Travel questions about Bali?

Hi. I plan to have a vacation in Bali in April. I have a couple of questions. I hope anyone with experience can help me.

1. Which area is good for peace, quiet and relaxation with a good, uncongested strip of beach with not too much partying?

2.What's a reasonably priced resort to stay in? Hopefully with direct access to the beach.

3.How much should I expect to spend per day on food, transportation, sight seeing, a few drinks (budget tours). No shopping.

4. Any norms or no nos I should know about especially when it comes to clothing and etiquette?

5. Can I fly directly to Denpasar from an international inbound destination or do I have to pass by Jakarta?

6. How do I book flights from Jakarta to Denpasar if I'm not based in Indonesia? Online right although I want to get the best rates possible. How much is the average? Do resorts arrange airport transfers?

7. Do I really need the VOA?

I know these are a lot, sorry :). Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!






Answer :
1. Area for peace, quiet and relaxation and beach are two different locations. Ubud, up in the mountains, would be good place for a quiet relaxation and meditation. Nusa Dua, a high end resort area, is much quiter than others and has a bunch of hotels with direct access to the beach. Laguna, Westin and Nusa Dua Beach Hotel share one section of a (kinda) private beach.
2. Depends on your budget, length of stay and if package is available for your country of residence. Some resorts have special price for travellers from certain regions.
3. Taxis aren't too expensive but if you use public transportation (didn't really see much though), it should be negligible. Another option is to rent a scooter or a bicycle.
4. Not much, experience for yourself
5. Depends on where you are located. Check with as many airlines and travel agents as you can.
6. You can book tickets online. Air Asia is one of the budget airlines operating in that region.






Answer :
Further to your question, i try to clarify as follows:
1. The best are for quite, peace, relaxation and un-congested strip of beach with no much of partying is Ubud and Candidasa. If you like stay away from beach, Ubud is suitable to stay but if you like the beach then Candidasa is perfect to stay.
2. you may check it out the price range hotels in both area above as follows:
- Ubud: http://www.balistarisland.com/Bali-Hotel…
- Candidasa: http://www.balistarisland.com/Bali-Hotel…

3. How much should you expect to spend per day on:
- Food: Starting from USD 40 net/person
- Transportation: starting from USD 50 net/car
- Sightseeing: starting from USD 35 net/person
- drinks: it is depend on drink you consume

4. In regard to the norm or etiquette of Bali, it better you check it out at: http://www.balistarisland.com/Bali-Infor…

5. Yes, you can fly to Bali from International inbound due to Bali is completed by International Airport
6. You may check it out the domestic airline like Airasia, Mandala, Garuda and Lion Air. if you got the difficulty to book, may be you can tray to send the email to the local travel agency in Bali who sell the domestic flight at: tiket@balidwipatours.com

7. VOA, is depend on which passport citizen are you coming? so please have a look the citizen who get the VOA facilities and free visa at: http://www.balistarisland.com/Bali-Infor…

hope it could help you

Dress code when visiting Indonesia.?

Any particular etiquette or appropriate attire? I am travelling to Java, Bali, Lombok and in mainly tourist areas, but not always.






Answer :
Haha..
Just dress as normal tourist would wear.
Yup, in some area in Bali such as temples, u might need to wear some fabric (in case you wear shorts or mini skirt). Don't worry, they will provide it to you. Or just in case, bring or buy first some balinese sarong or fabric.
Would be appropriate if you only wear bikini top in the streets of bali and lombok or around beaches in java (or swimming pool ..lol). You don't wanna wear bikini in say...forest or in the city center of java.. But anyway, if u still wear it..most likely people won't that care, you re the tourist.






Answer :
There is no particular attire that is required. however; much of your time will be spent visiting various temples and religious sites to see the dances, music and Monkeys. you should dress conservatively in these places and in some it is considered polite to cover the head. But just ask your guides or at your hotel and they will let you know what to wear so you won't be embarrassed. No bikini tops or short shorts at the temples.






Answer :
Shorts (because rainy season). half a leg (size) in Java and Lombok, 3/4 (size) shorts on Bali (entering religious places require the usage of a silk woven belt or selendang (mini skirt) to enter........)

[Hindu] Question about Sivaratri day and Sarasvati day in India?

Namaste !!

Greeting from Bali Island. I'm a Hindu from Bali Island, Indonesia. Tomorrow [14 January 2010] we are Hindu in Indonesia will celebrate Sivaratri day [night of shiva]. And on 27 February 2010 we will celebrate Sarasvati day.

I want to know brother and sister.... in India, on what date Sivaratri day and Sarasvati day come on 2010 ?

In Indonesia, if Sivaratri day come, we will not sleep all night long and meditate [meditation] or pray [puja] to Shiva. On Sarasvati day we pray [puja] to Sarasvati and the jnana [knowledge] on holy book. One day after Sarasvati day is called banyu pinaruh, when all hindus do the holy bath [something similar like kumbh mela in India] in the holy springs or the beach.

How about in India ?

Thanks before for your answer my brother and sister in dharma...
Aum Shanti...






Answer :
Saraswati puja is on 20th January.

Shivaratri is on 12th Feb. in India.

What fruit is this from Bali Indonesia?

I recently visited Bali in Indonesia where i stayed at the Hyatt Sanur and during breakfast i ate the fruit with had a yellow/orange shell and was easy to cut with a knife and inside was black seeds and a sort of clear gel and was extremly tasty i have searched all over the internet and cannot find what it is is called :)
please note: it was not a dragon fruit or papaya
thankss






Answer :
Its called Marquisa fruit
http://www.traveljournals.net/pictures/1…