Travel Guides: All Countries / Asia / Indonesia
 |  | Destination Guide : Indonesia |
|
| | | Cultural splendour |  | Why go on holiday to Indonesia?
Breathtakingly diverse, Indonesia stretches across 5,000km and 17,000 islands. There are 300 ethnic groups and cultures speaking 365 languages and dialects. Visitors to Indonesia revel in the splendour of its natural and cultural riches.
Glorious sunsets, the dragons of Komodo Island, the coloured lakes of Flores, Balinese dancers, ancient temple sites and bustling multicultural cities are just a few of Indonesia's attractions.
Recent political unrest and economic strife threaten the country's stability but its natural and human wonders remain.
How much does it cost?
A low-season return from London to Indonesia will cost around £300-450 to Jakarta or £600 to Denpasar. You may find it cheaper to fly to Singapore, which costs from around £220-400, and get a cheap local flight or boat across.
A moderate hotel room costs as little as £2 a night. Five-star hotels from £45. As a guide, expect to pay around £700 for a seven-night package to Bali.
When should I go?
Indonesia has an even year-round climate (in the high 80Fs/30Cs most of the time) dividing into a wet and dry season. The rainy season can be a deterrent to visiting more remote spots as the roads become mud-clogged. May to October is the driest time.
Traditionally, European tourists flood the country then, and Australians descend in waves on Bali around Christmas. Indonesians themselves holiday around the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and resort prices go through the roof.
|
|
|
|
|
| | | Amazing wildlife |  | What should I do when I'm there?
With so many islands, scuba diving and snorkelling is a popular and well-supported activity. Coral reefs and other interesting sites abound. Bali has the best operations in the archipelago.
Surfing is very popular and is ever-expanding. Yachting tours are also available. Windsurfing is well established - most common in Bali and Lombok, but also in Manadao in N. Sulawesi.
Hiking is not well-established but national parks offer some good treks such as Gunung Leuser, Sumatra and Dumoga Bone on Sulawesi. Java's Ujung Kulon National Park is the largest wilderness area on that island, but there are many volcanoes there.
Bali and Sulawesi have the most developed beach resorts; Java has Pangandaran as its main beach centre.
What is there to do on Java?
Visit Jakarta - a mad melting pot of nine million people, luxury and poverty sharing the monuments and belching pollution. There are fine museums and Old Batavia, or Kota, centred on the Dutch-built cobbled square of Taman Fatahillah.
The city of Yogyakarta oozes culture and crafts of every kind. Borobudur is a mind-blowing Buddhist pyramid and Prambanan a nearly as humbling Hindu temple.
When the mist disperses, Candi Sukuh - another Hindu temple built during the 15th century on the tiny promontory at the base of Mount Lawu in Central Java - appears, looking like a Mayan temple of Mexico
Not to be outdone, Mother Nature has thrown in Mount Bromo, a live and dangerous volcano. Also visit the cities of Bandung, Surabaya and Bogor.
What about Bali?
Kuta Bay is the biggest beach resort. Denpasar in the north is the fast-growing capital of the island. The pleasant, tree-lined streets and the excellent Bali Museum make it worth visiting.
Ubud is the serene cultural centre of Bali with excellent galleries, an outlying craft village and a monkey forest. The volcanic landscape of Gunung Batur is a marvel and Lovina is a comparatively peaceful, laid-back beach resort.
Temple festivals occur almost every day in Bali. You will see offerings carried to the temple, purification ceremonies and a fair-like atmosphere prevail. At night, performances of sacral dances, Wayang Kulit (shadow) puppets and gamelan music are held.
Tourism on Bali has suffered a huge setback since the terrorist bombings in 2002 and 2005 and is still recovering in terms of visitor numbers.
What about the other islands?
There are thousands but we'll list some of the more common, and so more affordable. Lombok Island where Ampenan, Mataram, Cakranegara and Sweta merge together to form the main city - Ampenan - is the place for budget travel.
Medan is Sumatra's capital, with fine buildings left from Dutch colonial days. The hill town of Berastagi has good treks around its two volcanoes. Bukittinggi is the centre of Minangkabau culture, bordered by three mountains.
