Vacation Rentals in Indonesia
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Travel destination Indonesia.
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Destination
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Overview of Indonesia
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| Size |
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1,919,440 sq km (741,096 sq mi) |
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| Population |
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242 million |
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| Language |
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Indonesian. There are another 365 dialects spoken. |
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| Time Zone |
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There are 3 time zones in Indonesia. Sumatra, Java and west and central Kalimantan are in
West Indonesian Time, which is 7 hours ahead of GMT (GMT +7). Bali, Nusa Tenggara, south
and east Kalimantan and Silawesi are on Central Indonesian Time, which is 8 hours ahead of
GMT (GMT +8). Irian Jaya and Maluku are on the East Indonesian Time, which is 9 hours ahead
of GMT (GMT +9).
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| Electricity |
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220 / 110 V 50 Hz |
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| Clothing |
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Lightweights with rainwear. Warmer clothes are needed for cool evenings and upland areas.
Light, cool clothes are sensible and a jacket is needed for formal meetings and dining in
top restaurants. Shorts (except knee length walking shorts), sleeveless shirts, tank tops
and other beach-style attire are considered inappropriate dress when not actually at the
beach or in a resort area.
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| Religion |
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Muslim 88%, Protestant 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%, other 1%. |
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| Currency |
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Rupiah (Rp)
Currency Converter |
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Location of Indonesia
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The Indonesian archipelago comprises more than 17,000 islands - 6000 of which are inhabited - and
shares borders with Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. Stretching like a backbone down the western coast
of Sumatra is a line of active and extinct volcanoes. These continue through Java, Bali, Nusa Tenggara,
then loop through the Banda Islands of Maluku to northeastern Sulawesi. Under 10% of the total land area
is suitable for farming, while two-thirds consists of woodland, forests and mangrove swamp (mostly
found in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua).
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Climate in Indonesia
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Draped over the equator, Indonesia tends to have a fairly uniform climate - hot. It's hot and wet
during the wet season (October to April) and hot and dry during the dry season (May to September).
Temperatures climb to about 31°C (88°F) in coastal regions, dropping (but not by much) further inland.
The best time to visit Indonesia in the south is from April to October. Northern islands tend to be
wet all year round.
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Best Time to Travel to Indonesia
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Indonesia has two basic seasons: the rainy and the dry. The dry season (May to September) is the
best time to visit. The rainy season runs October to April; it is hot the whole year. Temperatures
along the coast tend to be higher at around 30C (88F), while inland and highland areas are cooler,
particularly at night.
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Attractions in Indonesia
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With such a multiplicity of ethnic groups, Indonesia has a surfeit of cultural events throughout the year.
On Sumba, mock battles that hark back to the era of internecine warfare are held in February and
March. The day before Balinese Caka New Year (March-April) temple icons are taken to the sea to
be bathed and drummers drive evil spirits back to the spirit world. During the Balinese festival of
Galungan (moving dates) even the gods descend to earth and join in the revelry. There's a
dramatic Easter Parade on the island of Larantuka, whip duels in Ruteng, Flores in August
and Torajan funereal feasts in central Sulawesi, held mainly between August and October. As most
Indonesians are Muslim, many festivals are affected by the lunar calendar; dates are subsequently 10 or
11 days earlier each year.
Sulawesi - Unofficially known as Orchid Island, Sulawesi is a land of high mountains, misty
valleys and lakes. In the south is Bantimurung Nature Reserve which has thousands of exotic butterflies.
The island has geysers and hot springs, the most celebrated of which are at Karumengan, Kinilow, Lahendong,
Leilem and Makule. Torajaland is known as the ‘Land of the Heavenly Kings’ and its people are noted for
their richly ornamented houses and custom of burying the dead in vertical cliffside tombs. Ujung Pandang,
formerly Makassar, is celebrated for the Pinsa Harbour where wooden schooners of the famous Buganese
seafarers are moored. Fort Rotterdam, built by Sultan Ala in 1660 to protect the town from pirates,
is now being restored. Racing is a popular island activity; there is horseracing and bullock-racing
and at Ranomuut there are races with traditional horse-drawn carts (bendi).
