Bali have a unique culture, when you visit Bali island you could learn about rite of passage from Balinese culture

In the eyes of the Hindu Balinese, existence is a continuous cycle of life, death, and rebirth, until one attains moksa, when the soul becomes one with the macrocosm.  Rituals at various stages of life on earth ensure that the individual progresses toward this desired state.

INFANT GODS

The baby, which embodies the soul of a reincarnating ancestor, is said to be an infant god or Dewa , until it is 42 days old.  It is carried about on a family membership as it is not allowed to touch the impure soil until it is 105 days old.  Its first birthday is celebrated 210 days after birth, a year in the Balinese calender, and the mother makes a temple offering to announce the child’s arrival in the village.

TOOTH FILING ( MEPANDES )
The ceremony of   tooth filing,   meant to  overcome the elements of man’s bestiality cause Balinese  believe every human born with animal characteristics, occurs   after a child reaches  puberty. The pointed canine teeth are considered animalistic, and all six  upper front teeth are filed even. Because of the expense of this ceremony, a number of families may join in a mass tooth filing to share costs.

MARRIAGE
Full adulthood begins after marriage During the ceremony, offerings are addressed to the demonic forces, who have to be placated before proper sexual desire is exercised. To show knowledge of domestic duties, a bride and bridegroom may simulate activities such as weaving or washing during the ceremony.

CREMATION TOWER
A cremation is the most important rite of passage that a  family can perform for its loved ones.  The body may be  buried until a  cremation can be  arranged, then it is  hoisted up an   elaborate stairway to a decorated tower  (right) supported on  a bamboo substructure. The tower is a symbolic representation of the universe, with the upper tiers symbolizing the various heavens where the soul is  heading.

SARCOPHAGUS ( NGABEN )
In a joyous procession, the cremation tower is transported to the  grounds where the body is placed in an animal-shaped sarcophagus. The sarcophagus is the dead’s vehicle to the  mountain of the soul’s origin. Pots of holy water are poured  over the corpse, then it and the tower and other cremation  paraphernalia are consumed by fire.

COLLECTING THE ASHES
After the body is burned, the ashes are  collected, ground  finely, and offered to the sea.  All  physical remains  having been  restored to the  five elements,  the soul is now  freed to journey  through  purgatory and, if  need be, taken to  hell to be tortured  and eventually  cleansed.

RETURNING HOME
In a final ceremony that may be held years later, the soul is called back from the sea and after several cleansing rituals, taken to the mountain temple and released to return to its heavenly abode. It has become a deified ancestor, and is worshiped at a special shrine.

Bali Culture

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Religion

Thought 90 percent of the Indonesian population is Moslem’s, in Bali 90 percent follow Hinduism.  The left hand is considered unclean and therefore, when you hand something over or shake hands, make sure to do so with your right hand.  Also, don’t touch some one’s head, and when you visit a temple, avoid wearing revealing clothes, ( Menstruating women are not allowed to enter a temple).  Sometimes you are required to wear a sarong or sash before entering a temple (some places rent these out of charge)

Currency & Exchange

The basic Currency is rupiah ( Rp.),

The bill are:  Rp. 100; 500; 1.000; 5.000; 10.000; 20.000; 50.000; 100.000.

The coins are : Rp. 100; 500;1.000

Money below Rp. 100 is rarely in circulation. You might get candies instead of small change.

Water

Though water in most parts of Indonesia is soft water, the tap water in Bali is hard.  Never drink from the tap and always be sure to use bottled water.  Be careful with ice as it is often made from water that is not purified.

Time difference

As Indonesia is long from east to west, there are three time zones.  Bali belongs to the central time zones.  While Jakarta and Yogyakarta, the west time zone, so there is a difference  of one hour between Bali and those areas.  When you are going to Yogyakarta, don’t forget this one hour time difference.

Tipping

Tipping is not usually necessary in major hotels and restaurants as a service charge is added to your bill.  But if you ask someone to do special service, it is OK to give a tip.  Currently, tipping for room service is somewhere from Rp. 10.000 to 50.000.

Telephone

When making domestic calls in same area, dial the number directly.  When calling outside the area code beginning with 0 and then the number.  There are public phones but it is likely that they will be out of order.  Use WARTEL – a privately owned telephone service company – or call from the hotel.

