Usefull information

An exit permit is required only for residents or visitors staying over a period of six months.

Indonesian Customs allows on entry a maximum of two litters of alcoholic beverages, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 grams of tobacco and a reasonable amount of perfume per adult. Cars, cameras, photographic equipment, typewriters, portable radios and tape recorders must be declared to Customs upon entry and must be re-exported. Prohibited from entry are narcotics, arms and ammunition, pornography, printed matter in Chinese characters and Chinese medicines. Advance approval has to be acquired for carrying transceivers and all movie films and video cassettes must be censored by the Film Censor Board. Fresh fruit, plants and animals must have quarantine permits. There is no restriction on import or export of foreign currencies. However, the export or import of Indonesian currency exceeding Rp.50, 000 is prohibited.

 

There are several international banks in Indonesia. Normal banking hours are from 8.00 am to 2.30 pm from Monday to Friday. Some bank branches in hotels, however, keep longer hours.

Moneychangers can be found in most cities and around tourist resorts, in shopping centres, at airports and certain offices. Many banks also act as moneychangers.

Daily exchange rates are published in newspapers. The US dollar is the most readily accepted currency.

Credit cards are acceptable only at major hotels, restaurants and travel agencies.

Traveller’s checks can be exchanged for cash in many places, especially in the big cities and at most big hotels, restaurants, stores, shopping centres, travel bureaus, or in any other place where signs indicate that such checks are accepted.

However for travel to remote areas, it is advisable to change money and travellers cheques in advance.

 

Tipping has been known for a long time in Indonesia. The local term is "persenan." Traditionally, however, such tips were given only as a token of appreciation for really valuable services rendered, and on an entirely voluntary basis. In its recent development, the custom of tipping has become commercialized in the sense that it is often considered compulsory in certain places. Even so, there is no standard rule on tipping as is practiced today. The size of the tip is usually left to the discretion of the person who gives it.

 

For many visitors, shopping is an important part of the travel itinerary.

Major cities in Indonesia have shopping complexes, supermarkets and department stores where prices are fixed. Shops are usually open all week including Sundays. Shopping hours are usually between 9.00 am and 9.00 pm for department stores and supermarkets in the large cities with shorter hours on Sundays. In smaller cities, shops may be closed between 1.00 pm and 5.00 pm.

For those who like the experience of shopping or simply browsing in an Asian market place but have in the past been discouraged by the rubbish, it will be good to know that in many towns and cities market places have been extensively renovated and cleaned up.

Bargaining is customary in small shops and markets, the art of which is to start at half the asking price and slowly increase your offer until a compromise is reached. Remember it helps to smile while bargaining.

Much-visited markets are Pasar Blok-M for textile and consumer goods, Pasar Cipulir for garment and jeans in South Jakarta; Glodok in the Chinatown district for electronic goods in North Jakarta; Pasar Tanah Abang for textile and the famous Jalan Surabaya for antiquity hunters in Central Jakarta.

 

Indonesian craftsmen and artisans are highly skilled in making good use of the abundance of materials, which their tropical natural environment provides.

Handicrafts in a range of shapes, colours, patterns, sizes and modern designs are on sale in the art shops and shopping centres throughout the country.

Hand-woven and embroidered textiles, batik, statues, carved panels and objects, semi-precious stones and plaited- work are in great demand among visitors.

 

The range of ethnic costumes in Indonesia is wide and colourful. But wearing of a particular ethnic costume is no longer restricted to members of that exclusive group. Nowadays the modern work uniform is the accepted mode of dressing.

Accepted attire for men is a shirt and long pants. A jacket and tie are required for official calls or for more formal occasions. Long sleeved batik or hand-woven shirts are acceptable for evening functions as well. For ladies, dresses, blouses, and long pants are appropriate.

In daily life the dress is normally informal due to the warm, humid climate and clothing of light fabrics is recommended. Travelling in highland areas is noticeably cooler, however, and carrying a light sweater may prove useful.

Shorts, halters or tank tops should be used at sports facilities or on the beach.

