Casa Asia

KNOW WHAT'S UP!

Deposit money, valuables and documents in the room safe.

During visits to the Temples, follow the rules, wear a sarong around your waist. Women should not enter while on menstruation period.

Avoid stepping on any offerings.

Respect processions without honking, it's considered very rude. Do not overtake the procession unless instructed by the traffic officers.

Do not buy drugs of any kind, there's the death penalty for such offences.

Be careful driving and crossing the road. Drive on the left. Watch out since traffic rules are almost non-existent and drivers often merge without looking.

Always ask permission before photographing someone, especially if he is praying.

Do not touch people’s head, particularly children, it's considered offensive.

Bali is the most important tourist destination in Indonesia, with a reputation for having many beautiful sights. It's visited by millions of tourists from all over the world every year.

The island offers an abundance of beaches, surf spots, dive sites, temples, culture, artisans, shopping, nightlife, an unique mix to suit many tastes.

HEALTH.

We recommend tourists to call their local health department at least 15 days before departure.

There are no mandatory vaccinations for Bali. The recommended vaccinations are diphtheria and tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid fever.

It is not safe to drink tap water in Indonesia, it is advisable to consume sealed bottled water only.

The risk of malaria does not exist in Bali but avoid mosquito bites since it can cause you dengue fever.

Health care is not free in Bali, we recommend you get an health insurance. It should include coverage of medical expenses, both pharmaceutical and medical visits, hospitalisation and any unforeseen transfers to another country by air for emergency reasons.

Get in touch with an insurance company or ask the travel agency where you purchased your ticket.

Carry a small quantity of emergency pharmaceuticals and follow the dosage prescribed.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS.

To enter Indonesia you need a valid passport. It must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival. One empty page in your passport is required for the visa.

Verify the integrity of the passport. Check for unglued cover or any other damage before departing.

You need a round trip ticket. You will need to shows you have an exit ticket, when coming from Europe, US or Australia / NZ. You won't be allowed to enter in Indonesia with a one-way ticket.

At the moment you need also a proof of Covid vaccination.

Check Wikipedia to know more or directly the immigration office.

STAYS OF LESS THAN 30 DAYS.

According to Indonesia directorate general of immigration, citizens of most countries can enter Indonesia with a Visa On Arrival for up to 30 days.

Check Wikipedia to know more or directly the immigration office.

STAY BETWEEN 30 AND 60 DAYS.

People wishing to travel to Indonesia for tourism purposes for a period of between 30 and 60 days can get the Visa On Arrival once landed at the airport upon paying USD 35, you can pay in Euro too.

Before the end of the 30 days you will need to requested an extension for another 30 days at the immigration office.

We recommend contacting an agent, Casa Asia Ungasan can assist you with the extension procedures using an Indonesian agent.

STAYS OVER 60 DAYS.

People wishing to travel to Indonesia for tourism purposes for more than 60 days must apply for the appropriate visa before departure.

Find the Indonesian Embassy near you. There you can obtain visas for Indonesia for 60 days, extendable monthly to a maximum of six months.

Before the end of the 60 days you must request an extension at the immigration office.

It is advisable to get an agent for that. Casa Asia Ungasan can help you find an Indonesian agent.

If you overstay, you will have to pay a penalty of about USD 20 per day. If you overstay for a long time, you could face jail time.

The 30 day visa includes both your first day and your last day in Indonesia. Even if you arrive 5 minutes before midnight and depart 5 minutes after midnight it will still be considered a full visa day.

BALI.

Bali is the most important Indonesian tourist destination, with a reputation of being one of the most beautiful tourist spots in Asia, is visited by millions of visitors from all over the world every year.

Here you will find many beaches, surf spots, dive sites, temples, culture, art, shopping, nightlife.

Tourism is mainly concentrated in the southern coastal areas, where the resorts villages of Kuta, Canggu and Seminyak, are the most known destinations for their beaches, the surf, nightlife and stunning sunsets.

Here it's full of shops, hotels, restaurants, shopping centres and nightlife, suitable for those seeking a lively holiday.

