travel tips for indonesia

8/8/2019 Travel Tips for Indonesia

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INDONESIA A TRULY ASIAN EXPERRIENCE

The world's largest archipelago, Indonesia is composed of over 17,000 islands scattered over5,000 miles of ocean straddling the Southeast Asian equator. Few places on earth contain suchcultural diversity and geographical extremes as this vast, deeply enigmatic country. Indonesia'scatalogue of highlights is further enhanced by the year-round hot climate, and outstanding

value for money.

LOCATION: The name Indonesia has its roots in two Greek words: "Indos" meaning Indian and"Nesos" which means islands.

The fourth most populous country in the world, Indonesia is a wide archipelago of more than17,000 islands (6,000 of which are inhabited).

Situated north of Australia, the archipelago forms a large arc that starts west of Malaysia andends at the New Guinea island, and separates the Indian Ocean from the Pacific Ocean.From west to east, the main islands are Sumatra, Java (which harbours Jakarta, the capital, aswell as the other biggest Indonesian cities), Borneo (only a part of it, Kalimantan, isIndonesian), Bali (the most touristic island), Sulawesi and Irian Jaya (the west half of NewGuinea). Nusa Tenggara and Maluku are also part of Indonesia and themselves form smallerarchipelagos. The country has more than 120 volcanoes (some still active) many lakes, andhigh mountains.

VISA:The visa can be obtained upon arrival.

HOW TO GET THERE :

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Jakarta International Airport in Jakarta is the hub for allInternational flights arriving into Indonesia.

Quite a few Airines fly to Jakarta like CX, SQ, TG, MH etc. via their home Country.

GETTING AROUND :AIR : As Indonesia is a large island archipelago, flying is often the easiest way of getting aroundif you are to get the best out of your trip and see as many places as possible.There are six


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airlines, connecting most islands together. The main airlines are Garuda, Merpati and Bouraqand there are frequent flights to most major destinations.

TRAIN: Trains can only be found in Java and Sumatra . They are cheap, generally crowded andslow, but can provide a good inside view of these islands and a colourful highlight to your trip.Different kinds of trains are available (the most comfortable and the only one with air-

conditioning is the Executive). Beware that Indonesian railways are not noted for their safetyrecord.

CURRENCY: Indonesian Rupiah (IRD). IDR1 = 100 sen

BUISNESS: Normal banking hours are from 8h00 to 14h30 Mon-Fri. Some bank branches inhotels, however, keep longer hours.

CLIMATE: Indonesia's climate is tropical . There is no autumn or winter and distinctive "dry"and "wet" seasons share the year. The East Monsoon, from June to September, brings dryweather while the West Monsoon, from December to March is moisture-laden, bringing rain.Heaviest rainfalls are usually recorded in December and January and humidity is generallybetween 75% and 100%.

The best time to go therefore is during the dry season, from April to November, unless youhave a particular desire to experience torrential rain.

TIME :Indonesia is ahead by 1 hr. 30 mins. from India.

ELECTRICITY :Electricity supply is 230 volts throughout Indonesia.

DIALLING CODE :International dialling code: 62Area codes: Jakarta: 21, Denpasar: 361, Banjarmasin: 511 , Jayapura: 967,

Manado: 431, Palembang: 711 , Padang: 751, Pekanbaru: 761,Pontianak: 561, Sanur: 361, Surabaya: 31, Semarang: 24, Solo:271, Yogyakarta: 274

TIPS :Major hotels usually add a 10% service charge to bills. Where it is not included a tip of between5% to 10% of the bill would be appropriate if the service is satisfactory.

Airport porters expect around IDR2,000 for a small bag and IDR3,000, for bags weighing morethan 20kg. Tipping taxi drivers is not mandatory, but if service has been satisfactory a basicIDR1,000 tip is sufficient.

LANGUAGE :There are about 583 languages and dialects spoken in the archipelago. They normally belong tothe different ethnic groups of the population. English is widely spoken.

INFORMATIVE WEBSITE : www.indonesia-tourism.com

CITIES :
http://www.indonesia-tourism.com/http://www.indonesia-tourism.com/


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JAKARTA :At the heart of the huge archipelago that makes up Indonesia , the country's capital is a noisy,boisterous city, trying to keep together the diverse cultures of this enormous nation. At thewestern end of the island of Java, Jakarta is a sprawling metropolis that until recently wasbypassed by most tourists who would fly in and immediately move on to Java's other cities andtowns. Over the last few years, though, more and more visitors have realised that Jakarta itself

has plenty to offer, not only as a vibrant Asian city, but also as a centre of historical andcultural interest with a plethora of museums and colourful traditions.

