|
1. COUNTRY
Before going to a
foreign country, it is useful to learn all the
important tourist information about that country
in order to make your trip as pleasant as
possible. The country you are learning now is
known as the Republic of Indonesia. The name
Indonesia was derived from the word 'indos nesos'
meaning 'islands near India'. It consists of more
than 17,000 islands, the vast Indonesian archipelago,
the world's largest, spans 5,120 km across
the equator, positioned between the Asian and
Australian continents. It is the world's 14th
largest country.
Indonesia has 32
provinces [including 2 special territories (daerah
istimewa) and 1 capital city territory].
The provinces are
as follows:-
Bali,
Bangka-Belitung, Banten, Bengkulu, Central Java,
Central Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi, East Java,
East Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara, South
Sumatra, Gorontalo, Jambi, Lampung, Maluku,
North Maluku, North Sulawesi, North Sumatra,
Papua (Irian Jaya), Riau, Riau Kepulauan,
Southeast Sulawesi, South Kalimantan, South
Sulawesi, West Irian Jaya, West Java, West
Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara and West Sumatra.
The special
territories are Aceh (Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam)
and Yogyakarta while the capital city territory
is Jakarta.
The provinces are
subdivided into districts, which are in turn
split up into sub-districts and municipalities.
2. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
Indonesia extends about 5,120 km
between the Asian and Australian continental mainland
and divides the Pacific and Indian Ocean at the Equator. Its
17,000 islands are scattered around the equator, giving the
country a tropical climate. The largest populated islands
are Java, where half of Indonesia's population lives,
Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua.
Its location on the edges of
tectonic plates means Indonesia is frequently hit by
earthquakes and followed by the resulting tsunamis.
Indonesia is also full of volcanoes with the Krakatau being
the most famous.
3. AREA
1,911,000 sq km
4. POPULATION
235 million (fourth largest in
the world)
5. CAPITAL
Jakarta
6. PEOPLE
The 300 ethnic groups that
exist harmoniously give birth to a potpourri of cultures and
fascinating people. The major ethnics are the Malay,
Minangkabaunese, Javanese, Sundanese, Maduranese, Balinese,
Bugis, Makassarese, Minahasanese and Ambonnese. Arab,
Chinese and Indian immigrants have also settled in regions
throughout the country, particularly in the coastal cities.
The Malays are mainly found in the west part of the country
while the Papuan are found in the eastern part.
7. LANGUAGE
The official language is Bahasa
Indonesia and is spoken by almost everybody while local
regional dialects within individual ethnic groups is also
being used daily. Javan is also widely spoken.
8. RELIGION
Islam in the country's main
religion while other religions like Christianity, Buddhism
and Hinduism are practiced freely.
9. GOVERNMENT
The highest legislative body is
the Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat (MPR), also known as the
People's Consultative Assembly, which consists of the Dewan
Perwakilan Rakyat (People's Representative Council) will is
elected for a five-year term and the Dewan Perwakilan Daerah
(Regional Representative Council).
Following the elections held in
2004, the MPR has become a bicameral parliament with the
creation of the Dewan Perwakilan Daerah as a new second
chamber. Executive power lies with the President of
Indonesia.
The MPR used to meet every five
years to elect the President, however starting 2004, the MPR
no longer elects the President and Vice-President but
instead popular elections are held. The first popular
election for President was held in July 2004 to choose two
candidates for the September presidential election which was
subsequently won by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
10. CLIMATE
Warm, tropical weather year
round, with an average maximum temperature of 310C
(880F) from April to September, while the months
from October to March features higher rainfall and an
average maximum temperature of 280C (830F).
11. HISTORY AND CULTURE
Several kingdoms formed on the
islands of Sumatra and Java from the 7th to the 14th century
under the influence of Buddhism. Later, the arrival of Arab
from Gujarat and Chinese traders brought Islam into the
region which then became the dominant religion.
When the Europeans came in the
early 16th century, they found a multitude of small states
who were in pursuit of dominating the spice trade. In the
17th century, the Dutch emerged as the most powerful among
the Europeans, ousting both British and the Portuguese
9except for Timor). After the Dutch East India Company was
liquidated, its possessions in Indonesia were taken over by
the Dutch government.
In 1940, during the World War
II, Japan had been denied vital aviation fuel by the Dutch
government, subsequently unable to negotiate for fuel, Japan
began its invasion of Malaya in December. Capturing
Indonesia in 1942, Japan found the Indonesian elite to be
cooperative trade partners and even willing to marshal
troops when needed.
In March 1945, Japan organized a
committee for Indonesian independence, and after the war
ended in 1945, this group led by Sukarno declared Indonesia
as an independent nation on the 17th August 1945. The Dutch
finally recognized the independence of Indonesia on the 27th
December 1949 and Sukarno became the country's first
president with Muhammad Hatta becoming the Vice-President.
