Enjoying yourself Bali
Budget & Tips Bali
Don't be stingy with fruit juices; they're available everywhere at ridiculously low prices - Rp10,000 to Rp20,000 for a freshly squeezed juice. Delicious! Just be sure to ask for it without ice if you're offered it. You'll also see plenty of fruit vendors on the street, pushing a small cart on wheels, filled with fresh fruit.
The local way Bali
Tourists who spend several days or even weeks in Bali are rarely familiar with Balinese cuisine. They tend to sample Indonesian cuisine, but almost never local recipes, which are prepared primarily for special occasions. It's quite rare for travelers to try lawar (a ritual preparation of minced meat and vegetables mixed with pig's blood), semur lidah (beef tongue in a sweet nutmeg sauce) or be sampi mesitsit (dried beef crumbs sautéed in spices). Nasi goreng (fried rice) and mie goreng (fried noodles) are two Indonesian staples. If you go off the beaten track, you're likely to end up on a dry goreng diet. Nasi campur, white rice with vegetables and meat, is also very popular in warungs, small street restaurants.
Bali produces the world's most expensive coffee, Luwak. The luwak is not a region or type of coffee plant, but a type of small badger that lives in Southeast Asia. Passing through the luwak's digestive system is said to enrich the aroma of the coffee beans and decaffeinate them naturally. Farmers collect the luwak's excrement, clean it, dry it in the sun and then roast it to make a coffee that sells for up to US$1,200 a kilo. In Bali, you'll be offered a cup for at least Rp 10,000. The aroma is supposed to be sweet, subtle and not very bitter. Unexpected.
Beware of scams, as there is more Luwak coffee on the market than there are coffee trees and civets in Bali.
To be avoided Bali
Do not eat with your left hand, as this is considered impure. Don't return or collect money with your left hand, for the same reasons. When you give something, give it with both hands. At a temple feast, avoid standing on a height overlooking the priest, as this is a serious lack of respect.
Smokers Bali
Smoking is generally prohibited in enclosed spaces. On the other hand, smoking is often permitted in outdoor areas, such as terraces and gardens. Before lighting a cigarette, make sure you follow the specific instructions for the area in question, so as not to infringe the rules in force.
Take a break Bali
Timetable Bali
Chill-out spots often close early. Popular spots with good views are worth booking in high season, or coming early.
Budget & Tips Bali
There's something to suit every budget, but of course the tourist areas, by the sea or with a sea view, are a little more expensive than elsewhere. However, the cost of living is much lower than in France.
Age restrictions Bali
The legal drinking age is 21. Beware, alcohol is restricted in Indonesia, Bali being an exception for the moment due to the influx of tourists and the "more open" religious influences than in the rest of the country.
Smokers Bali
Smoking is generally prohibited in most enclosed spaces. On the other hand, smoking is often permitted in outdoor spaces, such as terraces or open-air areas.
