Etiquette Tips for Travelers Visiting Bali, Indonesia

Posted in Asia | Destinations | Travel Tips

As “Western” and modern as much of Bali provides itself, the regional lifestyle of Bali provides a firm and tangible bedrock on which Balinese actions and relationships are buil. So if you are going to visit Bali with a thoughts to viewing the island’s temples and meeting the natives, you will need to mind your ways to stay on good terms with the locals.

Follow these tips to sustain smooth social connections in Bali, wherever you go in the isle.

Dress and act modestly. Balinese locals are far more traditional than most Westerners; they look down on community shows of affection. So when in or near Balinese temples or non-urban settlements, keep the touchy-feely things to a minimum.

The same goes with clothing: outfit as slightly as possible, especially when viewing temples. When viewing a Balinese temple, both men and women are required to put on tops that cover shoulder and part of the upper arms. Flip-flops are completely appropriate, so long as the overall look is modest.

The following leg coverings are compulsory for both men and women preparing to get into a Balinese temple:

• Temple scarf (known as a selendang) around your waist
• Sarong (also known regionally as kain kamben) around your legs

These products are usually rented out at most temple gates, but you are totally free to carry your own.

Don’t use your left-hand to contact or give. This precaution has to do with the left-hand being used mainly for sanitary purposes. Balinese typically do not use toilet tissue, using water to clean up instead; the left-hand “does the business” of cleaning up the nether areas.

Thus the left-hand is somewhat contaminated, and should never be used to contact other people or to side something over. The exception is when you use both hands to hand something over to someone; this is regarded a high enhance.

Don’t use your index finger to point or to beckon. If you need to call interest to someone, beckon him/her to come by extending your hand and, with hand experiencing down, creating a downwards wave.

Don’t touch people’s heads. The soul is supposed to reside in one’s head, creating it off boundaries for people to touch. Not even kids (Balinese kids, that is) should be touched on their heads, so no noogies.

Don’t enter any temple if you are menstruation. This may be galling to any lady, but you have a whole island’s culture against you on this one. Any lady on her period, or anyone with a running sore or blood loss injure for that matter, is regarded impure and not to be permitted into any Balinese temple.

Don’t step on promotions (canang sari) in the street. Canang sari are provided to the Creator by locals first thing in the day. When getting out, you will find these little packages of woven palm leaf, herbs and flowers everywhere, even on stairs and sidewalks. Stepping on one can be deeply unpleasant to any Balinese who witnesses your mistake. So observe where you phase around Bali, especially in the earlier part of the day, so you prevent getting on canang sari.

Don’t interrupt any spiritual processions. Religious processions in Bali happen pretty consistently, particularly during high holy days like Nyepi. These Balinese spiritual processions take priority over your journey, no question. So if you are trapped behind a procession on a narrow road, do not honk your horn or otherwise cause a fuss.

Inside a Balinese temple, there are a few guidelines you should adhere to to sustain appropriate actions during any spiritual occasion. The level of your head should never be higher than that of the priest, for example. Don’t use flash digital cameras in the temple. And under no situation should you stroll at the front side of praying Balinese!

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