Lake Toba is a spectacular lake in a volcanic crater. Samosir is Sumatra's main resort. Sulawesi has superb beaches and reefs and the famous Tanatoraja highland region where festive funeral rites happen every June/August in beautiful mountainous scenery.
What about the wildlife?
Among Indonesia's fauna you will find orang-utans, Komodo dragons, anoa (a deer-like pig) , the Cendrawasih bird of paradise, the badak jawa (one-horned rhino) and the banteng or wild bull of Java.
The Sumatran northern province of Aceh is a laid-back paradise with the splendid Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre - with not only many apes but elephants, tigers and the seriously endangered Sumatran rhinoceros.
Other islands also have wildlife reserves, rainforests, and orang-utan sanctuaries.
|
|
|
|
|
| | | Spice it up | | Where's good for nightlife?
Jakarta is the most Westernised and happening of all Indonesia's cities with bars, discos and clubs. Or you could see the Wayang Kulit (Leather Puppet Shadow Play) - storylines are usually based on the Hindu epics.
Also see Wayang Orang (Dance Drama) and the Ramayana Ballet - most visitor-friendly places will have shows of these various cultural delights.
On Bali, Kuta Bay has wild resort night life. On Lombok, Senggigi is the only place island with any energetic nightlife although the nearby Gili Islands are a haven for beach-loving socialites.
On Sumatra Samosir, a lake island, has long been Sumatra's top travellers' destination and has accommodation and eateries galore.
What's the food like?
With such a diverse ethnic mix, Indonesia was always going to have a rich and varied cuisine. From the humblest street stall to the plushest restaurant there are very few places in Indonesia where the food is not a delight - if you like spicy cuisine.
The main influence is Chinese, with rice as the staple, and chilli prominent. The quality and range of fruit is mind-boggling - much of the produce is only available on the islands so eat your fill.
The Dutch spent a disproportionately large amount of energy building breweries during their colonial period and, as a result, Indonesian beer is very good indeed.
What should I buy?
Indonesia is a great place to buy arts and crafts with an amazing range of products at bargain prices. Wood carvings, batik, ikat (woven cloth) and pottery are all beautiful and excellent value.
Yogya is best place to shop in Java, whilst on Bali, Kuta's Jl Legian has mile upon mile of enchanting shops. Always bargain - but remember that haggling is an art, not an argument.
What is there for children to do?
Take the kids to see Indonesia at a glance at the Taman Mini (Indonesia in Miniature Park) in Jakarta. Kids should love all the puppet theatres, dancing and gamelan music (although their attention span may make their 'love' short-lived).
Bali resorts are mostly aimed at the 18-30 market, but it also has hotels with children's facilities and babysitters - check with your tour operator. Java is also good for kids.
Tourist office
Indonesian Embassy, 38 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 2HW. Tel. 020 7499 7661 ask for ext. 5949.
|
|
|
|
|
| | Fact File : Indonesia |
|
| | | Indonesia | | Did you know?
The name Indonesia is derived from "indos nesos", meaning islands near India.
Language
Official language is Bahasa Indonesia. There are also 583 dialects, and English is spoken in main areas by those who have business with English-speakers.
Visas
None required for UK citizens for a stay of up to 60 days. You will be given a 60-day tourist pass stamp in your passport. You need a ticket out of the country to get this pass and it cannot be extended. Your passport must have at least six months validity upon arrival in Indonesia.
Getting there
The capital Jakarta is served by many airlines, as is Bali. Flights have been cut back since the terrorist bombing in October 2002.
Flying time from London
Sixteen hours
Getting around
There are several domestic airlines in Indonesia with extensive routes throughout the archipelago. Rail travel is restricted to Java and Sumatra and services vary from cheap and slow to expensive and comfortable. The once-luxurious bus service is suffering badly due to the current economic problems and standards are falling, but roads are excellent. Local transport needs are served by incredibly cheap minibuses, rickshaws (auto and bicycle) and horse-drawn carts. If you have enough time you can island-hop by ferry all the way from Sumatra to Timor.
