BALI - INDONESIA. Bali Visa or VOA (visa on arrival) US$35 covers each person

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1 VISA Bali Visa or VOA (visa on arrival) US$35 covers each person There are three options of how you can pay your visa fee, which are Aussie dollars, Credit card (can be a very slow process) or US dollars. However, the easiest and quickest way to advance through the long queue s is to pay in USD$. If you choose to pay in Australian currency with say a $50 Aussie note, your change will be in Indonesian Rupiah. In the event you do use Australian currency and the change is in Rupiah, this could come in handy for an airport taxi fare if required. You will receive back part of your incoming passenger card, which is white in colour. This outgoing section of the original card MUST be kept in a secure place along with your passport and other documents and handed in during check in time on your return flight. Your hand luggage will be x-rayed on the way to the luggage carousel. ARRIVAL You will step out of an airconditioned environment into very warm and humid conditions, which can be a shock to the unsuspecting on their first visit to the tropics. Next, if your flight is unable to park at the terminal for disembarkation, you will probably be herded onto a bus delivering you to the terminal. This is not always the case and can depend on your arrival time as well as which airline you are travelling with. It is worth mentioning here after you have retrieved your luggage from the carousel, you maybe hounded by eager porters to handle your luggage for you. If this happens and you accept they will of course expect a tip. In this event you will need to have some small local currency. Rp5,000 (.50 cents) or Rp10,000 ($1.00). If you do not require their services say so in a polite manner. Say no thanks or tidak terima kasih. Before exiting the terminal, you may be asked to have your hand luggage searched. The officers are usually looking for alcohol over and above your duty free limit of one, one litre bottle. If you are caught with more than you should have, they will possibly confiscate it or ask you to pay the tax or give you the opportunity to buy it back. If you decide not to buy it back at whatever the asking price is, your wine or spirits could then be destined for the black market. For those in the know, I believe this is an excellent way of topping up your holiday supplies at bargain prices. Thats the way it seems to work here.

2 VISA CURRENCY The currency in Bali is the Rupiah (RP). Currently as at 2013 AUD $1 = 10,844 RP The smallest denomiation of RP note is RP 1,000 and the largest is RP 100,000. Be careful with RP 10,000 and 100,000 notes as they can look very similar. Coins are almost worthless. It is best to change any currency at a reputable money changer eg at the airport, the hotel or a bank as not all brokers are reputable as others in Bali. AUD RP RP AUD $25 260, ,000 $9.60 $50 521, ,000 $19.20 $100 1,042, ,000 $48.00 CLIMATE Daytime temperatures are pleasant and vary between 20 to 33 degrees Celcius. During the dry season J F M A M J J A S O N D Average Temperatures J F M A M J J A S O N D Average Rainfall WATER Bottled water is available in all local supermarkets and in your hotel. It is NOT recommended to drink tap water. Avoid drinks with ice cubes and brush your teeth with bottled water.

3 VISA ELECTRICITY The current used is 220 Volts/50HZ. You will need a plug adaptor to convert Australian appliances for the Two prong Indonesian sockets. SHOPPING MONKEY FOREST ROAD - Jalan Monkey Forest, Ubud Along the street you may easily find international brand stores, sophisticated shops selling local designs, beautiful painting stores and handicraft and antiques outlets on each side of the street. KUTA SQUARE - Jalan Bakung Sari no. 1, Kuta Designed in boulevard style, Kuta Square is packed with a lot of international and local brands from surf wear outlets, dining areas, a hypermarket and fashion stores, such as Billabong, Quiksilver, Hurley, Giordano, Reebok, Nike and Levi s, and two famous local brands Milo s and Animale. KUTA ART MARKET - Jalan Bakung Sari Kuta Art Market is a traditional market where you can get local-crafted souvenirs and goods. The prices vary, depending on your bargaining skills. Haggling is expected and indeed encouraged as part of the fun of shopping, but do so politely and with a smile. DISCOVERY SHOPPING MALL - Jalan Kartika Plaza, Kuta This mall has facilities such as banks, restaurants, cafés, bookstores, opticians, pharmacies, amusement arcades, home accessories, jewellery and international brand outlets such as Sogo, Guess, Esprit, Giordano and many more. MALL BALI GALERIA- Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai, Simpang Siur, Kuta. Mall Bali Galeria is among the largest shopping centres in Kuta. Arcades comprise various restaurants, bookshops, fashion outlets, a Hypermart, the Galeria 21 cineplex, souvenir shops, and various scheduled exhibitions in its atrium and main lobby. The front section includes a duty free shop, Planet Hollywood Restaurant

