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Bali island lies 3.2 km east
of Java Indonesia and approximately 8 degrees south of
the equator. East to west, the island is approximately
153 km wide and 112 km north to south (95 by 69 miles,
respectively), with a surface area of 5,633 km�. The highest
point of Bali island is Mount Agung at 3,142 m (10,308
feet) high, an active volcano that last erupted in March
1963. Mountains cover centre to the eastern side, with
Mount Agung the eastern most peak. Mount Batur (1,717
m) is also still active. About 30,000 years ago it experienced
a catastrophic eruption � one of the largest known volcanic
events on Earth In the south the land descends to form
an alluvial plain, watered by shallow rivers, drier in
the dry season and overflowing during periods of heavy
rain.
The principal cities of Bali island are the northern port
of Singaraja, the former colonial capital of Bali, and
the present provincial capital and largest city, Denpasar,
near the southern coast. The town of Ubud (north of Denpasar),
with its art market, museums and galleries, is arguably
the cultural center of Bali island.
There are major coastal roads and roads that cross the
island mainly north-south. Due to the mountainous terrain
in the island's center, the island roads tend to follow
the crests of the ridges across the mountains. There are
no railway lines. The island is surrounded by coral reefs.
Beaches in the south tend to have white sand while those
in the north and west black sand. The beach town of Padangbai
in the south east has both: the main beach and the secret
beach have white sand and the south beach and the blue
lagoon have much darker sand.
Pasut Beach, near Ho River and Pura Segara, is a quiet
beach 14 km southwest of Tabanan. The Ho River is navigable
by small sampan. Black sand beaches between Pasut and
Klating dukuh are being developed for tourism, but apart
from the seaside temple of Tanah Lot, this is not yet
a tourist area. |
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Bali island has been inhabited since early prehistoric
times firstly by descendants of a prehistoric race who
migrated through mainland Asia to the Indonesian archipelago,
thought to have first settled in Bali around 3000 BC.
Stone tools dating from this time have been found near
the village of Cekik in the island's west.
The end of the prehistoric period in Indonesia was marked
by the arrival of Hindu people from India around 100 BC
as determined by Brahmi inscriptions on potsherds. The
name Balidwipa has been discovered from various inscriptions,
including the Blanjong charter issued by Sri Kesari Warmadewa
in 913 AD and mentioning Walidwipa. It was during this
time that the complex irrigation system subak was developed
to grow rice. Some religious and cultural traditions still
in existence today can be traced back to this period.
The Hindu Majapahit Empire (1293�1520 AD) on eastern Java
founded a Balinese colony in 1343. When the empire declined,
there was an exodus of intellectuals, artists, priests
and musicians from Java to Bali in the 15th century.
The First European contact with Bali island is thought
to have been when Dutch explorer Cornelis de Houtman arrived
in 1597, though a Portuguese ship had foundered off the
coast of Bukit as early as 1585.] Dutch rule over Bali
came later, was more aggressively fought for, and they
were never ultimately able to establish themselves as
they had in other parts of Indonesia such as Java and
Maluku. In the 1840s, a presence in Bali island was established,
firstly in the island's north, by playing off various
distrustful Balinese realms against each other. The Dutch
mounted large naval and ground assaults first against
the Sanur region and then Denpasar. The Balinese were
hopelessly overwhelmed in number and armament, but rather
than face the humiliation of surrender, they mounted a
final defensive but suicidal assault, or puputan. Despite
Dutch pleas for surrender, an estimated 4,000 Balinese
marched to their death against the invaders. Afterwards
the Dutch governors exercised little influence over the
island, generally allowing local control over religion
and culture to remain intact. Japan occupied Bali during
World War II during which time a Balinese military officer,
Gusti Ngurah Rai, formed a Balinese 'freedom army'. Following
Japan's Pacific surrender in August 1945, the Dutch promptly
returned to Indonesia, including Bali island, immediately
to reinstate their pre-war colonial administration. This
was resisted by the Balinese rebels now using Japanese
weapons.
On 20 November 1946, the Battle of Marga was fought in
Tabanan in central Bali. Colonel I Gusti Ngurah Rai, 29
years old, finally rallied his forces in east Bali at
Marga Rana, where they made a suicide attack on the heavily
armed Dutch. The Balinese battalion was entirely wiped
out, breaking the last thread of Balinese military resistance.
