Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
tempointeractive.com
)
, published in both Indonesian and English versions, but not widely
distributed on Bali or Lombok. The online quarterly
Inside Indonesia
(
insideindonesia.org
)
runs hard-hitting articles on social and political change. Major
inter-national newspapers
are available in Bali's main tourist centres and digital-print services mean that some outlets
can even sell them on the same day.
The government-operated
TV station
Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI) is dominated by
soaps; Bali TV broadcasts in both Balinese and Indonesian. Most hotels also have satellite
TV, which includes CNN, HBO and sometimes BBC World and ABC.
Paradise FM (100.9 FM) is a Bali-based English-language
radio
station aimed at tourists,
broadcasting regular news bulletins, music and chat. Hard Rock FM Bali (87.8 FM;
hardrockfm.com
)
is another music station with English-speaking DJs, and Radio Republik
Indonesia (RRI) broadcasts music, chat and news programmes 24 hours a day on 93.5 FM,
with occasional English-language bulletins.
Money
The Indonesian
currency
is the
rupiah
(abbreviated to Rp). Notes commonly in circulation
are Rp1000 (blue), Rp2000 (grey), Rp5000 (green and brown), Rp10,000 (pink or purple),
Rp20,000 (green), Rp50,000 (blue) and Rp100,000 (pink). They are all clearly inscribed with
English numbers and letters. Be warned that most people won't accept ripped or badly worn
banknotes, so you shouldn't either. You'll commonly come across Rp100 (silver-coloured
plastic), Rp500 (larger, round, bronze) and Rp1000 (large, round, bronze with silver rim)
coins. Don't be surprised if cashiers in supermarkets give you sweets instead of small-de-
nomination coins as change.
At the time of writing the
exchange rate
was $1 to Rp11,460, €1 to Rp15,550 and £1 to
Rp18,750. However, the exchange rate does change quite a lot. For the current rate check out
the useful “Travellers Currency Cheat Sheets” at
oanda.com
.
Generally you will use rupiah for day-to-day transactions. Many tourist businesses, includ-
ing hotels, dive operators, tour agents and car-rental outlets, however, quote for their goods
and services in
US dollars
while a few use
euros
; in the Guide, where dollars are mentioned
they are always US dollars. Even where prices are displayed in US dollars or euros, though,
you have the option of paying with cash, travellers' cheques, credit cards or rupiah.
