Every School has its own acronyms and unique names. Bali International School, or BIS, is no exception. MPR, Community Centre, Taman Bacaan, Big Field, Small Field, Kindy Bale... these are all terms you’ll hear on the BIS campus. Here we explain them so that you too can converse in the secret language.
We also use this section to supply you with a ton of useful information related to Bali and living on the island. Please do feel free to contact us if you have extra questions, which we can then answer and add to the list.
What is the MPR?
MPR stands for Multi-Purpose Room and is the space where the school holds Share Time, assemblies, drama productions, school dances and many other BIS functions and exhibitions. It’s located on the left side of campus as you enter the main gate, near the Pre-School and Grade 3/4 areas.
What is Share Time?
Share Time is similar to an assembly. Share Time is for all Primary School up to Grade 5 students and is usually held every second Friday at 1.50pm. This event is hosted by individual classes from the Primary School on a rotating basis. Share Time is a celebratory exhibition of the children’s current school activities and achievements.
What, and where, is the Community Centre?
The Community Centre is a PTFA sponsored space to benefit the whole community.
Perhaps more to the point: where is the community centre? It is located just across from the South Car Park. PTFA meetings, Board meetings and many other school events are held there.
The Smorgas café also operates here from the crack of dawn every day. Stop by any morning to grab a coffee and a snack and chat to other BIS parents. It’s one of the best ways to quickly connect and make new friends. Plus there’s always a few old hands around ready to dispense advice and info.
What is Taman Bacaan?
Taman Bacaan - full name Taman Bacaan Community Library - is a library which was created by BIS students and teachers, and set up on BIS campus near the South Car Park, with the vision of becoming ‘a place where Indonesian students and children from the local community have access to the resources and opportunities a library can provide’. For more information on this wonderful place, please click here. If you have any other questions or would like to enquire about how you can help out, please contact BIS Librarian Kathryn Bruce via email.
What, and where, is the Small Field?
The small field is beside the MPR and between the pre-school and Grade 3/4 rooms. This field is for children in pre-school through Grade 4.
What, and where, is the Big Field?
This is the field across from the main campus. It is part of a bigger sporting complex including a big field, obviously, a 25-metre swimming pool, and undercover tennis/basketball courts, rock climbing wall and gymnastics area. Note: the Big Field is also sometimes referred to as the 'Oval'.
What is the Kindy Bale?
The Kindergarten Bale is located opposite the Central Admin block in front of the 'Village Green'. This safe outdoors space is used by the Kindy students to sit and enjoy their snacks and lunches.
Useful School Info
* Contact phone lists for BIS families are available in the school office.
* Lists of necessary school supplies and suggestions where to buy them are also available in the school office.
* Check the PTFA noticeboard and Newsflash (newsletter) available in the BIS Community Center for upcoming events. The Newsflash is also sent to all BIS families once a week via email.
* You should check the bulletin board just inside the main school gate for upcoming events and news as well.
* Be sure to ask for a tour of the school when you enroll your child, this helps a lot in finding your way around the school.
* The place to drop the kids is in front of the Community Center. This entrance is accessed from Jl. Pemamoran, the first left off the Bypass after you pass the traffic lights where McDonald’s is (when traveling from the Kuta/Nusa Dua areas).
* Various necessary ID tags are obtained in the school office. If you haven’t made one yet, you’ll need a picture ID to get your visitor’s tag from the Security Desk at the Main entrance. The ID policy applies to Drivers and Helpers as well.
* Every class has at least one parent designated as the 'Class Parent Contact' (CPC) who is responsible for contacting all the parents in their class in emergencies or when Pot Luck Dinner is on! Call the school office, ask your child’s teacher or check the PTFA notice board to find out who your CPC is.
* The school library (just to the left of the main entrance) has computers connected to a high-speed internet cable and wireless connection that parents may use from 8am-9am Monday through Friday.
* Parents may also join the Library Loan Club to check out library materials. Please see the Library staff for more details.
Bali Info
Moving to a new country, no matter how many times you've done it before, is always exciting. And daunting.
Part of the fun and excitement lies in finding your own way around and discovering your own 'best kept secrets' in Bali... those secret beaches, shops, warungs, hotels and peaceful corners which you like to think no other 'tourists' know about. That said, it's also quite nice to have a few guaranteed 'goodies' to head for when you aren't in the mood for exploring. And then there's the daily living, paying of bills, medical assistance and various other admin that needs to take place. In this section we provide some information that help make your move a little easier.
Useful Bali telephone numbers
Dial 108 for Telephone Directory Service in English.