Sumatra - Sumatra is the second-largest island in Indonesia, straddling the Equator, with a
volcanic mountain range, hot springs, unexplored jungle and vast plantations. There are many reserves
established to protect the indigenous wildlife from extinction. Bengkulu, Gedung Wani and Mount Loeser
Reserve organize supervised safaris enabling visitors to see tigers, elephants, tapirs and rhinos at
close hand. Lake Toba, once a volcanic crater, is 900m (3000ft) above sea level and has an inhabited
island in the middle. Lingga village near Medan is a traditional Karonese settlement with stilted wooden
houses which have changed little through the centuries. At Bukittinggi is the old fortress of Fort de
Kock and nearby a zoo, market, a renovated rice barn and the Bundo Kandung Museum. The best beaches
are on the east coast.
Bali - The landscape of Bali, Island of the Gods, is made up of volcanic mountains, lakes and
rivers, terraced ricefields, giant banyans and palm groves and, on the coast, bays ringed with white
sandy beaches. The island lies a short distance from the eastern coast of Java, across the Strait of Bali.
Although its total area is only 2095 sq km (1309 sq miles), the island supports a population of
approximately 2.5 million. Unlike the rest of Indonesia, the predominant religious faith is Hinduism,
though in a special form known as ‘Agama-Hindu’. Stretching east to west across the island is a
volcanic chain of mountains, dominated by the mighty Gunung Agung (Holy Mountain) whose conical peak
soars more than 3170m (10,400ft) into the sky. North of the mountains, where the fertility of the
terrain permits, is an area devoted to the production of vegetables and copra. The fertile rice-growing
region lies on the central plains. The tourist areas are in the south, around Sanur Beach and at Kuta,
which lies on the other side of a narrow isthmus. Nearby Nusa Dusa is also a popular tourist area and
has a number of reasonably priced resorts and hotels. The island has thousands of temples – the exact
number has never been counted – ranging from the great Holy Temple at Besakih to small village
places of worship. Of the many festivals, most are held twice a year and involve splendid processions,
dances and daily offerings of food and flowers made to the gods. Cremations are also held in great
style, though their cost is often almost prohibitive for the average Balinese family. Denpasar is
the island’s capital. Sights include the Museum, a new art center and the internationally recognized
Konservatori Kerawitan, one of the major centers of Balinese dancing.
The Sea Temple of Tanah Lot on the west coast (a short drive from Kediri) is one of the most breathtaking
sights of Bali. Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) near Bedulu is a huge cavern with an entrance carved in a
fantastic design of demonical shapes, animals and plants, crowned by a monstrous gargoyle-like head.
The Holy Springs of Tampaksiring are believed to possess curative properties and attract thousands of
visitors each year. Serangan Island is also known as Turtle Island because of the turtles kept there
in special pens. The island lies south of Sanur and can be reached by sail boat or, at low tide, on foot.
Every six months, the island becomes the scene of a great thanksgiving ceremony in which tens of
thousands take part. The sacred monkey forest at Sangeh is a forest reserve which, as well as being
the home of a variety of exotic apes, also has a temple. Penelokan is a splendid vantage point for
views of the black lava streams from Mount Batur. It is also possible to sail across the nearby
Lake Batur to Trunyan for a closer look at the crater. North of Kintamani, at an altitude of 1745m (5725ft),
lies the highest temple on the island, Penulisan. Pura Besakih, a temple which dates back originally
to the 10th century, 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 splendor on festival days.
Padangbai is a beautiful tropical coastal village, where lush vegetation backs a curving stretch
of white, sandy beach. It is also the island’s port of call for giant cruise liners. Goa Lawah lives
up to its name (‘bat cave’ in the local tongue), a safe and holy haven for thousands of bats which
line every inch of space on its walls and roof. Non bat-lovers should avoid moonlight strolls in the
area, as the animals leave for food sorties at night. Kusambe is a fishing village with a black sand beach.
Lake Bratan is reached via a winding road from Budugul. The shimmering cool beauty of the lake and
its pine-forested hillsides is an unusual sight in a tropical landscape.
Luxuriate on the beach and soak up the scene as well as the sea water.
The best beaches can be found at: the east coast of Sumatra; Sanur Beach and Kuta,
which lie on a narrow isthmus in Bali; Nusa Dua in Bali; Banda, in the middle of
the Banda Sea, often referred to as the original Spice Island and famous as a nutmeg-growing
centre; Tukang Besi, a group of isolated atolls that epitomise a tropical paradise;
Nusa Penida, at one time a penal colony but now attracting visitors to its dramatic seascapes
and beaches; Padangbai on Bali, a beautiful tropical coastal village, where lush vegetation
backs a curving stretch of white, sandy beach; the Terawangan Islands, with their beautiful
beaches and coral gardens; and on Lombak are some glorious beaches, some of white sand, others,
such as those near Ampenan, of black sand.