Language

The Official Language is Indonesian.  Balinese speak together using Balinese.  At hotels and many restaurants and major tourist sites, there are staff capable of speaking English and major foreign languages.

Climate and Clothes

Bali has a tropical monsoon climate.  In which April to September is dry season and October to March, the rainy season.  Bali is hot throughout the year but during the dry season it may get chilly at night and early morning.  A jacket will help.

Voltage

The voltage and frequency in Indonesia are 220 volt and 50 hertz respectively.   The plug is a C type:   two round pin as shown above.  When using an electrical appliance from another country, you might need a transformer and plug adapter.

Credit Cards

Major hotels, restaurants for tourists and duty free shops accept credit cards.  But there are cases when a handling charge of a few percents is added.  The exchange rate at the time of using the card in Bali will be different from when it is billed to you in your country.

Protecting Valuables

There are cases of pickpockets, luggage stealing and purse-snatching.  When you go out, don’t take valuables with you and when you walk on the sidewalks, don’t carry your bag on the road side.  Keep valuables, including your passport and cash, in the safe deposit box at your hotel.

Narcotics (Illegal drugs)

There are many foreigner tourist arrested because of involvement with narcotics.  Just by possessing narcotics results in severe punishment in Indonesia.  So never get involved in narcotics.

On Street Survey

You might encounter someone who says he/she is talking a survey on the street or beach.  When you fill in the sheet, he/she tells you just won a prize or hotel voucher and ask you to come a place where you are told to buy an expensive membership or product.  To avoid becoming involved in trouble, don’t disclose casually to a stranger either your name, the name of your hotel, or your room number.

Hot Water Supply at Your Hotel

Hotels use hot water supply tank there are times when hot water does not run very well, when many people are using hot water or when you use the bathtub or shower one after the other.

Card Gambling ( Blackjack)

These people come to you with a smile and invite you to take part in gambling, such as cards (blackjack), and the steal your money.  They maybe Indonesians or non-Indonesians.  If you go their house, they won’t let you go easily and there have been times when victims have been forced to pay large amount of cash, hand over valuables or use a credit card.  As a gambling is not allowed in Indonesia, you won’t be able to resort to legal procedures.  Be careful when stranger invites you go to somewhere with them.

Travel Tips,  Useful Knowledge When Travel to Bali

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Bali culture is  a very  unique  culture from many Indonesian culture, If you’re considering going on a vacation to  visit Bali, one of the “must-do” things is to check out the interesting cultural site sand forms of entertainment that are available to tourists.

First, you should check out Balinese dance as one of unique Bali culture when you visit Bali. This is a highly developed art form in Bali,  it is extremely ritualistic and the moves are memorized and  unwavering. It requires intense coordination on the part of the dancers and can be an amazing sight to witness.

You can catch a quality Balinese dance performance in Bali anywhere there’s festival or celebration, and you’ll find exceptional performances in and around Ubud.

The dancing is accompanied by Gamelan music, a sort of traditional village band that plays in the background. Second, you’ll want to see if there are any festivals or public rituals going on related to the Balinese version of Hindu. They often have many publicly accessible celebrations that you can attend, and it’s a great way to soak in the culture.

In fact, many of the performances are deliberately secular in nature, so you won’t have to worry about intruding on someone else   religious practices.

Third, you ought to check out the local painting styles.  Until the tourist invasion, the acts of painting or carving were purely to decorate temples and shrines and to enrich ceremonies. Today, with galleries and craft shops everywhere.

Art is ubiquitous in Bali – from the lowest peasant to the upper crust, the Balinese have their own unique painting style and there are many excellent works of art available to view or even purchase.

The art doesn’t just stop with paintings – they do traditional masks, various other adornments and jewelry, and some interesting statues that you’ll want to take a look at. You could even look around for local craft fairs or shops that cater to tourists – you’ll likely be able to pick up some great, cheap pieces to bring back home with you as  a gift for your friend or family.

