Bali Do’s

  • Do expect that it will take a long time to get through customs and immigration at the airport. For some reason, it takes forever.
  • Do take your shoes off when entering a temple or a person‚s house. You will know because there will be shoes everywhere outside.
  • Do realise that Bali is close to Australia, and while the majority of Australian visitors are really good, there are a lot who give us a bad name.
  • Do try and avoid walking on the ceremonial offerings in the street.
  • Do enjoy the many ceremonies that take place in this spiritual country. This is part of the beauty of real Bali.
  • Do be careful if you pick up a lady late at night, because the lady may well be a lady-boy.
  • Do learn some Balinese phrases, like Selamat pagi, good morning), and Terima kasih ‚ thank you.
  • Do go to a cooking school in Bali. You will love it
  • Do eat at the warungs, the local Balinese cafes. The food is cheap, and the food is good.
  • DO make room for a second serving ‚ you will most likely be asked for one and it will be impolite to reject.

 

Bali Don’ts

  • Do NOT take drugs into Bali.
  • Do not touch the head of a Balinese person, not even a child. The head is considered a sacred part of the body.
  • Do not use your left hand when giving money or a business card, if you can help it.
  • Don‚t point with your index finger. Again the Balinese are becoming more used to these Western gestures but theoretically you shouldn‚t.
  • Don‚t eat Western Food. You are in Bali,a nd the food is fresh and very good. Enjoy the tropical fruits, and more.
  • Don‚t drink the water, and be a little careful about which bottled water you do buy. Many people have bottle capping machines.
  • Don‚t avoid Kuta, it is changing, and changing for the better.
  • Don’t hold the horn down. Being aggressive in traffic is frowned upon everywhere, even more so in Bali.
  • DON’T‚ empty your plate ‚ Leave a little food as an offering to the gods and to let the host know you had enough to eat.