Knowing what not to do in Bali can be as useful as knowing what to do. In fact, knowing how to keep yourself safe and keeping your behavior acceptable to locals will go a long way in ensuring you have a great holiday in Bali. Here’s 5 things that all visitors should take note of when visiting Bali.
1. Do not even think about taking drugs into Bali
Some parts of Bali has gotten a bit of a reputation as a party city. It doesn’t mean that the law is any more lax in these parts than others. Drug trafficking, possession or consumption is a serious crime that some visitors take too lightly.
Bali clamps down hard on drugs, and if you are in any doubt of this, do know that Bali has recently sentenced a 56 year old British woman to death for drug trafficking.
You might think that it is safer to buy drugs locally, but it is not. In fact, many of the drug peddlers will turn around and tip off the police about your drug possession. Guess who ends up in hot soup?
There are certainly many more ways to enjoy your holiday in Bali, so why end up in prison when you could be surfing the waves at Echo Beach?
2. Do not take a taxi that is not metered
You might end up paying more than 10 times the fare price. Whenever you can, always opt for Bluebird Group taxis, that have an excellent reputation for upholding the meter system. Drivers speak adequate English and definitely offer better service than other taxi companies.
With Bluebird taxis, you are also assured that the taxi driver will not send you to a ‘spa’ where you can get ‘extra services’.
Check out our “Expert’s Guide to Taking Taxi in Bali“.
3. Do not go nude in public
Nude sunbathing is considered acceptable on certain beaches in Bali even though there are no official nude beaches. Do check before going nude, though as you do not want to get in trouble.
Outside of the beach though, it is a strict no no, even if you are just popping into the restaurant to grab a bite to eat. In fact, even wearing a bikini outside of the beach is considered quite rude to the more conservative Balinese.
Out of respect for local culture, do put on some clothes when you are in public. You can frolic nude in the privacy of your own villa pool side.
4. Do not step on offerings in the street
This may seem like common sense, but visitors may need a little reminding to keep a lookout for these offerings and to make sure you don’t accidentally step on them.
Two to three times a day, the Balinese place Canang Sari, or little baskets of rice and flowers on the sidewalk as an offering to the gods to demonstrate how grateful they are.
Now that you know that these are not mere decorations, but offerings to their gods, all the more reason to steer clear of stepping on it and risk offending the Balinese and their gods. The Balinese will be deeply upset if they witness you stepping on the offering.
5. Do not disrupt any religious ceremony
In our eagerness to witness local culture, or get a good photograph, visitors might unknowingly trespass on traditions and etiquette guidelines.
You should never walk in front of someone who is praying, or put your head higher than that of the priest. This is sometimes done by tourists who are trying to get a good angle for their photograph, and do not realize that they have offended the Balinese by doing so.
If you are caught in a jam because a religious procession is going on in front of you, you might as well take the time to enjoy the display of local culture. They probably aren’t going to make way for you to pass anyway.
Taking the time to understand Balinese culture will certainly help you make the most of your trip. The locals will probably warm up more quickly to you if you are not breaching their codes of etiquette. We hope you have understood more about Bali, and learnt something about how to stay out of trouble in Bali!
