Interesting facts about pain. Bali: interesting facts. About nightlife and transportation

Finally, I found time to finish the article that I started writing while still in Indonesia. As a result, I got a whole list of 25 interesting facts, observations and tips that I have collected over six months of my life in this wonderful country. This article will be especially useful for those who are going on a trip to Bali or other islands in Indonesia. Enjoy!

1. Indonesia is the largest island and densely populated state in the world. The whole country consists of 17,800 islands.
2. The main religion of Indonesia is Islam, 86% of the population adhere to it. 9% are Christians, 3% are Hindus and the remaining 2% are Buddhists and others. But in Bali, the picture is completely different. Almost 90% of the local population of the island are Hindus.
3. A good one can be rented for as little as Rs 500,000 per month ($ 52) or Rs 35,000 per day ($ 3.6).
4. In Indonesia, fuel is very cheap - the price of one liter of gasoline costs 4,500 rupees ($ 0.46).
5. Volcano Agung (3142 meters) in Bali is considered the most sacred place on the island. All the temples of the island are facing in its direction and all Balinese try to sleep with their heads in the direction of this volcano.
6. The most reliable and cheapest telephone service in Indonesia is Telkomsel SimPATI.
7. In almost all large cities Indonesia can easily find free accommodation through and thus meet local youth.
8. In almost all local eateries (warungs), you can have a hearty meal for only 15,000 rupees ($ 1.5).
9. On the main island of Java, locals will constantly ask you to take pictures with them. "Hello mister, can I take picture with you?" is a standard phrase. By the way, even if you are a girl, you will still be called "mister".
10. Prices for food and housing on the main island of Java are sometimes two to three times cheaper than in Bali.
11. In markets and stores where there are no price tags, you can safely bargain and discount the declared price two or three times.
12. Wild monkeys can be found in the jungle in Bali.
13. In Bali, Ubud is a city of yogis, Kuta is a city of party-goers.
14. The first place among tourists in Bali is the Australians, the second is the Japanese and the third is the Chinese.
15. Parking a scooter or car near tourist spots and large shops usually costs Rs 1,000-2,000.
16. The maximum bribe that a police officer should pay to ride a scooter without a helmet and without a license is 50,000 rupees. Do not give any more, even if you are intimidated by a large fine and a police station.
17. Every second Balinese is called Wayan (regardless of gender).
18. Lizards live on the island of Komodo - they are dinosaurs or dragons.
19. The maximum amount that can be withdrawn from an ATM in Indonesia is Rs 3,000,000 ($ 312).
20. Indonesia used to be a Dutch colony and this greatly affects the architecture of many cities.
21. In Indonesia, left-hand road traffic as in Thailand.
22. The maximum period of stay in Indonesia without leaving is 6 months (this requires a social visa). After this period, you need to leave for a neighboring country, make a new visa and re-enter Indonesia.
23. Balinese celebrate New Year in a very unusual way - in complete silence. No one on the island leaves their homes for 24 hours. All restaurants, offices, schools and shops are closed.
24. Prices for housing in Bali in budget guesthouses - from 100,000 ($ 10) to 200,000 rupees ($ 20), when renting for a long time (week, month) - cheaper. For example, we rented a whole for only $ 450 per month.
25. Indonesia is full of tropical fruits: snake fruit, pineapples, strawberries, apples, bananas of various varieties, tangerines, papaya, mangosteen, rambutans, wood apple, durian, passion fruit,. All of these can be found in almost any fruit market.

The small island of Bali, which is part of Indonesia, is well known throughout the world as a first-class resort. Every year it is visited by millions of tourists, and in the future they always strive to return here for positive emotions. The island amazes with its excellent nature, beautiful beaches and numerous entertainment.

Every Balinese exists simultaneously in a pair of worlds. Sekala is the visual environment around a person. The invisible world of Niskala - can be felt only during the performance of national rituals that have a long history.

There is no time to work on the island, as there are 230 days off here every year.

The religion of the locals is called "Agama Hindu Dharma" and is an amazing mixture of Buddhist and Hindu beliefs, mixed with pagan ideas about the world and belief in a variety of spirits.

Bali law allows polygamy, with the maximum number of wives being limited to four. It is curious that a man can remarry only after receiving the written permission of the first of his wives.

