Bali Travel Kids by Ni Zain

In the past months we have got many mails from parents asking how save it is to travel with their kids to Bali. Healthcare, safety traveling, vaccinations, etc. The basic is: It is no problem to travel with kids to Bali. It is like any other place in the world. It has its goods and it's bad. We just need to understand that no matter what you and your kids doing it will have a result. Being aware of problems does not mean you need to get over concerned, but it helps you to take action before things become a problem. So lets get started!

* Vaccinations

Many of our readers are asking if vaccination is required if you travel to Bali or Indonesia. I believe you do not have to vaccinate your child for anything if you come to Bali. I now that all the doctors at home tell you to vaccinate for all sort of things. Fact is, if your child is healthy it will not get sick. If you more concerned, than following will help.

- Read our article "The Immune Shock - Vaccination"

- Use Colloidal Silver during your stay in Bali and at least one month after. This also prevents you to get any kind of parasites or worm infections and protects you from the famous"Bali Belly".

- Homeopathic vaccination works very well and I am sure if you see a Homeopath early enough you can protect your child in a very save way, but... it takes a little bit more effort than just an injection. (The Holistic Healing Center in Kuta is do it! - Check out article lower....)

* Medical Care

There are several hospitals and first aid centers in Bali. I personally prefer private clinics such as Prima Medical Hospital in Denpasar. They quite well equipped and clean. Another good clinic, even it is a very small clinic, is the Clinic in Mas near to Ubud. I had some very good experiences with them and the Bumi Sehat Foundation is using them if they need medical help. The clinic is not on the top standard, but I heard of some operations they did really well. If you in Ubud and your child is getting sick you can always first go to Bumi Sehat Foundation. They have a quite good basic emergency set up and some specialists for kids. Make sure to make a donation, as they normally do not charge anything, but they need donations to survive.

In case you have a very serious case it is good to have an insurance to get evacuated to Singapore. A flight to Singapore takes 4 hours from Bali. So you need to calculate 6 - 7 hours until you in perfect medical care. In Bali Expacare is the leading insurance company for expats and Richard Flax and his team have lots of experience in evacuation.

Always remember: What ever you do, you might be far away from professional medical care! Once I was on a charter boat down in Flores and the first thing the captain said to us was: "You are 3 days away from medical care. Remember this at any time!" In Bali you can be on top of a mountain and it will be impossible to get a helicopter to come and flight you out. You might have to be carried for hours and driven for hours until you reach help.

Another fact is that locals are not trained in emergency. To make a re-animation is something completely unknown. If you lucky they bring you to the Balian and he will help you. But they might also be to afraid to touch you and first get a police. Hours before you get help.

On the other hand if you sick and you in a hotel or a private villa, you find great help at any time. There is no place in the world I like to be sick than here. I always have someone taking care of me. Food can be delivered to your house from the best restaurants and you can get all sort of natural healers to come to your very own place to take care of you.

I, Ni Zain helped many people in emergencies. Stiff neck, twisted ankle, blocked glands, cough, asthma, etc. Within hours someone can get up to 100% better.

Federique Nault, the Naturopath at the Holistic Healing Center in Kuta, is helping people with homeopathy, herbal remedies and many more. Federique is basically like a doctor, just on a holistic level. She can help in acute problems, but also for more deeper sitting problems. Federique has programs you can go though while you here in Bali.

Pak Circus is a Balinese Healer in Pantai Berawa, which is quite well known here in Bali. I am very impressed by his healing and knowledge, he has helped many people to recover.

There is one of the best dentists I know here on the island. He is THE dentist to go to. Dr. Supcito in Denpasar. He has top equipment and is on the latest standard. He is gentle and he and I always have a good laugh. His prices are lower than what you pay anywhere including an insurance.

More places will come next month. Please add yourself here if you can help people during their stay or holiday in Bali!

So make sure you get carried to the right person.

