1000 Awesome Things is one of the best feel good websites I’ve come across. Very refreshing after all those cynical websites portraying people and society at their ugliest (no matter how funny those can be).

This one in particular is for the Ferret, to remind him that even though some things (in this case work) may really get you down at times, life still has plenty of awesome things to offer.

Here’s a few of mine:

Finding your way around life as newlyweds. Awesome!

Looking at those wedding photos for the umpteenth time. Awesome!

Cuddling up together in a cold bed. Awesome!

Going on a date with your wife/husband. Awesome!

Dreaming of a beautiful future together. Awesome!

I love you, boo!

Getting there

The Bali airport is Ngurah Rai in the capital city of Denpasar. As Asian airline carriers tend to have better service for the same price than western carriers, we recommend Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong), Etihad (United Arab Emirates), Qantas (Australia), and Thai Airways. Or whatever suits your budget. ;) Don’t forget travel insurance – just in case.

Visa on arrival (VoA)

Citizens from a large number of countries are eligible for VoA. This means concretely that you can purchase your tourist visa when you arrive at the airport and do not need to go through the hassle of contacting an embassy or consulate in your home country.

Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months from the time of arrival. The VoA costs $25 and is valid for 30 days. You can pay in USD and EUR or with a Visa or Master Card. When you arrive, go to the VoA desk before going through Immigration Clearance.

Make sure that you keep the VoA receipt as well as the departure card, which you get at immigration, in your passport, because you will need it leave the country.

Bagage claim

At the bagage claim in Denpasar, there are hordes of porters who will quite fiercely try to carry your bags for you. This means you will have to pay them, and as you will likely not have any local currency yet, you’ll likely be milked. My advice is: adamantly insist on carrying your own luggage. Last time I simply said: “Listen guys, I do not have any money. I cannot pay you. I will carry my own bag.”

Do not let yourself be intimidated by their numbers. Just stop in your tracks. Demand your bags. Be clear – yet polite – in what you say, and you’ll be fine.

Departure tax

When you leave Bali, you will have to pay a departure tax. At press time this was 150,000 RP. You pay this after check in and security and before immigration, where they’ll ask you for the receipt and the departure card.

Money

The local currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (pronounced roo-pee-yah) (IDR or RP).

There are plenty of ATMs where you can withdraw cash with your Visa or Master Card. We recommend this as exchange counters might charge a very high commission. If you do use a teller ask what the commission is beforehand, calculate the amount you should be getting, and count your money before putting it away.

When you arrive, ask your driver to stop at an ATM on the way to the hotel. Don’t withdraw more than 4 million RP. It will get you a long way assuming you can pay for your hotel with a credit card.

Getting around

For complete ease of mind, arrange before you arrive that your hotel send a driver to pick you up from the airport. For the rest of your stay, there are plenty of options. Private car plus driver rental or taxis are the most comfortable way to get around, but also the most expensive (though still extremely cheap – never more than $50 a day). If you feel more adventurous or are on a very tight budget, try the public buses and bemos (mini buses).

Driving yourself is not recommended as traffic is chaotic and on the left, inland roads are often narrow and in bad shape, and tourists are likely to get the blame in case of an accident. For the low cost and added comfort, let yourself be chauffeured instead. You’ll support drivers who need to support their families.

Health

The most common infliction when vacationing in the tropics is what is referred to as Bali Belly. To avoid the discomfort of having to spend a few days locked up in the bathroom taking Imodium, here are a few simple precautions: Only drink bottled water, only eat fresh meals that are warm enough to see the steam, ask for no ice in your drinks and never eat food that has been sitting out.

Bali is close to the equator and even when it’s overcast, the sun can be ruthless. Always put on a high factor sunscreen, wear sunglasses and limit your exposure to the sun around midday. If you do get a sunburn, slap on the after-sun lotion to keep your skin hydrated.

To prevent a heat rash, take showers twice a day, wear loose clothing from natural fabrics and use talc if necessary. Make sure you treat all cuts and scrapes with antiseptic as these infect more easily in the tropics. Use an insect repellent. And drink gallons of bottled water to avoid dehydration.

If you do need a doctor, there are tourist-friendly clinics with English speaking staff all over the island and large hospitals with highly educated staff in the big cities. Modern pharmacies can be found virtually everywhere.

Make sure your traveler’s first aid kit contains:

• Antiseptic and band aids
• Insect repellent
• Instant Motillium (or other drug to ease an upset stomach)
• Dafalgan / Paracetamol (or other pain reliever)
• Instant Imodium – Even when taking all above mentioned precautions, sensitive digestive systems may need a few days to get used to the different spices and foreign bacteria.