After Sukarno's autocratic rule was almost overthrown, army
leader Suharto became president in 1967. Suharto then began
to enrich himself and family members through widespread
corruption and he was forced to step down after massive
demonstrations in 1998. Indonesia had gone through four
presidents from the period of 1998 to 2001. Indonesia
currently suffers from internal political and religious
struggles with several regions like Aceh, and Papua (Irian
Jaya) striving for independence with East Timorese voted
overwhelmingly for independence in 1999.
Indonesia is little more than a
loose confederacy of peoples, bound together by a single
flag and a single language but increasingly keen to express
themselves in their own way and on their own terms. Most
Indonesians feel Indonesian to some degree, but many
identify with their religion or locality first. Acehnese,
Ambonnese, Christian, Maduranese, Muslim or animist,
Indonesia has a thousand personalities in a single shell.
Indonesia is well known for
their art forms which have been influenced by several
cultures. The famous Javanese and Balinese dances contain
aspects of Hindu culture and mythology. Also well known are
the Javanese and Balinese wayang kulit shadow theatre shows,
displaying several mythological events. Indonesia is also
famous for their batik and ikat cloth.
12. MAJOR HOLIDAYS
New Year's Day (January 1),
Chinese New Year (February), Hari Raya Puasa (February), Nyepi (March), Waicack (March 23), Idul Fitri/Lebaran (March), Good Friday (April),
Mi'raj Nabi Muhammad (April), Kartini Day (April 21), Hari Raya Haji
(May), Independence Day (August 17), Gareg Maulad (September),
Armed Forces Day (October 5), Christmas Day (December 25).
13. ECONOMIC PROFILE
Indonesia has
extensive natural resources like oil and natural
gas, tin, copper and gold while agricultural
products include rice, tea, coffee, spices and
rubber. Major trading partners include United
States and Japan and also with neighboring
countries like Malaysia, Singapore and
Australia.
14. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Effective the 1st February of
2004, the Government of Indonesia has issued a new
regulation concerning the application of visa to enter
Indonesia.
a) Indonesia Immigration
will provide Free Tourist Visas for a period of 30 days to
nationals of 11 countries only on the basis of reciprocity.
The countries are Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Hong Kong SAR,
Malaysia, Macau SAR, Morocco, Peru, Singapore, Thailand,
The Philippines and Vietnam.
Nationals of the above mentioned
11 countries will be issued with a 30-day stay permit
without charge upon presentation of a valid passport with a
six months remaining validity. This Free Tourist Visas is
not extendable nor convertible into other class of visa.
b) Visa on Arrival (VOA) will
be given to nationals from 21 countries and one territory.
The countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil,
Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain,
Hungary, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South
Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) and the United States. Visas will be valid
for 30 days and may be extended for another 15 days.
The citizens of the above
mentioned 21 countries must hold a passport with at least a
six months remaining validity at the time of arrival,
present a complete embarkation/disembarkation card provided
by the airlines, be able to demonstrate they have sufficient
means to live during their stay in Indonesia, their names
are not listed on any official blacklist of individuals
prohibited from entering the country and pay the stipulated
fees to obtain a visa.
The Visa on Arrival fee for
citizens of eligible countries is USD25.00 for a 30 day visa
and USD10.00 for a 3 day visa. This Visa on Arrival is not
extendable nor convertible into other class of visa
Immigration authorities guarantee that the visa
purchasing system will take no more than 5 minutes per
applicant. Payment counters have been set up to process the
required payments. Once payment has been made, visitors will
proceed to an immigration counter for final inspection of
documents and visa issuance.
The Visa on Arrival facility
will only be available at the following international
gateways:-
Airports
Medan, Pekanbaru, Padang,
Soekarno-Hatta (Jakarta), Halim Perdana Kusuma (Jakarta),
Surabaya, Bali, Manado, Yogyakarta, Solo, Mataram (Lombok),
Balikpapan, Makassar and Kupang
Seaports
Batam, Tanjung Uban (Bintan),
Belawan (Medan), Sibolga (Sumatra), Padang (Sumatra), Dumai,
Teluk Bayar (Padang, Sumatra), Padang Bai (Bali), Jayapura
(Papua), Bitung (North Sulawesi), Tanjung Balaikarimun,
Tanjung Mas (Semarang), Kupang, Parepare (South Sulawesi)
and Makassar (South Sulawesi).
c) Other nationals of
countries not included on the Free Tourist Visa or the VOA
must apply for a visa at the Indonesian Embassies or Consulate
in their home country before arriving in Indonesia. Citizens
of any country wishing to stay more than 30 days must also
apply for an appropriate visa at their nearest Indonesian
Embassy or Consulate before traveling to Indonesia.
