Learning Indonesian can help you meet the locals in Bali

Learning Indonesian is a real helpful thing when coming to Bali. The locals are naturally friendly and love to chat, sometimes for a business, sometimes for fun.

My Indonesian is improving slowly and your best bet is probably to learn complete sentences, then try to learn more vocabulary to drop in. There are times when I plop a bit of Indonesian into a conversation, for example when I am bargaining for something. I’ll say “What’s your harga pas (business price)?” That let’s them know I haven’t just arrived. There are other times when I don’t want to seem like a local, for example when an immigration guy is asking for money. “Sorry Sir, are you asking me for money?” I might say.

A Japanese tourist posted to his blog about a recent trip to Bali. He learned some Indonesian and his selective use helped him deal with traffic police and make friends. He also talks about the particular annoyances he faced.