1. EARLY TO RISE

Balinese share a common philosophy which centers around its traditional agricultural society. They believe that part of happiness is establishing good relations with the nature and divinity. It is a customary act of religious respect to get atop religious buildings and pray through loudspeakers. Usually what breaks the dawn is the Moslem praying that is broadcasted at around 5 am and soon to be followed by Hindu prayers, also through chants and bells from loudspeakers. This may last for 1 hour or longer. This makes for a free wake- up call and as a result, you will probably be accustomed to it that you’ll wake up automatically without a need for proper alarm clock.

2. YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT RICE OR SAMBAL

For the local and most Indonesians for that matter, the staple of daily food is rice. One other main thing that is always present in most meals is the chilli peppers. There are a variety of mixtures in serving this little spicy condiment. Whether cooked or served raw, many locals cannot go by a day without getting a burning sensation in their tongue. There are also bottled versions for convenience and can last quite a while. While it might take a while for foreign tongues to adjust to the hotness chilli presents, pretty soon they will enjoy having chilli as a must to go along other foods. Along with rice on their plate, of course.

3. YOU ARE THE INSTANT MILLIONAIRE

As Rupiah suffers against other international currencies, plenty of overnight millionaires are born in Bali. Local businesses still rarely cater to credit card transactions which makes it vital for you to carry plenty of cash when you want to travel and explore Bali for longer period of time. As you get accustomed to calculating your conversion mentally, you’ll be sure to feel like a rich person carrying plenty of notes to last you a while.

4. YOU GET TO LOVE SARONG

This long cloth is used to cover your body parts from waist down. Commonly comes in many patterns and colors, the usual ones are the checkered or plaid patterns as well as batik prints. Many Balinese love sarong and use it universally for daily activity, even their children too. For many public or personal occasions, you too will soon get used to donning this particular cloth around. You will find that sarong is actually a good option of garment to be worn in the tropical weather of Bali. If you perhaps like it even for air-conditioned indoor, we totally understand it.

5. YOU WILL PRIORITISE USING YOUR RIGHT HAND

It is considered rude to extend your left arm to take something from Balinese. Balinese cultures adhere to the using of right hand for transactions while left hands are considered the “dirty”hand as it used for hygiene purposed. When you wave or point at something, it is advisable to use your right hand. For those who are left-handers, do not worry as you may still carry on using our primary left hands, but always stick with using your left hand when it comes to dealing with local people.

6. YOU’LL GET USED TO RUBBER TIME.

The locals have a very relaxed manner in going about their daily activities. This has resulted in their lack of time discipline as they do not tend to rush into things. There is a phrase “ jam karet” which means rubber time as you can bend rubber as far and as long as you could. The Balinese are social people who love to chat and socialize. They do not appreciate hasty attitude so it is best not to rush Balinese of press them for a deadline. Overall, this is a laidback life philosophy and in time, you will learn to go with the flow and understand the concept of “rubber time”.

7. YOU HAVE A BALINESE NICKNAME

The naming tradition in Balinese is a unique system following the birth order of the family. It also has an aspect of caste system in it. You will soon realize that Balinese share many similar names because they refer to their order of birth or sibling positions in a family. There are fixed names for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th born children. The naming system automatically restarts itself on the next born child ( the 5th and so on). Prefixes ‘I’ and ‘N’ are used to differentiate the genders, which means Mr and Mrs. There also no family names or surnames.

This naming system is actually very applicable universally, including to foreigners. Pretty soon they will give you your own Balinese name based on your birth order. If you infact have one, congratulations as you have been accepted and made it into the familiarity of Bali people.

8. YOU LOOK AT FRUIT SALAD IN NEW LIMELIGHT

You might have enjoyed the western version of fruit salad, but in Bali you will get a taste of ‘Rujak’. It is also served with varieties of fruit, vegetables and a sauce made from tamarind, peanuts, palm sugar and chilli. It could also have dried shrimp paste, fish stock or boiled eggs. Once mixed, you’ll develop a taste for rujak and can’t get enough of it.

9. YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT BALI.

Maybe even more so than the locals. Usually Balinese are confined to their locale as they go about their business or daily activity. This has disabled them to fully explore Bali in all its glory, whereas a tourist has the option to travel the island by the inch. To begin with, usually tourists will start from the mainstream places and will very soon explore to the more unlikely hidden spots in Bali. You will get to see secret beaches that are far from popular resorts, which are only reachable through local transportations that even real locals rarely experience. You will visit monasteries, temples or fishing villages in the quiet beaches. As you know the island more, don’t be surprised if you will be the one telling stories to a Balinese.

10. YOU KNOW PROPER BALINESE ATTIRE

If you’ve warranted yourself an invitation to a formal Balinese event, chances are you have to arrive in local formalwear. This traditional garments have unique features that consist of woven flat length of cloth. With many draping and draping plus minimal stitching, it will be an honor for any foreigner to ever experience this. Afterall, traditional Balinese formal attires are not only for fashion statement, but a symbol of respect to its tradition and religion. Also, if you really have been staying long enough in Bali, sarong is the least formal attire in Balinese cultures.

The post 10 Signs You Have Become A Balinese appeared first on Bali Travelo.

Bali is typically sunny during the day and gets balmy at nights. With warm and humid weather, the average temperature in Bali ranges between 26-31 degrees Celsius throughout the year. The dry season lasts from May to September where you will enjoy a tropical and sunny day. Whereas, the rainy season lasts between October to April with different level of precipitation levels and downpours.

Season-wise, Bali makes for the perfect all year-round travel destination. With plenty of favorite hotspots, Bali is a haven for sightseeing tours where endless of good places and things to see await for its tourists. Be it the hottest months or cooler ones, travellers still can enjoy their leisurely activities such as lounging in the sound or simply indulge in the richness of its culture and festivities. Most traditional festivals usually take place mid-year.

Best Time to visit Bali

The lowest levels of humidity in Bali are between May and August. This is when you get to enjoy cool breezes by day with fairly low temperature at night. These periods are good for long stays and sightseeing excursions. As the air gets pleasantly humid, tourists get to enjoy outdoor activities and overland tours without having to fear of overheating.

The famous kite season in Bali usually takes place sometime between June and August, or the so called the windy season. Not only that, many other cultural festivals also take advantage of this ideal season such as the annual Bali Arts Festival. The clear blue sky is at its best, many photo sessions see this as the perfect time as well.

Low and Peak Season in Bali

While Bali is great to visit all year round with its stream and traffic of visitors, the common peak season is around Christmas and New Year ( late December to early January). The other peak season linked to dry season is between early July to late September.

Hotel bookings are usually at their lowest following the New Year, and from October through November. With lower rates, these hotels also offer many various promos and benefits for guests to enjoy. On road travel will also be more favorable with fewer traffic jams and quieter roads.

Sunniest Time in Bali

Image Courtesy of Sean McGrath

If suntanning is one of your reasons to visit Bali, lazing on the beach under the tropical sun is best done in drier months between May and August. These are the times where Bali is sunniest starting from sunrise at around 5.50 – 6.25 am and sunset between 6.15- 6.45 pm. It will get more humid at the start of the dry season as humidity level reaches up to 75%, especially in the lower coastal area.

Some prefer to get to Bali’s cooler highlands with average daytime temperature of 21- 27 degree Celsius and drops quite significantly as the night approaches.

Wet Season in Bali

The wet season starts around October and can last through to April. Most of the downpours happen between late December to February. If you plan to hit the beach, you may get a little bit disappointed as its popular beach such as Kuta, Legian and Seminyak may tend to be filled with debris. These remains are mostly washed ashore from East Java causing the south-western’s beaches to be less pleasant for sightseeing. But fret not, Sanur, Candidasa and Nusa Dua will still be as charming as ever since they are only minimally affected by the downpour and winds.

All year-round of fun!

Basically, anytime or any season is still ideal for most leisure activities. However, it is important to note that outdoor photography and some overland excursions might be encountered with showers and grey skies. But other than that, Bali is still one of the most ideal places to visit regardless of its weather.

During rainy seasons can sometime be a surfer’s best playground and paradise, just as fun and entertaining as the dry season. Bottom line is, Bali weather will not let you down. The beaches and gorgeous sceneries are there to stay, with its genuinely warm and kind-hearted Bali people.  In Bali, you will always be up for many wonderful adventures, all year-round.

The post Best Time to Visit Bali : Bali Weather & Events Calendar appeared first on Bali Travelo.