LOCAL SERVICES
TV & Internet | Phone & Mobile | Gas & Water | Electricity | Sewage & Waste Water | Refuse Collection | Bill Payment | Banking | Schools | Post Office
Local Services: Introduction | Trades people | Consumer protection | Tools & Equipment
TV & Internet
Terrestrial local TV is very exactly that, also the quality of the signal can be poor due to the terrain and weather. There are two Satellite TV options, Indosat and Astro, a Malaysia based company. They both offer similar basic viewing packages and pricing, plus sport and movies. Astro have a contract with ESPN to show the English Premier League football matches. On the other hand Indosat does not but still has ESPN as one of their sports channels. Indosat has more national channels such as RCTI and SCTV that are available on terrestrial TV but the transmission quality is better depending on the weather!
The Internet options are limited. Dial-up via Telkon, assuming you have a fixed phone line is very slow and suffers from sometimes very frequent disconnection and isn’t cheap for what it is. Broad band doesn’t exist over fixed line. Some mobile phone operators offer wireless connections to their customers, but a lot depends on where you live and so does the quality of the signal, but can be cheaper than dial-up. The other alternative is to get a satellite connection, but the “one off” charge is expensive. Various local re-sellers offer a variety of bandwidth and user time.
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Phone & Mobile
I am told there are no more lines available in the area, although things may be different through unofficial channels. In our experience the quality of the line is poor. There are a number of radio masts dotted about the area and we get the local radio station loud and clear. However the person at the other end of the line doesn’t get to hear it. Costs outside the immediate area are not cheap and IDD is expensive. There is an alternative to fixed line, a company is offering a wireless based solution that is national, International and does have Internet capability, but is slow, the equivalent of a dial up service. There is no account to settle, there is a “one off” charge and vouchers can be bought at a variety of retail outlets in the area, a good if not better alternative to fixed line.
As for the mobile market there are a number of operators. Very few people have accounts with them; people buy credit from one of the many resellers on a “pay as you go” basis. The cost of local calls and SMS are not bad, but go beyond and the cost goes up significantly. For those who have Global Roaming with Indosat, be warned, I was away for 10 tens and my roaming charges alone was the equivalent of $25USD per day!
There is no mains gas, it all comes in bottles (LPG, low pressure gas). The first bottle you buy is the expensive one because you pay a deposit on the bottle. Many shops sell gas and the majority will deliver to your house and swap it over as part of the service. Just make sure you have a good quality regulator and connection house, you don’t want any nasty smells or accidents.
Water can come from either ground water via a well/bore and pump or mains supply on a meter. A lot of homes use ground water without any apparent health issues. However, most homes buy separate drinking water in 19 litre bottles and keep them on a dispenser; it’s cheap and does the job. In the dry season the water table can get low and the water can have a smell, some homes are prone to poor supply, also sand getting drawn up and cause minor blockages. It is possible to get connected to “City Water or Desa Water”; the water company will come out and see how far you are from the nearest connection point and give you a price. Make sure it includes the connection charge and the meter. The price may not be as bad as you think. City Water (PDMA) will locate the metre on your property where your main entrance is located and run a separate pipe to the house itself. Desa Water are more flexible and will put the metre where you want it.
Electricity
Supply is 220-240, sockets are circular with two round pins and aren’t switched. The grid runs over ground which in my view is disappointing, but I’m sure is done purely for economics. Each house has its own individual supply unlike in developed countries. You can have as much or as little as you feel your home needs, which can be up rated should you need more power. There is a standing monthly charge depending on how much your supply is, plus a staggered consumption charge. The supply is pretty consistent; ours has gone out a few times for no apparent reason a few times over the past year. You are more prone to black outs during heavy storms, but generally the power isn’t down for very long. I would advise that you get a voltage regulator for sensitive equipment like computers and high end TV’s, as supply can fluctuate, these can be bought locally.
There is no mains sewage or drainage. Homes usually have two tanks that collect sewage and waste water. However, these tanks are not sealed and will allow seepage back into the ground soil and subsequent water table. Silt builds up over a period of time and can be removed by calling in a local contractor to remove it. The pavements/sidewalks are elevated to allow the drainage of storm water in the wet season. Not all roads have this built in and water is allowed to run off the surrounding rural areas that can make driving and walking difficult if your unlucky enough to caught out in one the storms. Fortunately it’s only for a few months in the year.
