A friendly and remarkably artistic people, living amid breathtaking panoramas, have created dynamic society with unique arts and ceremonies and ceremonies, making Bali an island almost unreal in today's hectic and changing world. Terrace ricefields dominate the landscape, with rivers and small irrigation streams disecting a luscious green landscape, filling the air with enchanting sounds of running water.

By Air...
Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport is one of Indonesia's main tourist gateways and is served by the national flag carrier, Garuda Indonesia, on its international and domestic routes as well as by 12 international airlines on scheduled services and charters.
Ngurah Rai International Airport is situated in the south of the island, not far from the resorts of Kuta, Nusa Dua and Sanur.

From Singapore
There are daily direct flights on Indonesia's national carrier, Garuda Indonesia, and Singapore Airlines. From Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), both Malaysian Airlines and Garuda Indonesia operate direct flights and similarly, from Hong Kong with Garuda and Cathay Pacific. From Bangkok, Thai International and Qantas fly to Bali direct. While Royal Brunei flies to the island from Bandar Sri Begawan. There are also direct fights from Paris with UTA, from Amsterdam via Medan with KLM, from Japan and Taiwan with Garuda and from the Australian cities of Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns and Adelaide with Garuda and Qantas.

From the United States
Connecting flights are available with departure point from Los Angeles. Bali also has feeder services to other eastern and northern destinations. There are daily flights to Ujung Pandang (gateway to Toraja land) and to theWestern Nusa Tenggara islands of Lombok and further afield. Garuda has several flights daily connecting Bali with Jakarta and Yogyakarta. Merpati flies to Bali from Jakarta, Bandung, Biak, Surabaya, Makassar.

By Land...
Land transport from Java, both rail and road, stops at Ketapang from where a ferry service operates 24 hours a day, bringing cars and passengers across the Straits to Gilimanuk in Bali. Buses carry passengers from Gilimanuk to Denpasar. Java - Bali overland packages are available.

By Sea....
Two of Bali's four sea ports are used by international cruise ships and yachts. Benoa is a small port relatively close to the airport, while Padangbai is used by larger and luxury cruise ships. A ferry service runs from Lombok's port of Lembar to Padangbai and a hydrofoil service operates from Benoa harbour to Lembar. On the north coast, the harbour of Singaraja is used by Bugis schooners and smaller craft serving the lines between Java and north Bali.

Immigration

OUT OF BALI
Bali is also the departure point for trips to Lombok, the neighbouring island that people are beginning to discover. Ferries, hydrofoils and shuttle flights fly back and forth daily.The Nusa Tengara islands and Sulawesi are also easily accessible from Bali with boats and flights.

POLICE & THE LAW
There are police stations called Resort Polisi in every major town. The Traffic Police Office is at Jalan Gajah Mada, Denpasar and its office hours are 8.00 am to 12.00 noon from Mondays to Saturdays. A special tourist police force has been formed.

NARCOTICS
All narcotics are illegal in Indonesia. The use, sale or purchase of narcotics result in long terms in prison and huge fines or even the death sentence.

LOST PASSPORTS
Report its loss immediately to the nearest police station and ask for a letter of reported theft/loss Without this letter, required negotiations with immigration can be difficult. New passports or letters of travel can be obtained through consuls or embassies.

DRIVER LICENCES
You may drive your car or rent a car if you have an international driving licence or driving licence of one of the ASEAN countries. To obtain an Indonesian motor bike or car licence, an application is made through the KOMDAK LALULINTAS (Traffic police) in Jalan Seruni. A driving test is compulsory.

SHOPPING

Bali's extraordinary range of merchandise makes it a shopper's paradise and a treasure trove of exciting purchases just waiting to be made. Here the usual junky tourist handicrafts scarecely exist, only exciting and well made authentic crafts.

The innovative Balinese are continually coming up with wonderful new collections to tempt the serious shopper. Even those with little spare cash will find plenty to indulge themselves with and even ten dollars can go a long way. Modern and traditional batiks and brightly coloured woven cloth are cheap and make wonderful gifts for friends back home. Silver jewellery is another Balinese speciality. Rings, ear-rings, brooches, pins bangles and bracelets are of a high quality at almost ridiculously low prices.

An island of artists, Bali produces fine stone and wood carvings, superbly carved wooden masks, finely painted and beautiful enough to decorate any wall. Woven blankets from Bali and other nearby islands where traditional crafts are still practised make distinctive wallhangings, tasteful pottery and ceramic wares are available in studio shops in Sanur and Kuta.

ENTERTAINMENT

TRANSPORTATION

Those looking for adventure can try the local "bemos" You never know who will end up sharing the car with, but it could be ducks, chickens, women off to the market to sell their product or a group of boys going to perform at a dance. Bemos are fun, frequent and above all, very cheap.

For a change of pace, negotiate a 'dokar' the local horse and carriage that can carry three or four passengers. In Denpasar and Singaraja the carts ply up and down the streets taking passengers to market and around town. Their harness bells jingle as they make their colourful way through the streets. The tiny horses seem to be amazingly strong for their size.

One of the most popular (and most dangerous) ways to get about in Bali is to take a motor bike. Cheap and practical, they can be great fun. But be warned. Many westerners are not prepared for the seeming chaos of Balinese roads and drivers have to watch for everything while zooming about. Bikes can be rented in Kuta, Denpasar and Sanur for very reasonable prices by the day or the week. Drivers need a valid International Diver's Licence and helmets are compulsory.

Perhaps the best way to get about is by bicycle. The friendly Balinese love to stop for a chat, and a bicycle is just the right speed.

OFFICE HOURS
Business offices are open either from 8.00am to 4.00pm or 9.00am to 5.00pm. Government office are from 8.00am to 3.00pm from Mondays to Thursday, 8.00am to 11.30am on Fridays.

TIME
Bali is on Central Indonesia Time, the same as Singapore, 8 hours ahead of GMT and 4 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard time.