A Basic Guide for Travelling to Bali; Indonesia

Indonesia is a state well known for its splendid tourist attractions and, to be specific, the iconic rice paddies, volcanic mountains, beaches, and coral reefs. One of the most famed islands located in the Indonesian archipelago is Bali. This island provides homage to over four million residents and has been a travel hotbed for some decades.

Bali boasts of many more marvels that will make your stay worthwhile. They include visiting temples, trekking along volcanic slopes, water sports, and so much more. These activities make it a thrilling trip for you and your companions. To enjoy your trip, even more, you should consider booking a stay in one of the 5-star hotels in Bali.

It is crucial to note that as you enjoy your stay in Bali, there are some key issues that you have to consider. Hence this review will take a look at the Health and Safety Regulations, Tourist Visas, and some other tips to make your stay in Bali worthwhile.

Health & Safety Regulations

Health

The most common complaints in Bali are stomach pains as a result of contaminated food, water, and ice. Contaminants in food can lead to diarrhea, dehydration, or hepatitis A or D.  You should drink bottled water. Fungal contagions are also very rampant; you should wear loose clothes, bath often, and dry yourself meticulously.

Also, take note of malarial zones; some of the destinations such as Bali are malaria-free. Mosquitoes at the ocean are not rampant, which means you should be calm.

Consult with a health expert regarding the vaccinations you should have prior to traveling to Bali. Also, while on holiday, if you feel sick, seek help from the health staff.

Safety

Wandering anywhere comes with its risks, but Indonesia is a reasonably safe space for all tourists. You are recommended to be calm when safety issues arise so that you can make informed and planned decisions.

Most of the tourist areas in Indonesia have not reported any security threats in a long while, so guests who stay in hotels are generally safe.

Tourist Visas

Some changes were made to the Indonesia visa regulations in February 2004. Check on the laws often as they are prone to change. You must also have a legal passport for at least six months from the date of entrance.

There are eleven nations whose residents are eligible for a 30-day visa, such as Morocco, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Macau, and Vietnam. For other states, there is a seven or thirty-day Visa accessible they include Unite Kingdom, USA, UAE, South Africa, and Argentina. Proof of a return ticket is a must.

This Visa is available at all international airports and borders. If your republic does not fall under the above categories or you need to stay past thirty days, you need to get a Visa overseas. There are specific requirements for Portuguese and Israeli nationals.

Beneficial Guidelines for Travelers While in Bali

Means of Communication

Most tourists will opt to use wi-fi calls and communication while in Bali. However, when an external connection can be a challenge, that’s why there are plenty of internet cafes in the City and tourist areas, although speeds can still be slow in some areas.

The country code of Indonesia is +62. There is a government-run telecommunication company called Kantor Telkom, and it has offices in most major cities. These are the cheapest places to make calls abroad since roaming is quite expensive.

Adventure & Activities

Travelers visiting Bali will have numerous chances to indulge locally. There are also a host of national grounds, volcanoes, and other spots to enrich your vacation here.

Conclusion

To sum it all up, Bali is a fascinating tourist destination with lots to do and see. As we have seen above there are crucial things you need to iron out before traveling there, and this will make your trip all the more exciting.

7 Natural Wonders Of Indonesia

 

With over 17,000 different islands, ranging from little islets dotted with palms to the colossal valleys of Sumatra, Indonesia offers one of the greatest concentrations of untouched natural beauty that can be found anywhere in the world. With all the fascinating wildlife, breath-taking photo opportunities, and some of the most popular scuba diving spots anywhere on earth, you might feel pretty overwhelmed when you’re planning a trip to Indonesia. To make things easier for you, here’s a list of the most incredible natural wonders you can see in the country…

Komodo National Park

This barren, rocky island stands out from some of the more fertile areas of Indonesia, and its most famous species is also very unique. Komodo dragons are the world’s largest species of lizard, with some adults growing up to three metres long. These fascinating creatures can often be seen walking along the beach when you visit the island’s central camp of Loh Liang. The staff at the national park run guided walks lasting around half an hour, which takes you past a dry riverbed at the nearby Banu Nggulung. Here, you can see monitor lizards in their natural habitat; another massive reptile. Regular two-day boat trips to Komodo depart from Labuanbajo, a settlement on the nearby island of Flores.

