BaliWithKidz

BALI WITH KIDZ.

DO�S AND DON�TS

Some will say that there are two classes of travel - First Class and travelling with children.

The secret to travelling with children can be summed up in one word - preparation.

We have taken our child to Indonesia, mainly Bali, every year since he was 3 and he is now 12 (1999). He has never been ill or suffered any problems. Much will depend on the age and activity level of the child but you can travel safely with children as long as you are prepared and follow a few little rules. You will find that children can be very adaptable in new situations, more so than adults quite often. In Bali particularly they are great 'ice breakers', both around the pool and especially with the locals.

When the time for departure comes try to be un-stressed, calm, organised and un-hurried yourself, so the baby or small child will not pick up the bad vibes from you.

It is a treat to take children to Bali - for both the children and for you.
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Make sure you prepare the children well beforehand with a few rules such as �Don't drink the water in the taps, bath or shower�, repeated while they are in the bath or shower. Always have large bottles of Pura water on hand for drinking, face washing, teeth cleaning etc. Six litre bottles are readilly available in Bali and, kept in the bathroom, can be decanted into smaller bottles to take out with you as drinking water. Try to get babies and small children used to drinking more water in the weeks before departure, so that they will be comfortable with the change that will prevent dehydration and not crack a tantrum on the plane when they experience the new sensation for the first time.
Try to get them used to feeding about an hour before the time of your departure, followed by an intense playtime and them a quiet time - no TV, radio, housework noise etc. Be (peacefully) with them yourself during this routine, just as you hope they will be on the plane.
Prepare them by putting them on your knee regularly so that you can do this more easily on the plane if they get a bit apprehensive and you need to comfort/control them.
Don't let them wander the aisles in the plane, at least initially. Carry them if you can, or accompany them on a tour of the aircraft. Look for friendly old smiling faces like Grandma or Grandpa that they might take to (with a little encouragement). Many grannies will appreciate your problems and will welcome surrogate grand-kiddies for a while, knowing that they can give them back. This, if mutually acceptable, might keep everyone happy for a while.
Play the �start-stop-come, game�. This game is played when they are walking with you and you are not holding their hands. When you need to say �stop�, they freeze. This allows them to be safe at all times.
Start a holiday diary/scrap book before you leave. Put headings on pages so that they know what is going to happen in the days ahead. Collect pictures from magazines that might be appropriate for each page and store them in envelopes with page names written on the front, or in one big envelope for older kidz. Cut them out if the kidz are too young to handle scissors, or that cheap scissors with you if they can handle them, and a small plastic bottle of glue. Have the first pages headed 'Airport' so that they have an activity while waiting to board, an 'On the Plane' page keeps them busy for a while on the aircraft. Also try 'What can I see outside?', 'The Pretty Hostess', 'Captain Jim', 'What Dad/Mom Did on the Plane' etc. Selecting, cutting out, arranging and pasting in the pictures will pass some time. Have some coloured pencils for the story which they or you will write. This is also a great bed-time book when you get home.
Take a small photo album of family, relatives and friends for use as a conversation piece. 'I wonder what Aunty Mabel is doing now?' 'What did you do when Jake took you fishing?' This takes the child's mind off their present strange surroundings and focuses on the familiar.
Take a favourite doll to dress up in new clothes.
Try a pack of new Lego pieces (or any other favourite game extension). You could plan on leaving these for a special friend you and your child meet in Bali. An extension of the sharing or caring concepts.
Help a young child pack a small bag for themselves. A couple of favourite toys, books, talking books from your local library might fascinate children of an appropriate child, familiar fruit, sweets. Have the child carry this themselves so that they are not so likely to reach for your (or someone else's) sunnies, cameras, wallets etc.
If you're leaving from a cooler climate then your carry, or have handy, a seal-able plastic bag with a set of lightweight clothes suitable to slip on when you've landed in the heat of Bali. The bag also serves as a handy sick bag if needed. The smell can be sealed away for everyones comfort.
Watch for sniffles and the onset of stuffed ears or nose in the few days before flying as any symptoms will be worse in the aircraft. Take Vaporub to wipe under noses or smear on chests for relief, followed by a drink through a straw which you can pinch with your fingers so that they have to suck extra hard. This will clear their ears easily. Pack a change of clothes in your hand luggage just in case they are sick in the plane. A self-seal plastic bag will take care of the smell from the soiled clothes, making things a bit nicer for them - and you - and everyone else.
Plenty of lollies to suck while in the take off and landing sequences will help keep nose and ear passages in equilibrium of course.
Ask for your child's meal (order it with your booking so that it is loaded on the plane) with one for your partner, but ask for your meal to be delayed so you can mind/entertain the child and they can eat in peace, reciprocating for you when your meal comes.

