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Friday, August 6, 2010

Bali History


The Balinese believe in the eternal cycle of reincarnation and view their life on Earth as just one stage in their continued existence. As part of this belief, a person’s life is marked by rites of passages that are celebrated by the whole family.

The first important ritual is performed sixth months during pregnancy (magedong gedongan ceremony). However the first noted ritual is done at birth when the baby’s placenta is buried in coconut shell near the entrance to the family house. Babies are regarded as being the reincarnation of the ancestors. They are therefore thought of as being holy and are treated with reverence. At puberty the tooth-filing ceremony takes place, although this expensive custom is often delayed until marriage to save money.

Marriage rituals in Bali are unique and often involve the entire families of the bride and groom in elaborate mock drama.

The final and most important cycle of life is the cremation. Cremation rituals are seen as joyous occasions as they release the soul from the Earth so it may start its journey to heaven before being reborn. The mukur ceremony is done 40 days after a cremation to mark the entry of the person into heaven.

A Three day odalan festival takes place in a village every 210 days on the anniversary of the village temple’s dedication. During the island-wide festival of Galungan, ancestors are thought to descend from the heaven and enter the world. On the 10th day, Kuningan, the spirits ascend back to Heaven. Nyepi, the new year of the Caka calendar is celebrated in March.



Bali Travel Tips


General Info

Passports and Visas

Visitors from USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Western Europe don't need a visa to enter Indonesia. Provided you have a ticket out of the country and your passport has at least six months validity at the time of your arrival, you'll be issued with a tourist card which is valid for a 60-day stay. Keep the card with your passport as you'll have to hand it back when you leave the country. It is good for 60 days, not two months; some travelers have been fined for overstaying by only a day or so. It is not possible to get an extension on a tourist visa, unless there is a medical emergency or you have to answer legal charges. There are visas, particularly a business visitor's visa, which may be valid for a longer period. The immigration office is in Denpasar. If you have to visit this office, make sure you wear your most respectable clothes.

Currency

The Rupiah. Notes 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000. Coins 100, 500, 1000.

Time Zone

GMT + 8 hours. Same as Beijing, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Perth.
Accommodation

As you can imagine there's an enormous variety of accommodation available in Bali. It varies from magnificent five star resorts to simple jungle cabins, depending on the location and your holiday budget.

Credit Cards

Major credit cards are acceptable in most hotels along with American dollar traveler's cheques.

Electricity

Most hotels use 220 volts, 50 cycles and a round, two-pronged slim plug. Bathroom shaver plugs usually have a transformer switch. We suggest taking an adaptor for your appliance.

General Info
Getting Around

You will find a range of chauffeur driven limousines, self-drive cars, taxis and hotel courtesy cars. Many taxis are not metered so it's wise to negotiate the fare before you climb aboard. Bemos are a unique form of transport. They are a mini-van masquerading as a communal bus. You simply hail the driver and negotiate the fare that suits you both. Motorcycles can also be hired in many places but special care should be exercised at all times as road and traffic conditions can be somewhat hazardous in certain locations. Traveling around Bali is made all the easier because everywhere you go you'll find friendly people only to happy to give you advice and directions on how to get where you want to go.

Driver's License

If you wish to hire a car you must be over 18 years of age and posses an International Driver's License or license from ASEAN countries.

Clothing

Light, airy, casual clothes are the most practical and you'll find natural fibers like cotton or linen are the most comfortable in Bali's often humid conditions. Waist sashes should be worn when visiting temples.

Useful Numbers

• Taxis
o Taksi Praja : 289191, 289090
o Taksi Bali : 701111

• Medical

o AEA International (Medical Evac) Jl. Hayam Wuruk 40, Denpasar. Tel : 228996
o Medical Centre Jl Bypass Ngurah Rai 100X Denpasar. Tel : 761263
o Rumah Sakit Dharma Husada (Hospital) Jl. Panglima Sudirman No.50, Denpasar. Tel : 227560
o Kuta Clinic : Jl. Raya Kuta No.100X, Kuta. Tel : 753268
o Nusa Dua Clinic : Jl. Pramata No. 81A, Nusa Dua. Tel : 771324
o Rumah Sakit Umum Sanglah (Hospital) : Jl. Diponegoro, Denpasar. Tel : 227911

• Emergency Numbers

o Ambulance : 118
o Fire : 113
o Police : 110
o Search & Rescue : 51111
o Red Cross : 26465

• Operator Assisted Calls

o Within Indonesia : 100
o International : 101

• Directory Information
o Bali : 108
o Indonesia : 106

• Credit Card Enquiries

o American Express :
? Galleria Nusa Dua Shopping Center. Tel : 773334
? Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Sanur. Tel : 288511 ext. 111
o Mastercard :
? Bank Central Asia, Jl. Cokroaminoto, Denpasar. Tel : 222652
o Visa Card :
? Bank Duta, Jl. Hayam Wuruk 165, Denpasar. Tel : 226578