Like most tropical countries across the continent, Bali is known for its exceptionally hot climates as well as its astounding natural beauty.
This culture-rich paradise, located in South-East Asia, is just one of the most popular holiday destinations among the Indonesian countries, and for good reason. Home to lavish sandy beaches such as the Kuyaand Seminyak beaches, Southern Bali in particular seems to be the ‘tourist central’ part of the country. It’s common knowledge that we all want to enjoy the finer things, and travelling abroad is a great way to escape everyday life, even if just for a week or two.
These exotic climates attract many travellers, especially
as certain countries don’t often see the extreme highs that Bali has and this makes it the perfect getaway destination for people who prefer the hotter weather.
This brings up another important point, how to dress when holidaying here. Deciding what to pack in your suitcase can be tricky, particularly if you’re not so used to travelling internationally. It’s very easy to just ‘stick to what you know’ in terms of clothing if you haven’t travelled abroad for a while, but it’s far better to start preparing early to help you become more accustomed once you are ready to fly.
When exploring foreign territory it pays off to try your best to adapt to your surroundings, so that there is no risk of disrespecting the Balinese locals. With Hinduism being the dominant religion practised here this shows that Bali is a country that focuses on spirituality. So this means that dressing respectfully and with modesty is paramount, especially among the non-touristy regions.
When thinking about what is acceptable to wear here, it is definitely worth doing your research and paying attention to the following clothing tips…
Weather
You should factor the weather into what you choose to pack into your suitcase as Bali is known to have its’ fair share of rain from October to April, so if you’re planning on visiting during these months, it’s worth investing in a light but heavily waterproofed jacket with a hood. You can also find those transparent ponchos in many of the outdoor stores and supermarkets, which are incredibly handy to keep folded up in your backpack so that if the rain comes down hard, you can keep yourself dry.
December and January also tend to bring about the highest levels of humidity, combined with heavy downpours of rain. The ‘wet season’ in Bali is not for everybody, but being a tropical country it’s definitely worth visiting no matter what time of year it is. Remember that ‘less is more’ here and casual, loose-fitted clothing will benefit you much more than restricting clothing. So be sure to pack plenty of light, cotton t-shirts and shorts that can be easily washed as well as floaty kaftans which are ideal for the evening without appearing too ‘dressed up’.
The drier weather tends to happen from May to September and Bali is known for its pesky mosquitoes which is why it is essential to come equipped with spray-on insect repellents as well as high SPF sun creams. You will likely be showing much more flesh during your holiday in Bali, so do keep a close eye on keeping skin moisturised and protected.
General Balinese Dress-Code
You will find that the locals in this part of the world are very welcoming and so there is no specific dress-code that needs to be followed. Although being an exotic country it would be simpler to wear very little, the Balinese have a strong belief in respecting one another so it’s only polite to keep covered up, especially if you’re visiting a place of spirituality like a temple.
Ram Gupta, a Fashion Journalist and Style Guru, works along side with NalluCollections.com, one of the finest online fashion store, known for its traditional and ethnic style. Apart from that, he also works as a freelancer for many major Fashion Magazines – both online and print.