Then, dial:
* 113 Fire Brigade
* 119 Ambulance
* 110 Police
* 115 Search and Rescue Office
* 123 for the electricity bill, due before the 20th of the month.
* 147 for reporting phone problems, also billing info.
* 103 for the correct local time.
* 109 for total of phone bill.
* +62 361 701 111 Taxi Service
Foreign consulates/Embassies in Bali
For a full list of foreign consulates in Bali go to Bali Vision and/or Bali Travel.
Both these sites have comprehensive lists of consulate-generals, honorary consulates and embassies operating in Bali.
Please note however that this this information may or may not be up to date. We encourage you to enquire about your closest consulate or embassy in Bali while still in your home country.
Hospitals
BIMC Hospital Bali
http://www.bimcbali.com/
Jl Bypass Ngurah Rai No. 100X, Kuta 80361
24-Hour Telephone: +62 361 761 263
International SOS Medical Clinic
http://www.sos-bali.com/
Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai 505X, Kuta 80361
24-Hour Telephone: +62 361 710 505
Prima Medika Hospital
www.primamedika.com/
Jalan Pulau Serangan 9X, Denpasar
24-Hour Telephone: + 62 361 236 225
Publications
Bali has a very useful Expat-style newspaper, The Bali Advertiser (http://www.baliadvertiser.biz/), which comes out every two weeks on a Wednesday. The Bali Advertiser is free and is distributed in various shops, hotels as well as the BIS school office and front gate.
The Jakarta Post (http://www.thejakartapost.com/) can be delivered daily for Rp 120 000 per month. Tel.#226936.
Other newspapers and magazines, both local and international, can be purchased at major intersections from paperboys as well as from various delis and shops, including Bali's major bookstore, Periplus (http://www.periplus.co.id/).
Learning the language
Learning the language of your new country, albeit temporary, is both practical and respectful. The bonus being that Indonesian is, by all accounts, not the most difficult of all the languages one could learn.
I.A.L. F. (http://www.ialf.edu/) operates a variety of fantastic programmes (http://www.ialf.edu/learningindonesian.html#bahasabali) which should have you speaking at least basic Indonesian in no time at all.
Telephone: +62 361 225 243
Email: ialfbali@ialf.edu
Paying electricity and telephone bills
Many people have wonderful staff at home who take care of this. For those who don't, or who prefer to do it themselves, it is important to note that the phone bill is due on the 15th of the month and electricity by the 20th.
You can also easily arrange direct debiting from a rupiah bank account to pay both electricity and phone. The statements and copies of your bills are then sent directly to your home. Some examples are Lippobank for telephone bills and Bank Mandiri for electricity. Both banks have many branches and ATMs around the island. You’ll need to present your passport and KITAS Visa to open an account at either of these banks.
Changing money into Indonesian Rupiah
Most banks in Bali have ATMs which are compatible with any international Visa, Cirrus, Mastercard or Maestro endorsed ATM cards (amongst others).
If you do need to change currency however, it is important to note that the money changers in Bali, and especially Sanur, are notorious for short-changing you. We advise you to make as little use of money changers as possible and if you do, be very vigilant!
Friends and colleagues have recommended using the following money changing branches should you need to:
* Money Changer PT Central Kuta. They have several branches located around Nusa Dua and the Kuta earea and are highly recommend for their fare rate, currency counting machines and safe money changing areas.
* Pt. Bali Maspintjinra, Jl. Danau Tamblingan No. 18, Sanur. Telephone: +62 361 281 229/281 007.
Family fun
Beaches:
For maps to the various areas and beaches mentioned below, click here (http://www.2indonesia.com/maps/index.html).
* Nusa Dua has two small peninsulas with proper grass and gazebos where you can picnic, and a more secluded, small beach for a quick dip.
* Nusa Dua Public Beach is a wider beach and a great place to mingle with locals. The chargrilled fresh corn sold here is fantastic. A multitude of water sports activities can also be arranged here.
* Geiger Beach is one of the best beaches in Nusa Dua, just beyond The Bale hotel and before the Nikko Hotel. Watch out for topless bathers though! There is also a great beach restaurant, the Nusa Dua Grill, along this stretch. Tel +62 361 771 529.
* Jimbaran beach is great for a dip and body surf, and is relatively hawker and hassle-free. The restaurants on this strip serve wonderful fresh fish grilled over coconut husk fires. Get there early, it gets crowded at sunset.
* Dreamland Beach past Jimbaran Bay used to be Bali's best beach and is known for good surf. These days, construction and development here has many locals and expats up in arms and the beach has suffered.
* Sanur Beach Pebble beach. A good grass area is by the Sanur Beach Hotel beach activities hut.