One of local traditions involves filing teeth. Make it to young people who have reached the age of 16-18. It is believed that such a procedure allows you to pacify the six main spiritual sins in a person (lust, greed, and so on). By the way, if you are interested in this and other traditions in Bali, then the Gidnabali.ru company conducts excursions on the island with a Russian-speaking guide, as well as organizes wedding ceremonies. Wedding ceremonies from GidNaBali.ru will become an unforgettable moment in your life together. Trust me, it's worth it.

The Balinese home is a full-fledged living being. The role of the head is played by the temple, which must be turned towards the Agung volcano. In place of the hands are the living quarters, and the kitchen and outbuildings are located instead of the legs.

In Bali, there are three calendars at once. The first is accepted all over the world and used in Everyday life... The second is called Pavukon and is the calendar of the Javanese-Balinese peoples. The third is called Saka and is common to all Hindus.

If we proceed from the chronology of the Saka calendar, then today the island of Bali lives in 1936.

For any Balinese, the right hand is sacred. Only she can transfer any things to each other.

The linguistic features of the island provide for the division into three castes, the indication of which is mandatory when referring to a person.

Gunung-Agung volcano - highest point Bali, its peak is at the level of 3142 meters. At the foot is Pura Besakikh, the most revered temple among the locals.

Rice is the most common food on the island. Residents consider it the food of the gods, so you can meet dishes from it at any celebration.

From entertainment, cockfighting has no equal in popularity. Fighting birds are looked after as if they were their own children.

Curiously, during a divorce, the children remain with their father, and the woman takes with her only the things that she had before marriage.

Bali offers surfing and diving, religious, ecological and beach tourism. Bali is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, but despite this, much of the life of the local population is not known to the general public. Interesting Facts about Bali will help you discover and learn something new and even useful. Bali is part of the Islamic state of Indonesia. Bali on the world map is located here.

Bali is Island of the Godswith a very varied landscape: hills and mountains, beautiful coastlines and sandy beaches, curvy rice terraces and bare volcanic slopes. Surfing and diving, unique cuisine, a large number of cultural, historical and archaeological sites - Bali has a lot to offer to the tourist market, and the market is very happy with this offer. Bali Island boasts big amount interesting places from a tourist point of view. A variety of excursions await you: sightseeing and thematic, exciting walks, yacht tours, and even culinary courses. Current prices for excursions in Bali, as well as a list of private Russian speaking guides can be found on the website of the special project for tourists "Experts.Tourister.Ru" - experts.tourister.ru.

• It is believed that the earliest settlers in Bali emigrated from China in 2500 BC.
• It is noteworthy that in Indonesia, more than 88% of the population profess Islam, while on the island of Bali, which is part of this state, 83.5% of the population profess a special kind of Hinduism. That is why pork dishes can be tasted only in Bali; in Indonesia, pork is not eaten, since this food is prohibited in Islam.
• Subak is an irrigation system rice fields in Bali, was developed over 1000 years ago. Considered an objectUNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Bali is just one of over 17,000 islands that make up Indonesia.
• One of the most expensive coffees, Kopi Luwak, is produced in Bali.
• Balinese people believe that a newborn child is the reincarnation of one of the family's ancestors, and therefore the child should not touch the ground until 3 months.
• A child, regardless of gender, is usually given one of these four names: Wayan, Made, Nyoman, or Ketut. This can be translated as: born first, born second, and so on. If you have more than four children, you just start over with Wayan. Descriptive nicknames help avoid confusion. This rule is true for the lowest caste. Yes, there are 4 castes in Bali, similar to those in India.
  
• Bali was the host of the competition Miss World 2013 ... This was the first time an International Beauty Pageant was held in Indonesia.
• The climate on the island is tropical and is divided into two seasons.The dry season lasts from April to October and the rainy season from October to April. The best time the dry season is considered to be visited, it is also more crowded. Many people go for inspiration and peace during the rainy season, when the tourist flow is insignificant.
• Balinese menus include white rice, pork, spicy vegetables and exotic fruits.
• One of the most sacred temples in Bali - Pura Ulu Watu, r nestled high in the rocks at the southwestern tip of the island.
  
• Seminyak is the center of Bali's luxury life. Hereyou will find boutiques, restaurants, cafes and fashion shows.
• Ubud is the artistic heart of Bali, the center of spiritual life.The streets are filled with galleries where artists from different generations do their work. An indescribable view opens up hereto the rice terraces. Thisgreen landscape is often chosen as better place for yoga and meditation.

