When to Visit - Arts and Events

There are a number of festivals on Bali, most involving music, dance, religion and art, and all of which are very close to the hearts of the people. Two of the major festivals are Galungan and Nyepi. Galungan is the major feast of the wuku calendar. For ten days the gods are said to visit the island and mythical lion dogs prance between temples and villages in celebration.

The eve of Nyepi involves the noisy banishment of lingering evil by using gongs, drums and flame torches. On Nyepi, the whole of Bali is quiet. People stay at home and do not cook, pretending they are not there in order to fool evil spirits into believing the island is uninhabited.

Bali Dining

Rice is the staple food in Bali and is often included in accompanying dishes and sometimes in soups. Chicken, beef and seafood are either steamed, braised, stir or deep fried and even grilled over coconut husks. Chilli, coconut, garlic, ginger, saffron, lemon grass and several kinds of shrimp paste are just some of the ingredients that give Indonesian food its unique flavour.

Lunch and dinner are served with a choice of main courses and vegetables, usually well spiced and aromatic, but not too hot. Sate (charcoal-grilled skewers with small pieces of chicken, beef, pork or prawns), a somewhat upmarket delicacy, is served with a peanut sauce and is on a number of restaurant menus. For a more down-to-earth, but authentic, experience of Indonesian food, many markets and stalls operate day and night, and tropical fruit is in abundance and shouldn't be missed.

Bali Tipping Advice

A service charge of 10% is usually added to restaurant bills. If no charge is added, a gratuity of between 5% and 10% would be appreciated though not necessarily expected. Tipping taxi drivers and other service personnel is recommended. However, keep the amount at a reasonable level. As the currency of Indonesia has a tendency to be erratic, it is wise to check the relative values of the rupiah on a daily basis.