Accomodation Options in Jakarta :There is a wide variety of hotels in Jakarta as in any other city.As Jakarta is very much a commercial city, the majority of hotels are in modern, business-style buildings within easy reach of the central business district, main tourist attractions andshopping facilities. Almost all have swimming pools, many of them outdoors, making it easy toenjoy the sun even while staying in the city. An excellent choice is Le Meridien, a five-starhotel located just opposite the World Trade Centre. A modern building, it boasts a very highstandard of service and comfort, and is only a few minutes' walk from the main centralshopping districts of the city and attractions such as the Royal Palace.

The areas south of Merdeka Square, but inside the first ring road, are a rich area for highquality five-star hotels, many of which are remarkably reasonable in price. Further south, inthe newly developed Mega Kuningan district is the Ritz Carlton. Another five-star hoteloffering super modern accommodation and stylish dcor, this is the perfect spot to relax aftera day's sightseeing or business meetings.

MUST SEES :National Museum :Jakarta's largest museum (known locally as Museum Gajah, or Elephant House , after thebronze elephant statue in front of the museum donated by the Thai king in the 19th century)provides a fascinating introduction to Indonesian history and culture. Housed in a white,pillared edifice, the displays range from a collection of prehistoric pieces, such as the skull ofancient Java Man, to relics and treasures from practically every corner of Indonesia.

The assortment of stone Buddhist and Hindu sculpture is particularly impressive, with many ofthe statues dotted around the museum grounds. There are also collections of textiles andceramics that provide an interesting insight into the social history of the archipelago, as doesthe extensive collection of Indonesian and foreign coins , including early gold and silvercoinage from the 8th century.


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Jalan Merdeka Barat 12. Open: Tue-Sun 08h30-14h30 (closes 11h30 Fri & 13h30 Sat). Admission:IDR750, adults; IDR250, children. Tel: +62 (0)21-381-2346.

Mini Indonesia :Jakarta's most popular attraction, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah is best known for its outdoormuseum of Indonesia in miniature, exhibiting 27 traditional houses representing the country's27 provinces and their major characteristics.

Visitors are able to wander around the houses, set around a lake and look at traditionalhandicrafts and clothes from the country's fascinating and varied culture. As an extra novelty,cable cars whisk you over the park for a bird's eye view of the houses. Other highlights of theenormous 120-hectare park include orchid gardens , a cultural museum, a museum of IrianJayan exhibits and an Imax theatre presenting wide screen films about Indonesia. As a whole,the park provides a very interesting insight into the varied culture of this huge archipelago.

Jalan Raya TM 1, TMI Indah. Open: Tue-Sun 08h00-17h00. Admission: IDR8000, adults, IDR6000,children. Tel: +62 (0)21-840-9270

Bogor Botanic Gardens :


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There are several orchid gardens in Jakarta, one in Taman Mini (see above), and a larger one inTaman Anggrek Indonesia Permai. But although out of town (around 60km (40miles) south ofJakarta), the Botanical Gardens of Bogor (Kebun Raya) are by far the most impressive.Bordering the Presidential Palace Grounds , the Bogor Gardens contain no less than 3,000varieties of orchids in greenhouses (though these are not always open to the public), and morethan 10,000 species of tropical trees and plants in the 87 hectares of beautiful landscaped

grounds. The Bogor area used to be tea and tobacco plantations owned by the Dutch colonistsand some of the old colonial buildings remain in the grounds.

Bogor is easily reached by train or bus from central Jakarta. Kebun Raya, Jl Ir H Juanda 13,Bogor. Open: daily 08h00-17h00. Admission: IDR5500. Tel: +62 (0)25-132-2220.

Istiqlal Mosque :The largest mosque in South East Asia, the Istiqlal Mosque ( Mesjid Istiqlal ) is a huge feat of

modern architecture, standing on ten hectares. The white marble domed edifice consisting offive levels can accommodate over 20,000 worshippers, and was the pride and joy of Indonesia

on its inauguration in 1978 after several years of construction.

The building was bombed in 1999 during the religious quarrels that took place, but was notseverely damaged. It is usually possible to enter the mosque as long as you are modestlydressed. Just across the road from the mosque is the Catholic cathedral of Jakarta, St Mary's,

which has caused some contention in the recent Muslim-Christian troubles.

National Mosque :


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Bandung and Tangkuban Prahu Volcano :About 200km east of Jakarta, cool and laid back Bandung is a pleasant place to unwind. Thethird largest city in Java, it doesn't feel like it and has the relaxed attitude of a country town .The city has retained much of its colonial architecture , with some lovely examples of fading

Art Deco grandeur all over the city. Nearby is the Tangkuban Prahu volcano , with its bubblingsulphurous pools and surrounding jungle. The best way to get to Bandung is by train, whichtakes around three hours from Jakarta and follows a very scenic route through the JavaneseCountryside.

