OPENING HOURS

Government offices, airlines, and banks are normally open from 8am to 3pm on Monday to Friday. Most shops and travel agents are open at least from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, and some also on Sunday. In most areas, you’ll find either supermarkets or small shop (warung) selling a bit of everything from 8am to 8pm, to 7 days a week. In urban areas, Circle K shops operate on a 24/7 basis, selling all things needed for various emergencies, from snack food to beer, aspirin, raincoats, and condoms.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

With five official religions, Indonesia is blessed with an impressive choice of public holidays. The most important nationwide is Lebaran (the end of the muslim fasting month or Ramadan), during which most people take a one-week break and travel back home, congesting busses, airplane, and trains. Balifills up with local tourists, many of them ethnic Chinese, during Lebaran and Christmas.

Balinese, however, put more emphasis on the endless string of Hindu festivals. The most important are Galungan and Kuningan, celebrated over a 10-day period every 210 days (the length of the main Balinese calendar). Many shops are closed for a few days, but hotels keep normal hours. On the days before Galungan, the island fill up with red-colored penjor, the arc-shaped coconut-leaf and bamboo decorations that signal a ceremony. Flapping banners wish everyone a “Happy Galungan and Kuningan” Wich thousands of temples dressed up in new yellow clothes, small rural roads become incredibly pretty.

Equally of importance is Nyepi, the Balinese New Year, which takes place near the first day of Aril. It is a day of silence, a time to pause and free one’s mine from negative emotions. During these 24 hours, everyone on the island, be day Balinese, tourist, or military commander, is forbidden to go out in the street or to light lamps. Rather lax a few decades ago, these rules are now strictly enforced by village militia (pecalang). The only Hindu festival turned into a national holiday. Nyepi has become and opportunity to assert Balinese ethnic pride towards modern Indonesia. Even the airport is shuttered, except for emergency evacuations.

Spend Nyepi in a small hotel or in the countryside to enjoy the atmosphere – all of Bali falls dark, and the moonless sky, unclouded by the exhaust of cars and motorbikes, is patterned with the bright shine of stars. In sharp contrast, the day before Nyepi is marked by loud and bright purification around the main streets of Kuta, Sanur, Ubud, and Denpasar.

ELECTRICITY

You’ll find a 220-240V AC power supply in most of Bali. Plugs follow the common two-pin European model. Power is unstable, but total blackouts are infrequent. Bring or buy a flashlight for going around in poorly-lit villages or small guesthouses. It can be difficult to find batteries in remote villages. Bring rechargeable batteries : they are cheaper and less polluting.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO

You’ll find good quality film in most places in Bali (except in remote areas, where it may have been stored for too long). Film can usually be developed and printed in less than and hour, but the quality is uneven. If you’re after good pictures, especially slides, process the film back home, and avoid keeping it too long in extreme heat.
If you bring a digital camera, buy some extra memory card before leaving home so you can store all those great shots. Bring your own tapes if you have a non-digital video camera. Make sure they are sealed and obviously unused, since there are import restrictions on filmed material in Indonesia.

COMUNICATIONS

There are postal offices (kantor pos) and postal agencies all around Bali. Expect your letters to take at least 5 to 15 days to arrive back home. Important documents should be send by certified mail or, better, by international courier, such as fedEx (Jimbaran T 0361-701 727) or DHL (Legian T 0361-762 138: Sanur T 0361 -283 823).

Most hotels will let you use their phone for local calls. For long-distance, it is cheaper to use a wartel – warung komunikasi. These small, private-run facilities offer good phone and sometimes even fax service. You can also use public phone, found in blue booths in public areas, but not always in good shape. Rather than using coins, buy a phone card first (kartu telpon). Available at money changers, wartel, and money shop. In tourist areas, you can also purchase a pre-paid phone card allowing you to call abroad at a discount price-a good idea since the normal rate of an international call is around Rp. 10.000 per minute. To dial a number abroad, add 008 or 001 in front of the country code.

Bali as agood GSM network,except in some rural areas. Bring your mobile phone, and check with your phone operator if your roaming options allow you to make and receive calls in Indonesia.You will then be able to make local calls at a moderate price,but anyone calling you from within Indonesia will have to dial your home number at a huge cost. A better option is to buy a pre-paid SIM card from one of the local GSM operators such as Telkosel,ProXL, or Satelindo. Insert the chip in you cell phone, and you’ll get a temporary, local mobile number. Call you GSM company at home before departure to check whethwr your cell phone can be used with other operators, and have it unlocked if necessary.

