From its inherent spirituality to its rich biodiversity, dramatic volcanoes, hillside temples and unspoilt beaches, Bali has much to offer international visitors.
Prior to the pandemic, the Indonesian island had a thriving tourism economy, welcoming 6.2 million visitors in 2019. For much of 2020 and 2021, it was closed off to international visitors, with only limited numbers of domestic flights being allowed to land at its airport.
This month, the Indonesian government announced that international visitors could return to the island, and has since loosened quarantine requirements. From March 14, fully vaccinated tourists will no longer need to isolate on arrival.
The island province has reported about 587 daily cases of Covid-19 in the past week, declining by 54 per cent from a week earlier, according to data from the country's ministry of health.
With Bali’s many attractions now back on the cards, here’s what you need to know before you go.
Do I need to quarantine on arrival in Bali?
Bali reopened its borders on February 5, but currently requires international visitors to quarantine for at least five days upon arrival, at hotels certified by the ministry of tourism and creative economy.
From March 14, vaccinated visitors will no longer be required to isolate, under a new trial programme.
Passengers who are fully vaccinated will still have to take a PCR test when they arrive and stay inside their pre-booked accommodation until they receive a negative result, which is normally within 24 hours. "After being declared negative, they can be free to do any activities," said Luhut Panjaitan, Co-ordinating Minister for Investment and Maritime Affairs.
While the trial programme is slated to start on March 14, it may be brought forward if infection rates in the country improve next week, said Luhut, who is in charge of the pandemic response in Java and Bali. The goal is to lift all requirements by April, at the latest.
Foreign visitors must also undertake a PCR test on the third day at their respective hotels.
What do I need to do before flying to Bali?
The country’s free visa entry and visa on arrival initiatives have been suspended since March 2020. While it is anticipated that visa on arrival will be reintroduced soon, at present, all foreign visitors must apply for a Visit Visa, or B211A, to enter Indonesia. This must be done online, in advance of travel to the country. Visas are valid for 60 days and are priced at about $250. Visas can be extended four times, for 30 days each time.
All travellers entering Indonesia need to show a PCR test taken no more than 48 hours prior to arrival. Tourists must also show proof of health insurance with a minimum value of $25,000, which includes Covid-19 cover. They must also show proof of a paid hotel booking for the duration of their stay.
Which airlines are flying to Bali?
While Etihad Airways and Emirates do not currently fly directly to Bali, both airlines operate flights to Jakarta. Return economy flights to the Indonesian capital in the first week of April start from Dh2,805 on Etihad and Dh2,345 on Emirates. A number of domestic airlines operate the one hour and 50-minute journey from Jakarta to Bali daily, with flights starting from Dh300 on Indonesian low-cost carrier Lion Air.
When’s the best time to visit Bali?
Bali has two distinct seasons – wet and dry. While temperatures are warm throughout the year, averaging between 26°C and 29°C, tropical rainfall is common between October and March. The drier months of April to September are the most popular for tourists, when the weather is warm and sunny.
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A Prayer Before Dawn
Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire
Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai
Three stars
Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
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Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WORLD CUP SQUAD
Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Angelo Mathews, Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Abu Dhabi GP weekend schedule
Friday
First practice, 1pm
Second practice, 5pm
Saturday
Final practice, 2pm
Qualifying, 5pm
Sunday
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps), 5.10pm
Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14
- Brentford v Arsenal
- Burnley v Brighton
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace
- Everton v Southampton
- Leicester City v Wolves
- Manchester United v Leeds United
- Newcastle United v West Ham United
- Norwich City v Liverpool
- Tottenham v Manchester City
- Watford v Aston Villa
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