* Animals

There are lots of animals in Bali. Lots of nice ones and not so nice ones. Cows are lovely here, more like big deer, but they don't like Westerners. Once they smell you they take off. I never managed to touch one. But lets focus on not so nice ones.

Snakes: Against all - there are poison snakes in Bali. Big ones and small ones. Big ones like Boas and little green ones. They ARE dangerous. Teach your children how to treat snakes and how to react if they come across a snake. Means: Don't move and scream on top of your lungs. Snakes attack only what moves (if you lucky) and cannot hear. The only place which has antidotes is the Reptile Park Rimba in Singapore between Denpasar and Ubud. To find more help please call them at: Bali Reptile Park Ginayar 0361-299344 or Tabanan: 0361-829353.

Scorpions: Big black ones and little white ones. The black ones are as big as a hand. Not so dangerous. The little white ones can cause allergic reactions. But a homeopathic (Apis 200x or 1 Mx) might get you out of trouble. If you start to hyperventilate you are allergic, than seek medical help!

Bees: Small bees are not such a problem. I never had problems with them. But... there are bigger brown ones. They called Tawon. They building their nests on trees and houses. And they hurt you quite a lot, can cause swellings for several days. A does of Apis 200x will help you. Put some clay on the bit to suck out the poison. Apply colloidal silver to keep infection away.

Dogs: Local dogs are barking a lot, but normally they not biting. But better stay away from them. Many have skin infections you don't want to pick up. Even the small cute puppies. But still, even they nice, keep you kids away from them. A dog is a dog, is a dog.

Birds: Well, do as I do. I stay away from them in any form. Even as food.

* Additionally

Sand on the beach: Imagine a place were dogs, people and other animals jump around for weeks. Making pipi and pups. Spitting. Putting old food. No rain for a week and you let your child play in it. Go to a quite beach. Make sure the sand has been washed from the sea or a big rain in the last 24 hours.

Pools and Houses: Let say: 99% of the pools are not fenced. Means nothing will stop your child to go in the pool. Ponds are all over Bali in shopping centers, restaurants and on the side of the road. Holes are everywhere in the floor. Wells can be not closed. Houses are normally not equipped in child standard, but some do have now extra child beds and high chairs. Unfortunately architecture is growing a bit wild here, but nobody thinks that children might live in this houses. So make sure your house is whether child save or you always keep an eye on your child. Can you???

Other kids: Kids here are cool. But make sure they healthy. Many are running colds and don't clean their selves proper. You don't want your child catching something and spent the rest of the holiday in bed. You and your child are not used to the bugs here. With regular doses of Collodial Silver you can prevent a lot already. Kids also like to share food. The Balinese kids are used to their food. They are immune to it. Not so your children.

Ceremonies: If you invited to a ceremony make sure you take your own food. This sounds funny, even rude, but... Even the Balinese are getting sick from eating at ceremonies. Hygienic levels are very low compare to the West. And sometime you don't even want to know what they offer you. Packed cakes from a bakery are normally save, but make sure they come from a well known place. You can tell them that you got allergies and you have to be very careful about food. Balinese will 100% accept this. Expats who live here are also used to the food and the bugs, so don't take an expat friend as a measure for yourself and your kids.

Drugs: Stay away from them at any time. The police here is more clever as many people think. Make sure you know where you go if you going to a private location or party. You might end up in Kerobokan Jail, not a place to spent holidays (This is mistaken by many foreigners who think they want to add this experience to their Bali trip!). Teenagers need to be well educated about the dangers of drugs and the reality. Some expat residences in Kerobokan Jail are as young as 18 years.

I hope this article will help all of you to understand a trip to Bali better. I live in Bali, I don't worry too much, but I know the modalities. I know where to go to find the best help. But we need to be able to also see the truth. Bali is as any other place when it comes to health. Just because you on holiday does not mean you are protected for all silly things you doing....

Have a wonderful time in Bali!

Ni Zain- The Bule Balian

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