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Borobudur :Further afield and requiring a couple of days' stay, Borobudur is the largest Buddhist templeon Earth . Located 40km from Yogyakarta in Central Java, this impressive grey stone structurewas built in the 9th century and features about 500 statutes of Buddha as well as 2,500 carvedpanels.

The layered, circular design of the temple with a giant stupa at its centre has been comparedto a lotus flower floating in a lake and the graceful curved walls covered in intricate carvingscertainly create a feeling of serenity.

To enjoy Borobudur at its best, you need to beat the crowds, as it can get very busy. Try to getthere either early in the morning or wait until late afternoon/early evening when the worst ofthe tourist hoards will have disappeared and you will be able to visit in relative peace andquiet.


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BALI:One of the most magical islands in the world, Bali justly deserves its nickname "Island of aThousand Gods". Blessed with beautiful beaches, lush, verdant countryside and beautiful oldtemples, no-one could deny that the "heaven on earth" clich rings true.

The majority of visitors flock to the island's beautiful beaches. The southern beaches of Kutaand Nusa Duaare blessed with long swathes of golden sand with azure waters lapping at theshore. Although much of the north coast is covered in black, volcanic sand, the beaches uphere tend to be somewhat quieter and still offer a wonderful location for swimming,snorkelling or just relaxing. Natural attractions don't stop at the beach either - In the east, thevolcanic mountain of Gunung Agungjuts up into the clear blue sky, creating a dramaticfeature in this peaceful land.

Accomodation Options in Bali :In Bali, you are really spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation. Some of the mostbeautiful and luxurious hotels in the world can be found here, recreating the archetypalromantic dream of stepping off your balcony onto a palm-fringed beach . Many of the resort-

style hotels offer this as well as superb accommodation, often modern and extremelycomfortable, but with a touch of Balinese design just to add that exotic feel.

Most of the top places to stay are in the south of the island and therefore within easy reach ofthe airport. Most hotels will offer airport pick-ups but are otherwise a fairly easy taxi rideaway. Bali's most popular resort, Kuta, has accommodation at all levels, from the simple to thesublime, as does nearby Legian. Nusa Dua and Sanur, on the other hand, tend to be moreexclusive and cater to the top end of the market, with resort-type hotels in pristinesurroundings. Though not by the sea, the beautiful town of Ubud is nonetheless one of the mostinteresting places to visit in Bali and also has high class hotels such as the Komaneka Resortwhich is set in lush tropical gardens. The wonderfully furnished rooms either overlook thegardens or the rice paddyfields and are of exceptional standard. For a completely relaxing stayyou can enjoy the hotel's restaurant and spa.

South-west of Bali is Uluwatu, the location of the Uluwatu temple which is perchedprecariously on the cliffs edge with the sea pounding the rocks below and offers spectacularviews especially at sunset. Situated close by is the Dreamland Resort which providesaccommodation combining the best of contemporary and traditional balinese styles and onsitefacilities including a restaurant, bar and spa.


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MUST SEES :UBUD: The artistic centre of Bali, charming Ubud is home to numerous art galleries and craftshops, making it an ideal place for art lovers to browse while soaking up the very Balineseatmosphere. Wander through the back streets to the strains of gamelan music playing in thedistance and feel yourself being transported into another world. Some of the best traditionaldance shows can be seen here or you can simply watch the locals making their tiny Hindu

offerings to throw into the street to ward off danger.Just out of the town, stroll down to the aptly named Monkey Forest, to see some of itsinhabitants swinging from the trees - some of them have been known to stray out of the forest,surprising people staying at nearby hotels.

KUTA :

The tourist capital of the island, and arguably of the whole of Indonesia, Kuta often gets a badpress with independent travellers looking for the "real Bali". This, though, doesn't detract fromthe fact that it is home to one of the best beaches on the island - a beautiful swathe of whitesand - and is a great place for surfers who aren't up to braving the perils of Uluwatu, earning itthe nickname "surfers' paradise", with a good choice of restaurants, bars and shops.

Kintamani :

The dramatic scenery of north-eastern Bali, a region known as Kintamani, is worlds away fromthe calm beaches of the south. Volcanic mountains soar up to well over 2000m, culminating inthe highest point of 3142m-high Gunung Agung, dormant since the 1960s.


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For the Balinese, the mountain is a place of great spiritual significance and the largest templeon the island, beautiful Pura Besakih, sits at its base, from where you can climb to the summit(the best time to do this is at night so that you can see the views to Lombok at dawn). Equallyimpressive is nearby Lake Batur, the largest in Bali, which sits in the caldera of Gunung Batur.If visiting this region, be prepared for the weather: it's much cooler here than the rest of Baliand can get positively chilly at night.

