Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago state, consisting of about seventeen thousand islands stretching from mainland South-East Asia in an arc down to Papua New Guinea and the Australian continent. It has a coastline of about 80,000 kilometers. The islands range from small, uninhabited islands a few square kilometers in size to New Guinea and Borneo, which are one of the largest islands in the world. The main islands are Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan (on Borneo), Sulawesi, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Iran Jaya (on New Guinea).
Most of Indonesia consists of rain forest and swampy land, with very little land for agriculture. The distinctive feature of Indonesia's highlands is a string of volcanoes stretching in an arc throughout the islands, many of which are active.
Straddling the Equator, Indonesia's climate is uniformly hot and humid throughout the year, with temperatures ranging from 68 to 89 degrees. Humidity ranges from 60 to 90 percent. The wet season is from November to April.
Although the island of Bali is world-renowned as an idyllic tourist spot, there are a lot of areas in Indonesia that remain untouched by mass tourism. Unfortunately, the country has been troubled by internal strife, secessionist movements and more recently, devastating terrorist attacks, and some areas are not save to travel in.
Indonesia achieved independence from the Netherlands in 1949. Post independence, the country has seen decades of an authoritarian government, corruption and military excesses and gross violations of human rights. The economy still does not inspire investor confidence.
Citizens from 62 countries and 1 region are eligible to apply for a Visa on Arrival (VOA). This visa can be applied for after you have landed at certain airports and seaports in Indonesia. The Visa on Arrival can not be converted or extended to obtain an immigration permit. The maximum stay permitted by the visa on arrival is 30 days.
Indonesia's transport system has been shaped over time by the economic resource base of an archipelago with thousands of islands, and the distribution of its more than 200 million people highly concentrated on a single island which is Java.
All transport modes play a role in the country’s transport system and are generally complementary rather than competitive. Road transport is predominant, with a total system length of 370,500 km in 2003. The railway system has four unconnected networks in Java and Sumatra primarily dedicated to transport bulk commodities and long-distance passenger traffic. Sea transport is extremely important for economic integration and for domestic and foreign trade. It is well developed, with each of the major islands having at least one significant port city. The role of inland waterways is relatively minor and is limited to certain areas of Eastern Sumatra and Kalimantan. The function of air transport is significant, particularly where land or water transport is deficient or non-existent. It is based on an extensive domestic airline network where all major cities can be reached by passenger plane.
Climate
Indonesia has a tropical climate which varies from area to area. The eastern monsoon brings the driest weather (June to September), while the western monsoon brings the main rains (December to March). Rainstorms occur all year. Higher regions are cooler.
Lightweights with rainwear. Warmer clothes are needed for cool evenings and upland areas. Smart clothes such as jackets are required for formal occasions, and it is regarded inappropriate to wear brief clothes anywhere other than the beach or at sports facilities. Women should observe the dress code in Muslim areas that requires shoulders and legs to be kept covered.
Sightseeing
Worth seeing points in Indonesia
Istiqlal Mosque
The modern Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Java is one of the largest in the world.
Prambanan temple complex
The Prambanan temple complex was built in honour of the Hindu gods Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. Do not miss Borobudur, probably the largest Buddhist sanctuary in the world, which contains more than 5km (3 miles) of relief carvings.
Pura Besakih
Do not miss Bali's Pura Besakih, a temple that dates back originally to the 10th century and stands high on the volcanic slopes of Gunung Agung. Nowadays, it is a massive complex of more than 30 temples, and the setting for great ceremonial splendour on festival days.
Sulawesi
The beautiful Sulawesi is a land of high mountains, misty valleys and lakes. In the south is Bantimurung Nature Reserve, which has thousands of exotic butterflies and a waterfall. The island has geysers and hot springs at Lahendong and Leilem.
Tsunami Museum
This museum, in the province of Aceh (one of the areas worst hit by the 2004 tsunami), is an educational centre that will also be able to serve as an emergency disaster shelter in case the area is hit by a tsunami again.
Time zone
GMT+7
Language
The sole official language is Indonesian, known as Bahasa Indonesia. Indonesian adopted a number of loan words from Arabic, Dutch, and Sanskrit. It is similar to Malay, and speakers of both languages can comprehend each other to a large extent. The main differences are in the loan words : Malay borrowed mainly from English while Indonesia borrowed mainly from Dutch.
Written phonetically with the Latin alphabet and with a fairly logical grammar, Indonesian is generally regarded as one of the easiest languages to learn, and A.M. Almatsier's The Easy Way to Master the Indonesian Language, a 200 page small paperback, is an excellent starting point. It can be found in any Indonesian bookstore for less than 3 dollars.
Many educated Indonesians understand and are able to speak English. While Indonesian is the lingua franca throughout the archipelago, there are thousands of local languages as well, and if you really get off the beaten track you may have to learn them as well. Some ethnic Chinese communities continue to speak various Chinese dialects, most notably Hokkien in Medan and Teochew in Pontianak.
Most educated seniors (65 years/older) in Indonesia understand Dutch.
Educated Indonesians who graduated from Islamic Religious Institutes/Islamic Universities understand and are able to speak Arabic.
Currency
Rupiah (IDR) is the official currency and is divided into 100 sen. Foreign currency can easily be exchanged at banks, hotels and money changers in major tourist destinations; US dollars is the most accepted currency. Cash often yields a better exchange rate than travellers cheques, which are not always accepted. It is recommended that travellers cheques also be in US dollars. Most major credit cards are accepted at hotels, restaurants and stores catering to the tourist trade. ATMs are available in main centres. Small change is often unavailable so keep small denomination notes and coins for items like bus fares, temple donations and cool drinks.
Essentials
Electricity
220/250 volts AC, 50Hz but 110 volts is still used in some areas. Plugs used are European-style with two circular metal pins.
Internet
There are Internet cafes in all major cities and tourist destinations.
Useful Numbers
Emergency Services: 110