Social ConventionsSince independence, many people have developed a strong sense of national pride, and maintain traditions of dance, painting, woodcarving and stonecarving. Social courtesies are often fairly formal. In particular, when drink or food is served, it should not be touched until the host invites the guest to do so. Never pass or accept anything with the left hand. Public displays of affection between men and women are frowned upon and kissing in public will attract a great deal of unwanted attention. Touching a stranger of the same sex while in conversation is very common.
Pointing is considered impolite and patting children on the head should be avoided. Indonesians are polite and will extend endless courtesies to visitors whom they trust and like. Smiling is a cultural tradition and Indonesians smile frequently, even in an uncomfortable or difficult situation. Visitors should avoid losing their temper. When invited to a home, a gift is appreciated (as long as it is given with the right hand). Informality is normal, but a few smart establishments encourage guests to dress for dinner. Muslim customs, especially those concerning female clothes, should be observed.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe national airlines are
Garuda Indonesia (GA) (website:
www.garuda-indonesia.com) and
Merpati Nusantara Airlines (MZ) (website:
www.merpati.co.id).
Departure TaxRp100,000 from Jakarta and Denpasar; Rp75,000 from other airports; transit passengers continuing their journey on the same day, and infants under the age of 2 are exempt.
NoteFor a full list of the air- and seaports which may be used to enter and exit Indonesia, see the website of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in the UK (see
General Info).
Main AirportsJava: Jakarta (CGK) (Soekarno-Hatta) is 20km (13 miles) northwest of Jakarta city center (journey time – 45 minutes).
To/from the airport: A bus goes to the city every 30 to 60 minutes. Buses leave Jakarta from Gambir railway station and from Rawamangun, Blok M and Pasar Minguu bus stations. Taxis are also available to the city center.
Facilities: Banks/bureaux de change, a post office, duty-free shops, gift shops, restaurants, snack bars, car hire and medical/vaccination facilities.
Bali: Denpasar (DPS) (Ngurah Rai), 13km (8 miles) southwest of Denpasar city center, is the main airport on Bali (journey time – 30 minutes).
To/from the airport: A bus goes to the city center. Taxis are available to the city and to Kuta, Urud, Nusadua and Sanur.
Facilities: Restaurant/bar, newsagent, bank, post office and car hire.
Getting There by WaterMain ports: Belawan (Medan),
Dumai, and
Padang on Sumatra.
High-speed
ferries run between Sumatra and Malaysia. The most popular route is Belawan (Medan)–Penang (journey time – 4 hours), operated by
Langkawi Ferry (tel: (61) 452 1111; website:
www.langkawi-ferry.com). There are also services between Dumai–Malacca, Mandalo (Sulawesi), and The Philippines.
Many
cruise lines serve Indonesia.
Getting There by RailThere is a daily sea and rail service between Belawan and Penang (west Malaysia) operated by
National Railroad of Indonesia.
Getting There by RoadIndonesia’s international land borders are between Kalimantan and the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah on the island of Borneo, and Papua and Papua New Guinea. There are no road links with Sabah and the few (poorly maintained) roads to Sarawak are not recognized as gateways to Indonesia.
OverviewThe following goods may be imported into Indonesia by persons over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100g of tobacco;
1l of liquor;
a reasonable quantity of perfume;
gifts up to a value of US$250 per person or US$1,000 per family.
Cameras must be declared on arrival. Video cameras, portable radios, tape recorders, binoculars and sport equipment may be imported provided exported on departure. Films, tapes, CD/DVDs, records and computer software must be screened by the censor board. There are also restrictions on fruits and animal, fish and plant products.
Prohibited items: Cordless telephones, Chinese medicines or printings, pornography, and non-prescription drugs.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirIndonesia has a good internal air system linking most of the larger towns to Jakarta. Domestic operators include
Garuda Indonesia (GA) (website:
www.garuda-indonesia.com),
AirAsia (QZ) (website:
www.airasia.com), and
Merpati Nusantara Airlines (MZ) (website:
www.merpati.co.id).
NoteCheap fares
The
Asean Air Pass offers special fares on domestic flights and gives access to varying numbers of cities depending on the ticket bought. Passes must be bought from
Garuda Indonesia (tel: (020) 7467 8600, in the UK; website:
www.garuda-indonesia.com) outside Indonesia.
Getting Around by WaterMain ports: Padang Bai and Benoa (Bali),
Tanjung Priok (Jakarta),
Belawan (Medan) and
Sekupang (Batam).
PELNI (tel: (21) 421 1921; website:
www.pelni.com), the state-owned shipping company, has luxurious passenger liners serving all the main ports across the archipelago. Foreign cruise liners also operate on an irregular basis. Luxury cruise ships offer trips to various destinations, including the eastern islands (leaving from Bali). For further details, contact the
Indonesia Tourism Promotion Office (see
General Info).
Getting Around by RailThe train operator in Indonesia is
PT Kereta Api (tel: 424 1370; website:
www.infoka.kereta-api.com). There are three classes of travel,
Eksecutif (Executive),
Bisnis (Business) and
Ekonomi (Economy), but first-class exists only on principal expresses. There is some air-conditioned accommodation. Children under three travel free; children aged three to seven pay half fare. In Sumatra, trains connect Belawan, Medan and Tanjong Balai/Rantu Prapet (two or three trains daily) in the north, and Palembang and Panjang (three trains daily) in the south. An extensive rail network runs throughout Java. The modern, air-conditioned
Argo Bromo Anggrek service, which is
Eksecutif class only, with refreshments included, links Jakarta and Surabaya; it departs daily and nightly. There are also other express services. Between Jakarta and Bandung there is a train every 1 to 2 hours,
Eksecutif class (journey time – about 3 hours) and then twice-daily trains on to Surabaya.
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the left. Nearly half of the road network is paved. There are good road communications within Java and, to a lesser extent, on Bali and Sumatra. The other islands have poor road systems. Chauffeur-driven cars are widely available.
Bus: The
Big Bird chartered buses (tel: 798 9000; website:
www.bluebirdgroup.com/charter_bus.html) provide regular services between most towns. Indonesia is the land of jam karet (literally ‘rubber time’), and complicated journeys involving more than a single change should not be attempted in a day. Bus fares are relatively low; most are fixed, with a higher price for the air-conditioned buses. There are night buses on a number of long-distance routes; pre-booking is essential. Visitors should note that buses can be extremely crowded, and that drivers are reckless.
Taxi: Widely available in cities and towns.
Car hire: Available from a number of international and local companies.
Regulations: Speed limits are usually 30-40kph (19-25mph) on inner city streets, 60-70kph (37-43mph)on inter-city roads and 80-100 kph (50-62mph) on highways depending on the territory.
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.
Alternative transport: Rickshaws: the motorized
bajaj, which seats two passengers, with the driver in front; and the
becak is pedal-powered by a rider sitting behind two passengers. Fares should be negotiated in advance.
Motorcycles and
bicycles can be rented; for motorcycles, an International Driving Permit is recommended and a helmet should be worn.
Bemos and
opelets are communal minibuses; fares should be negotiated in advance.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesJakarta is the only city with an established conventional bus service of any size, and it has a comprehensive network.
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(1).jpg "Views across rice paddy")
