With nearly constant temperatures year-round and a visa process that makes it easy on With nearly constant temperatures year-round and a visa process that makes it easy on Westerners, Indonesia is a welcoming country, and the locals will go out of their way to make sure that visitors have a great trip.
Immigration: All travelers to Indonesia must possess passports, valid for at least six months after arrival, and proof of onward passage out of the country
Time Zones: Indonesia is divided into three time zones:
Western Indonesia Time (Sumatra, Java, West and Central Kalimantan): GMT + 7 (West).
Central Indonesia TIme (Bali, South and East Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara): GMT + 8 (Central).
East Indonesia Time (Maluku, Irian Jaya): GMT + 9 (East).
Telephone: IDD is available to main cities. Country code: 62 (followed by 22 for Bandung, 21 for Jakarta, 61 for Medan and 31 for Surabaya). Outgoing international code: 00. Many hotel lobbies have public phones which take credit cards and phone cards. Public phones are available in coins, cards, chips and (in some tourist areas) credit card operated machines. State-operated phone booths (WARTEL), which work on a pay-as-you-leave basis, can be found throughout the country. For emergencies, dial 110 (police) or 118 (ambulance for traffic accidents) or 119 (ambulance for general health) or 113 (fire department).
Electricity: Cities run on 220 volts, 50 cycle's AC system. Rural areas may only be able to provide 110 volts.
Language: Bahasa Indonesia is the national language. words in Bahasa are pronounced pretty much as they are written. In all tourist destination areas English is the number one foreign language spoken and written.
Currency: Rupiah (IDR), abbreviated Rp. = 100 sen. Notes are in denominations of Rp100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5000, 1000, 500 and 100. Coins are in denominations of Rp1,000, 500, 100, 50 and 25. In major centers, travelers cheques in US dollars are readily accepted and most hotels in tourist or commercial centers will accept major credit cards.
Currency Exchange ATM machines are generally located in the major cities with few to none in outlying areas. MasterCard, American Express and Visa are widely accepted in Jakarta and the main tourist areas. In more remote areas, it is best to carry cash in small denominations. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Note: Be careful when using credit cards, as cloning and fraud are a major problem in Indonesia. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, but American Express can be problematic. At smaller operations, surcharges of 2-5% over cash are common.
Money Changers: In the reverse direction, money changers will be happy to turn your dirty rupiah into spiffy dollars, but the spread is often considerable (10% is not unusual). Be very careful dealing with moneychangers, who are very adept at distracting your attention during the counting process and short-changing you as a result. As a precaution, consider bringing a friend along to watch over the transaction very carefully. Be aware of moneychangers who offer great rates. They will quote you one price, and start counting stacks of Rp.20,000 notes, and ask you to count along with them. This is a ploy to confuse and shortchange you. If they realize you are onto them, they will tell you that they have to subtract 6-8% for "commission" or "taxes".
Travellers cheques: Limited merchant acceptance but can be easily exchanged at banks and larger hotels. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.
Tipping: Hotels and restaurants catering for international visitors include a service charge on all their bills. However, small tips for good service are always appreciated. Whether you tip or not, you will find the people of Jakarta very friendly and you can expect good service.
Tipping taxi drivers Rp. 1,000 or leaving the change is appreciated but not mandatory. It is advisable to carry small change as taxi drivers are often short of change.
Taxi Security: In Jakarta most taxi companies have an alert light on the top of the car which is activated in case of an emergency (robbery of or by a passenger). Other taxi drivers or policemen see the light on and realize that the taxi driver or passenger is in need of assistance. In addition to this standard alert light, all Blue Bird Group taxis have a hidden security device which, if activated, enables the dispatcher to overhear and record the conversation between the driver and passenger using a special radio frequency. This provides protection both for the driver and the passengers. An alert goes out in the case of a true emergency and the taxi is quickly surrounded by other Blue Bird taxis to ensure the safety of the driver and passenger. No need to wait for the uncertain response from the police.
Weather: Indonesia is a tropical country, and the climate is fairly even all year round. The year being roughly divided into two distinct seasons, 'wet' and 'dry' (there is no such thing as an autumn or winter). Tropical climate varying from area to area. The eastern monsoon brings the driest weather from June to October. The western monsoon brings the main rains from November to March. Rainstorms occur all year. Higher regions are cooler.There are occasional showers during the transitional periods and the general maximum temperature is 33°C (62°F) and the general minimum 21°C (41°F). Humidity is high at all times, generally between 75% and 100%.
Shopping: Favourite buys are batik cloth, woodcarvings and sculpture, silverwork, woven baskets and hats, bamboo articles, kerises (small daggers), paintings and woven cloth. Shopping hours: Mon-Sun 10.00-21.00. Most local markets open either very early in the morning or at dusk.