4 BALI COLLECTION - Bali Tourism Development Centre Complex, Nusa Dua The Bali Collection is a high-end department store featuring mega brand names, international retailers as well as the most famous local marks. Food and beverage outlets, spa centres, and much more are all clustered together in a hassle-free open-space shopping square. Unlike other shopping destinations on the island, you will find the Bali Collection very clean and well-maintained with trees, benches, as well as eateries conveniently laid out CELUK VILLAGE - Along the main road from Denpasar to Gianyar, approximately 5 km from Denpasar. Further along the road towards Ubud is the village of Celuk, famous for being a village of gold and silversmiths. The village offers a multitude of gold and silver jewellery including rings, bangles, chokers, earrings, tusuk konde (hair pins), broaches and many other accessories, some decorated with mother of pearl. SUKAWATI ART MARKET - Jalan Raya Sukawati, Gianyar Sukawati Art Market is the biggest market in Bali to purchase handicrafts and traditional handmade products, and is located on the main road of Sukawati. This two-floor building is packed with tourists and locals almost every weekend JENGGALAJ - Jalan Uluwatu, Jimbaran Jenggala Keramik is probably the most distinguished pottery maker in Bali. TEGALLALANG HANDICRAFTS VILLAGE - Jalan Raya Tegallalang, Gianyar Brightly painted flowers, signboards, fruits, frogs, tokay geckos, ducks, cats and animal figures all feature heavily. All the way along the 12-kilometre road shops also sell furniture and handicrafts made from glass, wood, bamboo, ceramics and shells and many are much better quality than those you find in Sukawati Art Market or Ubud Market. THINGS TO DO Elephant Safari Park and Lodge Get up close and personal with the elephants of the Elephant Safari Park and Lodge in Taro. Whether just visiting for the day or staying overnight, you ll have ample opportunities to feed, ride, bath and learn about the creatures. Tanah Lot Temple one of the most significant sacred sites in Bali, which is perched on a rock on the South Western Coast. Cooking Classes Go from market to table with an interactive cooking experience that will teach you how to pick your produce and prepare a traditional Balinese style meal. Kecak Dance Experience the theatrics of a traditional Kecak Dance performance.

5 Surfing Learn how to surf on iconic Kuta Beach with a skilled surfer guide. KUTA While the surfers are still part of the Kuta scene, it's the shopping, nightlife and party vibes that attracts thousands of visitors. There's a huge choice of restaurants and entertainment. Legian Street, situated directly behind the row of hotels that face the beach, is lined with shops of all varieties. We can find any Balinese handicrafts here, from the least expensive to the most exquisite; or unique stores such as the leather store staffed by two young Balinese men that will perfectly sculpt a leather jacket. (They are all extremely talented artists). At night, Kuta is alive with night life. Western influences create discotheques, dance clubs, and pubs. Gastronomical demands inspire a multitude of restaurants, serving traditional Indonesian and Balinese food to various ethnic meals from Japan, Switzerland, etc. As if these were not enough, various Balinese dance performances are staged in Kuta every night. One of the best Kecak performances is found in Kuta.

6 VISA SEMINYAK Seminyak Beach is Bali's most fashionable area, home to among the island's luxurious resorts and host to a number of fine restaurants and boutiques. Fashion stores and top dining spots with international chefs cooking up world-class cuisine line the streets, from Jalan Petitenget to Jalan Kayu Aya. Seminyak's Petitenget Beach offers a more secluded ambiance compared to its sister strands of Kuta and Legian to the south. However, after sunset a livelier nightlife scene takes over.

7 VISA NUSA DUA Bali's most prestigious resort area, Nusa Dua is where the tourists will find international world, class luxury hotels elegantly lining beautiful white sands. Located on the Bukit peninsula, in the southern part of Bali, approximately 10 km from the international airport. It is quiet and exclusive with superb facilities. Crystal clear water and stretches of white sandy beach of Nusa Dua makes Nusa Dua a perfect spot for luxurious resorts to which exhausted the bodies, after a Barong performance at Batubulan and a long climb of the steps of the Mother Temple Besakih, will want to rest.

8 VISA UBUD Ubud is Bali's cultural heart. This area is located in the cool mountains, just one hour's drive north of the airport and the resorts of southern Bali, this traditional country town is the home of the Balinese Royal family and a flourishing arts centre. Most of Bali's museums and galleries are centered in Ubud, but culture and history rich Bali is peppered with museums and galleries. These museums and galleries offer paintings, woodcarvings, textiles and all kinds of souvenirs for viewing and also purchase. Puri Lukisan Museum in centre of Ubud, Neka Museum in Campuhan, Seniwati Gallery and Agung Rai Museum in Pengosekan is a must, to see the difference between creative art and more commercial products. Visit Ubud Monkey Forest, a natural forest reserve popular with both locals and tourists. Inhabited by wild monkeys who will steal the camera, bananas, handbags, toupees, etc. These mischievous monkeys provide lots of entertainment.

9 VISA MAP