Bonus Section: The Safety Vault: Scam Defense & Emergency Contacts

Common Scams to Avoid

• Money Changers: This is a very common scam, especially with small, unauthorized stalls that offer unusually high rates with “No Commission!” signs. These places often use sleight-of-hand tricks, such as dropping or folding notes, or rigged calculators to shortchange you.
  • Suggestion: To be safe, only use official, licensed money changers or banks, which are easily identifiable. Better yet, use a reputable ride-hailing app to navigate to a well-known money changer like BMC or a major bank. You can also withdraw cash directly from a bank ATM, which often offers a better exchange rate. If you must use a smaller money changer, meticulously count the money yourself on the counter before handing over your foreign currency, and do not let the teller recount it after you have checked it.
• Fake Police: Be extremely cautious of anyone claiming to be a police officer who stops you and asks for money for a violation. This is a common tactic, especially for tourists on scooters who may not have an International Driving Permit. These impostors often pressure you to pay an on-the-spot “fine,” which is just a bribe.
  • Suggestion: Legitimate fines are paid at a police station, not on the side of the road. Always ask for proper identification and an official ticket. If you are stopped, be polite but firm. Carry a small amount of cash, like IDR 50,000-100,000, in a separate, easily accessible pocket, and keep the rest of your money and valuables hidden. You can offer this small amount as a “fine” and then go on your way to avoid further hassle.
• Taxi Meters & Overcharging: Unofficial taxis, particularly at the airport or busy tourist hubs, may quote highly inflated flat rates or claim their meter is “broken.” Even metered taxis might take longer routes to increase the fare.
  • Suggestion: The most reliable option is to use a reputable ride-hailing app like Gojek or Grab, which have upfront pricing and GPS tracking. If you are taking a traditional taxi, the most trusted company is Bluebird. You can easily identify them by their light blue color and the logo on the roof and door. Always insist on the driver using the meter or agree on a fixed price before starting the journey. If a driver refuses to use the meter, politely get out and find another taxi.

Additional Scams to Be Aware Of:

• Scooter Rental Scams: Some rental companies will try to blame you for pre-existing damage upon return and demand a high repair fee.
  • Suggestion: Before renting, thoroughly inspect the scooter and take detailed photos or a video of the entire vehicle, noting any existing scratches or damage. Use a reputable rental company, and never hand over your passport as a deposit.
• Bracelet and Sarong Scams: Be wary of overly friendly locals who approach you at beaches or temples offering a “free” bracelet or sarong. Once the item is in your hand, they will demand an inflated payment.
  • Suggestion: The best way to avoid this is to politely but firmly say “no, thank you” and keep walking. Do not accept anything that is offered to you for free.

Emergency Numbers in Bali

• General Emergency Hotline: 112 is the main emergency number in Bali, similar to 911 in the S. or 999 in the U.K. It is free to call from any mobile or landline and connects you to operators who can assist with police, medical, or fire emergencies. This is the best number to use if you are unsure who to call.
• Police: 110
• Ambulance: 118 or 119
• Fire Department: 113
• Search and Rescue (SAR): 111, 115, or 151. The specific number for Bali’s SAR is +62 361 752 222.

Important Advice for Tourists in Remote Areas

• Dialing from a Mobile Phone:
  • If you are using an international SIM card, you must dial Indonesia’s country code (+62) before the number. For example, for the police, you would dial +62 110.
  • If you have a local SIM card, you may need to dial the area code for your location first. For South Bali, the area code is 0361.
• Tourist Police: For issues like lost passports, scams, or other non-life-threatening concerns, contacting the Tourist Police is often the best option. They have English-speaking officers.
  • Main Tourist Assistance Centre: +62 361 224 111
  • Kuta Tourist Police: +62 361 300 7777
  • Nusa Dua Tourist Police: +62 361 744 2622
• Medical Emergencies: While calling an ambulance is an option, it can sometimes be faster to get a taxi to the nearest hospital, especially if you are in a remote area. If possible, contact your hotel or villa staff, as they can be a great resource for local assistance.
  • BIMC Hospital (Kuta): +62 361 761 263 (recommended for tourists)
  • Siloam Hospitals (Denpasar): +62 361 779 900
• Consular Assistance: In case of a serious emergency, you should contact your country’s embassy or consulate. They can provide guidance on legal matters, lost documents, or other serious issues.
  • Australian Consulate-General, Denpasar: +62 361 2000 100
  • S. Consular Agency, Denpasar: +62 361 233 605
  • British Honorary Consulate, Denpasar: +62 21 2356 5200 (via Jakarta Embassy)
• General Safety Tips:
  • Always let someone know your travel plans, especially if you are going to a remote area.
  • Carry a fully charged phone with you.
  • Consider hiring a local guide, as they can be invaluable in a remote setting.
  • Save these numbers in your phone before you travel.

Navigating with Bahasa Indonesia

While many people in tourist areas speak some English, making an effort to use a few Indonesian phrases will be greatly appreciated by the locals. It’s a wonderful way to show respect and can lead to more genuine interactions.

Essential Polite Phrases for Tourists:

• Greetings: The word “Selamat” is used for greetings and means “peaceful” or “safe.”
  • Good morning: Selamat pagi (until 11 am)
  • Good day: Selamat siang (11 am to 3 pm)
  • Good afternoon: Selamat sore (3 pm until sunset)
  • Good evening/night: Selamat malam (after sunset)
  • How are you?: Apa kabar?
  • I’m fine, thank you: Kabar baik, terima kasih.
• Basic Courtesy:
  • Thank you: Terima kasih
  • You’re welcome: Sama-sama
  • Please (request): Tolong
  • Please (offer/invite): Silakan
  • Excuse me/Sorry: Maaf
  • Excuse me (to get attention): Permisi
• Common Phrases:
  • How much is this?: Berapa harganya?
  • I don’t understand: Saya tidak mengerti
  • Can you speak English?: Bisa bicara Bahasa Inggris?
  • I want to go to…: Saya mau ke…

Why Bahasa Indonesia is So Easy to Learn

For those who want to dive deeper, Bahasa Indonesia is considered one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn. Its simplicity in structure makes it highly accessible.

• No Verb Conjugation or Tenses: Unlike English, Indonesian verbs do not change based on tense or subject. The same word is used for past, present, and future actions. To indicate time, you simply add time-specific words like kemarin (yesterday) or besok (tomorrow).
• Simple Plurals: There are no complex plural forms. To make a noun plural, you can simply repeat the word (e.g., buku means book, and buku-buku means books) or use a word that indicates a quantity, like banyak (many).
• Gender-Neutral Nouns: Nouns in Bahasa Indonesia do not have grammatical genders, so there is no need to memorize whether a word is masculine or feminine, as is required in languages like Spanish or French.
• Latin Alphabet: The language uses the same Latin alphabet as English, so you don’t need to learn a new script. The pronunciation is largely phonetic, meaning words are pronounced as they are written.
• Simple Pronouns: There is no “he” or “she.” The pronoun dia is used for both. The pronouns for “you” and “I” also have formal (anda and saya) and informal (kamu and aku) versions, but this is a simple distinction to learn.