Bali travel tips are essential for anyone visiting this popular tourist destination, known for its lush landscapes, stunning beaches, and vibrant culture. With its growing popularity, navigating through the crowds and traffic can sometimes be a challenge. That’s why we’ve put together a list of tips to make your Bali adventure as smooth and enjoyable as possible. By beating the traffic and leaving early, as well as learning some key Bahasa Indonesia phrases, you can get the most out of your trip. So, if you’re planning a visit to Bali, be sure to keep these Bali travel tips in mind to ensure a memorable and stress-free experience.
BALI TRAVEL TIP 1: Beat the Traffic: Leave Early to Avoid Crowds
Leaving early morning will allow you to avoid traffic but also to beat the crowd at the most visited place. The biggest cities, such as Denpasar,Ubud, and Kuta, are known for their traffic jams, with Ubud having the worst congestion in its city center during peak hours due to its small roads. Avoid the hassle by rising early to beat the crowds and enjoy the beautiful temples, rice terraces, and waterfalls Bali has to offer.
BALI TRAVEL TIP 2: Buy a tourist sim card.
Buying a tourist sim card if you cannot use international roaming from your sim card or if you want to save some money. The best is to buy the sim card as soon you arrived at the airport and they installed it for you in few minutes. It is after very easy to top up if you need in many local phone shops along the road. To choose your package, you can calculated a comsuption of 2GB a day if you want to be sure you will not run out of data.
We used XL Axiata as provider and the connection was quite good in Bali.
BALI TRAVEL TIP 3: PAY CASH
Money changers available all around.
The exchange rate ca change a bt 2% from one street to another.
Credit cards putchase are chatged a fee of 3%
Book one or 2 nights at a local hotel
BALI TRAVEL TIPS, number 4: DOWNLOAD GRAB APP
BALI TRAVEL TIPS, number 5: Learn Essential Bahasa Indonesia Phrases
Although Balinese is the preferred language of the locals throughout the island, everybody will understand your Bahasa Indonesia. Having a few essential phrases in your repertoire will be a great advantage, especially if you want to take pictures (check out our Bali photography tips blog).
Bahasa Indonesia
English
Halo apa khabar?
Hello, how are you?
Saya orang Perancis. Aku tinggal di Perancis
I am from France, j’habite en France
Selamat pagi
Good morning.
Selamat siang
Good afternoon.
Selamat sore
Good evening.
Terima kasih banyak
Thank you very much.
Some infornal words
Bagus:
The term “bagus” can be sujective and influenced by context, as it is commonly used to express positive sentiments towards something that is deemed good or nice. It has become an important component of Indonesian language and culture and is frequently used to convey appreciation and admiration in everyday conversations.
Film ini bagus (this movie is good)
Baju kamu bagus (Your shirt is nice)
Boleh: In Indonesian, “boleh” is used to express permission or to give someone the go-ahead to do something.
Boleh aku meminjam sepeda kamu? (Can I borrow your bike?)
The one-word response “boleh” indicates permission or agreement to the request or question being asked for example: Boleh saya masuk ke dalam rumah ini? (May I enter this house?)
You can rent a motorbike in Bali from your hotel, or one of the many travel agencies located in tourist destinations such as Ubud. Normally, you won’t need to leave your passport; just fill out a form with your information. In March 2023, due to the increasing number of tourists behaving unacceptably and breaking traffic laws, the Governor of Bali proposed banning tourists from riding motorbikes. The ban has yet to be implemented.
A taxi journey from Denpasar Airport to Ubud typically takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the traffic. The trip in the opposite direction (from Ubud to Denpasar Airport) takes a similar amount of time.
While there are plenty of articles out there highlighting the best photo spots and Instagram-worthy locations in Bali, this blog takes a different approach. Our focus (no pun intended) is on providing Bali photography tips you can use, regardless of whether you’re using a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or even a smartphone.
1.Use google maps satellite view and discover Bali’s
Whether you’re exploring Ubud or other parts of Bali, Google Maps‘ satellite view can be a valuable tool for locating rice terraces and checking out nearby trekking trails while on the go.
2. Plan Around the Full Moon: capture the Magic of Balinese Ceremonies
Although offerings are taking place daily in the many temples scattered inside Ubud, there are bigger ceremonies that occur on the day of the full moon (or sometimes the day before) in temples. To check out the moon phase, you can use a dedicated app such as TRP, Photopills, or check timeanddate.
3. Do not get stuck in one location
Renting a motorbike is one of the most affordable ways to get around Bali, but it does require some driving experience. Alternatively, you can book a motorbike through Grab. Unfortunately, as of 2023, there are limited options for renting e-bikes in Ubud without joining a tour. For those who are physically fit, renting a mountain bike can provide access to less-traveled locations.
