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Bali
Facts:
Bali,
well known as a paradise island, a land of a thousand gods,
thousand temples, thousand dances, is located between the
Pacific and Indian Ocean, just below the equatorial line, on
latitude 8 degree south and longitude 115 degree east. The
island is considered to be the most attractive island to
visitors. It is estimated that the were more than 3.000.000
visitors a year from all round the world. Most of them seek an
understanding of a way of life that is really unique. Bali is
unique as having the last dominant and still intact spiritual
culture. Many of the traditional rituals and practices are just
as alive today as they ever were, and the strength and
resilience of the Balinese people and their culture is a
testimony to the richess of their faith. Most of Bali's 2.9
million people live in villages in the central southern plains
and in the capital towns of the eight Kabupaten or regencies.
Balinese society is collectivist and place oriented. Villages
are organized around community temples, and collectively run
by village councils called banjar. This social structure
remains strong,even in urban areas.Family compounds often
contain three generations and three generation and three or
four nuclear families, and each compound has a house temple
where the ancestral deities are honored. Customary law is
imbued with communal religious duties. More than 80 percent of
the economy is based on agriculture, the other sectors being
handicrafts, tourism, small trade, and professional services.
Traveling
to Bali:
International points of entry into Bali, Indonesia, are the
Ngurah Rai Airport Denpasar (DPS) and the sea ports at Padang
Bai, Benoa and Gilimanuk.
Visa
Formalies:
Visitor passports must have at least six months before the
expiry date and one empty page.
An onward or return ticket out of Indonesia is required.
Non-extendable permits for up to sixty days are granted
automatically upon entry to nationals of Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New
Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, and the
United State. Nationals of Israel and Portugal must apply for
a visa through Jakarta. Other nationals must apply for a visa
at Indonesian consulates abroad.
Customs:
Indonesian
Customs allows on entry a maximum of one liter of alcoholic
beverages, 200 cigarettes or 50 Cigars or 100 grams of tobacco
and a reasonable amount perfume per adult. Cars, photographic
equipment, typewriters and tape recorders must be declared to
Customs upon entry. Prohibited from entry are TV sets, radios,
narcotics, arms and ammunition, printed matter in Chinese
characters and Chinese medicines. All movie films and
video cassettes must be censored by the Film Censor Board.
Fresh fruites, plants and animals must have quarantine permits.
There is no restriction on import or export of foreign
currencies. However, the export or import of Indonesian
currency exceeding Rp.50,000 is prohibited
Exit
Fees & Airport Tax:
The Government of Indonesia has
officially abolished the exit permit required for people
leaving the country, effective as of August 17, 1998. Airport
tax levied on passengers for international travel is
Rp.100,000,- for travel within Indonesia regional variations
occur.
Health &
Vaccinations:
Travellers coming from infected areas are recommended to
obtain International health certificates
of vaccination against smallpox, cholera, yellow fever,
typhoid and paratyphoid.
For those who intended to stay for a longer period of time in
Bali, it is recommended to have gammaglobulin injections.
Good advise for visitors when they have infamous "Bali
Belly" during their stay in Bali is to take Lomotil and
Imodium as an first medications. It is also advisable to drink
a strong, hot tea and avoid all fruits and spicy foods
at the first sign of discomfort (diarrhea and cramping).It
will help to lessen the cramping if you do charcoal tablets (the
brand name is Norit).
To stop from dehydration, Oralite (mineral replacement salts)
is a good choice and is available at nearly every store
or local pharmacy. In the worst cases caused by viral
infection, get a doctor for an antibiotics prescription.
To avoid Malaria, visitors should consult their doctor for a
supply of malaria-repressant tablets.
Chloroquine is available widely in Bali and much cheaper than
abroad.
Drinking-it's best-drink bottled mineral water. Be cautions
for the sun as it is become very intense in the afternoon
especially in dry season.
Climate:
Annual
rainfall is about 70 inches in the south central plains with
an average of two hundred days of rain per year. East Bali and
the north coast may get only 2-3 inches. Temperatures range
from 60o F to 85o F, depending on season and altitude.
Bring a light jacket if you plan to go to into the mountains.
Daylight is from about 6 AM to 6 PM year-round with slight
variations between June and December.
Electricity:
Generally 220-240V, 50 cycles AC.
Some villages may have 110V, 50 cycles AC. Power is in greater
demand than supply, and shortages are common. Some outlying
areas do not yet have any electricity. It's a good idea
to carry a small flashlight with a spare bulb and
batteries.Most large hotels provide hairdryers and electric
adapters.
Time:
The Indonesian archipelago is
spread over three time zones. Western Indonesia Standard Time,
which covers the islands of Sumatra, Java & Madura, West
and Central Kalimantan is 7 hours ahead of GMT; Central
Indonesia Standard Time covers East and South Kalimantan,
Sulawesi, Bali and Nusa Tenggara, is 8 hours ahead of GMT;
finally Eastern Indonesia Standard Time, which covers Maluku,
and Irian Jaya is 9 hours ahead of GMT
Clothing:
Dress is normally informal in
Indonesia due to the warm, humid climate and clothing of
light-weight fabrics are recommended. Highland areas are
noticeably cooler, however, and carrying a light sweater is
suggested. Acceptable attire for men is a shirt and long
pants. A jacket and tie are required for offlcial calls or for
more formal occasions. Long-sleeved batik shirts are
acceptable for evening functions. For ladies, dresses, blouses,
and long pants are appropriate. Shorts, halter tops or tank
tops should only be used at sports facilities or on the beach.
