Bali Manual

A note about volunteering in Bali

February 8th, 2008

We have been hesitant in placing volunteers at our Bali center as the classes are smaller with more sporadic holidays. Hindu, Muslim and Christian Holidays are all observed in Bali. Also, the children are not as impoverished as at our other IHF centers. While Bali has a few part time teachers, we will often be without a Director in Bali because of this and other factors, at least for the coming three to six months. Volunteers live in my former home there near the beach, between a Hindu and Muslim Village, and get their instructions daily from IHF via emails. IHF rules to follow must therefore be strict. The rule of checking in and reporting activities daily is quite important as you can imagine. But the children are great and small, flexible classes and surroundings enjoyable. We can send you our Bali and other Centers pamphlets to review. We certainly need your help and you will have many great ihf volunteers who have been to Bali already to help answer your questions. Just know that while there you will be very much on your own and following strict instructions, if it is during the time when staff and volunteers will be without a Director and communicating with IHF headquarters will be daily through email. If you have any problems or comments during the application process, please feel free to email us.

Warm Regards,
Carol Sasaki

Center Information

In Bali IHF has a well-established education center on the island that promotes the TEP, teaches English and computer classes and serves as a center for religious harmony. On an island almost completely dominated by tourism, IHF hopes to help those who have been left high and dry, they look at what other jobs can be organized that will not depend on tourism and work to train people in those disciplines.

The IHF community center in Bali is located between a Muslim village and a Hindu village. Inside the walls of the center, there are no religious barriers and people of all ages, castes, and religions are free to work, sing, and study together.

Bali center is located at the beach but to volunteer here does not mean that it is a chance to have a cheap holiday. Lots of work needs to be done at the center and we look forward to your volunteering.

The Center is located approximately 1 hour from Denpasar Airport. There are a few small shops and cafes in walking distance of the center and a bit further away is Candidasa where you should be able to buy most things - but it is still a very small village , so make sure you have everything that you need before arriving at the center , this includes money .

Transport to the Center

A staff member generally meets the volunteer at the airport. Look for an IHF sign. But sometimes this is not possible so please make sure you contact the Bali center to discuss logistic with the Director of Bali Center. It will take approximately 2 hours to travel from the airport to the center by taxi and costs to you will be appproximately USD $35.00.

Work to be done at the Center

The Bali IHF center is an educational center where free English, Computing, and Mathematic classes are available for the children. The classes are held in the afternoons and early evenings and the children are always very keen to come to classes. So as a volunteer you assist with these classes from Monday to Saturday.

You will be emailed weekly assignments from IHF's founder, Carol Sasaki. It is very important to keep her informed on the progress of these assignments in your weekly reports as well as to answer any questions she emails you. She is a very active part of how all IHF Centers are run. You will also be trained and guided by the local Director.

There are always other administrative tasks that need completing on a daily basis.

* The activity book: Each day the book needs to be updated with a few sentences on what has been done during the day. Then after each lesson you need to write a brief description of what has been taught. Check previous entries to get an idea of what's required. This is also a good resource for seeing what the children have been taught and what standard they are at.

* At the end of each day a volunteer is asked to report their daily hours and work done to ihfdonatedhours.com. Also to report to Carol morning and evening.

* There is also a 'Weekly Report' that needs to be sent, again preferably on Monday. This is a combination of what everyone (Director, Volunteer, Teachers and Staff) in the centre has accomplished. It will inevitably include some info from the volunteers 'weekly activity update', some info (gathered from the activity book) about the Maths and Computing lessons and also general tasks that have been done. Check previous reports for an idea of how to do it. Both the 'Weekly Report' and the volunteers 'Weekly Activity Update' are best written in conversational prose rather than just listing what was done.

Accommodation

The accommodation provided for volunteers is simple. The volunteers will be staying in the volunteer room at the center which has a few bunk beds (own room if volunteer is at the center alone). There is air-conditioning and it is advisable that the volunteer give some extra money if the air conditioner is used for more than 1 hour per day. A sheet and pillow are provided. It is advisable to bring a sarong or top sheet to cover you at night. Past volunteers have also chosen to sleep out on the living room floor (on a mattress) where some of the children choose to sleep. There is a western toilet and bucket bath (scoop water from tank to wash). Purified water or boiled water is available at the center, but the volunteer will need to buy water when you leave.

Our centers' food and facilities are often very different from Western style. Volunteers eat local food, and meal times are not tightly scheduled. Toilets are squat toilets, and volunteers can shower using a bucket of water in the shower area. Beds are usually on the floor, or on mats in the Asian style. Unfortunately facilities and sleeping arrangements cannot be adjusted for volunteers who prefer Western styles.