If you’re willing to spend more, you can rent a car with a driver for the day and customize your itinerary to include your preferred stops.
If you have more time or have visited Bali before, consider taking a short flight to a nearby island like Sumba for a culture shock.
4. Enhance Your Sunrise and Sunset Photography with Graduated ND Filters
When capturing high-contrast scenes, such as sunrises or sunsets, graduated neutral density filters are a must-have. These filters can also enhance your daytime shots of seascapes. A ND8 filter, for instance, can reduce light by 3 f-stops, allowing you to capture both lush green rice fields and a sky at sunset in a single shot.
5. Capture Dreamy Daylight Seascapes and Waterfalls with Long Exposures
If you are looking to capture dreamy-like seascapes or waterfall shots, you’ll need to use a long exposure time of 20-25 seconds. However, this can only be achieved on bright or cloudy days by using a powerful ND filter like the ND1000, which blocks 99% of light. To prevent camera shake, it’s essential to turn off any stabilization features and use a stable tripod. While a mini tripod may be more convenient for travel, it may restrict your composition options if you’re limited to shooting from ground level.
Long exposure modes can be found on Android smartphones. For instance, RedMi phones offer a “oil painting” long exposure mode that can be used. Note that you will need to use a tripod as well with your smarphone.
6. Lace up Your Hiking Shoes and Explore Bali’s Natural Beauty
To capture area shots in Bali, hiking some of its trails is one of the best ways, especially if you don’t have access to a drone. These trails offer great vantage points to capture the natural beauty of Bali, including seascapes and rice terraces, in a vintage style. Additionally, Bali is home to two famous trails that lead to Mount Batur (Gunung Batur), which stands at 1717 meters, and Mount Agung (Gunung Agung), which tops at 3,031 meters. From these spots you will be able to capture breathtaking shots of the sea of clouds at sunrise.
7. Don’t miss a shot: rent a lens in Bali
Renting a lens in Bali is a great way to take your photography to the next level. Few photo shops on the island offer this service, though it’s worth noting that foreigners may be asked to leave their passports as a deposit. If you prefer and cannot leave your passport, cash is an option for rental deposits, but be prepared to put down the full value of the lens. It’s also worth noting that using a credit card for deposit is usually not an option due to the high fees involved.
One lens rental shop we recommend is Pondok Lensa Bali, located in Kuta. They offer a wide range of lenses (Sony, Fuji, Canon) and professional equipment.
8.Look Up and Explore the Details: discover Bali’s Secrets:
Bali is a treasure trove of hidden details. One such example is the stunning array of gardian statues (bedogol) you’ll find throughout villages,, gracing the fronts of homes and temples alike.
The rice fields of Bali are a visual icon of the island that offers endless photo opportunities for photo enthusiasts. Bali rice fields are an integral part of an ancient intricate irrigation system called Subak, which many visitors are not aware of. Join us as we observed and captured some authentic moments during the rice harvesting in Ubud during the month of March 2023.
Bali Rice Fields: Discover the Rich History of the Subak Farming Tradition
The picturesque rice terrasses of Bali owe their existence to the Subak system. This complex organization, which dates back to the 9th century, is the pillar of Balinese irrigated agriculture and manages the flow of water into the rice paddies. At its core, the Subak system is guided by the principle of Tri Hita Karana, which translates to the three causes of well-being:
Parahyangan, the harmonious relationship between human and God.
Pawongan, the harmonious relationship between humans and his neighbor i.e the organization that regulates the water irrigation system.
Palemahan, the harmonious relationship between human and nature and the environment.
The Subak system has a spiritual dimension deeply rooted in Balinese culture but is also an engineering feat: water, from streams and rivers is distributed by a system of canals, tunnels and dams into the paddies file. Lake Batur, Bali’s largest lake, serves as the primary water source for the irrigated rice cultivation of the island.
In the rice fields you will see pengalapan (dam), jelinjing (trenches), and a cakangan (spot/tool to enter the water to the rice fields). Subak is also a human organization with a set of rules and decisions about the timing of planting and determining the type of rice is also carried out together.
The Subak system has been modified by the Dutch in the beginning of the 20th century for tax collection purpose and later in the 1970’s by the Indonesian government to boost rice production.
Sustainable Tourism and the Subak System: Finding a Path Forward for Bali
Bali’s integrated rice-field irrigation has been and still is under threat beacause of the surge in tourism on the Island of the Gods. Land reclamation to build new hotels and shops, combined with the younger generation’s increasing focus on jobs in the hospitality sector, have contributed to this threat.
The irrigated rice terraces of Bali are a famous tourist attraction and an icon of Bali tourism on par with its scenic volcanoes and sandy beaches. In 2012, about 20,000 ha of the Subak system were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Sitewith the following title: Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy.