In 1946 the Dutch constituted Bali as one of the 13 administrative
districts of the newly-proclaimed Republic of East Indonesia,
a rival state to the Republic of Indonesia which was proclaimed
and headed by Sukarno and Hatta. Bali island was included
in the ��Republic of the United States of Indonesia��
when the Netherlands recognised Indonesian independence
on Dec. 29, 1949. In 1956 Bali officially renounced the
Dutch union and legally became a province within the Republic
of Indonesia. The 1963 eruption of Mount Agung killed
thousands, created economic havoc and forced many displaced
Balinese to be transmigrated to other parts of Indonesia.
In 1965, after a failed coup d'etat in Jakarta against
the national government of Indonesia, Bali, along with
other regions of Indonesia most notably Java, was the
scene of widespread killings of (often falsely-accused)
members and sympathizers of the Communist Party of Indonesia
(PKI) by right-wing General Soeharto-sponsored militias.
Possibly more than 100,000 Balinese were killed although
the exact numbers are unknown to date and the events remain
legally unclosed.Many unmarked but well known mass graves
of victims are located around the island.
On October 12, 2002, a car bomb attack in the tourist
resort of Kuta killed 202 people, largely foreign tourists
and injured a further 209. Further bombings occurred three
years later in Kuta and nearby Jimbaran Bay. |
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Australian Consulate (Includes
Canada, N.Zealand, UK, Papua New Guinea), Jl. Hayam Wuruk
88B Denpasar.P.O. Box 243, Phone (62) 0361 241118, Fax
(62) 0361 241120, E-mail ausconbali@denpasar.wasantara.net.id
Consular Agent of France, Jl. Mertasari Gang II No 8 Sanur
Denpasar Phone (62) 0361 285483 Fax (62) 0361 286406 E-mail
consul@denpasar.centrin.net.id
ConsularAgent of the United States of America, Jl. Hayam
Wuruk No.188 (Near the Renon Roundabout) Denpasar. Phone
(62) 0361 233605 Fax (62) 0361 222426, E-mail amcobali@indosat.net.id
Consular Agent of the Netherlands , Jl. Raya Kuta 127
Kuta, P.O Box 377 Denpasar, Phone (62) 0361 751517 Fax
(62) 0361 752777 E-mail purwa@denpasar.wasantara.net.id
Consular Agent of Switzerland & Austria, Swiss Restaurant,
Komplek Istana Kuta Galleria Blok 2 N0 12 Phone (62) 0361
751735 Fax (62) 0361 754457, E-mail swisscon@denpasar.wasantara.net.id
Honorary Consulate of Finland & Sweden , Segara Village
Hotel, Jl. Segara Ayu, 80228. Phone (62) 0361 288407-8,
Fax (62) 0361 287242 Sanur E-mail segara1@denpasar.wasantara.net.id
Honorary Consulate of Germany, Jl. Pantai Karang No.17,
Sanur, P.O. Box 158 Denpasar, Phone (62) 0361 288535 Fax.
(62) 0361 288826, E-mail dtkonsbali@denpasar.wasantara.net.id
Honorary Consulate of Norway & Denmark, Mimpi Resort Jimbaran,
Kuta-Denpasar 80361, Phone (62) 0361 701070 Fax (62) 0361
701073/4, mimpi@mimpi.com
Japanese Consulate, Jl. Raya Puputan, Renon, Denpasar.
