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Overview

Average Costs  |  Being Vegetarian  |  Useful Local Phrases  |  Tipping Practices  |  Coffee  |  Photo Gallery  |  Articles & Adventures  |  Blog Entries
 

Unfortunately for the rest of Indonesia, Bali gets most of the focus from vacationers. Bali does have an amazing culture unique to the rest of Indonesia but it can be hard to find among all the western food, coffee shops, and foreigners doing yoga. The rest of Indonesia - wow - a lot of remote, wild, and beautiful places. You can visit indigenous villages, turquoise beaches, and other natural wonders, as well as test your sanity in the crowded dirty cites. It's inexpensive and with many less-visited areas, it leaves itself open for a lot of exploration.
Dec 2021

Average Costs

The daily total includes all lodging, food, booze, transportation, sightseeing, visas, etc. I don't include the money I spend on gifts for friends and I do not include the flight price.

Being Vegetarian in Indonesia

A Guide To Being Vegetarian In Bali

If you know what to look for, being vegetarian in Indonesia is pretty easy. I really look forward to Indonesia for the food. There are some great options that are served almost everywhere. You do need to be careful to ask for no shrimp paste or powdered shrimp just in case. Tempeh originates from Indonesia so it's everywhere and cheap.

Vegetarian Phrases

Language Meaning Phrase / Pronunciation

Bahasa Indonesian

 chicken or meat stock? kaldu ayam atau daging?
KAHL-doo, ay-AM ah-tau da-GING?

do not use meat, chicken, fish, or shrimp tidak pakai daging, ayam, ikan, atau udang
TEE-dak pah-KAI da-GING, ay-AM eek-AN, ah-tau OO-dahng

I am vegetarian saya vegetarian
SA-ya ve-je-TAH-ree-AN

Useful Local Phrases for Indonesia

Language Meaning Phrase / Pronunciation

Bahasa Indonesian

 toast / Cheers!
(or just say "cheers" since it's not really Indonesian culture)		 bersulang 

already or "I already bought all I need so go away" sudah
SOO-dah

excuse me
(both for getting someone's attention and whoops)		 permisi
per-MEE-see

how many
(use to ask how much something costs)		 berapa
beh-RAH-pa

I'm sorry maaf
MA-af

no tidak
TEE-dak

please tolong
TOW-long

please
(this is to use for asking someone to do something. Check please.)		 Mohon
mo-HON

thank you terima kasih
teh-REE-ma ka-SEE

yes ya
yah

not spicy tidak pedas
TEE-dak peh-DASS

shrimp paste terasi
teh-RAH-see

veggies sayur
sai-YOOR

all fine, thank you baik-baik saja, terima kasih
baik baik SA-ja, teh-REE-ma ka-SEE

good afternoon
(starts at late morning)		 selamat siang
se-LA-mat SEE-ang

good evening
(late afternoon/evening)		 selamat sore
se-LA-mat SOH-ree

good morning
(early morning)		 selamat pagi
se-LA-mat PAH-gee (hard g like gas)

good night
(late evening/night)		 selamat malam
se-LA-mat ma-LAM

goodbye
(when leaving)		 selamat tinggal
se-LA-mat TEEN-gahl

goodbye
(when staying)		 selamat jalan
se-LA-mat ja-LAN

hello / hi halo / hai
ha-LO / hai

How are you? Apa kabar?
AH-pa ka-BAR?

see you (later) sampai jumpa (lagi)
SAHM-pai JUM-pah (LAH-gee)

be careful hati hati
HA-tee HA-tee

expensive mahal
ma-HAL

mosquito nyamuk
nyah-MOOK

Tipping Practices

General:
Even in tourist-saturated Bali, tipping is kept to a very bare minimum. Even for a massage, just pay the posted price.
Taxis:
Maximum 10% if it was very late at night and/or if the service was excellent. Otherwise the agreed upon fare is fine.
Restaurants:
Tipping is generally not expected unless an upscale restaurant. Then tip 5 - 10% for or just the loose change unless the service charge is already on the bill. Do not tip at street stalls.