In Bali you will find that most babies/children's supplies are available in the many supermarkets, probably imported in your familiar home brands at about the same prices or only a bit cheaper although disposable napies are a bit dearer than in Australia. Just take a few day's supplies so that you have time to investigate, purchase and try out the local items at your convenience. It might be wise to find room to pack Milton tablets, a sterilising container and a bottle brush. Do not trust the local reticulated water for anything except careful and supervised bath times. With food stuffs you might feel better if you can slip in one feed of local produce to check for reactions/rejections while you still have some familiar food on hand. Try to avoid buffet meals, as you would probably do at home, because you don't know how long they have been standing to become infected.
Take powdered formula and mix it with the local UHT milk. Although prices will not be much cheaper than at home you often get little bonuses such as a free trial sample of something or a 2 for 1 offer with things like powder etc. A good place to shop for formula and food is Dijon Supermarket and Deli on the By Pass road between the airport/Tuban and Sanur.

At restaurants you will invariably find that your child's wish is almost a staff command and that rice, noodles, fish fingers and chips (fries) and so on are magically produced just for you.

You might consider taking a stroller with large wheels and spring suspension for the beaches and un-even footpaths. If your stroller reclines and your child is happy to sleep in it this is a bonus. Get a little mosquito net for it for safety around dusk. Take a carry back-pack or front pack for smaller children, particularly if they might not feel safe in a stroller where they could feel too up-front in the first few days.

You can buy electric kettles/sterilisers very cheaply in Bali.

Take with you (or buy there) a half litre trigger operated spray bottle. Fill it with (bottled) water and spray your child when they are hot, or let them spray themselves whenever they want to, and if they spray each other - what the heck? - you're all on holidays and enjoying yourself, right?

Take floaties for the pool or get cheap ones at a supermarket in Bali. Take good leakproof bathers if an 'accident' in the pool would be embarassing - and other guests might ensure that it is if you're not considerate of their health and well being. Take a small fold-up/roll-up changing mat if it might be needed. Take strong sunscreen for protection around the pool in the first few days. Purchase additional as you need it.
Take a backpack for nappies and other supplies when away from your hotel.
Allow your child to enjoy themselves but try to ensure that their behaviour allows others to enjoy themselves also. If necessary spoil your child a little more than usual to keep them happy, and ensure that their sleep routines are maintained. You might consider the hotel's baby-sitting services for those nights when you would like to be out late at a restaurant or night club.

If you have a hook-on high chair that fits on an ordinary dining chair and is easily transported (these are popular in Canada) do take it with you as high chairs in restaurants are easily knocked and are not always as stable as they might be. Restaurant staff will readily become quite engaged with your child and will casually pick them up and show them off. Be cautious but not concerned as this is a natural cultural outcome of the Balinese complete love of all children. You will become quite engaged with the practise also as it will enable you to enjoy your meal a little more.

Take care of your health. Don't let little things become bigger things. A reliable baby sitter at your hotel will cost you about $10 for 3 hours of stress relief.
You have travel insurance (I hope) so use it sooner rather than later. All reasonable hotels will have a good local doctor on call if you need one. Take anti-bacterial hand wash and use it regularly, both on yourself and your child before eating. Some parents use it each time after handling money. For more details see: www.geocities.com/filo_1au/ForumRecom.html.

DON�TS

1. Do not drink the water out of the taps!!!
Remember this in the shower and when you clean your teeth!! Have bottled water in the bathroom at all times. Practise at home with the real thing for a week before you go.
2. Do not have drinks with ice in them outside your hotel if you have reason to be concerned about the quality of the ice/establishment. Things have improved greatly in this regard over the past few years and an absolute ban is not really necessary!
3. Do not drink anything that is not opened by you or opened in front of you!
4. Do not use the straws (they are often washed, in God knows what, and recycled)!
5. Do not eat the salads outside your hotel as they may have been washed in the water! Only eat it if they say they use pura water
6. Do not buy cool drinks from an ice chest, only from a fridge.
DO NOT DELAY GETTING A DOCTOR � you're insured. (Shop around for insurance, by the way. Don�t just take what your travel agent offers.) The sooner you treat illness the better.
Do not think, �they will get over it�, because the longer you delay the longer it will take.
IF YOUR CHILD IS ILL THEN THERE GOES YOUR HOLIDAY.
Treat yourself the same way too.