Currency
Rupiah
Costs
Prices vary but as a guide: litre of petrol 10p; moderate restaurant meal with wine £4; roll of film £2-£3; bottle of beer £1; a 12-mile taxi ride from airport to city centre, about £3.
Weather
The Indonesian climate is characterised by two tropical seasons: the dry season (June-September) and the rainy season (December-March). Average temperature is 21-33C (70-91F). There is little temperature variation between the two seasons so the best time to go is between May-October when it is drier.
Time difference
Western Indonesia Standard Time is seven hours ahead of GMT and covers Sumatra, Java, and West and Central Kalimantan. Central Indonesia Standard Time is eight hours ahead of GMT and covers East and South Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali, West and East Nusa Tenggara and East Timor. Eastern Indonesia Standard Time is nine hours ahead of GMT, covering Maluku and Irian Jaya.
International dialling code from the UK
00 62
Voltage
220V, 50Hz AC, but a few places are still wired to 110 V so check before plugging in foreign appliances, for which you will need an adapter.
Opening hours
Government offices open 7am-3pm, but mornings are best. Post offices have the same hours but big city post offices often have extended hours and open at weekends. Telkom offices are open 24hrs for phone calls. Private business opens Mon-Fri 8am-4pm or 9am-5pm with a lunch break. Banks open Mon-Fri between 8am and 3-4pm. Shops open 8am-9pm. Sunday is a public holiday.
Health - Before you go
No immunisations are required to enter Indonesia, but it is recommended that your polio and tetanus immunity is up to date, and that you get hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations. Malaria is present in some regions - you will need to get anti-malarials if you are travelling to an infected area. The UK has no reciprocal health agreements with Indonesia, so make sure you have adequate travel insurance before going.
Health - When you are there
Travellers in Indonesia are susceptible to stomach upsets from contaminated food and water - take care. Every pharmacy ("apotik" in Indonesian) should have an English-language copy of the Index of Medical Specialities. Use it to check that you are buying the same drug that you buy at home. Rabies is a risk, with dogs and monkeys the main carriers. Wash any bites or licks thoroughly with soapy water, and seek medical attention if in any doubt. Public hospitals are open during the day with private clinics in the evening from 6pm; consultations are cheap but drugs are costly. Be aware there has been considerable damage to the underlying health care in the west and north coasts of the Aceh province on the island of Sumatra following last December's tidal waves. Those in affected areas are advised to purchase bottled water, as local water sources may be contaminated.
Warnings
Even before the terrorist bombings in Bali, there was unrest in various regions of Indonesia. Before travelling, check with the Foreign Office on 020 7238 4503/4 (http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel) as to the current dangers. The situation in East Timor is tense as separatist guerrillas continue to be active. Indonesia is not a place for photographing or filming military and police installations. Nor is it a destination where you should get involved with local politics - if you do, make sure you understand the risks and the penalties. Violent crime is rare but thieves and bag-snatchers are common, particularly in crowds. Keep away from drugs as the penalties, even for 'soft' drugs, are severe. On the nature front, always check for crocodiles before swimming in rivers - ask local people for advice. Tourists should avoid travel to the west and north coasts of the province of Aceh on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia following last December's tidal waves which caused severe damage.
Emergency
Police - Tel 110; fire brigade - Tel 113; ambulance - Tel 118. British Embassy, Jl Thamrin 75, Jakarta. Tel: 330904.
Customs
Indonesians are extremely tactile: people will touch you and each other all the time, but only if you are of the same gender. Expect to be stared at - it is just curiosity and won't do you any harm.
Pets
Indonesia is not on the Passports for Pets Scheme, so keep your pets at home, otherwise it's a long stay in quarantine on their return.
Tipping
Not the norm in restaurants but taxi drivers, porters and guides will expect something.
Tourist office
Indonesian Embassy, 38 Grosvenor Sq. London W1K 2HW. Tel: 020 7499 7661, extension 5949.
|
|
|
|
|
| | Available rental properties in Indonesia |
|
|
|
|
Why Rent With Us
