Indonesia (incl. Bali): What to Know Before You Go

Cuisine Highlights

• Nasi goreng (fried rice) and mie goreng (fried noodles), everywhere, always delicious
• Satay, skewered grilled meat with peanut sauce; a national street food
• Rendang, slow-cooked dry beef curry; voted world's most delicious food
• Bali: fresh seafood in Jimbaran, suckling pig (babi guling) in Ubud
• Tempeh (fermented soybean) originated in Java, far superior to Western versions

Traditions & Festivals

• Nyepi (Balinese New Year), Day of Silence; entire island shuts down
• Galungan, Balinese Hindu festival with tall bamboo penjor decorations
• Eid al-Fitr, major national holiday (Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population)
• Batik art and wayang kulit (shadow puppetry), UNESCO intangible heritage
• Lombok's Bau Nyale Festival (February), sea worm harvest ceremony

Language & Communication

Bahasa Indonesia is the national language, one of the easiest Asian languages to learn. English is widely spoken in Bali and tourist areas; less so in rural Java or Sumatra.

Over 700 local languages exist across 17,000 islands.

Cultural Etiquette

• Dress modestly when visiting temples and mosques (sarong provided at Bali temples)
• Use right hand for eating, giving, and receiving, left is considered unclean
• Never touch someone's head or point feet toward people or shrines
• Tipping is not obligatory but appreciated; 10% is generous

Key Regions

• Bali: Iconic terraced rice paddies, thousands of Hindu temples, world-class surf breaks, and a thriving wellness and yoga retreat scene
• Lombok & Gili Islands: Pristine, quieter beaches than Bali, the turquoise car-free Gili Islands, and the challenging climb up volcanic Mount Rinjani
• Yogyakarta: The magnificent Buddhist Borobudur and Hindu Prambanan temple complexes, plus the living royal Javanese court and batik craft tradition
• Raja Ampat: Widely considered the world's most biodiverse marine environment, with remote island diving reachable only by liveaboard boat
• Sumatra: Critically endangered orangutans in Bukit Lawang, the vast highland Lake Toba in a supervolcanic caldera, and Minangkabau matriarchal culture