Simple Cultural Etiquette Rules Tourists In Bali Should Follow To Win Over The Locals

Tourists from all corners of the globe flock to vacation, work digitally, and relax in Bali, one of Indonesia's best-known destinations. Despite being incredibly friendly and open, Bali has seen many disrespectful tourists cause incidents ranging from defiling Mount Agung, the island's holiest site, to physically engaging local police in a fight. Although these are some of the more extreme examples of poor behavior, Balinese and other Indonesians have grown tired of culturally insensitive behavior from tourists and have developed locally-led programs to educate tourists about cultural etiquette rules on the island, as well as will levy fines on visitors who violate the law or local customs.

Of course, you don't want to be like these tourists. It's important for visitors to learn and respect local customs and laws, but unless you have a tour guide or local friend, it's not always easy to understand the cultural differences you need to look out for. Here is what you need to know to win the hearts of locals in Bali and have a truly memorable vacation.

Within Indonesia, Bali is the most easygoing in terms of appropriate clothing, and Balinese and Indonesians dress casually when they are not working. However, there is still a level of modesty that locals generally abide by when they are out at cafés or in public. Online, you may see countless photos of tourists walking around only in swimwear, or wearing little clothing while crusing by on scooters. But local Indonesians, both men and women, normally wear t-shirts in public. Going shirtless or exposing your midriff shows a lack of respect for the culture. On top of that, not covering up will expose you to the sun, as Bali is just south of the equator. When you're out (especially during the hottest part of the day) wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen so you don't get sunburned and ruin your trip!

If you plan to visit some of Bali's temples, you should dress conservatively. For men and women, this means wearing at least a t-shirt or other clothing that covers your shoulders. You will also have to rent or buy a sarong (a Balinese garment that covers the legs). Not dressing the part means you may not be able to enter the interior temple grounds. If you plan to visit many temples, consider buying a sarong from a temple or one of the many markets and keep it in your bag so you're always prepared. Plus, it makes a great souvenir and reminder of your trip.

Indonesia stretches across more than 700,000 square miles from Sumatra to Papua and has over 700 languages. Between and within each of the islands, there are incredible cultural, culinary, linguistic, and religious differences. Indonesians bridge these differences largely by building relationships and community around commonalities — two of which are eating together and speaking Bahasa Indonesia. 

As a tourist, saying a few words in Bahasa Indonesia will make locals truly excited and will show a deep respect for their country and culture. Don't be afraid if you can't speak it perfectly; very few Indonesians speak Bahasa Indonesia as a first language. The language was made to unite the country; it's written in the Latin alphabet, and vowels are pronounced similarly to vowels in Spanish. When greeting Indonesians you don't know, you should show respect to the person by using a polite form of address. While serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Indonesia, I learned the standard Indonesian honorifics. When greeting someone, use "mas" (the polite form of address to a young man), "pak" (for an older man), "mbak" (for a young lady) and "ibu" (for an older woman). If you want to go local and are talking with someone who is Balinese, you should use "bli" (the Balinese polite form of address to a man) or "mbok" (to address a lady). When finishing a transaction, you can say "terima kasih" (thank you) and "sama-sama" (you're welcome).

Local food in Bali ranges from typical nasi goreng (fried rice) and mie goreng (fried noodles) to babi guling, a classic Balinese pork dish. Indonesia is quite vegetarian-friendly, though peanuts are common in many dishes. If you need recommendations on food, remember that while in Bali, locals truly want you to enjoy yourself. Don't be afraid to ask them for their recommendation on where to eat and to unlock authentic experiences other tourists miss. Pair locals' recommendations with how to find street vendors with safe food and have an incredible meal and memories to go with it!

Many visitors to Bali rightly put Uluwatu Temple or Mount Agung at the top of their Bali bucket list. Both places are breathtaking and carry incredible significance for Balinese Hinduism, which is the basis of Balinese society. When visiting either place, do not interfere with the local processions, and if possible, go with a local who can explain the cultural significance of the event. If you don't know how to behave, no worries! Just ask your guide or one of the friendly locals.

Each morning, the Balinese will place a canang sari (daily offering). These are often placed on the street with different types of food for animals and in spiritually important areas to maintain the balance of good and evil in the world and pay respect to their gods. When walking around the streets of Bali, be careful not to step on or over them. Moreover, if you see a local woman preparing her daily offering, first ask for permission before taking a photo of her. You can ask, "Boleh saya memfoto?" (Can I take a photo?) 

Bali's holiest day of the year is Nyepi, the Balinese New Year. For one day of the year, the entire island goes quiet as locals spend the entire day indoors, and the most devout in total darkness, meditating. Nyepi is an incredible time to visit the island to learn about local Balinese culture and watch tremendous Ogoh-ogoh parades in the streets leading up to Nyepi. If you visit Bali during this time, be aware that all visitors and locals will be expected to respect the local holiday, including remaining in your hotel or accommodation on the day of silence.

Within Bali (and much of Indonesia) saving face is incredibly important to the local culture and people. When you visit Bali, you will likely get unwanted attention from Indonesians who will beckon you into their small shop, pressure you to hire them as a local guide at tourist sites, or offer you transportation. When Balinese (and largely Indonesians) have some sort of conflict, they will always try to resolve it amicably and without confrontation. It's more polite to say "tidak apa" (no need) or "sudah ada" (already have it) with a smile and keep walking away from fake tour guides at major tourist areas such as Kuta and Mount Batur, as well when the unofficial money exchangers beckon you for dollars on the street.

Speaking of smiles, Balinese and Indonesians always try to bersyukur, (to give thanks for what they have in life). Regardless of the difficulties they face, Indonesians and Balinese often find ways to smile in public and are incredibly friendly. Many locals, especially those who have little interaction with foreigners, will smile and try their best to communicate (or may even shout and wave) to foreigners they see on the street. If someone smiles, it's very polite to smile back and say "halo" (hello) or greet them based on the time of day. In the morning, "selamat pagi"; in the early afternoon, "selamat siang"; in the late afternoon, "selamat sore"; and in the evening "selamat malam." 

Time in Bali and in Indonesia is largely seen as flexible. If you book a tour or a ridesharing app like Grab or Gojek, you may be waiting for your driver or guide. The best way to cope is to smile and relax; island time really is a thing in Bali, and even more so in other parts of the country.

Many visitors to Bali dream of renting a scooter and doing an incredible journey across the island through Bali's rice paddies and hills, and locals are often happy to rent them a scooter to do so. As Bali has become more popular, traffic and congestion have become an immense problem, especially around Kuta, Legian, Ubud, and Canggu. Bali's traffic is often chaotic, especially at peak times (6:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.). 

If you plan to rent a scooter in Bali, be sure to get your international driver's permit before leaving your home country. Once you arrive in Bali, find a reputable scooter shop, as many rental scooters are not well cared for, and be wary of shops that do not ask for an international driver's permit. Moreover, never give your passport to the shop (that's your ticket out of the country), and be sure to take a video of a walkaround before you rent the scooter. Make sure to wear a helmet, drive on the left side of the road (like in the U.K. or Australia), and drive carefully. Roadside accidents happen, and sadly tourists die or are severely injured, even if they are experienced riders.

If you aren't willing to risk renting a scooter, you can still see many of Bali's most beautiful sites and top draws by leaving the driving to a local. Hiring a private car and driver for the day will make your trip less stressful. You can sit in the A/C, go shopping, and your driver can help you get around the island more efficiently to see Sekumpul Waterfall, Ubud's rice fields, or a dolphin-watching tour in Lovina, instead of waiting for your Grab, Gojek, or Bluebird (taxi) driver.