It seems that a 60 day visa can
be issued on request in most Asian countries for all
nationalities within 2 days. You may check with your local
Indonesian Embassy as well where you will probably need to
give a viable reason why you need a 6o day visa as opposed
to the 30 day visa.
15. CURRENCY
The Indonesian unit of currency is the
Rupiah (Rp). Notes are in the denominations of Rp500, Rp1,000,
Rp5,000 and Rp10,000. Coins consist Rp5, Rp10, Rp25, Rp50 and Rp100.
The U.S. Dollar is the most
readily accepted foreign currency. MasterCard, Diners Club,
American Express and VisaCard are among the widely accepted
credit cards by licensed retailers and restaurants.
U.S. Dollar and other major
currencies in banknotes or travelers checks are easily
exchangeable in banks or at authorized money changers in
main tourist destinations. Daily exchanges rates are posted
in banks and in leading daily newspaper.
Banks tend to give Rp10,000
notes when changing large amounts but obtaining change from
these Rp10,000 notes in the provinces may be difficult most
of the times, so it is better to just carry Rp1,000 or
Rp5,000 if you going to the outer provinces or smaller
towns. Always keep your exchange receipts so that you can
exchange your Rupiah for foreign currencies when leaving
Indonesia.
USD1.00 = 8,500 Rupiah
16. BANKING HOURS
Banks are opened from either
8.00am or 8.30am to 2.00pm. Banks in hotels stay open longer
hours and money changers open until in the evening.
ATMs can be found in most
tourist centres and also across Java, Sumatra and Bali.
Traveler checks is widely
accepted, preferably in U.S. Dollars, and a commission of
2.5% is usually charged.
Government offices are open from
Monday - Friday: 8.00am to 4.00pm in Jakarta. In the provinces
they close at 3.00pm and open on Saturday until 1.00pm.
Business offices have staggered hours. Some open from 8.00am
to 4.00pm or 9.00am to 5.00pm. Some stay open for half a day
on Saturday.
17. POST OFFICES
Indonesia's mail service is
quiet good and reliable and the poste-restante service at
kantor pos (post offices) is reasonably efficient in the
main tourist centres. Major hotels provide basic postal
services on their premises. Provincial post offices are
usually open from 8.00am to 4.30pm.
18. TIME
The three time zones in
Indonesia are as follows:-
a) Sumatra, Java, West
and Central Kalimantan are under the West Indonesian time
which is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
b) Bali, Nusa Tenggara,
South and East Kalimantan and Sulawesi are under the Central
Indonesian Time which is eight hours ahead of GMT; and
c) Papua (Irian Jaya) and
Maluku are under the East Indonesian Time which is nine
hours ahead of GMT.
19. ELECTRICITY
Voltage is 220 volt AC at 50
cycles per second throughout the country. Many different
types of plugs and sockets are in use. Travelers with
electric shavers, hair dryers, tape recorders and other
appliances should carry a plug adapter kit. The better
hotels will make available 110 volt transformers.
20. WEIGHTS AND MEASUREMENTS
Indonesia follows the metric
system in weight and measures.
21. TELEPHONES
Do not use the city code if you
are calling a number within the same city. Use the city code
only if you are calling to a different city. When calling
from outside Indonesia, leave out the first digit i.e. (0)
from the city code.
The country code for
Indonesia is 62.
The city code for
Indonesian cities are as follows:-
Banda Aceh: 0651
Bandar Lampung: 0721
Denpasar: 0361
Jakarta: 021
Kendari: 0401
Kupang: 0391
Medan: 061
Padang: 0751
Prapat: 0625
Semarang: 024
Surabaya: 031
Ujung Pandang: 0411
Yogjakarta: 0274
Emergency Telephone Numbers:-
Police: 191
Fire: 113
Ambulance:
118
International Access
Code: 01
International calls
are easy to make from private booths in Telkom
offices and privately rum wartel (warung
telekomunikasi, or telecommunications stalls).
Reverse-charge calls can be made from Telkom
offices free of charge, though private wartel
usually do not offer the service, or charge for
the first minute or so. Making calls on weekends
or public holidays is usually cheaper.
22. GETTING THERE
BY AIR
The main gateway to Indonesia is
through Jakarta in Java using the Soekarno-Hatta International
Airport (Bangkok) and Denpasar in Bali because it is directly
connected to Europe, Asia, North America and Australia by daily
flights abroad the world's major airlines.
Other Indonesian cities with
international flights connections, mostly for flights within
Southeast Asia, include Medan in Sumatra, Surabaya and Solo
in Java and Makassar and Manado in Sulawesi.