Phone (62) 0361 227628 Fax (62) 0361 231308,
Mexican Consulate, Astina Tours, Jl. Hayam Wuruk No. 8
Denpasar. Phone (62) 0361 223552, Fax (62) 0361 231740,
E-mail konjpdps@indo.net.id
Italian Consulate, Lotus Enterprise Building, Jl. By Pass
Ngurah Rai, Jimbaran, Ph./Fax. (62) 0361 701005, italconsbali@italconsbali.com
Honorary Consulate of The Czech Republic, Jalan Pengembak
17 Sanur, phone (62) 0361 286365 E-mail bali@honorary.mzv.cz
Brazil Honorary consulate, The Tea Store Jl. Raya Legian
No 186 Kuta Phone (62) 0361 757775 Fax (62) 0361 751005
Hungary Honorary Consul, Marintur, Jl I Gusti Ngurah Rai
Sanur Phone (62) 0361 287701 Fax (62) 0361 287456 E-mail
cristofoli@denpasar.wasantara.net.id
Spain Honorary Consul, Komplek Istana Kuta Galleria Kuta
Phone (62) 0361 769286 Fax (62) 0361 769186
UK Honorary Consul, Jl. Tirtanadi No 20 Sanur Phone (62)
0361 170601 Fax (62) 0361 287804 E-mail bcbali@dps.centrin.net.id.
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| CATHAY PACIFIC: Wisti Sabha building Ngurah Rai Airport ph. 766931, CONTINENTAL MICRONESIA: Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Sanur, Ph. 287774, EVA AIR: Wisti Sabha Administration Building, Ground Floor, Room No.4 Ngurah Rai Airport. Ph. 751011 ext 1638; Fax. 756488, GARUDA INDONESIA: at Natour Kuta Beach. Ph. 751179, LAUDA AIR : Gedung PAJ Jln. By Pass Ngurah Rai - Tuban Ph. 758686 MALAYSIA AIRLINES : Departure terminal at Ngurah Rai Airport. Ph.756132, MERPATI NUSANTARA : Jln. Melati No. 51, Denpasar Ph. 235358, QANTAS: Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Sanur. Ph.288331-3, SINGAPORE AIRLINES: Wisti Sabha building at Ngurah Rai airport phone 768388, THAI AIRLINES: Wisti Sabha Building, 2nd Floor Room 19, Ngurah Rai Airport. Ph.754856, ROYAL BRUNEI AIRLINES : Wisti Sabha Building, Ngurah Rai Airport. Ph.757292, CHINA AIRLINES: Wisti Sabha Building, 2nd Floor Room 19, Ngurah Rai Airport. Ph. 754856, JAPAN AIRLINES : Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Ph. 287576- 28757 |
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| Indonesia is divided
into three time zones with Bali on central Indonesia
standard time which is Greenwich Mean Time plus
eight hours. |
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There is no restriction
on import or export of foreign currencies, however,
it is prohibited to import or export Indonesian
currency exceeding Rp. 5.000.000,- The unit of currency
is Rupiah (Rp), consists of :
Coins : 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000
Notes : 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10. 000, 50.000 and
100.000
Note : Always check your change at the money changers,
use your own calculator and always be the last to
count your money |
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| Visa requirements differ
for each country, kindly check with your local embassy
if you may require a visa to enter Indonesia, but
please ensure that your passport has a minimum of
six months validity from the date of departure. |
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| Dress properly, wear
sarong and sash on your waist when entering the
Hindu temple, do not walk in front of the congregations
who are still praying. It is considered impolite
to wear miniskirt, short, and beach wear in the
villages, towns, or public facilities and government
offices. |
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| Bali has two seasons
only i.e. dry season, from April to October, while
rainy season is from November to March with the
heavy rain in the end of December and in the beginning
of January. Bali has such a mild and agreeable climate
the whole year round, the temperature in the coastal
area varies from 28 degrees celcius to 32 degrees
celcius, while in the mountains it drops 6 degrees |
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| Bali lies just 8 degrees
south of the equator, therefore light and loose
cotton attire is more advisable for the day time,
meanwhile a cotton sweater and trousers may be useful
in the mountains. |
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| There are mosquitoes
in Bali but no malaria or rabies cases reported
for the last decade, still the most certain way
to avoid it is not to get bitten so bring mosquito
repellent along and use it when it is getting dark.