According to the majority, Bali is a heavenly place with numerous beaches, exotic fruits, cocktails, massages and all kinds of entertainment.

I have long dreamed of living in Bali. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the bestselling Eat Pray Love, fueled my desire to come here as soon as possible. We had been planning to fly to Bali for a long time, waited for a card to stay and set ourselves up for a trip. I imagined swimming in the ocean, sunbathing on the beach, eating exotic fruits and drinking coconut.

We flew in for two months. During this time, we got to know the locals and learned a lot about Indonesia. In general, I liked the rest. We jumped from the waterfall, explored the sunken ships with scuba diving, traveled the whole island far and wide, reviewed almost all the local beauties and the best beaches, laughed with taxi drivers, tasted the sensational Luwak coffee and mangosteen tea, which they took with them to Krakow. They took with them a lot of pleasant memories, but there are facts that are not written about on the Internet, but you need to know about them.

1. Bali is widespread dengue fever... Its carriers are mosquitoes. V tourist spots they are being hounded. But the most important thing is that you do not know where a mosquito carrying this rubbish can bite you. Fever is something that locals and tourists alike dread. The best defense from this - stock up on mosquito spray and carry it with you everywhere. It is better to put mosquito balon in the hotel. For example, baigan. Expensive restaurants bring this spray and can be used. In cheaper restaurants and in warungs, you should ask the waiters to bring mosquito spray. It is very easy to confuse the symptoms of fever with the flu, so if the temperature rises, you should immediately go to the local hospital and not delay until the flight home. You should not self-medicate, because some of the drugs we are used to, on the contrary, can be harmful or fatal.
2. A couple of years ago, locals saw a python on Jimbaran. I don’t remember what size it was, but huge. The catcher was immediately summoned. He caught a python. The tourists wanted to take a photo, the python escaped, strangled the hunter and disappeared. Until now, no one has seen about him. What is it all about? If you suddenly see a snake, it is worth keeping in mind that the snake attacks only in two cases: 1) if it is wounded; 2) if she feels threatened. By itself, it will not attack. It is worth letting her crawl.
3. About the weed. It should be borne in mind that keeping, growing or just buying grass is a public posthumous execution. A couple of years ago, the locals publicly shot two Australians who brought the weed with them. And then another ten people. This is not a joke! Despite this, you can find street vendors especially on the neighboring islets. But often they come with a set of police officers in collusion who shake out every last penny from you, including movable and immovable property.
4. If monks are held in high esteem in Thailand, here are the police.
5. What confused me was the skinny animals: cats, dogs, cows, roosters. Cows are kept in disgusting conditions - garbage is scattered around them and, judging by the smell, they are not washed. I judge more than once. Cows grazed around one of our guesthouses all day long.
6. You should be careful with taxi drivers... I would have crossed out Uber altogether, since fraudulent transactions are often observed with it. For example, we ordered a car, and a taxi driver arrived and started bargaining. In such cases, it is worth getting up immediately. I had to open the doors on the go. The golden rule is not to get into a taxi until you have agreed on the price and route. This is not the only case. We used the BlueBird taxi service, which follows its reputation, in the # 1 market. It is worth looking at the stork to be drawn. They are often substituted and instead of a stork, you can see another bird, a gate or something like that. A fake taxi costs a lot more. I also recommend mobile app Grab is an analogue of Uber, something in between the price of BlueBird and Uber. There were no surprises with him, but you can't always get them out. Especially concerns the beach areas and Ubud due to conflicts with local taxi drivers.
7. Mostly Australians (most of all), Dutch and Russians rest in Bali. According to locals, there are no Ukrainians here at all. But again, we were also mistaken for Russians, so this is not yet an indicator.
8. Last year we lived in Thailand on Phuket Island, and I just fell in love with Thais. People are always glad to see you, happy and do not look into your wallet. On this occasion, I published my article on Organic Woman. Which, unfortunately, cannot be said about the Balinese. They greet and communicate with you only so that you buy something. And if you refuse, then they can shout a couple of words in pursuit and the attitude changes dramatically. Until you get to the beach, all ears will buzz with massages, taxis and all sorts of baubles. Moreover, everyone has to refuse at least 3 times - no one lags behind the first time. Even walking silently or a short “thank you” will not help.
9. We concluded that the Australians spoiled the locals and the prices in Bali be healthy.
10. It is worth changing money only in banks... Once we came to a currency exchange point and a local almost pocketed 20% of $ 200 for some taxes. First, he tried to cheat on a calculator (which is very easy when you use millions of rupees), then he pointed to taxes of 20%. We turned around and left, changed in the bank not far away and naturally there were no taxes.