Young Indonesians love the Internet, and you’ll find friendly, inexpensive Internet cafes and warten ( warung Internet) in most towns and tourist centers. A few ones around Kuta and Ubud have good broadband access. Otherwise, except slow and erratic connections.

TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN IN BALI

Traveling with Children can be work or fun, especially in a tropical country. Balinese are so helpful and love children so much that they will lessen the work and increase the fun. Learn a few tips, relax, and enjoy being on the island that reveres children.

Balinese Hindus believe that their ancestors have reincarnated in their offspring, and these newly – returned spirits are treated with affection and respect, and spoken to in the polite form of the Balinese language (except when they’re teething at 2am). Small children sleep securely between their parents – also a good method of birth control. Babies are not supposed to touch the earth until they are six Balinese months old, at which time an otonan or “descent to the earth” ceremony is held. Balinese kids start their life cuddled in slings wrapped across their mother’s bodies, nursed on demand. Their every cry addressed by a crowd of aunties and grandmas offering advice and distraction.

HOTEL FACILITIES AND BABYSITTING

Make sure you ask about children’s facilities and extra costs before you book a hotel. Some go all out, offering children’s activities, special menus, kiddie’s polls, roll away beds, or cribs in the rooms. Other hotels, especially in step mountainous areas, are ill-fitted for small children. The Balinese patience with children is a big help to parents of difficult kids. Few restaurants will bat an eye at being asked to concoct something special for the less-than-adventurous child. At most casual restaurants and hotels, a nice member of the staff may even wall around with your impatient baby while you finish your meal.

Most fancy hotels offer babysitting services and some even have kids camps that over day programmers where you can drop of your children. Even if you’re not a guest, you can usually call them up and book a spot for your child. Almost any hotels can find a local young woman to baby sit your kid – although she may not speak English. Make sure that she knows how to contact you in case of emergency. And that she understands what kinds of childcare you expect. Unless she’s worked for westerners before, she might not know how to put on a diaper or how to sanities feeding equipment. Be clear about foods that are not allowed and what’s off-limits- the deep and of the pool or the streets, for example. Hotel that offers babysitting services may have set rates (usually far more than the babysitter gets). If per day would be a reasonable rate.

THINGS TO BRING YOUR KIDS

Most things you could imagine your children needing are available in modern supermarkets in Bali, including toys. Beware, however, the toy-like handicrafts sold in tourist shops, from colorful mobiles to wooden cats. They are decorative items, and my not be save toys for young kids. One item that you need to bring with you is a basic medical kit (ask your family doctor), including a portable mosquito net. If you plan to do a lot of traveling around Bali, you may want to bring a light car seat. In most parts of Bali, where sidewalk are broken or nonexistent, a stroller is more of a bother than a blessing. If you bring one, choose a lightweight umbrella stroller that can be folded up.
The same health and safety precautions that apply to adults are valid for children. Remind your kids that tap water is not to be ingested; inexperienced tooth-brusher should you bottled water. Use a lot of sun-block and make your kids wear sunglasses, hats, and loose cotton clothing to avoid heat rashes. Travel with your own toilet paper and hand wipes, and be prepared to explain the mysteries of the squat toilet.

SAVE TRAVEL

Bali is a very safe and tolerant place to travel for all kind of travelers – including woman, gay and lesbian people, and senior citizens. The main dangers come from road traffic. Even outdoor sports are usually quite benign in Bali. Beware strong waves and nasty currents when swimming on the south and west coasts. Only go diving, rafting, or sailing with reputable operators and inquire about their insurance.

Theft and aggression are remarkably low. Be extra cautious, however, in tourist areas, and around Batur. Stick to basic rules of safety: avoid flaunting cash or expensive equipment; don’t carry too much cash; keep your money in separate, safe pockets; and store valuable items in hotel safes.
In most places, you’ll fine that many people will try to start a conversations, especially in remote areas where foreigners are few. Remain friendly and apply common sense rules when dealing with strangers. If you find yourself in conflict with a local, try to stay calm. Perhaps because Balinese are highly emotional,