Information

Bali has a rich and colorful nature with beautiful rice fields, mountains, rain forests, volcanoes, lakes, rivers and coral reefs in clear seawater. The climate is extremely pleasant throughout the year, both in rainy season and dry periods. Even in the rainy season, Bali is a great place to visit as tropical showers can be short and the temperature always remains around 28° C.

Bali is one of the 13,677 islands of Indonesia.  It covers an area of over 5,560 km2 and has about 3 million inhabitants. From west to east the distance is about 145 km and the distance from north to south is about 85 km. The spoken language is Bahasa Indonesia and the currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (Rph), however the USD is also widely accepted.

Monsoon Climate

Actually you can go to this paradise throughout the whole year, temperature is around 30 degrees all year! Due to the mountains there is much less rain in the north than in the south of Bali during rainy season.

Bali has a tropical monsoon climate. The island is situated close to the equator, which means it is always warm and that there are only 2 seasons: a dry and a rainy season. The average daytime temperature is 28° C, at night the average is 22° C. Also temperature of the sea water, around 28° C, is quite constant throughout the year. The ‘dry’ season is from April until November.

The rainy season is characterized by short, abundant rainfall during the months of November through April (the monsoon). However, also during ‘dry’ months every now and then there will be a tropical downpour, but these are often short and heavy and the sun will shine exuberantly again afterwards. Like anywhere in the tropics most showers are either in the late afternoon or evening. The mornings are generally clear and sunny.

Due to the high humidity, the weather is often quite sultry. Most of the times the weather in the higher altitudes is cooler. Along the shore there is often a nice breeze, which makes the beach a pleasant place to stay.

Culture and religion

Bali is the only island in the ‘Emerald Belt’ where Islam has hardly penetrated. The Hindu culture, modified to the Balinese circumstances, dominates the island; 90% of Balinese are Hindu. You will see the Hindu culture everywhere, expressed in the many temples and the unique processions.

Bali is also called the ‘Island of the Gods’. Every village has at least three temples. There are small temples at crossings, hill tops, mountains and sawas. Of course every house has its own temple(s) as well. Religion on Bali is entwined with daily life. This is reflected in, among other things, the famous Balinese dances and the ceremonies. In general the population is very friendly towards tourists, giving you the opportunity to experience the local and religious traditions from up close.

Tradition

The typical Balinese culture has different values and customs from the ones we are used to in our Western society. When you visit a temple, you have to wear a sarong and a slendang (sash) around the waist. You can often rent these at the entrance to a temple. For non-Hindu’s it’s forbidden to enter the inner sanctuary of a temple. Women are considered unclean during their period and are therefore not allowed to visit temples. When visiting a temple a small contribution is normally made. The money will be used for maintenance. It’s advisable to ask for permission when taking pictures of people in religious places or of people performing a ceremony. Taking pictures of military buildings is strictly forbidden.

Landscape

Bali has many volcanoes. The chain of volcanoes determines the relief of the Balinese landscape. The highest peak on the island is Gunung Agung (Mount Agung), the Holy Volcano (3,100m). Another famous volcano and tourist attraction is the Gunung Batur (1,700m). Both are situated in the North-West. Bali has a varied landscape due to past volcanic activity and the tropical climate. The volcanic soil is very fertile, as a result of which various plants, trees and crops grow in abundance. Agriculture is an important source of income. The most important Balinese crop is rice and here one can find the famous sawas; wet rice fields which are mainly laid out in stepped terraces. Other important crops are coffee, tobacco, spices and fruit.
The Southern part of Bali is relatively flat. Situated close to the capital of Denpasar are the major tourist areas such as Kuta and Sanur. The Balinese people mainly live outdoors, both at work and at home in the village. More than 85% of the islanders live and work in the countryside, 10% are employed in the tourism industry.

Some practical information about your stay on Bali

Visa

Upon arrival at the airport of Denpasar you can apply a visa-on-arrival. To obtain a visa-on-arrival each passport needs to be valid for more than 6 (six) months from the date of entry into Indonesia. The visa-on-arrival is valid for a stay of up to 30 days (29 nights) on Bali/in Indonesia. The visa-on-arrival is free of charge for 45 nationalities including many Asian and European countries, USA, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand passport holders. For a stay longer than 30 days in Bali (or Indonesia) you will have to apply for a visa in advance at the embassy of Indonesia in your home country. Please check with the authorities prior to your departure to ensure regulations have not been changed.

Time zone

Indonesia is divided into three time zones. On Bali, the Indonesian Central Time is valid. This means that in summer on Bali it is 7 hours later than GMT and in winter it is 8 hours later than GMT.

Electrical Appliances

Bali’s electrical current is 220 volts AC. The villa’s electrical sockets are of the European type (two pins). An adaptor is available in the villa. As in many other Asian countries, power cuts frequently occur.

Banking

In Lovina and other large cities such as Singaraja you will find ATM cash machines where you can use your ATM or Debit Card to withdraw Indonesian Rupiah. Keep in mind that most of the times you can only withdraw a small amount at a time. It is therefore advisable to bring some cash on arrival.

MORE NEEDS TO KNOW ….

Your first steps to a hassle-free arrival and an unforgettable stay:

Address Villa Bayu: Jalan Air Terjun Sing Sing – Temukus/ Lovina – Buleleng – Bali

  • Currency is the Indonesian rupiah and 100.000 Rp is approx. € 7.00 (April 2016) but check the latest rates.
  • Ensure passport with 6 months validity and 2 empty pages and bring along 2 copies of your passport for tourist police.
  • Obtain necessary vaccination.
  • Obtain international drivinglicense if you have plans to drive whatever transport means and note that driving is at the left hand side.
  • Upon arrival at the airport of Denpasar you can apply a visa-on-arrival. To obtain a visa-on-arrival each passport needs to be valid for more than 6 (six) months from the date of entry into Indonesia.
  • The visa-on-arrival is valid for a stay of up to 30 days (29 nights) on Bali/in Indonesia. The visa-on-arrival is free of charge for 45 nationalities including many Asian and European countries, USA, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand passport holders.
  • For a stay longer than 30 days in Bali (or Indonesia) you will have to apply for a visa in advance at the embassy of Indonesia in your home country.
  • We advise you checking with the authorities prior to your departure to ensure regulations have not been changed.
  • Prior to approaching immigration, fill out and complete arrival and registration card(s).
  • Don’t even think about bringing in soft or hard drugs.
  • But maximum 1 liter of alcohol and 1 carton of cigarettes per person is no problem at all.
  • Villa Bayu is 2½-3 hours drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport near Denpasar.
  • Please let us know in advance whether you require transport to the villa.
  • And a small tip for all staff upon departure is highly appreciated. Also by their families.
  • At immigration, pay departure fee of 200.000 rupiah per person but check the latest information.
  • Once back to your normal life again, let us know any good and or bad experiences for our learning.