Expatriate Forums in Indonesia

Indonesia tourism · Guest Home Country: countryx

TRAVEL IN INDONESIA INFORMATION & TIPS

The Indonesian archipelago is made up of 17,508 islands of which only 6,000 are inhabited. The allure of the islands has long been an attraction for visitors. From the beaches in Bali and Lombok to the volcanoes in west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia has attractions for all sorts of travellers. Its diversity of attractions is complemented by a similar diversity in cultures and language, making Indonesia one of the world’s most fascinating places to visit.

Airport Taxes
Rp50,000 (infants under the age of 2 are exempt) if departing from Jakarta or Denpasar airports. Rp20,000 from other airports.

Electrical Appliances
Generally 220 volts AC, 50Hz, but 110 volts AC, 50Hz, in some rural areas.

Airport Transfers
The main gateways for entry to Indonesia are Jakarta and Bali. Jakarta is serviced by more airlines but Bali gets almost as much traffic.

A bus goes to the city every 30 minutes. Buses leave Jakarta from Gambir railway station and from Rawamangun and Blok M bus stations. Taxis are also available to the city centre at a cost of approximately Rp1500 plus Rp550 per km. A regular bus shuttle goes to Jakarta's second airport, Halim Perdana Kusuma (HLP), 13km (8 miles) southeast of the city (travel time - 45 minutes).

Denpasar (DPS) (Ngurah Rai), 13km (8 miles) south of the city, is the main airport on Bali (travel time - 30 minutes). A bus goes to the city centre. Taxis are available to the city and to Kuta, Logian, Sanur and Nusadua.

The recommended taxi service would be Blue Bird Taxi and Limousine fleet. Contact numbers are: (62 21)794 1234/7971245/798 9000.

The Denpasar-Bali Ngurah Rai Airport is situated at the southern most tip of the island, close to the resorts of Kuta, Nusa Dua and Sanur. It is 2.5km (1.6 miles) south of Kuta, which is accessible by road, but can also be reached by a stroll along the beach.

It is located in southern Bali, approximately 15km (9 miles) from the capital city, Denpasar.

Currency Matters
Rupiah (Rp) = 100 sen. Notes are in denominations of Rp50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5000, 1000, 500 and 100. Coins are in denominations of Rp1000, 500, 100, 50 and 25.

Currency exchange: Although there should be no difficulty exchanging major currencies in the main tourist centres, problems may occur elsewhere. The easiest currency to exchange is the US Dollar.

Special Prohibited Items
Other than the usual restrictions on bringing in drugs and contraband goods, Indonesia has a special ruling on the prohibition of bringing flora into the country.

Special Health Regulations
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming from infected areas. The countries and areas included in the yellow fever endemic zones are considered by Indonesia as infected areas. For a map of yellow fever endemic zones, see the Health appendix.

Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry to Indonesia. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix.

Malaria risk exists throughout the year everywhere except in the main tourist resorts of Java and Bali, Jakarta municipality and other big cities where risk is only slight. The malignant form falciparum is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine and resistant to sulfadoxine/pyrimethane. The benign form vivax is reported to be resistant to chloroquine in Irian Jaya, where mefloquine is recommended.

Other risks: Amoebic and bacillary dysenteries occur. Hepatitis A and E occur and hepatitis B is highly endemic. Japanese encephalitis and dengue fever can occur in the more rural areas. Poliomyelitis, tuberculosis and diptheria vaccinations are sometimes recommended. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present in central Sulawesi. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe.

Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.

Drinking Water
All water should be regarded as a potential health risk. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised.

Dress Code
Light and cool clothes are suitable. For formal occasions, use shirt and tie or long-sleeved batik shirt. Women are expected to dress modestly.

Travel Wisdom
Several Western countries have issued travel advisories on Indonesia since the Bali bombings in which a large number of foreigners were among the victims. The security situation is said to be “unstable” and travellers throughout Indonesia are advised to maintain a high level of security awareness.

Precautions that individuals can take include:

Keep cars locked at all times and where possible secure in a garage when not in use
Check underneath your vehicles before entering or using them, if they have been left in a publicly accessible location
Vary routes and timings between the office and home, or for other regular destinations, as much as possible
Take your handphone with you when you leave the office or home
Exercise caution when answering the telephone at home. Do not volunteer information until you are sure of the identity of the caller
Look out for strange vehicles parked near residences, or unattended packages and report any concerns to the authorities
Keep doors locked and windows secure when in your car
Avoid travelling alone at night
When taking a taxi, use one from a reputable firm, preferably booked by phone
For longer journeys it is a sensible precaution to notify friends of travel plans, contact them on arrival and where possible travel in convoy. There have been reports of cars being stopped and passengers robbed on highways

Weblinks To Visit

www.expat.or.id
A very complete information site about Indonesia for the expatriate community.

www.my-indonesia.info
A well-organised site that allows you to browse through the various regions of Indonesia, or by activities you can engage in such as diving, golf, trekking. Also available is general information on the country.

www.tourismindonesia.com
You can find a good collection of articles on various aspects of the country that make for interesting reading. If you want more detailed information on some of Indonesia’s attractions like the natural beauty of its flora and fauna, or the orang utan, here is where you go. You can also book hotel rooms online as well.

www.eastindonesia.com
If you are interested in East Indonesia and what it has to offer as a tourist destination, visit this site. Run by Limbunan Tours & Travel Service, this site gives you access to tour packages to the East Indonesia region – including Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Irian Jaya and others.

www.nusa-tenggara.com/main.html
This is another region-specific site – Nusa Tenggara. You can also book hotels here as well as get general information about the region.

source : Abacus Intl