* Kuta Beach is very busy and very touristy with lots of hawkers bugging you to buy sarongs, jewellery and get massages and pedicures. It all adds to the fun though. Plus the surf here is great surf and surfing lessons are easily arranged as well as boards hired.
Swimming pools:
* The Bali Hyatt, JL. Danau Tamblingan, Sanur, charges Rp 75 000 per person for towel hire and use of their pool. There is a kiddie pool, as well as a pool with a shallow end and a deep end. You can also hire an English-speaking nanny here to look after the children if you need to relax completely.
* The Hard Rock Hotel in Kuta charges Rp 100 000 to use their swimming pool plus a Rp 50 000 towel deposit - fully refundable. It has a sand bottom pool, great slides for the kids, great music and is the biggest hotel pool in Southeast Asia.
Waterbom Park
A faboulous water theme park. Great fun for kids and adults. Try to get there early - doors open at 8am - to get your own pavilion next to the lazy river.
Telephone: +62 361 755 676
www.waterbom.com
Jenggala Keramik, Jimbaran
Make, and then paint, your own pots, mugs and other ceramic wares here, then pick it up, fully glazed, three days later. Kids of all ages (including adults!) welcome. Can't be bothered with doing the work yourself? Beautiful ceramic items are on sale here and there is a great café as well.
Telephone: +62 361 703 310
www.jenggala-bali.com
Horseback riding
* Umalas Stables, Telephone: +62 361 731 402; www.balionhorse.com
* Bali Horse Riding, Telephone +62 361 772 859; www.balihorseriding.com
Tennis
Private lessons are available with various coaches. Ask around the other parents for the best options.
Movies
21 Cineplex: DFS Galeria Kuta (http://www.21cineplex.com/theater.cfm?city_id=56)
The best cinema in Bali is 21 Cineplex, located in the DFS Galeria shopping area at the big roundabout in Kuta, in the same complex as Planet Hollywood.
Jl. Simpang Siur, Kuta
Telephone: +62 361 767 021
Tenpin Bowling
Paradiso Bowling & Billiard Center
This center located across the street from Kuta Paradiso hotel on Jl. Kartika Plaza has 18 lanes of bowling, 38 pool tables and food / beverages.
Jl. Kartika Plaza No. 8X, Kuta
Telephone: +62 361 758 880
Shopping
It would be impossible to list all the good shops in Bali... shopping is practically an Olympic sport here. From street stalls to shopping malls, beach wear and tear to designer rags, antique furniture to synthetic all-weather rattan, artwork and sculptures, you can get it here.
Grocery shopping, however, is perhaps not quite as easy. There are a number of excellent delis though, as well as a few good supermarkets. We have listed the most popular here.
* Gourmet Garage. Great assortment of imported food items and wine. Lotus Building, Jalan Batas Kangin No. 2, Bypass Ngurah Rai, Jimbaran. Telephone: +62 361 701 650
* Bali Deli in Seminyak has an excellent selection of gourmet and imported groceries and wines. Jl. Kunti #117x, Seminyak. Telephone: +62 361 738 686
* Dijon Deli just off the main Kuta roundabout has a slightly smaller but excellent selection of imported gourmet goods, including great cheeses. Jl. Setiabudhi # A2. Telephone: +62 361 759 636.
* The Pantry, next to Batu Jimbar restaurant in Sanur. Imported groceries, great meat and cheese counter. Jl. Danau Tamblingan, Sanur. Telephone: +62 361 281 048.
* Hardy's Supermarket. Branches in Sanur, Nusa Dua and various other spots. Jl Tamblingan, Sanur.
* Bintang Supermarket, Jl Raya Seminyak.
* Carrefour Supermarket. Huge, shiny new supermarket from the French supermarket chain. Excellent grocery shopping, both local and imported goods. Jl Sunset - you can't miss it.
* Hypermart. Basically this new supermarket is a local version of Carrefour. Situated in Bali Mal Galeria just off the main Kuta roundabout.
Recycling
You may find yourself shocked by the marked lack of environmentally conscious rubbish disposal in Bali. Recycling does not seem to be foremost on the minds of those who live here. But you can, and should, recycle. There are ways and means!
Eco Bali Recycling (http://www.eco-bali.com/) operates a collection service of non-organic waste - including hard and soft plastics, all kinds of glass, all kinds of metals, paper, all kinds of cartons etc - for private households, businesses, villa complexes, offices, schools and small hotels. What's more, it does so for a very affordable price!
http://www.eco-bali.com/
Telephone: +62 361 790 7314 / 844 6602
Email: info@eco-bali.com