Tanjung Putting National Park

This is another great place if you want to see a lot of wildlife on your trip to Indonesia. Tanjung Putting is a massive national park stretching over 4150 square kilometres of central Kalimantan, which is the Indonesian-owned southern part of Borneo. Aging, but surprisingly comfortable riverboats, will take you up the Sungai Sekoneyer river, with plenty of stops where you can see orangutans being fed on a three-day journey towards Camp Leakey. This is a wildlife rehab centre where orphaned or formerly captive orangutans are taken care of and trained to re-enter the wild. As you travel up the river, you’ll also have a good chance of seeing vibrant birds like kingfishers and hornbills. Just remember to stock up on mosquito repellent and Malarone to keep the area’s less appealing wildlife away! If it’s in the budget, you can even rent out famous two-story teak houseboats privately. Note that these are known as Klotok in the local language.

Raja Ampat

If you’re planning to bring your scuba gear on your trip to Indonesia, then Raja Ampat (just northwest of Papua Island) is an absolute must. Above the glinting blue ocean, you’ll see scattered, rounded hills covered in luscious tropical forest, in between tiny islets and tucked-away coves. Beneath the waves, the natural beauty becomes even more stunning. Epaulette sharks (those are small!) and Manta rays will drift over a multi-coloured underwater landscape of coral, broken up by massive underwater ridges, walls and valleys. You’re also likely to see shoals of parrotfish and barracuda patrolling their habitat. If you’re not planning on scuba diving while you’re out here, you can still have a great experience through kayaking, snorkelling and cruises on traditional schooners.

Lake Toba

At the northern end of Sumatra’s range of volcanos, at a height of 1130 metres, Danu Toba is the home of a caldera of a local super-volcano; the largest volcanic lake on earth. The beautiful ocean-blue waters cover a massive 100km expanse, and frame the land wedge of Pulau Samosir, home to the fascinating Batak people. The sleepy, winding roads around the region are excellent for exploring the land by bicycle, which has made Lake Toba one of the most popular tourism spots in the whole of Indonesia.

Mt Bromo

Indonesia is studded with volcanoes, and seeing at least one makes the “to-do” list for many travellers who visit the country. If you see just one during your trip, make sure it’s Mt Bromo. With its immense, almost surreal height, Mt Bromo is one of the truly epic natural spectacles you can see in Indonesia. A massive 10km-wide crater, formed by the turbulent volcanic history of the land, is overshadowed by the smouldering peak of the volcano itself. There are massive plains of hardened ash and volcanic sand, stretching from end to end of the crater, and the peaks of Kursi and Batok stand either side of Mt Bromo, making it seem even larger! If you can, try to see the crater during sunrise. 4×4 excursions leave from the settlement of Cemoro Lawang in the early hours of the morning in order to capture this sublime natural spectacle at just the right time.

Harau Valley

If your trips aren’t complete without some interaction with the locals, be sure to make a stop in Harau Valley. This is surrounded by towering limestone cliffs, stretching up to 100 metres high, and enlivened by the waterfalls of Lemba Harau. If you’re adventurous enough, you may want to join rock climbers who negotiate tenuous routes up through the cliffs. However, you’ll probably be more at home taking the walking trails through the bright green rice paddies which fill the base of the valley. Taking this route will allow you to see how day to day life goes by in the area. If you want to stick around and learn a little more about the local people, there are many comfortable homestay programs in the area that are popular amongst western tourists.

Api Banda

People go to Mt Bromo to feel dwarfed, but visit Pulau Gunung Api Banda for the sheer beauty of the volcano. This volcano has a distinct conical shape, resembling Japan’s iconic Mt Fujiyama, but is only around 650m high, and as many people will agree, the country’s most picturesque volcano. The slope is steep and challenging, but most visitors manage to climb to the peak in around three hours. Once there, you’ll have a spectacular view of the surrounding islands, and possibly a sunset unlike any other you’ve seen before in your life!

If you want to make sure you’re soaking up all the natural beauty Indonesia has to offer, be sure to visit a few of these amazing sights.