BY ROAD
There are 3 ways to get into
Indonesia by land:-
a) the first is Entikong,
between Kalimantan and Tebedu, Sarawak
b) the border crossing between
West and East Timor at Motoain and
c) the road from Vanimo, Papua
New Guinea to Jayapura or Sentani
BY SEA
Most sea connections are between
Malaysia and Sumatra. The comfortable, high speed ferries
between Penang, Malaysia and Belawan (near Medan, Sumatra)
are one of the most popular ways to get into Indonesia.
The other main ferry connection
is between Dumai, Sumatra and Malacca, Malaysia. From Johor
Bahru in southern Malaysia, daily ferries run to Pulau Batam
and Bintan islands in Sumatra's Riau Islands.
For east coast Kalimantan,
speedboats depart frequently every morning from Tarakan to
Nunukan and from Nunukan to Tawau, Malaysia.
Chartering a boat from Vanimo in
Papua New Guinea to Jayapura is possible.
From Singapore, the best way to
get to Indonesia is by speedboat to Sumatra's Riau Islands.
23. GETTING AROUND
BY AIR
Flying in Indonesia is both
inexpensive and convenient. Garuda Indonesia fly throughout
Indonesia to popular tourist destinations such as Bali, Medan,
Ujung Pandang, Manado and Yogyakarta from Jakarta.
Merpati is Indonesia's main
domestic carrier with an extensive network covering just
about everywhere in Indonesia. Bouraq, Lion Air, DAS Mandala,
Pelita and Jatayu Air also offer domestic services.
BY ROAD
Bicycles can be hired at most
major places for about Rp12,000 per day as the back roads
are suitable for riding.
A tricycle (known as becak)
pedaled by a man behind where the passenger sits is a
convenient way to travel within short distance. It is
usually found in cities of Java and it can accommodate
betwen one to two passengers.
There are also many car rental
agencies in Jakarta, even chauffer-driven cars are
available. Motorcycles too can also be rented for about
Rp40,000 per day. Tourists can even request an ojek which
is a motorbike hired with a driver and this can be hired
by the hour, by the day or for individual trips. Traveling
by bus too is easy as there is an extensive bus network in
Java and can even take you from Bali to Sumatra.
BY SEA
Traveling by sea is the best way
to explore the islands in Indonesia. Sumatra, Java, Bali and
Nusa Tenggara are all connected by regular ferries. The state
-owned PELNI, the biggest shipper, provides regular services
to most tourist destinations and it has more than 20 vessels
running around the islands.
BY RAIL
Train services are available
throughout Java and also in some parts of Sumatra around
Padang, West Sumatra, Medan in North Sumatra, South Sumatra
and Lampung. The air-conditioned 'Bima' and 'Mutiara' trains
are the most comfortable which only travel at night.
24. ACCOMMODATION
Indonesia has a wide range of
accommodation at competitive rates. International standard
hotels, medium and budget hotels, youth hostels and
timeshare apartments are just some of the types of
accommodation available. The names 'losmen' and 'penginapan'
are other designations for cheap hotels. The word 'wisma',
akin to guesthouse, is also worth noting.
Accommodation prices in
Indonesia vary considerably with Bali being more expensive
but Rp40,000 a night for a room is easily found.
25. DO'S AND
DON'TS
When visiting Indonesia, the visitor should
observe local customs and practices.
Some common courtesies
and customs are as follows:-
Shoes must always be removed
when entering a Indonesian home, places of worship such as
mosques and temples.
Some mosques provide robes and scarves
for female visitors.
Taking photographs at places of worship
is usually permitted but always ask for permission first.
The right hand is always used
when eating with one's hand or when giving and receiving
objects.
The right forefinger is not used
to point at places, objects or persons. Instead, the thumb
of the right hand with the four fingers, folded under is the
preferred usage.
Aggressive gestures and postures
such as crossing your arms over your chest or talking while
standing with your hands on your hips are regarded as
insulting.
Always pay attention to your
Indonesian host when you are invited for a meal. Do not eat
unless invited to do so by the host. Never use your left
hand to eat as it is considered unclean. Asking for salt or
pepper will be considered as an insult to the cook.
Don't touch a person's head, nor
ruffle his hair. The head is the noblest part of the body. A
sincere apology should be offered immediately if you touch
someone's head unintentionally.
Intimacies between man and woman
should not be shown in public. Sunbathing in the nude is
prohibited. So do not cause embarrassment by kissing or
cuddling in public.
Dress modestly and do not show
too much flesh if you do not want to attract attention or
embarrass others.
Avoid placing your feet on the
table while sitting. Never use your foot to point things out
or to touch any part of the body of anyone, which is
considered rude.
|