Body Language:                             Back
We can please or offend very easily without even opening our mouths, sometimes
we mean to (as a raised middle finger) most times we don't. In order to offend or
not we have to understand local customs. Some things to do/not do in Indonesia (and
most of these also apply to most if not all of Asia) are:
Do:                                                                         Not do:
1. Always remove shoes when entering	1. Point the sole of your foot at anyone.
a home or Temple.	(Since the bottom of your feet touch the
2. Beckon someone with the fingers to-	ground and that is where evil dwells
gether and the palm down & only with	it is considered in bad taste.)
right hand	2. Never touch anyone's head: We all pat
3. Point with your thumb, never with	children on the head but in Indonesia
your index finger. (again Right hand only)	since that's where the soul resides it's
4. Nod or raise your head instead of	not only impolite, it's offensive.

pointing at people.	3. Never pass any thing with your left
5. Wear a sarong with a colored sash	hand in fact avoid using it in any social
tied around the waist, a shirt and a	Way at all. It's considered dirty.
star hat/Men and scarf/Woman when	4. Never take photo's of people without
entering a temple.	Their consent This applies anywhere
6. Keep your hands off your hips and do	in the world.
not cross your arms in front of yourself	5.  For women/ Never enter a temple
when holding a conversation. both are	when Menstruating. during that time
considered impolite.	your considered impure.
7.  At Temples always show Priests respect	6. Do not display affection in public
(obvious) but a less known fact is that	(Hugging and kissing, etc.) Though
Priests being the most important figures	you will see the Balinese walking
should always be on the highest plane. So	hand in hand or with arms around
never put yourself higher then them by	each other or thrown over one
say climbing on some object or even get-	another's shoulders. It is always with
ting on someone's shoulders in order to	the same gender and is always totally
take a photograph/video, etc.	platonic.
8.   Dress appropriately when meeting with	7. When a guest for dinner never finish all
government officials/at banks etc. this	the food on your plate unless your still
means for men: long pants/slacks and a	hungry. (It tells your host your ready for
long sleeved shirt. For women: slacks/a	seconds.)
skirt below the knees and a loose fitting
(Not Revealing.) blouse.
9.   At Cremations: (You wouldn't want
someone coming to a loved one's funeral
looking as they were a street person, act-
ing rude, etc.) Please show the Balinese
the same respect you would expect.
Click here for an example

Other tips: I've read, though I've never had personal experiences, (I don't wear a beard.)

that in some of the more rural areas of Bali if you have facial hair men

may ask "How do you keep food from sticking in your beard?" and mother's

will tell their children "be careful of old man beard, he may eat you." I can't

say how true that information is, I'll try to find out next time I'm on Bali but

for now, if you don't need it, SHAVE IT OFF. Better safe then sorry. I don't

remember seeing one expatriate who wore one.

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Tips on body language in other countries Here