Costs

IHF has a special cost for Bali which is different from the other centers. If you wish to volunteer in Bali and stay in our school then it will cost US$50 per week, meals included. There is alsoa special guest house with pool and spa next to the center and it will cost US$140 per week, meals included. Please pay the amount due to your Center director upon arrival.

Please note that in the Indonesdia culture, taking money from a guest is very uncomfortable, so they are trying to learn, but you may need to insist three times. The $50 US a week is to help cover the volunteers food costs so we do not use the children's donated money! This amount also covers your utilities and other such costs as long as you don't use your air conditioning more than an hour per day. If you run the airconditioner longer you will have to contribute more towards the utility costs. Any special foods, sightseeing trips, international calls, transport to Indonesia and the center, or any such form of transportation are not included in the $50 contribution. We used to not charge anything, but unfortunately IHF ended up with some huge bills for phone costs etc. from a few volunteers who abused the center.

All the food that is provided at the centers is traditional local foods. The staple food in all the centers in Indonesia , three meals a day, is rice. It is supplemented by fish, meat, vegetables, eggs, etc. The food is sometimes spicy, sometimes bland

Additional personal costs could include any special foods you need, sightseeing trips, international calls, or airfares to the centers, or any such form of transportation, travel insurance, vaccinations, visa, etc.

Things to bring for the children at the centers

The children and centers will greatly appreciate anything you wish to bring. We need items such as electronics, donated global cell phones, old cameras, radios, CD players, laptops, etc. Also, any games and toys will be wonderful. English as a second language CDs and DVDs would be great and very useful, as would any learning materials. Used or new clothing is so enjoyed by the children (if you choose to bring clothing please remember girls clothing must be modest). As in the centers there are limited computers to work (for both staff and volunteers) and teach the children in the classes - it would be a great bonus if you have a possibility to organise a (second-hand) laptop and donate to the center. Contact the Center Director for any specific current needs.

Documentation you will need upon arrival at the center

We ask that you bring a copy of the following:

Your acceptance letter.
A copy of your signed waiver.
A copy of your signed MOU
A paragraph summary of your at home tasks completed before arrival to the center, along with your tasks assigned by Carol Sasaki that are to be worked on during your stay at the center.

Contact information

Nirwana Center
Kampung Buitan
Desa Manggis
Karang Asem 80871
Bali - Indonesia
Telp. +62-363-42029

Visa for Indonesia

Before applying for a visa or entering Indonesia PLEASE contact IHFculturetravel@gmail.com and carolsasaki@gmail.com. They will give you information you will need before going to the Embassy. Visit www.travel.state.gov for current visa info. The Indonesia government has a tourist visa system with three different categories. The pay-for-visa-on-arrival will most likely be the visa type volunteers will be using. Pay-for-visa-on-arrival - Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, People's Republic of China, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Suriname, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States. The cost of the 30-day (only) tourist visa is US$25/person for a 30-day visa and US$10/person for a 3-day visa. The fee must be paid in cash (no credit cards) on arrival at the airport. Visitors from countries with visa-on-arrival facility will have to go to a special counter to have their passports stamped with the on-arrival visa before going to the immigration clearance desk. This visa is NOT EXTENDABLE OR RENEWABLE. If you want to stay in Indonesia longer than the 30 days you must exit and re-enter the country on a new tourist visa. Visa purchasing takes 15-30 minutes per applicant, depending on the number of persons applying. Payment counters, a bank counter, and a money changer have been set up to process payments. Passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival. Payment must be made on arrival. An onward or return trip ticket must be shown on arrival.

If you are staying in Indonesia longer than 30 days you will need to get a visa (social cultural visa) at your home country's Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia. These visa's are for 60 days and can be extended once you are in Indonesia. For USA consult the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, 2020 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202/775-5200) or the nearest Consulate General: CA (213/383-5126 or 415/474-9571), IL (312/595-1777), NY (212/879-0600) or TX (713/785-1691). Internet: www.embassyofindonesia.org

Suggested airlines for travel to Bali

Flying from USA -Malaysian Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and China Airlines. If you travel from USA you will always have to connect somewhere in Asia before arriving in Bali. You can also contact IHF Travel Coordinating Task Team for current special/consolidators fares that they may be available to volunteers. There are direct flights to Bali from Australia.

If you are visiting different places in Asia there are many discounted airlines e.g. www.airasia.com, www.tigerairways.com. If you are flying to other destinations in Indonesia it is often cheaper to buy your tickets in Indonesia.

If you are carrying supplies for the center and will have excess baggage it is advisable to check with the airlines as to how much they will charge for excess baggage.

Currency

The Rupiah. Notes 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000. Coins 25, 50, 100, 500, 1000. See current exchange rates on oanda.com. Its advisable not to carry large denominations as small vendors don't always have the change to give you back.