There isn’t any on a house to house basis. This is my personal hate, there is an apparent disregard for waste disposal. Although it must be said that more rubbish collection points are appearing all be it very slowly. Local people will burn rubbish outside their house normally late in the afternoon. Others will take their rubbish to one of the larger collection points or deposit the rubbish in one of the yellow roadside containers. There is in my mind still too much of it on the streets and roadside, but let’s hope things continue to improve. There is a degree of recycling; there is a small army of men on small motorcycles driving around looking for any metal, plastics and cardboard.
Utility companies don’t send out bills. Payment is on a nominated day of the month, they will tell you what you owe and a receipt is issued when you pay. Late settlement will result in a small surcharge added to your bill. For electricity and metred water, take your old bill with you for reference. For a fixed line phone, just give your number. You won’t get a detailed “call by Call” bill, just a summary of local, long distance, IDD and any internet time used.
If you have satellite TV or an account with a mobile provider a bill will be sent with all the relevant information, including how you can pay. Most people settle via the ATM payment service.
Just remember this is a cash economy, no matter what you’re buying. On the rare occasion the supplier will accept a credit transfer direct into they’re account. Never seen a cheque and that isn’t about to change anytime soon!
The main Indonesian banks are represented in the main town Singaraja. There are no international banks in Bali, although some may have some affiliation. Sending money from abroad isn’t a problem, in our experience it takes about a week; just remember Bali has a considerable number of public holidays by comparison, so allowing some extra time is a good idea if you can. To open an account you need to hold a “KITAS” (have some form of residency) or be married to an Indonesian Citizen when you can have a joint account. Counter service is basic deposit or withdrawal; most people use the ATM or go to the office of the service provider to settle accounts. Queues can be long as nearly everything is done in cash, as a general rule avoid Monday mornings if you can. Hours are generally 08.00 – 16.00 closed Saturday (check) and Sunday. Some banks offer on-line facilities.
There are also village banks that have limited services. They have no ATM, but deposit rates are generally higher that the mainstream banks, language may also be a problem.
All the normal services are available, but bear in mind it closes at 2.00pm, why, I have no idea!
Attitude towards service is very different when coming from a developed country. You need them and to large degree they will dictate what happens, when and how much can depend on how great the need. “Bali time” is used as a convenient excuse, despite agreeing to come at a given time on a given day, in reality means very little. People will take your phone number, but won’t use it, arrive possibly days later with some excuse, but no apology or feeling that they have let you down in anyway. This doesn’t apply to all, but the vast majority, so finding a good, reliable person is very difficult, frustrating and a case of trial and error.
Irrespective of whether you need an electrician, plumber, carpenter there are no qualifications like in other countries. The skill level is more based on experience and reputation. Your best source is others in your area that will hopefully be able to recommend someone to you. It is a risky business, firstly getting your message across and making sure you get what you asked for, not what they think you should have and as close to a local price as you can get. Some will try and charge premiums because you are a foreigner, a reality of living abroad. As you go down the skill level to bricklayers, general labourers, you have to be very clear and supervise what is done to ensure you get what you want. Labour is cheap in Bali, but it does come at an indirect price.
Very simply there isn’t any, as in most of Asia when you walk out the door it’s yours irrespective of what happens to it. Items like fixtures and fittings, home improvement items are cheaper than normal but the quality isn’t that good and in our view it is worth paying that little bit more for an item. You may be able to exchange goods if you build up a relationship with the owner over a period of time depending on how much you buy. Branded goods will have a guarantee but it will involve sending the item away for repair. For example we had a leading brand mobile phone develop a fault. The shop said it would take three weeks, it took three months and we were told there was no way they could check on the progress during the repair.
Bear in mind that the primary source of transport for trades’ people is a small motor bike. They can’t carry many tools. If you are able get or bring a good set of steps and ladder. Buy good quality power tools, at least a drill with both high speed and masonry bits, also screw drivers and a set of open face and ring spanners. If you enjoy gardening, tools are very limited. Land is for growing food, not plants, so plan accordingly if you can.
Despite its name, you need them, not the other way around. The level of service is low by any standards and can be very frustrating to say the least. Some officials will expect an incentive just to get them to do the job they are paid for, resist where you can, unless you feel it’s going to get you somewhere.
Depending on what visa you hold will determine how much time you in here. Whatever you want to do will cost you more than the Government fee, sad but true. Just depends on how much you agree or fear they’re them not giving you want you want. They love to waste your time, asking you to come back time and time again for the most simple of tasks.
The Village Head can amongst other things make things difficult especially of access to land. Also you are required to register when you live within the village which carries a fee. Some Kapala Desa’s try to impose a local purchase tax in addition to the Government Tax when you buy a property, in our experience, referring them to your Notary stops the demands.