with an extremely attractive black color. The main ingredients to make this dish are beef and Keluak black seeds. Keluak black seeds are thoroughly boiled and buried in ash for a month to remove toxic substances before becoming a unique ingredient for the dish Rawon.

Bakso

Meatball noodles are a familiar dish to Indonesian people. The meatballs are the size of a small ball or bigger – made from chicken, beef, pork, or some combination. Sold mainly from carts called Kaki Lima, Bakso is decorated with fried shallots, boiled eggs, and wontons.

Bebek Betutu

Bebek Betutu is likened to China’s Peking duck but with a very different variation. Ducks raised for six months will be used as the main ingredient for this dish. Then stew for about 10 hours to soften the duck meat and marinate it with spices before frying it crispy. When eating Bebek Betutu, you will feel the softness, sweetness, and fatty taste of the meat without being friable, you can even chew the bones.

Otak Otak

Otak Otak is made from lean mackerel, carefully wrapped in banana leaves, and grilled over charcoal. Lean mackerel is cleaned, pureed, and marinated with coconut milk, chili sauce, lemongrass and chili. When grilled on charcoal, the fish cake emits a charming and attractive aroma. People often eat Otak with chili sauce mixed with fermented soy sauce or Javanese peanut sauce.  Nowadays, the Otak cake style is modified with many other ingredients such as squid and crab.

Babi Guling

The famous roasted milk pig dish on Bali Island cannot be missing from this list. The suckling pig is smeared with a layer of yellow turmeric on the outside, the belly is stuffed with a spice mixture made from coriander seeds, lemongrass, lime, salam leaves, chili, black pepper, garlic, red shallots, ginger and then skewered on an iron stick and grilled. The finished product of the dish is tender, succulent pork pieces with crispy skin and a salty taste. People often eat it with rice and spicy soup.