Hospital and health centers staffed by well trained
doctors and medical assistants are available in
major tourist resorts. Medicine can be obtained
from the local chemist shops called "Apotik" in
conformity with the doctor's prescription. |
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| 220 volts 50 cycles throughout
the country and major hotels have only two-round
plug sockets. Check your appliance for a 100V/220V
switch, if not you will need a voltage converter. |
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| It is not recommended
to drink from the tap of the hotel or outside function
venue. Some hotels usually provided free bottled
water in the room, if not you can buy it from the
supermarket nearby. |
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| A 10% service charge
is added to the bill at hotels and restaurants but
some places never ask it, for this, a small gratuity
will be appreciated. |
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| On leaving Bali, every
person is obliged to pay a passenger facility service
charge Rp. 100.000 for international flight departure
and Rp. 20.000 for domestic flight departure. |
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| Bali is linked via satellite
to all major countries in the world and to make
an international call can be made from any private
house, business center, hotel, or any telecommunication
center. Dial 001 or 008 then your country code and
the telephone number. Internet services can be done
in a place called "Warnet" that exist in all major
tourist resorts or towns. |
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| Government offices open
from 07.00hrs-14.00 hrs on Monday-Thusday, while
on Friday they are open from 07.00 hrs -11.00 hrs,
for Saturday and Sunday are closed. Local shops
are open seven days a week from 09.00 hrs - 18.00
hrs while big store, department stores and supermarkets
open from 09.00 hrs - 21.00 hrs. |
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| Bali is known as
a treasure house of interesting goods, splendid
local hand-woven materials, silver and gold works,
woodcarvings, paintings, garments. But be careful
because you have two options to buy things here,
the good and real one and the fake one, don't pay
for the fake one with the good and real thing price. |
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| The surf can be
very dangerous, with a strong current on some tides,
lifeguards patrol swimming area of the beach, indicated
by red-and-yellow flags. If they say the water is
too rough or unsafe to swim, they mean it |
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Don't swim outside
designated area on the beach, current can be very
strong, swim between the red and yellow flags only
Don't do drugs, it can be carry the death penalty,
and there are many foreigners residing in Bali courtesy
of the government prison service.
Don't touch people's head, it is impolite to the
Balinese. Don't enter a temple during menstruation.
Sorry ladies! Don't forget to look and listen the
while you cross the road, cars may stop but motorbikes
may not. Don't walk in front of the people praying.
Don't sit higher than the priest or the offerings. |
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Fire 113
Police 110
Indonesian Red Cross 225-465
Ambulance 118
Rescue Coordination Office 751111
Directory Enquiries 108
International Operator 101
Telemarketing Service
Information 162
Post Service Information 161
Time 103
Immigration Office 227828, 7510388
Public Hospital 227-911
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| The Department of
Tourism (Bali) has six Information Centres where
booklets and brochures can be obtained free of charge.
Addresses : Ngurah Rai International Airport, Tuban,
Phone : (0361) 751011 Bina Wisata Ubud, next to
the Village Head's office in Ubud., Government Tourist
Information Centre, Jl. Bunisari 36B, Kuta, Bali
Government Tourism Office, Jl. S. Parman Niti Mandala,
Denpasar, Phone : (0362) 222387 Buleleng Government
Tourism Office, Jl. Veteran 23, Singaraja, Phone
: (0361) 225141, Tourist Information Centre, Kaliasem,
Lovina Beach. |
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| Denpasar Main Post
Office, Jl. Raya Puputan Renon, Denpasar, Phone
223 568 Kreneng Post Office, Jl. Kamboja, Denpasar,
Kuta Post Office, Jl. Raya Tuban, Kuta, Sanglah
Post Office, Jl. Diponegoro, Denpasar, Sanur Post
Office, Br. Taman, Jl. Danau Buyan, Sanur, Phone
754 012, Singaraja Post Office, Jl. Gajah Mada,
Singaraja, Ubud Post Office, Jl. Jembawan 1, Ubud
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| Police Headquarters
(Mapolda Nusra), Jl. WR. Supratman, Denpa-sar, Phone
227 711, Badung Police Office, Jl. Gn. Agung, Denpasar,Phone
234 928, Bualu Police Office, Jl. By Pass Nusa Dua,
Nusa Dua, Phone 772 110, Denpasar Police Office,
Jl. A. Yani, Denpasar, Phone 225 456, Kuta Police
Office, Jl. Raya Tuban, Kuta, Phone 751 598, Sanur
Police Office, Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai, Sanur, Phone
288 597, Ubud Police Office, Jl. Raya Ubud, Ubud,
(Next to District Head's office) |
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