Temple visits require long pants or long skirts.
Office
Hours:
Business offices are usually open either from 8.00 am to 5.00
pm or 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, with a break for lunch between 12.00
noon and 1.00 pm. On Saturday many business offices are closed.
Government office hours are from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm from
Monday to Friday, and on Saturdays many Government offices are
closed.
Tipping:
Major hotels usually add a 11%
service charge to bills. Where it is not included a tip of
between 5% to 10% of the bill would be appropriate if the
service is satisfactory. Airport porters expect Rp.2,000,- for
a small bag and Rp.3,000,- for bags weighing more than 20 kg.
Tipping taxi and hire-car drivers is not mandatory, but if
service has been satisfactory a basic Rp.1,000,- tip is
sufficient for a taxi driver. Hirecar drivers would normally
expect a larger tip.
Consulates:
Australian
Consulate
(Includes Canada, N.Zealand, UK, Papua New Guinea), Jl. Prof.
Yamin No.4, Denpasar.P.O. Box 243, Phone 235092, Fax 231990
Consular Agent of France, Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai No.35X, Sanur.
Phone 285485 Fax 285485
Consular Agent of the United States of America, Jl. Hayam
Wuruk No.188 (Near the Renon Roundabout) Denpasar. Phone
233605 Fax 222426
Consular Agent of the Netherlands , Jl. Imam Bonjol No.599,
Kuta, P.O Box 377 Denpasar, Phone 751517 Fax 752777
Consular Agent of Switzerland & Austria, Swiss Restaurant,
Jl. Pura Bagus Teruna, Legian Kaja, Phone 751735 Fax 754457
Honorary Consul of Finland & Sweden , Segara Village
Hotel, Jl. Segara Ayu, 80228. Phone 288407-8, 288021 Sanur
Honorary Consul of Germany, Jl. Pantai Karang No.17, Sanur,
P.O. Box 158 Denpasar, Phone 288535 Fax. 288826
Honorary Consul of Norway & Denmark, Mimpi Resort Jimbaran,
Kuta-Denpasar 80361, Phone 701070, Fax 701 072-074
Japanese Consulate, Jl. Raya Puputan, Renon, Denpasar. Phone
227628 Fax 231308, Mexican Consulate, Astina Tours, Jl. Hayam
Wuruk No. 8 Denpasar. Phone 223552, Fax 231740
Italian Consulate, Lotus Enterprise Building, Jl. By Pass
Ngurah Rai, Jimbaran, Ph./Fax. 701005
Airlines:
Ansett Australia: Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Sanur. Ph. 289635
Fax. 289637,
Bouraq indonesia : Kompleks Sudirman Agung Blok A 47-48, Jl.PB
Sudirman Denpasar, Ph. 241397
Cathay Pacific: Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Sanur. Ph. 28600,
Continental Micronesia: Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Sanur, Ph.
287774,
EVA Air: Wisti Sabha Administration Building, Ground Floor,
Room No.4 Ngurah Rai Airport. Ph. 751011 ext 1638; Fax.
756488,
Garuda Indonesia: Grand Bali Beach Hotel. Ph. 288243, or at
Natour Kuta Beach. Ph. 751179, or at Nusa Dua. Ph. 771864,
771444,
Lauda Air : Gedung PAJ Jln. By Pass Ngurah Rai - Tuban Ph.
758686
Malaysia Airlines : Grand Bali Beach Hotel. Ph.285071-73,
288716; or at Ngurah Rai Airport. Ph.756132
Merpati : Jln. Melati No. 51, Denpasar Ph. 235358
Qantas : Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Sanur. Ph.288331-3 or at
Ngurah Rai Airport. Ph.288824, 288823, or at Kertha Wijaya
Shopping Centre, Ph. 237343
Singapore Airlines: Jl. Dewi Sartika No.88, Denpasar Ph.
261666, 26169, Fax: 26153
Thai Airways: Wisti Sabha Building, 2nd Floor Room 19, Ngurah
Rai Airport or Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Ph.754856,
Royal Brunei Airlines : Wisti Sabha Building, Ngurah Rai
Airport. Ph.757292
China Airlines: Wisti Sabha Building, 2nd Floor Room 19,
Ngurah Rai Airport. Ph. 754856,
Japan airlines : Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Ph. 287576 - 287577
Tourist Informations:
The Department of Tourism (Bali) has six Information Centres
where booklets and brochures can be obtained free of charge.
Addresses : Ngurah Rai International Airport, Tuban, Phone :
(0361) 751011,
Bina Wisata Ubud, next to the Village Head's office in Ubud.,
Government Tourist Information Centre, Jl. Bunisari 36B, Kuta,
Bali Government Tourism Office, Jl. S. Parman Niti Mandala,
Denpasar, Phone : (0362) 222387, Buleleng Government
Tourism Office, Jl. Veteran 23, Singaraja, Phone: (0361)
225141, Tourist Information Centre, Kaliasem, Lovina Beach.
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