Related posts:

About Bali

Quick guide to local customs and culture

10 Things not to miss

Cultural highlights

Sports

Shopping

Relax

Eat

Hotels

Eating out in Bali means the choice between simple Balinese or Indonesian dishes at a local “warung”, or a gourmet fusion experience at a high end restaurant. Whichever choice you make, you’ll find delicious dishes to suit every taste and budget.

Ubud is by far the place to be for fine dining. Seminyak boasts many upscale restaurants where you pay western prices for the chic environs and western chefs. Jimbaran is where you go for the beach BBQs with the fresh catch of the day.

THE RESTAURANTS

Try one of these amazing restaurants, or find other recommendations on HelloBali or Bali Guide.

In Ubud:

Lamak - Impressive modern Asian and European cuisine in a unique artistic environment

Warung Enak – The food and the interior pay tribute to the rich diversity of the Indonesian archipelago

Cafe des Artistes – The Belgian connection; go for the cocktails and the great ambiance in Ubud’s cutest street

Naughty Nuri’s – Expat hangout with the best BBQ in town, right across from the Neka art gallery

Other famous eats in Ubud are Kafe Batan Waru, Terazo and Cinta Grill, Casa Luna, Dirty Duck, and Murni’s Warung. Cinta Grill does happy hour from 4 to 7 pm: 2 mojitos for the price of 1!

In south Bali:

Bumbu Bali – The leading Balinese restaurant and voted among the top restaurants in Indonesia. Don’t miss out on this Tandjung Benoa gem!

Bali Cyber Cafe – Great lunch address in the Kuta-Legain area; ask the owner about charity for orphanages

Warung Nyoman and Menega Cafe – One of the best venues for a Jimbaran beach barbeque experience

Hot spots in Seminyak include the trendy Ku De Ta, La Lucciola, Kafe Warisan and The Living Room. Spendy, but well worth a chic night out.

Ryoshi can be found in Seminyak, Kuta, Ubud and Sanur. This Japanese dive serves amazing food at killer prices. Try the Nasu Miso and the butterfish skewer!

THE FOOD

Indonesian and Balinese food centers around the staple rice. If you want to sample lots of dishes in small portions, go for the ‘Rijsttafel’. A Dutch word meaning rice table, a remnant of colonial times.

Richer in its use of herbs and spices than Chinese food, Indonesian cuisine is more reminiscent of the flavorful Thai. Though the locals like their food spicy, tourists will not be served the hot version unless requested.

The Balinese specialties worth a try are:

• Bebek Betutu: Duck stuffed with spices and vegetables, wrapped in banana leaf and smoked for hours. Restaurants that serve this as a specialty (such as the Dirty Duck in Ubud) require you order this a day in advance.
• Babi Guling: Suckling pig stuffed with spices and roasted over a fire for several hours
• Bubur Injin: Black rice pudding in coconut and palm sugar sauce
• Seafood barbecue on Jimbaran beach. You get to pick the cutest crustacean in the tank, which will then be robbed of its life, rubbed with herbs, grilled on the barbecue and served amid beautiful candlelight on the beach.

Also try these Indonesian dishes:

• Sate Ayam: Marinaded chicken skewers with peanut sauce
• Nasi Campur: Steamed rice with several vegetables and meat
• Opor Ayam: Chicken cooked in coconut milk
• Bakso: Meatball soup
• And don’t forget the wide range of exotic fruits and fresh fruit juices

Next: Hotels

Related posts:

About Bali

Quick guide to local customs and culture

10 Things not to miss

Cultural highlights

Sports

Shopping

Relax

Bali, just like Thailand, is known for its massages. You can get cheap massages on the beach or go for the full pampering package at a spa.

Spas in Bali are little pieces of heavenly luxury. A complete package can last a few hours and include a massage, body scrub, body wrap, flower bath, facial, mani-pedi, and hair treatment. 

Bodyworks in Seminyak is fantastic. Zen Bali Spa, SANg Spa or Nur Salon in Ubud are not bad either. Nearly every 3-star hotel will have their own spa. If you care to splurge, try one of the hotel spas in Nusa Dua, such as the Mandara, or the award winning Nusa Dua Spa.

Many hotels also have daybeds, on which you can read, hang out or simply take a nap around noon, when the sun is highest in the sky and it’s simply too hot to be walking around.

With all the cultural and athletic things to do in Bali, a day of pure R&R is a complementary must.

Next: Eat

Related posts:

About Bali

Quick guide to local customs and culture

10 Things not to miss

Cultural highlights

Sports

Shopping