Coffee

Hot cup of java? Yep, Java is an island in Indonesia. The rich volcanic soil is ideal for growing coffee which has a different flavor on each island.. The typical Indonesian coffee you'll find at a roadside stand is Kopi Tubruk which is just fine grounds in a glass with boiling water over it and usually a good bit of sugar. It's not my favorite way to drink coffee but when in Rome.... And make sure to avoid the mud at the bottom! Sometimes there are delicious spiced versions with ginger or cinnamon.

Of course in Bali, modern coffee shops abound where you get get lattes and such.

And if you really want them, the instant packets are available in the shops and are also the variety that mimic the traditional local coffee with undissolved grounds - yum.

Photo Gallery

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Articles & Adventures

Helpful information and fun adventures!

House Sitting for Travel - A Beginner's Take
Jun 18, 2021

Something I didn't intend on getting into, it seems like a no-brainer for a budget traveler; house sit for a free place to stay! It's great so far but I can see some pitfalls.

How to Travel Cheap, My Adventures, Personal Reflections, Travel Tips

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Komodo National Park Tour Overview

An easy trip from Bali, this is one of the best tours to pack a lot of awesomeness into a couple of days. Take a boat to see Komodo Dragons, swim with Manta Rays, snorkel in crystal clear waters, dig your toes into pink sand, and get the perfect view photo.

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What to Bring on Your Komodo Nat'l Park Tour

You don't need much, just some basics for swimming in turquoise waters, walking in the heat, taking memorable photos, and trying to avoid turning into a lobster. But more important, here's what to wear!

Destinations

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Pink Beach, and Pinker Beaches

Forget the perfect white-sand tropical beach. Visit the pink beaches of Indonesia!

Destinations, Sea Turtles, Tropical Beaches, Unexpected Gems

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Visiting Komodo Dragons in Indonesia

I'm fortunate that my hometown of San Diego has an incredible zoo and I have seen Komodo Dragons there since I was a kid. But it's been on my list to visit the island of Komodo i ....

Destinations

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Padar - THE Komodo View Point

The postcard-perfect view from the short hike up Padar is one you'll enjoy looking at every time you open your travel photos. But what exactly is the hike like?

Destinations

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Manta Rays - Majestic Giants in Komodo

One to cross off the bucket list - swimming with giant manta rays. This was an unexpected surprise as part of my tour to see the Komodo Dragons.

Destinations

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Booking a Komodo National Park Tour - What You Need to Know

There are a ton of expensive options to tour the Komodo National Park but you can also do it within a reasonable budget! Know what to expect from the tour, what to bring, and what you'll see.

Destinations

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The Cheapest Way to Get From the Bali Airport to Kuta

From taking a taxi to walking, your cheapest transportation options are from outside the airport. There are also plenty of hotels within walking distance to the Denpasar (DPS) airport in Bali. Save money with these easy instructions.

Destinations, Getting To and Fro

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Everything You Need to Know About Labuan Bajo

Know what to expect during your stop-over, things to do in Labuan Bajo, and how to get the most out of your visit to LBJ.

Destinations

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Kuta's Ogoh Ogoh Aftermath

Haven't had enough of Bali's Hindu New Year celebrations? Go see the ogoh-ogoh on the beach at Kuta. Enjoy some food on the beach and get some good photos.

Destinations, Local Celebrations

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Ohhhhgo Ogoh - What a Parade!
Mar 5, 2019

Talk about a cool local Bali tradition. This massive parade went on and on and I was lucky enough to see it in the best place ever! Big smile all night long.

Destinations, Local Celebrations, My Adventures

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Ogoh Ogoh in Bali and the Single Best Place to Watch the Parade

Ogoh what? Spinning demons, loud drumming, and everyone in town cheering them on. Here's the best place to experience this Balinese celebration for the New Year holiday of Nyepi.

Destinations, Local Celebrations

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Not all Spirits in Bali are Benevolent
Mar 4, 2019

Bali is known for its spirituality. I agree it is a very spiritual place and my house sitting adventure gave me proof of that!