Tanah Lot Temple :

The Tanah Lot (meaning the Temple of the Earth and Sea ) has been one of the mostvenerated temples in Bali - and one of the most photographed. Jutting out to sea atop a coralisland and only attainable at low tide, the temple is best seen in the early evening, when thesun sets behind it, giving it an especially dramatic air.

The Balinese come here for a number of ceremonies to pay homage to the guardian spirits ofthe sea and it is said that poisonous sea snakes at its base guard against evil spirits. If you aregoing inside, make sure that you are appropriately attired (ie, well-covered) to avoid causingoffence.

Bukit / Nusa Dua :


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Covered in dense forest with cliffs soaring into the sea, Bukit is the small peninsula at theextreme south of Bali. Precariously perched on one of these cliffs is the beautiful UluwatuTemple affording incredible views over the surrounding coastline.

Bukit is renowned for its surfing spots, in particular Uluwatu, which attracts surfers from allover the world. You'll also find some of the best beaches in Bali in this area, including the

upmarket resort of Nusa Dua on the eastern coast, which, though not typically Balinese, doeshave golden swathes of sand fringed by coconut palms, just as the tourist brochures would haveyou believe.

Denpasar :

Crowded and bustling, Bali's capital is often avoided by visitors who are eager to get straight tothe beach. Yet Denpasar has several attractions of interest, and is well worth exploring. One ofthe main highlights is the majestic Hindu Temple of Jagat Natha , Denpasar's main Hindu placeof worship and the centre of festivals and local events.

Just a couple of kilometres out of the city centre are the traditional buildings set in landscapedgardens of the Bali Arts Centre or Taman Budaya, offering some of the best of Balinese culturewith regular displays of dance and theatrical productions as well as art exhibitions. The townalso offers some colourful markets , selling practically anything from birds and reptiles to foodand fabrics, as well as dozens of excellent Chinese and Indonesian restaurants.

Dolphin Cruises :


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Wherever you're staying by the coast, you're likely to be offered numerous opportunities to goon boat trips for snorkelling over nearby coral reefs or just for enjoying the scenery. Any of

these are generally good fun and highly recommended as a pleasant way of spending the day. Aslightly more unusual alternative to these, though, is the dolphin-watching tour around the

southern peninsula.

SHOPPING :

Woven ( ikat) or printed ( batik ) fabrics can be found anywhere, but the best ones are in thesmall islands of Nusa Tenggara (Sumba, Lombok or Flores) or in Bali. Antique ones or thosemade from silk tend to be expensive (more than IDR3,000,000) but Indonesian fabrics aredefinitely something you should bring back home.

The same can be said about woodcarving, which abounds everywhere. Colourful carved masksin Bali are affordable (below IDR50,000 for a recent mask) yet original souvenirs. Or there is agreat choice of magnificent decorated shields, panels or statues in Sulawesi or Java. It is stillpossible to find authentic antiques in Bali, Lombok, Sumatra or Irian Jaya, such as old knifehandles with beautiful patinas or small spice boxes.

Another popular souvenir in Java and Bali are decorative puppets made from wood or leather,used traditionally in shadow puppet shows. Indonesia is a great place to buy silver jewellery.One of the best places to look for silver is Yogyakarta on Java, where there are some excellentjewellery shops selling unusual designs of gold and silver earrings, bracelets and rings. Bali,too, produces some original designs of silver pieces with gold inlay.


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Decorative kites made of bamboo and representing animals or mythical creatures can bepurchased in Bali, at cheap prices, and they do actually fly properly.

FOOD :

Indonesian food is not generally well known to foreigners. Yet, Indonesian cuisine is very tastyand does not look like any other in the world. With a few exceptions, the food is spicy andprovides original sweet and salty tastes.

INDIAN RESTAURANTS :JAKARTA :JEWEL OF INDIAHOTEL AMBHARA JAKARTA , Jl Iskandarsyah Raya no 1, Jkt 12160Tel : 21 270 0704/02

KOMALASSarinah Building, Jalan M H Thamrin #11, Jakarta 10350Tel : 3903533

QUEENS OF INDIAJalan Danau Permai Raya Blok C Sunter, Jakarta 14350Tel : 21 65831477

QUEENS TANDOOR Permata Plaza Ground Floor Jl MH Thamrin Kav 57 , Jkt 10350Tel : 21 390 3287 / 3286

BALI:

GATEWAY OF INDIAJln Abimanyu 10, Seminyak Seminyak, BaliTel : 732940

MAHARANIJln Danau Poso 108, Sanur, BaliTel: 285909

SAVITRI CAFJln ByPass Ngurah Rai 91, Sanur, BaliTel : 286197


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