The main staple of the majority of the population is rice, though in the more arid island the traditional staple is corn, sweet potatoes and sago.

Coconut milk and hot chilli peppers are popular ingredients nationwide as these grow in hot tropical climates. Dried salted fish and soybeans provide the basic protein needed.

Tastes range from very spicy (hot) dishes of meat, vegetables and fish to those that are sweetish, due to the use of sugar in cooking.

The most popular dishes are "nasi goreng" (fried rice) which can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner though steamed rice is more usual with side dishes of meat, poultry, fish eggs and vegetables. "Sate" (barbequed skewered meat or sashlik) is a universal popular dish, also "Gado-gado" a vegetable salad with peanut sauce and hot chilli. All these are acceptable to the Western palate.

The seas and rivers of the archipelago abound in seafood; from small shrimps to sharks (the fins are excellent for soup). However, due to the hot climate and lack of freezing facilities, the traditional ways is to salt and dry fish or preserve it in a paste, which is used extensively in cooking.

Fruits are tropical and sub-tropical. They include papaya, bananas, pineapple, apples, oranges and mandarins, jack fruit, the thorny strong smelling "durian", several varieties of mangoes, mangosteens, the hairy-skinned but sweet-tasting "rambutans", watermelons, passion fruit, etc.

Beverages are fruit juices, coffee and tea. Native wines brewed from rice and palm are not widespread. However, locally produced beer is available throughout the country. A refreshing drink is water from a fresh young coconut fruit.

"Rijsttafel" derived from the Dutch words meaning "rice table" actually means rice with a large number of side dishes. These can be found in many restaurants catering to the tourist trade.

In the main tourist destination areas, restaurants catering to international tourist are many, from fine Continental grill-rooms to Japanese specialty restaurants. Chinese restaurants are found in all towns throughout the country.

Native style stalls are many, and though the traditional way of eating is with fingers-only the tips of the right hand should be used-spoons and forks are always available.

 

 

International health certificates for smallpox and cholera are not required, except from travellers arriving from infected areas. Medical doctors are available in almost any town or city.

Most big hotels have their own medical doctors, who are on call round-the-clock.

 

Police are on 24-hour standby to assist travellers in difficulty. Do not hesitate to call for their assistance whenever the need arises. Individuals carrying large amounts of money, such as to and from banks, free of charge can also request police escorts.

Special police officers are on round-the-clock duty in the major tourist destination to assist visitors. Even the newly introduced Special Tourism Service Unit is on guard around certain area, mostly in big cities.

To call the police, dial 110 in most towns and cities throughout Indonesia, or dial 510-110.

 

 11. Office Hours

Business offices are usually open either from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm or 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, with a break for lunch between 12.00 noon and 1.00 pm.

On Saturday many business offices are open up to 2.00 pm or are closed

The Indonesian archipelago is spread over three time zones. Western Indonesia Standard Time, which covers the islands of Sumatra, Java & Madura, West and Central Kalimantan, is 7 hours ahead of GMT; Central Indonesia Standard Time covers East and South Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali and Nusa Tenggara, and is 8 hours ahead of GMT; finally Eastern Indonesia Standard Time, which covers Maluku, and Irian Jaya is 9 hours ahead of GMT.

 

Power supply is usually 220 volts/50 cycles in large cities, but 110 volts is still used in some ares. Normal outlets are plugs with two rounded pins. It is advisable to check electricity supplies before using any appliances.

Traditional sports in Indonesia include bull races, bull fights, rowing, and unique ram fights, all of which are held as part of special festivities.

Silat, a martial art, can be performed as a dance or an exercise and is comparable to Karate or Kung Fu. However, the most popular sports in Indonesia are soccer, badminton, and table tennis. Golf is becoming more and more popular and a number of excellent golf courses can be found across the archipelago.

Most major hotels have their own tennis and squash courts, swimming pools, health clubs and those at seaside resorts provide equipment for sailing, surfing, scuba diving and windsurfing. There are also a growing number of dive shops which provide necessary equipment and professional services.