I didn't mean to intimidate you, but nobody canceled the precautions. It is worth having a mosquito spray with you, when you see a snake (if you suddenly see it) let it just crawl, for grass lovers - be aware of the punishment. In general, the rest in Bali is pleasant and memorable.

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1. In Bali, the death penalty is imposed for the consumption and distribution of drugs, and at the same time, hallucinogenic mushrooms are freely available in Bali (absolutely legally).

2. In Bali, polygamy is allowed - up to four wives. For the second and subsequent wives, the permission is signed by the first wife. Currently, polygamy takes place mainly among the Balinese from the higher castes.

3. A resident of the island of Bali always eats using only his right hand, since he considers his left hand to be defiled. The left hand is never used to receive or transfer things. Moreover, the Balinese will not allow himself to wave his “unclean” left hand to someone.

4. Dancing and performing arts are an integral part of the life of any Balinese. Regardless of their occupation, every Bali resident considers it his duty to be able to dance well and participate in theatrical performances.

5. The vast majority of the population (Hindus) believe in reincarnation. Babies who are less than 6 weeks old receive special respect from adults. It is believed that a child at this age is a living embodiment of the soul of some ancestor.

6. On about. You can still find real Aborigines in Bali. The locals call them "Bali Aga".

7. The Balinese are real geniuses in carving from stone and wood. People from all over the world come here to buy something for their interior.

8. In Bali, there is a teeth filing ceremony - the flattening of the two upper teeth, which most of all resemble the teeth of animals, canines and four incisors. This is done with the aim of depriving a person of demonic character traits and pacifying the 6 most important sins in Bali - lust, greed, anger, sadness, arrogance, jealousy and drunkenness. Usually, this ceremony is held at a Balinese wedding. It is interesting that without sawed teeth a Balinese cannot fulfill his duty and karma. The most common age for this ceremony is 16-18 years old. But, if a person suddenly dies before this procedure, the teeth filing ceremony will be performed on the corpse. The shards from the teeth are placed in a yellow coconut and buried in the family temple as a shrine.

9. In 1906, hundreds of Balinese marched out to meet Dutch soldiers in white robes and committed mass suicide. This moment in history is called Puputan.

10. In Bali, it is not customary to express your feelings in public by kissing. The only day after the "day of silence", the selected youth of the village can kiss in public to please the gods.

11. All inhabitants of Bali belong to one of four castes. The lowest caste Shudra is the most numerous. The Shudras are the poorest of the Balinese. Representatives of the nobility form three other estates: Brahmans (priests), Kshatriya (military personnel and statesmen), Vaisya (merchants).

12. The Balinese language is divided into three levels (also, depending on the caste): sublime, intermediate and rough. People from a particular caste can use a language that belongs to their status. You cannot address someone in Balinese without specifying the caste of the person you are talking to.

13. What immediately catches your eye in Bali is the multitude of multi-colored umbrellas located in different places. Umbrellas in Bali have a creative, protective meaning. They are called - "tedung", which means "protection". The color of the umbrella can vary and carry different meanings, in general, the colors reflect the colors of the castes.

14. The Balinese religion is called "Agama Hindu Dharma", it is a mixture of Hinduism and Buddhism, pagan faith and worship of ancestors and spirits of nature.

15. At home, the Balinese are a living creature. His head is a family temple (looking at the Agung volcano), his arms are residential buildings, and his legs are a kitchen and a barn.

16. Most Balinese go to bed with their head sacred grief and the family temple always looks towards Agung.

17. The Balinese gate without a top is called Candi Bentar, which translates as “the split gate”. The Chandi Bentar gate symbolizes the cosmic mountain of knowledge, split into two parts - half good and half evil - forces that symbolize the fundamental energies of the universe.

