Time: Indonesia spans three time zones. GMT +7 (West, including Java and Sumatra), GMT +8 (Central, including Bali, Sulawesi and Lombok), GMT +9 (East, including Irian Jaya).

Electricity: Electrical current is 120/230 volts, 50 Hz. A variety of plugs are in use including the European two-pin and UK-style three-pin.

Language: Bahasa Indonesia is the official language, but many dialects are spoken. English is widely understood in Jakarta and tourist resorts.

Health: Medical advice should be taken at least three weeks before departing. Malaria is a year round risk except in Jakarta, other large cities and the tourist resorts of Java and Bali. Travellers should be vaccinated against polio, Hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis, and typhoid. The dengue fever mosquito is found throughout Indonesia and visitors should be aware of a significant increase in reported cases of dengue fever during the rainy season. Visitors to Java and Sumatra are advised to ensure all polio inoculations are up to date. Outbreaks of bird flu have also occurred. Anthrax is endemic in East Nusa Tengarra province and outbreaks of leprosy occur. Travellers' diarrhea is a major risk; visitors should only drink sealed bottled water and avoid dairy products, uncooked meat, salads and unpeeled fruit. The standard of local medical care is poor and very expensive. It is essential that you take out full medical and travel insurance. A yellow fever certificate is required from those travelling from infected areas. A tetanus booster is recommended for all travellers to tsunami-affected areas in Indonesia and any country.

Safety: The security situation remains unsettled in Sulawesi and foreigners are advised to avoid parts of Maluku, particularly Ambon, and Central Sulawesi. Extreme caution is advised in public places. Credit card fraud is on the increase. Flooding and landslides occur frequently during the rainy season between December and March. The safety of air travel in Indonesia has come under the spotlight following a series of fatal airline accidents.

Tipping: Major hotels add a 10% service charge to bills. When not included, a tip of between 5% to 10% of the bill is appreciated. Airport porters usually receive around Rp 2,000 per bag. Tipping taxi and rental car drivers is not mandatory, but if you choose, Rp 1,000 is sufficient for taxi drivers and a little more for rental car drivers.

Customs: Religious customs should be respected, particularly during the month of Ramadan when eating, drinking and smoking during daylight hours should be discreet. Visitors should be polite and avoid public displays of affection. It is considered impolite to use the left hand for passing or accepting things. Appropriate dress is important in places of worship and women should dress conservatively, covering the shoulders and legs, especially in Muslim areas. In Jakarta a new law from September 2007 bans people from giving money to beggers, buskers and unofficial traffic guides in an attempt to 'bring order' to the city.

Business: The Indonesian climate is hot and tropical - while formal business attire is expected, a light, cool material is best. Business cards are often exchanged and it is customary to shake hands with a slight bow when greeting and leaving. Some Indonesian names can be long and hard to pronounce and making an effort to get it right will be appreciated. It is best to use formal titles such as Doctor, or 'Bapak' for Mr. and 'Ibu' for Madam. Business hours vary, government offices are usually open from 7am to 3pm and small businesses from 8am or 9am to 4pm or 5pm.

Communications: The international access code for Indonesia is +62. City/area codes are in use, e.g. 36 for Bali and 21 for Jakarta. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.

Travel guide content sourced from wordtravels.com

01/14/08 by visitEarth
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