Tell about Bali ?

Due to the fact that Bali is a popular tourism destination for travellers all over the world, around 80% of its economy is related to tourism. From leisure activities to hotels and restaurants; tourism is the largest industry in terms of income.

Besides fancy boutiques, restaurants and convenience stores - the first price you're quoted is rarely the actual price, so don't be afraid to haggle.

No need to order all your drinks neat – the ice in Bali is quality controlled by the local government. The tap water is not as belly friendly, unfortunately, so make sure you stay hydrated with bottled water.

Pura Goa Lawah is one of Bali’s nine sacred temples.

We love being able to visit a country and communicate, even just a little bit, in the local language. And Bali is no exception. Whilst the vast majority will speak enough English to communicate with you (albeit sometimes only the basics), even being able to say 'hello', 'thank you', and 'please' will be really appreciated here - and will go a long way in the bartering process!

If you have a refillable bottle, visit one of the participating businesses of Refill Bali for a cheap, or even free, refill and feel good about limiting your plastic waste!

If you have followed our previous blogs, you probably already know everything about this holiday, but did you know that the Balinese New Year starts in silence? The first day of the new calendar is called Nyepi; and no one is allowed on the streets. Noise and light are to be kept at a minimum and these rules apply to everyone who is on the Island. Read more about this holiday in our previous blog.

After so long in Latin America, we'd gotten used to stray dogs - but that doesn't mean that seeing all the homeless pups on the beach and streets of Bali didn't break my heart. There are a number of shelters and rescue homes on the island, but unfortunately it's still a huge problem here.

We’re not suggesting you should leave any part of your fresh seafood platter when dining in a restaurant, but if you are invited into a local family home, the etiquette is different.

There are a lot of different languages and dialects spoken all over Indonesia, although Bahasa Indonesia is the country’s official language. Most Balinese residents speak 3 languages: Balinese, Indonesian and English (the last one mostly due to tourism).

Situated around a cave, the site is home to thousands of bats, who all hang, tightly packed from the roof of the cave.

For decades, Bali has been a huge draw for surfers from all over the world - and for good reason! During the dry season the swell around the island can be massive.

You might find yourself sitting on the floor and eating with your hands, in which case use your right hand only, and when you’ve had enough, you should leave a little bit of food on your plate to signify you are done.

Balinese babies are carried everywhere the first few months of their lives, this is because they are not allowed to touch the ground. They are considered little angels, their connection to the spirits is kept in tacked by not touching the earth. When the time has come that they are allowed to touch the ground, a big ceremony is held.

According to legend, a giant naga snake, Basuki, lives inside the cave and feeds on the bats, while another myth states the cave conceals an underground river of healing waters.

Massage parlours abound in Bali, advertising almost every beauty treatment you can imagine. And they're cheap! For anywhere between Rp. 100,000 and 150,000 you can get a one hour full body massage. To put that in perspective, that's a full hour of bliss starting from around £6.25!!!

Mounts Agung and Batur are the two towering peaks of Bali, and these dinosaurs are far from dormant.

Another big ceremony is held when a Balinese reaches puberty; the tooth filing ceremony. This ceremony symbolises three things: a coming of age, the transition from animal to human and the control of the 6 human evils (desire, greed, anger, confusion, jealousy and being under the influence of strong

Bali has a long history of gold- and silversmithing, with skills passed down through generations of families.

If you've coming to Bali after travelling through the rest of Indonesia, you may notice that the language is a little different here. It shouldn't cause too many issues, but it's something to be aware of.

You will also find a lot of people called Wayan, Made, Nyoman or Ketut. Actually, most Balinese people are given one of these four names, male or female. It simply means ‘first born’, ‘second born’, ‘third born’ and ‘fourth born’. So, what do you call your fifth child, you may ask? Simply start over again and name him or her ‘Wayan’ again!

Gunung Agung, as it is locally known, last erupted in 1963, killing around 1,500 people, and still makes its presence felt with occasional gassy belches.

Certainly in Australia, Bali has a bit of a reputation. It's kind of like their version of the Costa del Sol.

Ubud and Sanur are just two areas where you can find galleries and boutiques that can custom-make a piece of gold or silver jewelry for you.

Did you know that the Indonesian waters are home to around 3,000 species of fish? That’s double the amount of species found in the Great Barrier Reef!