BALI FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

TEN MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT VISITING INDONESIA

1. CAN I DRINK THE WATER?
   NO. MINERAL WATER IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE IN BOTH LARGE AND SMALL BOTTLES IN MOST AREAS. BOILED WATER (AIR PUTIH) WILL BE SERVED ON ORDER, AND IF YOU BRING YOUR OWN CANTEEN, YOU CAN FILL IT AT YOUR HOTEL AND CUT DOWN ON PLASTIC WASTE. TEA OR BOILED WATER IS SERVED IN A THERMOS AT MOST HOTELS. SOFT DRINKS ARE AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS COLD, AND SOME PLACES SELL FRESH COCONUT MILK. BE SURE TO KEEP THE LEVEL OF FLUIDS UP IN YOUR BODY. YOU WILL MOST LIKELY BE PERSPIRING MORE THAN USUAL.
   
   
2. HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD I BRING?
   AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. THERE ARE MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS TO PURCHASE AT INCREDIBLE BARGAIN PRICES. LUNCH WILL COST BETWEEN $ 3.00-$4.00. DINNER AVERAGES ABOUT $2.00 MORE. EXTRAS WILL RUN ABOUT $7.00 A DAY AT MOST. ANY TYPE TRAVELERS CHECK IS ACCEPTED. IN BALI YOU MAY DRAW OUT MONEY ON AN AMERICAN EXPRESS,VISA, OR MASTER CARD. INTERNATIONAL MONEY ORDERS ARE DIFFICULT TO CASH AND PERSONAL CHECKS IMPOSSIBLE. YOU CAN CHANGE MONEY ON ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT (BE SURE TO COUNT IT) AND ANY TYPE OF TRAVELERS CHECKS ARE ACCEPTED.
   
   
3. WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE?
   THE TEMPERATURE RARELY VARIES BEYOND 20 DEGREES. DAYS IN THE MID-EIGHTIES, SOMEWHAT WARM AND HUMID. EVENINGS,ESPECIALLY IN MUNDUK, CAN BE COOL-- IN THE UPPER 60'S. RAIN CAN OCCUR BUT MONSOONS ARE NON-EXISTENT. RAINIEST MONTHS AT NOV.- JAN.
   
   
4. WHAT SHALL I BRING?
   NOT MUCH. CLOTHING IS VERY CASUAL IN INDONESIA AND YOU WILL WANT TO HAVE ROOM IN YOUR BAG TO BRING BACK SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL ARTS AND CRAFTS.
   HERE IS WHAT WE SUGGEST YOU BRING:
   TRAVEL CLOCK HAT OR VISOR
   TRAVELERS CHECKS (ANY KIND)
   COTTON SWEATER
   SUNTAN LOTION AND SCREEN VITAMINS
   PAIR OF SLACKS OR SKIRT
   ANY MEDICINE YOU MAY NEED
   INSECT REPELLENT
   PEN
   SWISS ARMY KNIFE
   LIGHTWEIGHT RAIN PONCHO
   SHORTS T-SHIRTS
   PERSONAL PRODUCTS
   EYE DROPS
   HIKING SHOES
   FILM AND CAMERA.
   PAIR STRONG RUBBER SANDALS
   FLASHLIGHT W/ NEW BATTERIES
   LAMPLIGHT
   HANDY-WIPES
   CANTEEN
   ZIPLOCK BAG(MEDIUM )
   
   
5. WHAT IS THE CURRENCY?
   THE COMMON FORM OF CURRENCY IS THE RUPIAH. IN MOST PLACES YOU BARGAIN FOR GOODS. RUPIAH COMES IN COINS (5,10,25,50, 100) AND NOTES (100,500,1000,5000,10,000, 20,000, 50,000). THERE SEEMS TO BE LIMITED AMOUNTS OF "SMALL MONEY" AND CHANGE IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO GET WHEN MAKING PURCHASES.
   
   
6. DO I NEED A VISA?
   A VISA IS NOT REQUIRED FOR INDONESIA UNLESS YOU PLAN TO STAY LONGER THAN 30 DAYS. YOUR PASSPORT MUST BE VALID 6 MONTHS FROM THE DATE YOU ARRIVE IN INDONESIA. WHEN YOU ARRIVE YOU WILL BE GIVEN PART OF A CUSTOMS CARD YOU FILL OUT WHEN ENTERING THE COUNTRY, YOU WILL ALSO BE REQUIRES TO PAY A $25 FEE. BE SURE TO RETAIN THIS AS YOU WILL BE ASKED FOR IT WHEN YOU EXIT.
   
   
7. WILL I NEED TO TIP?
   TIPPING IS NOT CUSTOMARY IN INDONESIA, BUT IS BECOMING MORE COMMON. IN LARGE WESTERN-STYLE HOTELS SERVICE CHARGES ARE ADDED TO YOUR BILL. WE WILL COLLECT A GROUP TIP FOR THE HOTELS AND BUS DRIVERS AT THE END OF OUR STAY.
   
   
8. WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?
   "HAVE YOU EATEN RICE TODAY IS THE COMMON GREETING IN INDONESIA AS THE LOCALS EAT WHITE RICE THREE TIMES A DAY USUALLY WITH HOT SPICES AND MIXED VEGETABLES. SATAY, SMALL CUBES OF FISH, CHICKEN, PORK AND BEEF ARE BARBECUED ON GRILLS AND DIPPED IN PEANUT SAUCE.THERE ARE MANY RESTAURANTS THAT CATER TO TOURISTS ON BALI AND SERVE BLEN-DER DRINKS,SALADS (SAFE) AND YOGURT. EVERYTHING IS COOKED IN OIL.
   
   
9. WHAT ARE THE BATHROOMS LIKE?
   BATHROOMS IN INDONESIA ARE WESTERN STYLE,WITH SHOWERS, SINKS AND FLUSH TOILETS, AND VARIABLE HOT WATER. LOCAL BATHS WILL INCLUDE A "MANDI" A THREE FOOT HIGH BASIN OF WELL WATER. YOU DIP A BUCKET IN THE BASIN AND POUR THE WATER OVER YOURSELF. TOILETS MAY BE SQUAT, AND ARE FLUSHED BY POURING WATER. IT IS THE CUSTOM TO "WASH"EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE FLOOR, BY POURING WATER OVER IT WHEN FINISHED .
   
   
10. AM I GOING TO GET SICK?
    CHANCES ARE 1 IN 6 YOU WILL GET SICK. ANYTHING FROM A PLAIN OLD HEAD COLD (RESISTANCE IS DOWN) TO LOOSE BOWELS (CHANGE IN DIET AND OILY FOOD). USE GOOD SENSE ABOUT EATING. BRING PEPTO-BISMOL FOR GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS AND ANY MEDICATION YOU USE REGULARLY. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR REGARDING MALARIA PILLS SINCE WE TRAVEL TO BORNEO. SHOTS: NONE REQUIRED.