In Reply to: Using your left hand posted by fozjen on Saturday, 19. June 2010 at 08:11 Bali Time:
Many Indonesians do not use toilet paper, preferring to wash their bits using only the bare left hand. Traditional food from local warungs is often served on a banana leaf or brown paper, and eaten with the RIGHT hand - for obvious reasons. Even with a proper washing of the hands, it is considered unclean to use the left hand for eating, and by extension, for giving someone something.
Passing an Indonesian money, or a business card with the left hand only is still considered a slight by some Indonesians. Where this is unavoidable, you will often hear the locals say something like 'maaf, kiri' (excuse the left) and we could well do something similar.
And the others are right, the locals, especially in South Bali, are used to our ways and are very forgiving. But when you make the effort to respect their customs, the flash of appreciation in their eyes is priceless.