Visit Bali, Bali Culture

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]]> http://visitbalionline.com/bali-culture/feed/ 0 http://visitbalionline.com/ten-essential-tips-for-bali-vacation http://visitbalionline.com/ten-essential-tips-for-bali-vacation#comments Sun, 04 Jan 2009 11:52:13 +0000 admin http://visitbalionline.com/?p=104

Bali is a small, beautiful island famed for its unique arts and cultures, enchanting nature and the friendliness of its people. Most people come to Bali to experience the marvelously rich cultural heritage; some come for the beaches and the waves, others for pure relaxation. Bali is situated in Indonesia, one of the best tourist destinations in Asia. For those who plan to visit Bali, I herewith write Ten Essential Tips for Bali Vacation for your consideration.

1. To enter Bali, or Indonesia for that matter, make sure your passport is valid for six months upon entry into Indonesia, otherwise you’ll find yourself on the next plan out. You also must have proof of onward passage (i.e. a ticket out of Indonesia). Tourist, social and business visas can be obtained from any Indonesian embassy or consulate abroad. Citizens from Asian countries comprising Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippine and Laos do not require a visa, only a valid travel   document. Visitors from some thirty countries are also provided with a 60-days tourist visa issued directly upon arrival. Consult your travel agent or airlines, mention your nationality.

2. Money matters: The rupiah is the basic unit of money. Foreign currency, in bank notes and traveler’s checks is best exchanged at major banks or authorized money changers. Do change money at a reputable looking location, use your own (or the hotel’s calculator before changing), as the ones used by some places can be “a little inaccurate”. Most important; always count your money before you leave the place. Traveler’s checks are accepted at all major hotels and large shops; some smaller shops will also accept them. Passport number is required.  Do not forget to take passport (or a photocopy of your ID), with you at all time.

3. When changing large amounts of money please check each note carefully as there are a number of (noticeably) fake bills in circulation.

4. There have been a few cases of handbags being snatched after one has cashed money at banks or money changers. Put your money away in your “bum-bag” or hold onto your handbag tightly.5. Credit cards and charge cards: To day many hotels, shops large and small accept plastic, with the proviso that an additional 3% is added onto your bill. However, when traveling to the village, take rupiah with you.  Keep small change handy when riding in public transports or buying drinks at warung.

6. Make sure you either have personal insurance or travel insurance that will cover in any accidents. If you rent a car (must be with insurance), beware of motorbikes, as there are too many on the road. When you park the car, always remember to remove all your properties. Crime is on the increase and can spoil your holiday. Be careful with your belongings at all times. Cases of handbag snatching have been reported, so leave important documents in your hotel safe (carry photocopies).  Do not forget to look and listen while you cross the road. Cars may stops, motorbikes may not!

7. Going to Bali, dress casually. Take light clothes, as the weather is warm-to – hot throughout the year. Remember Bali is a land where prayer and  eligious festivals take center stage. When visiting a temple or attending ceremonies, make it a point to respect local customs and traditions. Always wear a sarong and sash. Do not walk in front of people praying. Do not use a flash camera or point your camera to the priest’s face. Do try not to step on offerings in the street (walk around them). Women are not allowed to enter temples during menstruation.

8. Do not drug! It can carry the death penalty, and there are enough  foreigners residing in Bali courtesy of the Government prison service.

9. Do not swim outside designated swimming areas on the beach, current/undertows can be very strong. Swim between the red and yellow flags. Don’t swim too far out. Do not leave your belongings unattended on the beach.

10. Health: International health certificates of vaccination against smallpox, cholera, and yellow fever are required only from travelers comprising from infected areas. Typhoid and paratyphoid vaccinations are optional but still advisable. Drink only distilled or mineral water, or water that has been   boiled and eat a lot of fresh fruit – do your body a favor.  Don’t worry too much about ice, it’s a government quality controlled in established bars and restaurants.  Most people traveling through Bali get the infamous “Bali Belly” at some time or other. Taking and Imodium will stop you up. At the first time of discomfort (diarrhea and cramping), drink strong, hot tea and avoid all fruits and spicy foods. Taking charcoal tablets will help alleviate the cramping.

Bali is worth a visit, plan your vacation, go on line and book your preferred Bali hotels or contact your travel agent. Thanks you readers.

Written by Made Dertha, Bali Turista Tours

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