The Spiritual Dimension of Bali’s Subak System: The Sacred Connection Between Farmers and Bali Rice Fields
As you venture into the paddies fiels of Bali, you will come across small temples and shrines where the local farmers partake in a ritual of offering. The Balinese farmers are worshipping Dewi Sri, the deity of fecundity and opulence often associated with Lakshmi the companion of Vishnu. These offerings comprise of fruits placed in small containers, accompanied by flowers and fragrant incense sticks, alongside stacks of rice. Time of the offerings fluectuate a lot from one paddy field to the next depending on what type of rice is planted as well.
Balinese woman preparing an offering by mixing rice stalks and flowers
Discover the Diversity of Bali’s Rice Fields: An In-Depth Look at the Various Rice Types
Rice is a staple food in Bali and in Indonesia and has been cultivated for about 2000 years. In the Indonesian language, rice is known by two names – when it’s raw, it goes by beras, and when it’s cooked, it’s called nasi.
The most commonly found variety of in Bali is white rice (nasi putih in indonesian) and the less commun are red rice and black rice (also named as purple rice).
Balinese red rice contains anthocyanins, a natural pigment which are responsible for giving the rice its unique red hue. Red rice is used for offerings in Balinese temples and ceremonies as it is believed that the color red symbolizes life and energy. As it is more expensive it is sometime mixed with white to eat.
Black Balinese rice, also known as black glutinous rice, is a rice variety that is often used to make traditional desserts such as bubur injin (black rice pudding) or klepon (rice cake balls).
Behind Bali Rice Fields: Rice Production in Bali
Based on data collected by CEIC , rice production in Bali reached its peak in 2013 with 882, 092 metric tons of rice. However, in the last last decade, there has been a slight decline in Bali’s rice production, with current production levels hovering around 600,000 metric tons. Despite Bali’s high rice cultivation productivity, its output represents only a small fraction of Indonesia’s total rice production. Indonesia is the world’s third-largest rice producer, trailing behind China and India.
Rice harvesting season in Bali
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Bali’s rice paddies owe their exceptional productivity to the ancient Subak irrigation system. With an average of three harvests per year, the island’s lush green landscape is a sight to behold for most of the year. If you happen to be in Ubud during March, you can witness the rice harvests firsthand – a truly unforgettable experience.
Rice farming practices in Bali
Rice farming in Bali heavily rely on manual labor. Farmers meticulously cut through the rice stalks by hand using sickles (sharpened hand-held tools with curved blades), showcasing their skill and precision.
The next step is threshing, process of separating the grain from the straw. This is also done manually : the rice farmers beat vigorously stalks on a wooden plate placed inside a basket with a net. Sometime, small stationary thresher machines are used like we saw in Cambodia. However, due to the rugged terrain of Bali, it proves to be quite challenging to move the rice thresher machine from one field to the next, making the manual labor involved even more arduous.
For the next step, called winnowing, farmers are using large flat baskets. To winnow, the farmer holds up a basket full of threshed rice and tosses it into the air with a scooping motion. This movement helps separate the heavier rice grain from the lighter chaff (husk), which is then swept away by the wind.
Rice field workers in Bali receive payment in the form of rice, with an average rate of 5 kilos per field
The delicate process of rice transplantation, which involves moving young seedlings from a nursery bed to a field, is also carried out by hand. We witness that a team of just four workers can accomplish this task with impressive efficiency and speed, covering a paddy at a record pace.
The burning of rice fields in Bali is a controversial practice used to prepare fields for the next crop in order to killed weeds, insect and animal pests. Burning rice straws causes haze and air pollution (atmospheric particulate matter) and affects the health of people within a large radius.
Some universities in Indonesia are looking for alternative use of rice straws to be used as a fuel in a combustion engine to produce electricity.
Rice straw has several other economically viable, socially acceptable, and eco-friendly alternatives to the problem of rice straw burning. Some of these uses include production of livestock feed, bioethanol, biochar, biogas, electricity, mushroom cultivation, paper production, composting with animal excreta to produce organic manure, fuel for furnaces and gasifiers, and building material. When not burned, stalks of rice are put to dry in some small barns (jineng in Balinese, lumbung).
Bali Rice Fields in Motion
Bali Rice Fields and Photography
The rice terraces in Bali offer a wealth of opportunities for landscape photographers, particularly during sunrise or sunset when the lighting can add an entirely new dimension to the pictures. Depending on the season, the terraces can be a lush and vibrant green or can create serene and tranquil pools of water that reflect the sky above. In addition to capturing the natural beauty of the terraces, it can also be fascinating to photograph the Balinese farmers as they tend to their fields on making offerrings. These opportunities are particularly abundant during the three rice harvesting periods, making it relatively easy to witness this traditional way of life firsthand. Those who embark on a Bali photography tour cannot miss the opportunity to capture the breathtaking Bali rice fields with their camera.