DO�S

1. Bring some toys, games for the plane (you will need them for the airports).
2. Request a children�s meal from the airline � this is good for younger children. They get fed first and it is in containers that they can handle.
3. Take some chewies for them to chomp on when the plane is taking off or landing as many children suffer some ear problems.
4. Buy them a surprise and have it on the plane. When they become restless you can bring it out.
5. Bring some eats for them on the plane � pack them a special bag that they can delve into.
6. Have a Gameboy and some games for children who like computer games � keeps them occupied for hours. Buy a disposable camera for fun.
7. Get the children to sit in front of you so that they are not kicking your seat and so that they can turn around and talk to you. It is much easier for you this way.
8. Bring Panadol and medicines for children � Panadol liquid is really useful.
9. Make sure you take insect repellent for the night time, we have found that the creams are really good as some of the sprays actually burn the children�s skin.
10. Eat outside your hotel at restaurants � they are often much cheaper, and safe with care.
11. Bring empty suitcases � very important. Keep one bag for wood for customs inspection on returning.
12. Bring Lomitol, Stemitol etc for Bali Belly
13. In your empty suitcase that you take over, bring some fruit boxes, biscuits, small packets of chips, casks of wine, cereals and long life milk, sipper bottles to put water in, and small gifts.
14. Take your own shampoos etc, if they're special, even if you give them away in the end.
15. Bring bathers and solar suits for kids but few clothes, they can be bought cheaply as a treat.
16. Bring own towels, so that you can reserve shaded seats with them around the pool.
17. Bring hats and sunscreen, lip gel etc � this is quite expensive.
18. Champagne, wine etc and glasses so that you can drink around the pool and mix drinks. Give the remnants to a small caf� manager or the sellers on the beach
19. Pillowcase � you use this to put the towels in when returning home so that children have a pillow to lie on in the airport as there is usually a long wait.
20. Buy lots of sarongs � they are really useful for kids nests in buses when they invariably fall asleep.
21. Buy lots and bring them home for Xmas and birthday presents � even though you see a lot of things that look the same they are not when you get home.
22. We usually take the following with us: nail polish (to give the girls on the beach), old designer T-shirts - you can swap them on the street for watches. Old jeans (to swap or give away), 6 champagne and glasses, 1 wine cask each, wine cooler bag (in which you put the cask with some ice and off you go to the restaurant). A back pack to carry things in when shopping, pictures of clothes that you may want made, winter weight fabric you want made up, outline of feet for when you are buying shoes for someone else. Small packets of cereal and plastic bowls and plastic spoons so that you can throw them away, dry biscuits and dips, nuts and dry fruits for afternoon "Show and Tell", press-lock bags for putting small amounts of biscuits in for trips etc.
23. When going out on trips pack a small picnic, take a cooler bag with ice, put in some drinks (fruit boxes, cans of drink) so that they are cold, sarongs for making pillows and sitting on and blocking the sun etc.
24. On trips always take sarongs as you will need them to enter temples.
25. On short trips use the local bemos (�bee-moes�) (cheaper and more local flavour).
26. Use taxis for around Kuta, Sanur and Denpansar � only pay the amount on the meter but if you feel that they have been helpful give them a bit extra � remember that you are paying very little and that they have families to feed. A little to us is a lot to them. Blue Bird taxis are reliable as far as metered fares are concerned. Some others don't use meters (even if the cab has one) and will delight in ripping you off.
27. Take your own massage oil and always take a sarong or towel with you when going for massage.
28. Wear your bathers when trying on clothes saves you lot of time and energy and embarrassment.
29. Buy the local ointments and balms, they are fantastic. For beverage drinkers the local coffee is great as are the many varieties of local teas. Try Bali Crystal natural deodorant.
30. Go to the local supermarket and buy your supplies and take these back to your room for your use � cheaper than buying it in the hotel, especially the mini-bar in the room fridge.
31. Buy clothes and shoes for your children, these are very cheap and so useful, especially seeing how many shoes kids go through in a year. Buy big for growing kids.
32. Visit the Department stores and buy play station games, fruit, drinks, nibbles, fruit and clothes.
33. Department stores are very good for business shirts, belts, underwear, ties and men�s clothes � terrible for women�s clothes but some good accessories and makeup.
34. Take some dresses with you � 1 or 2 for going out to eat � these are cooler and you can dress them up.
35. Experiment with where you eat.
36. Be careful crossing the roads, - always hold your child�s hand no matter where you walk. Hawkers will try to put things in your face which distracts you, and some drivers are terrible � a lot of confusing hustle and bustle but much better in recent years with (overdone) restrictions on street sellers.
37. Practise saying, �STOP�� at home and have the kids freeze instantly.
38. Balinese love children and will want to touch them (Particularly if they�re very fair. This is generally no problem and is a great conversation starter � and conversations can lead to all sorts of nice things for you.

Let your children be happy, spoil them if necessary, and you�ll be happy too.

Isn�t that what you�re going on holidays for?

Enjoy,
and if you can add to these suggestions, or correct outdated information when you return from Bali please contact us at [email protected] so that we can give the best possible advice to future travellers.
Thanks.

Main pool, kiddies pool and pool bar at the Holiday Inn (now known as the Bali Hai Resort and Spa) , Tuban, Bali. The beach is in the left background.

LINKS -

Link back to our Home Page for more information, stories and other pictures.

Shopping, accommodatiom, eating and sight-seeing information, as well as more detailed general information is at Bali Travel Forum Recommendations. This is a summary of advice, posted by travellers, on the Bali Travel Forum - (balitravelforum.com). The advice is regularly updated. It is a very big file and may take a little while to load for you. Be patient, the information makes it worth while and you can print off any parts that you'd like to take with you..

You might also be interested in 'Beginners Bali'. It's a fairly detailed introduction to the Island of the Gods.

Exotic drinks, exotic faces, exotic places. ENJOY !