18. On the territory of almost any Balinese temple there is a multi-tiered tower - this is a symbol sacred mountain Balinese Agung. Also, it is a symbol of the holy Mount Meru. Meru towers can be 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11 tiers high - depending on the status of the deity to whom they are dedicated.

19. On the island 230 (!) official holidays a year. Therefore, numerous ceremonies and festive processions can be seen on the streets of cities and villages almost every day.

20. Canang Offerings are handmade bamboo baskets filled with gifts for spirits. Absolutely all Balinese women know how to make such offerings, they are taught this from the age of 6. Baskets are made from banana and bamboo leaves using weaving techniques.

21. An important and irreplaceable product in Indonesia is nasi rice. Rice is food and a gift from the gods. Here in Bali there is a cult of rice, all rituals and ceremonies include rice product. A rice panicle even appears on the Indonesian flag. Rice is put in all offerings to good and evil spirits, rice is planted everywhere and everywhere, in general, rice here is the head of everything.

22. Balinese people are very gambling people. One of their favorite pastimes is cockfighting. For these purposes, in almost every yard, special fighting cocks are raised, which are cared for and nurtured, and they are treated like small children - the cocks have their own diet, they are washed and bathed. Often, on the streets of the island you can meet a company of Balinese sitting together and a cockerel sits on everyone's lap, which the owners are lovingly stroking. In cockfighting, the bets are monetary. Many Balinese lost their fortunes in these games, after which the fighting was prohibited and covered ... but cockfighting is allowed on special ceremonial days and on the full moon, which everyone enjoys.

23. There is an important obligation for the Balinese - marriage. And the most important thing in marriage is to have children, only then can Balinese be present at important ceremonies and perform rituals intended for the dead, to cleanse their souls, which are necessary for further reincarnation. Childlessness and impotence are grounds for divorce

24. Balinese love children, especially boys, because sons traditionally look after their elderly parents and home. And, also, it is boys who can inherit land, farmland and homes. Girls get married and go to their husband's family, so they have no right to inherit something from their family.

25. If there is a divorce in the family, the wife returns to her parents and can only take her personal belongings with her. Her rights are so limited that few women dare to leave their husbands. It is interesting that the children, in the majority, stay with the father, since it is believed that they belong to the father. And after a divorce, the mother loses almost all rights to them, especially if the child is male.

26. Traditional Balinese childbirth is carried out surrounded by all the immediate family. It is believed that in the last month of pregnancy, in childbirth itself and the first 42 days after childbirth, both the woman and the baby are most vulnerable to sorcerers, witches and other "dark forces", because they are between the worlds - between the earthly and heavenly space. The dark forces are activated during this time, trying to gain access to the child's clean energy. Therefore, the father of the child all this time (and especially during childbirth) is next to his wife and protects her from evil spirits by his presence and special rituals.

27. In Bali they believe in the invisible world, in light and dark spirits. And, accordingly, in white and black magic. Therefore, witchcraft is highly developed on the island. There are special black sorcerers who can send conspiracies to a specific person, whole family or house. Everyone is respectfully afraid of black magicians and often turns to them when sorting out the relationship. There are white sorcerers who they go to to recover from an illness, to receive material benefits, or just to tell fortunes for the future. They are called healers. The main path of healers is massage, fortune telling by the hand, divination by the stars, and the composition of magical mixtures.

28. Traditional Balinese dances - Legong, Barong and Kecak. The Barong dance is a whole performance that shows the opposition of good and evil, which is symbolized by the characters Barong and Rangda. A real Barong dance can last for several hours.

29. Water in Bali is sacredly revered. The religion of the Balinese in ancient times was called "Agama Tirta" - "the religion of sacred water." The element of water is deeply revered for the Balinese and always carries a creative and cleansing power. Many ceremonies in Bali are dedicated to the element of water.

30. In Bali, it is customary to cremate the dead. The cremation ceremony is usually noisy and fun. Especially if it is massive. The cremation ceremony is extremely expensive, so it is not uncommon for a family to share expenses with neighbors and to be cremated in batches. For example, in 2001, the remains of 830 people already buried in a cemetery from 37 villages were added to the cremation of Ida Tjokorda Mengwi, a 13th generation of King Mengwi (note: until the required number of the deceased is reached: those who died earlier than the ceremony cremation - buried in the ground for a while, then dug out).