Relaxation in Bali

IF you're after a little more quality and little less Kuta Beach culture, the next step up is one of the massage, spa and beauty treatments. These are all available at this mid range, usually at quite reasonable rates. Luxury spas are the latest trend in Bali, and there is plenty of choice of massage experience at the top end.

Many hotels have special outdoor Balinese style "bales", in which it's possible to have an open air massage on a raised platform covered with an alang roof overlooking the ocean. Salons offering facials, manicures, pedicures, body masks and hair designs are often positioned near the massage rooms or are a part of the spa complex in hotels.

Also, most of the larger hotels have gymnasiums, pools and tennis courts conveniently located near the spa so it's possible to make the most of a workout. Many spas have cafes attached and it's possible to cleanse the body internally as well as externally with a range of healthy treats. Calorie controlled, fat conscious foods are available at these special cafes, so it's possible to indulge healthfully.

The use of fabulous aromas, and sometimes the more carefully crafted aromatherapy sessions, have become part and parcel of the total modern massage and spa treatment. Thermo therapy and aqua aerobics, hot spas and cold plunge pools, saunas and steam baths are also fast becoming a compulsory addendum in the therapeutic process.

Traditional Treatment

CLINICAL testing has been serving as a 'hurdle' for traditional herbal medicines to clear before they can complement modern drugs. Despite the popularity of herbal medicines, only a few producers had conducted modern clinical tests to ensure their safety.

Herbal medicines had been proven for years to heal sicknesses, even without clinical testing, but this fact had been ignored by medical circles in the country. These are over-the-counter herbal medicines derived from the forests of Indonesia-hidden pharmacies of potent medicines in the form of plants, grasses, minerals, fungi, roots, barks, twigs, dried flowers, and parts of mammals, birds, reptiles.

They come in the form of pills, capsules, powders, beans, peas, flat seeds, or can look like tea leaves. Herbal medicines found in the markets of Bali and 'jamu' shops are found with row upon row of small packages and little jars and bottles lining the shelves. You need no doctor's prescription. Explain your problem to the vendor and he'll know what you'll need. Follow the dosage directions on the packet or bottle.

Medical Services

WHEN you set off on your long awaited holiday to Bali, the furthest thing from our mind is becoming ill or injured. As most of us take out travel insurance, you know you are taken care of financially. But just as importantly, you must consider the medical facilities in Bali. In the event of serious illness or accident, you'll need to be evacuated home or to Singapore, so it is vital you arrange health insurance before you travel.

There are a number of different insurance policies available and the travellers should ensure that they shop for a policy that meets their needs and covers the duration of travel. Travellers should consider coverage for general medical expenses, hospitalisation and medical evacuations.

Travellers are advised to check whether their medication is legal in that country with the country's embassy or consulate prior to departure. Personal hygiene items such as menstrual aids and nappies may be unavailable in some countries. You should ensure that they carry sufficient personal hygiene items with them. 

Climate & Environment

TRAVELING in a foreign country does not necessarily increase your risk of becoming sick or even of suffering from minor illnesses, such as nausea or the dreaded traveller's diarrhoea, provided you exercise a little care and common sense. Nonetheless, some travellers may experience minor stomach upsets or changed bowel actions while they are away from home.

While these are usually nothing more than minor inconveniences and are often the affect of an exotic diet rather than of a serious illness, it is important to be able to recognise a serious problem if one should arise. The risk of accidents or sunburn are often more dangerous to the traveller than food related illnesses. The sensible traveller will never put aside the notion of common sense where health and safety are concerned.

As Bali is quite close to the equator, it has only two seasons: a dry season and a rainy season. The dry season lasts from May to October. The raining season usually starts in November and lasts till mid April, unfortunately the weather does not always follow this rule. The temperatures within the raining season move around 32°C with about 80% humidity, within the dry season around 27°C with 60% humidity.

A foreign country is not the place to find yourself in need of emergency medical attention, especially through your own neglect or misadventure. For information on the consequences and treatment of health problems in Bali, see our advice on Health Problems. Always take care, and enjoy a safe, healthy holiday.

There are folk medical treatment and also the modern one that you can try during your stay in Bali if something goes wrong to your system. Try to use medicine on modern medical treatment, folk medical treatment, also health treatment.