Travelling as a Caucasian in Bali
Travelling as a Caucasian in Bali requires some adjustment, but is not difficult. Caucasian basically means ‘white person’ which can mean from a wide selection of countries. Looking at the problems specific to white people, I’ll start with arriving.
Visas:
There are no white countries that are eligible to have their citizens arrive in Indonesia without either obtaining a visa, or getting a VOA (Visa On Arrival).
Processing is easy and the immigration staff speak English. If you come from Spain, France, Germany, or one of the other countries that fall under the banner of Caucasian, you might want to learn some English, as it used widely in Bali.
Consulates in Bali:
If you have any problems in Blai contact your consulate.
Money:
All reputable money changers accept a wide selection of currencies, including, US$, AU$, NZ$, Euro, GB Pound, Swiss franc. Whatever your currency, make sure your bills are new, clean, undamaged and in large denominations. If you are from a European country that has ‘soft currency’ get US$ or Euros before you come. Check out what your money is worth.
Arriving: The Customs / Immigration forms are in English. Airport staff and taxi drivers speak some English.
Where to stay:
Kuta / Legian/ Seminyak are area of intense tourist activity. To generalize, Kuta is a backpacker / budget places favoured by young Euro’s, Aussie families, Japanese, etc. Legian is favoured by Aussie families and Seminyak by Euro / Aussie expats and Euro tourists. In each area the locals are used to Caucasian tourists and are familiar with their needs.
Getting around:
Caucasians are often fussy about their personal space. They are often large in stature, when compared to Balinese locals. You can squeeze 3 people into the back seat of a Bali taxi, although for people over 1 meter 80 (5’10”) its better with 2 in the back, especially for longer journeys.
Places to shop:
Kuta Square is a popular place to shop with many Caucasions, as it is with Asians, Indians, Latinos and just about everyone who come to Bali. Kuta Square features some large western chains including McDonalds, KFC, Haagen-Dazs. Western brands can be found inside the Matahari department store, including Teva sandals, every fragrance you can imagine, Nike’s and many other name brand items.
Eating out:
Bali has hundreds of Caucasian friendly places to eat. Most hotels serve Indonesian and western food, with pizza, pasta, steak, tuna steak, appearing on almost every menu.
If you didn’t want to eat Indonesian food (‘bloody rice!!!’) as some people exclaim, you don’t have to. Some of the places that market themselves as distinctly Caucasian oriented include:
Mama’s German Restaurant, Trattoria, Rumours, Papa’s Cafe, Kori Restaurant, Kafe Warisan, Ku De Ta.
If you talk to Gerry Williams from BaliEats, he could go on for hours about western oriented restaurants in Bali and where to find them. In Seminyak the best western oreinted restaurants are found of Jl. Oberoi / Jl. Petitenget.
Attire:
Bali is a Hindu island with a long history of tourism. You do not have to be overly cautious of the things you wear. Exceptions would be visiting a Hindu temple, were ‘sloppy dress / actions’ are not appreciated. Outside of that you can wear whatever you like. If you are coming from a northerly climate for the first time, Bali will feel hot and humid. Bring sandals, light shirts, shorts, light pants.
Activities:
Bali offers a wide range of activities including surfing, sailing, diving, hiking, art courses, shopping, and a lively nightlife scene. All these are aimed predominantly at westerners, so you should not have any difficulty negotiating them.
Sun protection:
Many Caucasians have light skin that burns in the sun. Bring a hat with you as there are no decent sun hats out here, at least nothing that fits, looks good or is comfortable.
You can find a selection of sunscreen and after-sun products at any apotek (pharmacy, chemist) and also in Circle K or local supermarkets. Use it liberally, even if the day starts out cloudy. If you are going to the beach, a very harsh environment, due to UV rays, wind, salt water and sand, make sure you use copious quantities of sunblock. Boat trips give you a double dose of sunlight, reflecting it back off of the water and hiking in higher elevations means that while it may be overcast, the thinner air means higher UV levels.
Bargaining:
Many westerners / Caucasians are not familiar with haggling / bargaining, and feel uncomfortable. Best thing to do is relax, price shop, get an idea of what stuff is worth, and enjoy the new experience.