Also known as the Land of the Gods, Bali appeals through its sheer natural beauty of looming volcanoes and lush terraced rice fields that exude peace and serenity. It is also famous for surfers’ paradise!
Read MoreWonderful Indonesia
Over 17,000 islands spreading between the pacific and Indian Ocean; More than 200 ethnic groups with over 300 spoken languages bridging the continents of Asia and Australia; a multitude of amazing landscapes and biodiversity stretching along the equator line; this is Indonesia, a land of endless spectacular wonders!
The Indonesian nation today counts some 200 million population comprising over 200 ethnic groups with their own languages and dialects range in population from the Javanese (about 70 million) and Sundanese (about 30 million) on Java, to peoples numbering in the thousands on remote islands. After gaining Independence in 1945, inter-marriages among people of different ethnic groups have welded the population into a more cohesive Indonesian nation.
17,000+
islands
139
Volcanoes
3,012
Komodo Dragon population
Top Destinations
Far from the view-blocking skyscrapers, dense and hectic concrete jungles, congested traffics, flickering electric billboards, endless annoying noises, and all the nuisances of modern cities, you will find a pristine paradise.
Read MoreWith divine beaches, the majestic Mt Rinjani and spectacular marine life to discover, the island of Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara has no shortage of attractions both in and out of the water.
Read MoreIndonesia Quick Information
Q. Electricity Socket
230V AC electricity. Power outlets are usually two-pin round plugs. To avoid the hassle of having to buy new adapters for everywhere you go, we recommend picking up a Universal Travel Adaptor before you leave.
Q. Language
Everywhere you go in Bali, you will easily be able to find people who speak English, especially in touristy areas like Canggu, Ubud, and Seminyak. However, the further you decide to go, the level of English lowers. With that being said, no matter where you go, the people who work in the tourism and hospitality industry always has a good understanding of the language. The local language is called Bahasa and is spoken and understood widely despite the fact that they have about 300 native dialects.
As mentioned, although English is widely spoken, it doesn’t hurt to learn a few words to help you out.
- Good Morning: Selamat Pagi
- Yes: Ia
- No: Tidak
- Thank you: Terimah Kasih
- To eat: Makan
- Spicy: Pedas
- No Spicy: Tidak pedas
- Vegetables only (for vegetarians): Sayur saja
- Cool: Bagus
Q. Visa
In Indonesia, 169 countries can now obtain a visa on arrival. This is valid for 30 days but cannot be renewed or extended. If you wish to stay in Indonesia for longer, you can pay for a tourist visa (there is a special line in the immigration customs for it). This gives you 30 days plus a chance to extend it for another 30 days through any immigration office. If you want to stay for longer, it is also possible to get a social visa which gives you around 6 months.
For further information regarding Indonesian visa, please visit here
Q. Festivals and Celebrations
When traveling around Indonesia, watch out for the end Ramadan (July) as a lot of stores and restaurants are closed during these periods. During this time, making bookings for both accommodation and transportation is recommended. Other big celebrations worth seeing are Nyepi, which is the Balinese New Year celebrated in March.
Q. Transportation
Transportation is a bit of a mission in Indonesia as it is pretty spread apart. To get from one place to the next, we recommend downloading the Skyscanner App to help you find cheap deals. When we were there, we got cheap flights from Bali to Sumatra thanks to the Skyscanner App. Alternatively, you can also use the 12Go website to view bus, boat, and train schedules ahead of time. In Bali, I suggest downloading the Blue Bird Taxi App to help you get around from one place to the next.
Q. Safety
Although violent crime is fairly rare, there is a lot of petty theft, especially in touristy areas like Bali. With that being said, as long as you are sensible with your belongings (always put your bag strap across your body), never leaving your things unattended, you will be fine. ATM skimming is also pretty common so whatever you do, make sure you only go to ATM machines that are directly connected to a bank or to go to machines which have surveillance systems pointing at the machines at all times.
Based on our years of experience of traveling all over the world, we would never leave home without travel insurance. We recommend going with World Nomads due to their great travel activities coverage..
Apart from petty theft, alcohol poisoning is another serious issue that Bali and the popular Gili Islands is facing. Due to heavy alcohol import tax, some local vendors opt to stretch out their supply with other chemicals so it’s best to stay away from the local arak and only buy drinks from reputable bars and restaurants. Chances are, if you find a beach bar offering ridiculously low cocktails, the local alcohol might be mixed with extenders. Indonesia also has a zero tolerance for drugs, with the death penalty being imposed on a few convicted criminals so never put yourself at risk by carrying packages for people or even going to parties where you know drugs would be present.
Contents of this page is respectfully acredited to the official Wonderful Indonesia page at https://www.indonesia.travel.