Changing Money

We suggest you exchange money at the airport as it will not be that easy to exchange money near the center. Changing money is quick and easy in the major tourist centers where money changers often offer better rates than the banks. Be Warned: foreign bank notes are often refused if too crumpled, folded or stained. Advisable is to carry notes in small denominations to exchange. Away from the tourist areas changing money can be more of a hassle. Always count your money before you leave the premises. The rates for cash are slightly better but remember, traveller's cheques can be replaced if they are stolen or lost - while cash is gone forever if you loose it. Always ask if there is an extra commission to be paid for cashing cash or cheques.

ATM cards can be used and it is best to check with your home bank what the fees are for withdrawing money from foreign ATM's.

Credit Cards

You will be staying at the center therefore you will need cash to pay for your food contribution to the center. It's advisable to have local cash currency for purchases and transport. Credit cards are accepted in most larger hotels along with American dollar traveller's cheques. Check with your credit card company to see what extra charges you will have if you use your card in foreign countries, some credit cards companies add a surcharge.

Tipping

This is not a general practice in Indonesia. In restaurants tips are not expected. However, if the service has been good, a small token would be appreciated. Porters at the airport should receive Rp. 10000 - Rp. 15000 per bag (depending on size).

Bali Time

Bali Time Zone is GMT + 8 hours.

Electricity

220 volts, 50 cycles and a round, two-pronged slim plug. We suggest taking an adaptor for your appliance.

Getting Around

Near the center is a frequent bus and you can catch taxis and tourist buses in Candidasa.

In the Bali tourist areas you will find taxis, self-drive cars, local bemo transport and tourist mini buses. Many taxis are not metered so it's wise to negotiate the fare before you climb aboard. Bemos are a unique form of transport. They are a mini-van masquerading as a communal bus. You simply hail the driver and negotiate the fare. Motorcycles can also be hired in many places but special care should be exercised at all times as road and traffic conditions can be somewhat hazardous. Traveling around Bali is made all the easier because everywhere you go you'll find friendly people only too happy to give you directions on how to get where you want to go.

Driver's License

If you wish to hire a car you must be over 18 years of age and posses an International Driver's License. You will need a motorbike license if you rent a motorcycle.

Clothing

Light, airy, casual clothes are the most practical and you'll find natural fibers like cotton or linen are the most comfortable in Indonesia's often humid conditions. It is vital that dress in Bali is modest - sleeves (short or long) and trousers/ skirts below the knees for in the center. When leaving the center you are expected to dress traditionally covering your arms, legs and chest and a headscarf for females.

Climate

Day temperatures between 20 to 33 Celsius or 68 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit. December - March, the monsoon can bring heavy showers and high humidity, but usually days are sunny and the rains start during the night and pass quickly. From June to September the humidity is low, and it can be quite cool in the evenings.

Etiquette

When visit temples or ceremonies ou must dress decently for temple visits, which means long pants and a shirt for men and clothes that covers kness and shoulders for women. At most temples there is a donation box with a book for registering at the entrance. You should always put a donation in the box, even if nobody happens to be looking (the amount can vary from 1000 Rupiah to 5000 Rupiah per person). You should also, no matter whether there is anybody around besides you, put on a sash before you enter the temple area (in many temples you can rent sashes or sarongs, but you can also use a silk scarf or a cheap sarong for wearing it around your waist.) Women are not allowed to enter the temples during menstruation. Do not walk in front of people praying. Do not use flash cameras. If there is a special ceremony or Anniversary Celebrations that you are attending, a small donation is gratefully received.

There are some things that should be avoided, one of them is not touching other people`s heads, e.g. do not pat cute little children on the head. This is because the head is viewed as sacred.

Give and receive things only with the right hand, and never point at anything with the left hand. The left hand is considered impure.

Never photograph people that are bathing. You will see this very often, as most Balinese have no bathrooms of their own and they have no other way to get a daily bath than going to a brook or a river. This is always to be discreetly ignored by passers-by. Its polite to ask if you want to take a photo of someone. Indonesians do not blow their noses(at least not in public) and you should also avoid it. Laughing loudly is not appreciated. Offer gifts with the right hand only. Gifts are not opened when received.

Shopping

Of course there are lot of small shops and merchants found to be everywhere on Bali also close to the Center, but shopping there can be quite exhausting because the Balinese prefer a hard-sell sales technique and there is always a lot of pressure to buy. Bargaining is essential in these small shops. You "loose face" when you just agree to the first price asked. But, on the other hand, try not to bargain too mercilessly. Remember, most of these small merchants are actually very poor people). The same goes for the many salespeople that offers goods on the beach. They can be quite a nuisance, and you should not buy things that you do not want, but try to refuse their offers in a friendly and polite way nevertheless.

Passport Loss

Always keep a copy of your passport and driver's license somewhere separate. This way you can prove who you are to your consulates in the event of theft. If you do loose your documents then go to the police who make out a report for your consulate.