Theft: "Beware of thieves" signs or announcements from time in department stores or shopping areas should not be ignored. Ladies are advised to carry their bags in front of them. Wallets in your back pockets will make you an easy target.
Immigration: All travelers to Indonesia must possess passports, valid for at least six months after arrival, and proof of onward passage out of the country
Time Zones: Indonesia is divided into three time zones:
Western Indonesia Time (Sumatra, Java, West and Central Kalimantan): GMT + 7 (West).
Central Indonesia TIme (Bali, South and East Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara): GMT + 8 (Central).
East Indonesia Time (Maluku, Irian Jaya): GMT + 9 (East).
Telephone: IDD is available to main cities. Country code: 62 (followed by 22 for Bandung, 21 for Jakarta, 61 for Medan and 31 for Surabaya). Outgoing international code: 00. Many hotel lobbies have public phones which take credit cards and phone cards. Public phones are available in coins, cards, chips and (in some tourist areas) credit card operated machines. State-operated phone booths (WARTEL), which work on a pay-as-you-leave basis, can be found throughout the country. For emergencies, dial 110 (police) or 118 (ambulance for traffic accidents) or 119 (ambulance for general health) or 113 (fire department).
Electricity: Cities run on 220 volts, 50 cycle's AC system. Rural areas may only be able to provide 110 volts.
Language: Bahasa Indonesia is the national language. words in Bahasa are pronounced pretty much as they are written. In all tourist destination areas English is the number one foreign language spoken and written.
Currency: Rupiah (IDR), abbreviated Rp. = 100 sen. Notes are in denominations of Rp100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5000, 1000, 500 and 100. Coins are in denominations of Rp1,000, 500, 100, 50 and 25. In major centers, travelers cheques in US dollars are readily accepted and most hotels in tourist or commercial centers will accept major credit cards.
Currency Exchange ATM machines are generally located in the major cities with few to none in outlying areas. MasterCard, American Express and Visa are widely accepted in Jakarta and the main tourist areas. In more remote areas, it is best to carry cash in small denominations. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Note: Be careful when using credit cards, as cloning and fraud are a major problem in Indonesia. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, but American Express can be problematic. At smaller operations, surcharges of 2-5% over cash are common.
Money Changers: In the reverse direction, money changers will be happy to turn your dirty rupiah into spiffy dollars, but the spread is often considerable (10% is not unusual). Be very careful dealing with moneychangers, who are very adept at distracting your attention during the counting process and short-changing you as a result. As a precaution, consider bringing a friend along to watch over the transaction very carefully. Be aware of moneychangers who offer great rates. They will quote you one price, and start counting stacks of Rp.20,000 notes, and ask you to count along with them. This is a ploy to confuse and shortchange you. If they realize you are onto them, they will tell you that they have to subtract 6-8% for "commission" or "taxes".
Travellers cheques: Limited merchant acceptance but can be easily exchanged at banks and larger hotels. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.
Tipping: Hotels and restaurants catering for international visitors include a service charge on all their bills. However, small tips for good service are always appreciated. Whether you tip or not, you will find the people of Jakarta very friendly and you can expect good service.
Tipping taxi drivers Rp. 1,000 or leaving the change is appreciated but not mandatory. It is advisable to carry small change as taxi drivers are often short of change.
Taxi Security: In Jakarta most taxi companies have an alert light on the top of the car which is activated in case of an emergency (robbery of or by a passenger). Other taxi drivers or policemen see the light on and realize that the taxi driver or passenger is in need of assistance. In addition to this standard alert light, all Blue Bird Group taxis have a hidden security device which, if activated, enables the dispatcher to overhear and record the conversation between the driver and passenger using a special radio frequency. This provides protection both for the driver and the passengers. An alert goes out in the case of a true emergency and the taxi is quickly surrounded by other Blue Bird taxis to ensure the safety of the driver and passenger. No need to wait for the uncertain response from the police.
Weather: Indonesia is a tropical country, and the climate is fairly even all year round. The year being roughly divided into two distinct seasons, 'wet' and 'dry' (there is no such thing as an autumn or winter). Tropical climate varying from area to area. The eastern monsoon brings the driest weather from June to October. The western monsoon brings the main rains from November to March. Rainstorms occur all year. Higher regions are cooler.There are occasional showers during the transitional periods and the general maximum temperature is 33°C (62°F) and the general minimum 21°C (41°F). Humidity is high at all times, generally between 75% and 100%.
Shopping: Favourite buys are batik cloth, woodcarvings and sculpture, silverwork, woven baskets and hats, bamboo articles, kerises (small daggers), paintings and woven cloth. Shopping hours: Mon-Sun 10.00-21.00. Most local markets open either very early in the morning or at dusk.
Theft: "Beware of thieves" signs or announcements from time in department stores or shopping areas should not be ignored. Ladies are advised to carry their bags in front of them. Wallets in your back pockets will make you an easy target.