Sanur, on the east coast, is a quiet area with many large hotels and the only sea-side walk path.

Ubud, located uphill, is considered the heart of artisans and culture. Among green tropical jungle and rice plantations, its rural serenity is closer to the original Balinese spirit.

The southern most part, the Bukit peninsula, is slighly drier area which boasts the most beautiful beaches and waves for brave surfers.

Near the Airport, Jimbaran is well known for its beach, the grilled fish restaurants and its fish market.

CLIMATE.

Eight degrees south of the equator, Bali has a tropical climate with two main seasons, dry from May to September and wet from October to April.

The average temperature is around 29 degrees Celsius.

LANGUAGES.

Indonesian and Balinese languages are spoken here together with a bit of English.

In addition to these languages, numerous local dialects are spoken, with diverse idioms for castes and clans.

GEOGRAPHY.

Bali, with an area of about 5,561 square km, is located among the islands of Java and Lombok and it is one of the 18,000+ islands in the Indonesian archipelago.

It's crossed by a strip of volcanic mountains. The highest one, Gunung Agung, reaches 3.031 metres on sea level.

Bali, populated by 4.317.000 inhabitants as of 2020, with a density of 750 people per square km, is administratively a province of Indonesia with Denpasar being the province centre. For more infos have a look here.

Time zone here is UTC+08.

The south regions are home to rice terraces that are the among the most spectacular in the world.

The north of the island offers the best sea bed for snorkelling and scuba diving, with Menjangan natural park, the village of Lovina and Amed famous for dolphins.

East of Bali the small island of Nusa Lembongan, a peaceful place formerly inhabited only by seaweed farmers is where you still find a slow atmosphere.

CULTURE.

Balinese people have strong spiritual roots and despite the large influx of tourists over the years their local culture is still extremely alive.

Bali is famous for its artisans. Painting, sculpture and wood carving are the most developed artistic activities, flourishing particurarly in the Ubud area.

Traditional Balinese music Gamelan, as well as the traditional dances of Legong, Barong and Kecak are also followed by a large population. Following Hindu tradition, Balinese cremate their dead.

Cremations celebration resemble a folk festival. There is a procession around the village, Gamelan music and offerings are deposited on the coffin of the deceased in a joyful atmosphere.

Colourful offerings are made to the gods every day, placed in the front of shops, homes and temples.

Crafted with an eye for detail and beauty, these offerings were formerly made in each households with manual labor, the actual offer, but nowadays they are often bought at markets or dedicated shops.

Most of the population in Bali live in villages, in extended large families and participate actively to the village social life, countless ceremonies, following the Balinese calendar of 210 days.

Celebrations and cerimonies are carried out for the many gods at 20,000+ temples all over the island.

CULTS AND RELIGIONS.

92% of the population adheres to Balinese Hinduism, which differs a lot from the original Indian Hinduism.

Agama Hindu Dharma is a combination of local ancestral animist beliefs and Hinduism rituals, which has spread in the archipelago during the Majapahit empire times in the eleventh century.

With the arrival of Islam in neighbouring Java, during the fifteenth century, many kings fled to Bali with their court's entourage, artists, musicians and artisans, to avoid islamisation.

In Bali today small minorities practice other religions. Islam (5.7%), Christianity (1.4%) and Buddhism (0.6%).

FESTIVITIES.

Bali’s main festival is Galungan. It involves the whole island and is an annual Wuku calendar event. It lasts 10 days, during which gods are believed to descend to earth for the festivities and the Barong, a mythical creatures half lion half dog, travels from temple to temple and from village to village.

Kuningan is the highlight of the festival on the last day.

Nyepi is the main festivity of the Saka calendar. It's the last day of the Balinese year and usually falls between late March and early April.

The day before is considered a time of purification when evil spirits are removed with cymbals, gongs, drums and torches. The day of Nyepi everyone remains at home, in silence, without light nor cooking. The malignant deities must see Bali deserted and leave the island in peace for another year.