Serious Warning for Travellers to Bali

by Barrie | July 3rd, 2011   Tweet

It seems that just about every day the government of Australia is issuing warnings about travel to Bali. Each one of course should be taken seriously. For about the umpteenth time the warning about Dengue Fever is one to take heed of. According to the article in the West Australian: Thousands of West Australians heading to Bali for the school holidays are being warned about potentially fatal infections, after an increase in dengue fever and people needing anti-rabies treatment.

The article then went on to express the Health Department’s views: The department said people who were bitten or scratched needed immediate medical treatment to clean the wound and often a course of injections when they returned home. Once symptoms developed, rabies was universally fatal.

Other related articles:

Staying Healthy in Bali
Bali Belly

Yet Another Warning for Travellers to Bali

by Barrie | June 13th, 2011   Tweet

It was only at the beginning of the year travellers were warned about a Legionnaires disease and now it has risen again with the Australian Government issuing a ‘Please be careful’ advice to all travellers to Bali. In the article that appeared in the West Australian newspaper on the weekend, several returning travellers to Australia have been hospitalised.

Legionnaires is a deadly disease and the warning should not be taken lightly by any tourist. Of course, and as always, the Bali Health Department is right on the ball with this matter. The disease is commonly contracted, or so thought, by unclean air-conditioning. Cooling towers in large buildings are a breeding ground. Read the article and take heed of the notice.

Balinese Names and the Confusion for First Time Travellers

by Barrie | March 30th, 2011   Tweet

When you first travel to Bali and meet the friendly Balinese people it can be very confusing in some respects and mainly concerning their names. It will seem that every second person has the same name! There are a tremendous amount of Wayans and Mades in Bali. Unlike in western countries where individual names are commonplace, the people of Bali stick to a protocol for naming their children.

Of course you will not find this protocol in the other islands of Indonesia except in the Hindu parts of Lombok. Actually it’s quite intriguing and a delightful way of naming your children but I couldn’t imagine the confusion if the family comprised of a baker’s dozen.

Basically the naming protocol is as follows:

Wayan, Putu, Gede for 1st born male child

Wayan, Putu, Iluh for 1st born female child

Made, Kadek for 2nd born male child

Made, Kadek, Nengah for 2nd born female child.

Nyoman, Komang for 3rd born male and female children

Ketut for 4th born male or female children.

The 5th born reverts back to the list for 1st born children. Last names are also given names.

Seems quite simple. I guess this makes me a Made or Kadek!

New Health Warning for Bali Travellers

by Barrie | January 14th, 2011   Tweet

Bali has had its fair share of disease outbreaks over the years and of late it has been Dengue Fever. Now the threat of Legionnaires’ disease is becoming a threat to travellers. This is a fatal disease and already six West Australians have come down with the illness.

Four Victorians have contracted the disease while holidaying in Bali in the past six months. In an article I was reading today, Legionnaires’ disease causes flu-like symptoms such as headaches, fevers, chills and muscle aches, followed by respiratory problems and pneumonia developed over three or four days.

Health authorities are warning travellers to Bali to be mindful of the potentially fatal Legionnaires’ disease. The Victorian Health Department issued the warning today, confirming four cases of the disease in the state. The article further explains that hose most at risk are aged over 50, smokers and anyone whose immune systems are suppressed by medications, those with kidney failure, cancer or diabetes. The bacteria typically contaminates air conditioning cooling towers, whirlpool spas and shower heads.

It will just be another issue for travellers to Bali they will have to deal with and no doubt the Health Department in Bali will be making a rapid response to this latest health warning.

Danger in the Archipelago – Travellers be Aware

by Barrie | October 26th, 2010   Tweet

I wasn’t surprised to read that the alert status for Gunung Merapi in Yogyakarta, Central Java has been raised to red alert. Being a place I lived for ten years there is always constant activity on the mountain 45 kilometres from this popular tourist destination. I was there for the last massive eruption and the last devastating earthquake to hit the city referred to as the cultural heart of Indonesia.
Gunung Merapi has four stages of status level; in normal level, cautious, alert and red alert. Now that it is at red-alert any travel to the beautiful and inviting city of Yogyakarta should really be avoided until the status level drops.
The tectonic plates in Indonesia are in overdrive with a The 7.7-magnitude undersea quake hit south of the Mentawai Islands, off the west coast of Indonesia, at 9.42pm yesterday. This was followed by another two quakes of the sizes, 6.1 and 6.2 several hours later.
Instantaneously a Tsunami warning was issued and although damage is sketchy at the moment there are up to 10 Australians missing after their boat was hit by large waves. Again, travel to this area should be avoided until the situation is clarified.

Danger in the Archipelago – Travellers be Aware

I wasn’t surprised to read that the alert status for Gunung Merapi in Yogyakarta, Central Java has been raised to red alert. Being a place I lived for ten years there is always constant activity on the mountain 45 kilometres from this popular tourist destination. I was there for the last massive eruption and the last devastating earthquake to hit the city referred to as the cultural heart of Indonesia.

Gunung Merapi has four stages of status level; in normal level, cautious, alert and red alert. Now that it is at red-alert any travel to the beautiful and inviting city of Yogyakarta should really be avoided until the status level drops.

The tectonic plates in Indonesia are in overdrive with a The 7.7-magnitude undersea quake hit south of the Mentawai Islands, off the west coast of Indonesia, at 9.42pm yesterday. This was followed by another two quakes of the sizes, 6.1 and 6.2 several hours later.

Instantaneously a Tsunami warning was issued and although damage is sketchy at the moment there are up to 10 Australians missing after their boat was hit by large waves. Again, travel to this area should be avoided until the situation is clarified.

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