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Society in Indonesia
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Indonesia comprises a range of diverse societies and cultures. Indonesia, with over 240 million people,
has the fifth largest population in the world. The country is an ethnological goldmine, with 336
ethnic groups joined together by a unifying language and through intermarriage. Indonesia can be
considered a spectrum of all the Asian cultures, races and religions. Of the 190 million people
in the country, 88% are Moslem. However, mass education, mass media and a policy of government-orchestrated
nationalism have created a definite Indonesian national culture, with Bahasa Indonesia as its medium.
Indonesians are trained to cope with stressful, interpersonal situations differently than Westerners.
They tend to be nonassertive and continue to smile and maintain a calm appearance as they withdraw
from a quarrel. When they avoid your gaze, it doesn't mean that they are afraid of you. Under most
circumstances, eye contact is avoided, particularly if its prolonged. Aggressive gestures and
postures such as crossing your arms over your chest or standing with your hands on your hips while
talking, particularly with older people, are regarded as insulting. Scarves should be worn around
the waist when entering Balinese temples. Never touch anyone's head. Indonesians regard the head
as the seat of the soul, and it therefore is sacred. When invited to eat or drink, watch your
Indonesian host. A guest may not start if not invited to do so by the host. The left hand is
considered unclean, so never use it to eat. Do not ask for salt, pepper or soy sauce; this request
would be considered an insult to the cook. Many traditional Indonesian families do not talk during
meals, conversation starts only after the meal. Cover your mouth when using a toothpick. Unannounced
visits early in the evening are an Indonesian tradition. It is considered a compliment if you are
kept waiting by the host. He is usually changing his clothes before receiving you. Never stand taller
than a Buddha, and definitely never climb on a Buddha. Never show the bottom of your feet or point
your foot when it is off the ground in the direction of another person.
Tipping: Some restaurants may automatically add a 10% service charge to your bill, but an
additional tip is always appreciated.
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Food in Indonesia
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As in the rest of Asia, Indonesian food is heavily based on rice, supplemented by vegetables, a
little bit of fish and once in a while, meat and eggs. Indonesian cuisine is known for its combination
of contrasting flavors and textures, its influences having originated in all corners of the world.
Each culinary art of foreign origin can be distinguished in Indonesian cooking, yet each is blended
creatively with the islands' own cooking secrets. Each province or area has its own cuisine, which
varies in the method of cooking and the ingredients used. The Javanese cuisine is probably the most
palatable to the general taste and usually consists of vegetables, soybeans, beef and chicken. The
Sumatrans generally eat more beef compared to other regions. West Sumatra is known for its Pandang
specialty restaurants found nationwide. Aside from their hot and spicy food, these restaurants are
known for their unique style of service. Further to the east, seafood is featured in the daily diet,
either grilled or made into curries. In Bali, Irian Jaya and the highlands of North Sumatra and North
Sulawesi, pork dishes are specialties. As the population of Indonesia is predominantly Moslem, pork
is usually not served except in Chinese restaurants, non-Moslem regions and places serving
international cuisine. The most popular dishes in Indonesia are: gado-gado, salad with peanut sauce;
nasi goreng, fried rice; bakmigoreng, fried noodles; and sate, skewered grilled meat.
There is a wide variety of tropical and subtropical vegetables all year round. Some fruits such as
mangoes and watermelons are seasonal, but most of the other fruits are available throughout the year.
Although Indonesia is a Moslem country, alcoholic beverages are widely available. The two most popular
beers, both light lagers, are the locally brewed Anker and Bintang brands. Imported liquors, like
whisky and gin, are usually sold only in the more expensive restaurants and hotels. Brem, or rice wine,
Arak, rice whisky, and Tuak, palm wine are locally produced and readily available. Drinking unboiled
water in Indonesia is considered unsafe because of poor sewage disposal and improperly treated water
supplies. Contaminated water is known for transmitting diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever.
Avoid ice cubes unless they have been made from boiled water. The freezing of water does not kill
the organisms, nor does the alcohol in a drink. Western bottled and canned drinks are widely available
and comparatively cheap in Indonesia.
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Visa for Indonesia
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Visa regulations have been in a state of flux since 2002, with changes being made in response to
political imperatives and then reversed when pressure is brought to bear by tourism interests.
Nationals of 21 countries, including Australia, the US and some European countries, are able to obtain
a visa on arrival in Indonesia. Visas on arrival can only be obtained at designated international
airports and seaports and Indonesia requires at least 6 months validity remaining on passports for
visitors entering the country.
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