My Adventures

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Luxury Realization
Mar 4, 2019

7 weeks of no-frills living, to a hotel in the city. Not only does it have slippers, a kettle, a fridge, and drinking water, but it has air conditioning and hot water!! Oh doesn't it feel good to appreciate that which often gets taken for granted!

My Adventures, Personal Reflections

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Brahmavihara-Arama Buddhist Monastery in Bali

Not too far up into the hills in North Bali near Lovina, is a serene Buddhist monastery complete with mini replica of Borobudur. An hour wandering around Vihara Buddha Banjar is just plain good for the soul.

Destinations

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The 3 Best Places to Eat in Lovina

Restaurants with the best food for the best prices for your budget travels in Lovina, Bali.

Destinations, Food

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Desperate Times ... All I Want is to Sleep Through the Night
Feb 23, 2019

Sweat, mosquitoes, I'm used to sleeping in some pretty uncomfortable places but this one (in a Californian expat's house!) has been tough.

My Adventures

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The Ultimate Guide to Banjar Hot Springs

Air Panas Banjar is a centuries-old therapeutic sulfur hot springs bathing spot nestled in lush vegetation in the hills of Bali. Here's the scoop on costs, restaurant menu, when to go, and even a tip on how to get in for free!

Destinations, Favorite Spots

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It is Not Polite to Stop at a Red Light
Feb 10, 2019

With an average of over 200 motorbike deaths in Bali every month, I found myself quite wary of hitting the road, even in a smaller village. But I put on my big girl pants and did it.

My Adventures

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Nyepi Day - The Do Nothing Day in Bali

The Hindu Near Year in Bali is marked with a day of silence and let me tell you, they take it seriously!

Destinations, Local Celebrations

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Extending Your 30-day Indonesian Visa

I won't regurgitate the same information that's already online (well, maybe just a bit), but here's a rundown of my personal experience extending my Indonesian Visa On Arrival in Bali.

Destinations

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Interesting Things to Know About Bali Before You Travel

A few random, possibly oddball things I learned while in Bali including customs and standard etiquette.

Destinations

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Weathering the Storm of the Decade in Bali
Jan 24, 2019

Nothing calm or soothing about my first week in Bali! Constant storms, crashing waves, and apparently the worst storm in 10 years! Watching what happens out at the beach has been an interesting thing to observe.

My Adventures

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Being Vegetarian In Bali

How is it finding vegetarian food in Indonesia? Here are a few dishes and phrases to get you by.

Food

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Adjusting to My New Digs and Questioning My Travel Goals
Jan 18, 2019

I know what all my friends were picturing when I told them I was house sitting in Bali for a while. They were wrong. Excitement, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance, happiness. I'm smack dab in the middle of it.

My Adventures, Personal Reflections

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To Gili or Not to Gili

A review of the Gili Islands. It used to be one of my favorite places on earth; postcard perfect. Well the vibe sure has changed a lot!

Destinations, Sea Turtles, Tropical Beaches

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Blog Entries

More of a personal nature, my un-related diary-like (hmmm or blog-like?) daily thoughts and activities; the things that don't warrant their own article/adventure post.

Not-So-Failed Day at Uluwatu
Jul 30, 2017

Even though the surfing was a failure, it's a really cool area! Nice vibe, bunch of little restaurants and shops built into the cliff overlooking amazing waves. The stairs are a bit tough for po ....

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Dave and I Are Finally in SE Asia Together!
Jul 29, 2017

Not only are Dave and I finally here together, we brought the kids (by kids, I mean Dave's daughter and her boyfriend who are in their late 20s). Family trip to Ind ....

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Indonesia Wrap-Up
Jul 2, 2000

Our first visit to Indonesia and we loved it. There's so much more to see but we did see a lot.

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Java and the Big 4
Jun 16, 2000

A trip to Yogyakarta, then we hit some great highlights on Java. Borobudur, the Water Castle, Merapi, and Gunung Bromo.

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Bali - Our First Experience with SE Asian Culture
Jun 9, 2000

Rice paddies, monkeys, caves. This is an entirely new culture for us and we love it!

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