Indonesia

Indonesian festivals include: 1 January (New Year’s Day), 21 April (Kartini Day, roughly Mothers’ Day), 17 August (Independence Day), 1 October (Hari Pancasilia, a reminder of the five principles of Pancasilia: the belief in one god, Indonesian unity, a sense of community with your fellow man, democracy and social equality for all Indonesians), and 25 December (Christmas Day). Besides these celebrations, there are several festivals which have varying dates in our calendar, such as the Chinese New Year, Balinese Saka (the Balinese New Year) and Waisak Day (commemorates the birth and death of the Buddha and is celebrated in the regions of Yogyakarta and the Borobodur).

Islamic Festivals: Because the Islamic calendar is based on moon position, the Islamic festivals have a different day each year in our Gregorian calendar. The Festival of Sacrifice begins on 16 November December (in 2010) and lasts 3 days. Ramadan (the month of fasting) can cause inconvenience for visitors, as many restaurants are closed for this month and eating, drinking and smoking in public are not appreciated. However, people will accommodate and cook for non-Muslims. Naturally, you should eat this food discreetly and not right in front of fasting Muslims. In 2010, Ramadan begins on 11 August and ends on 9 September. Eid ul-Fitr, the breakfast festival held to mark the end of Ramadan, begins on the 10 September.

Europeans behave differently from the Indonesian people in many ways. In fact, you could write an entire book about the differences. The following hints should help you avoid the biggest misunderstandings.

Etiquette: Indonesian folk are extremely friendly and open. Wherever you go, you will be frequently greeted by children and even adults with the phrase ‘Hello mister’ (even if you are a woman!). The most important things to remember are; don’t get angry, stay calm and retain a sense of humour at all times. Indonesians see showing anger as a severe character flaw. A grin is your best weapon. Do not stroke anyone’s head or criticise people in the company of others. Indonesians are particularly sensitive about losing face, and being seen to be criticised will do this. Bad news or displeasure must be expressed in private.

Meetings/appointments: We come from a hectic culture where time is money and punctuality is expected. Indonesians do not share this pressure, although that is not to say that they will necessarily be late. Sometimes they may have nothing else to do and arrive an hour early. Indonesians live much more in the here and now, worry less about the future than us and have a lot of patience. A local saying sums this attitude up nicely; ‘jam karet’. This means ‘rubber time’! Flexibility is the key.

Hands and feet: Indonesians do not use toilet paper; they clean their backsides using water out of a bottle and their left hand. This is the reason why you never offer your left hand to shake, gesture or eat. This is considered filthy. Never touch anybody’s head (even children). Pointing to somebody is also considered rude. If you wish to indicate somebody, use a downward swing of the whole hand. Never put your feet up on a table and always take your shoes off before entering someone’s home, a mosque, and sometimes even a museum. When you sit, you must hide your feet. Do not cross your legs in a manner that leaves the sole or point of your foot pointing towards someone.

Physical contact: Although Indonesians do not particularly approve of open shows of affection between a man and woman, they do not hesitate to make much physical contact during conversation, even with a complete stranger. Do your best to tolerate this habit.

Clothing: Indonesians like to dress formally for particular occasions. They judge their fellow man mainly on appearance. Neat clothing is seen as a status symbol. Unwashed hair, body odour and unwashed or untidy clothing results in a complete loss of face publicly. Shorts are acceptable in the home or on the beach, although they are seen as inappropriate when worn publicly.

Visiting mosques/temples: When you visit a mosque or temple, look for signs which indicate whether or not you must take off your shoes. Show respect for the monuments by dressing appropriately and behaving calmly and quietly. Do not walk in front of praying folk, ask permission before taking photographs and if there is a ceremony taking place, make sure that you do not disturb it. When visiting a Balinese temple, you must usually wear a temple sash around your waist, and these are usually available on site.

Mandi: Indonesian bathing practises (mandi) are somewhat different to what we are used to. You will often come across the traditional mandi bucket. It is not for sitting on, the custom is to scoop water out of it with a small bucket and pour the water over yourself.

Curiosity: Indonesians are hospitable people and it takes little or no effort to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger. Questions about age, salary, religion and other issues which we would consider highly personal are everyday conversation topics in Indonesia. The chances are high that you will find yourself in conversations with many locals, especially in areas less frequented by tourists. They will want to know everything about you, and may even wish to touch your hair to convince themselves that it is real. Other people may engage you in conversation simply to practise their English.

Women on holiday: Indonesia is a reasonably easy country for (respectably dressed) female visitors to travel in. That is not to say that you will not be hassled, although this is usually just innocent niggling. The best response is to keep your sense of humour about it. You will often be asked whether you are married and how many children you have. You will make your life much easier if you simply say that you are married. It is not wise to tell people you are divorced.

Haggling: Haggling is an everyday part of Indonesian life. You will be expected to haggle at the market, in tourist shops, in taxis which have no meter and for bicycle taxis (becak). If you require a becak for the whole day, it is better to agree a fixed price beforehand. On local buses with fixed routes, haggling is not necessary. The price of food (harga pas) in restaurants is also generally fixed. Take your time when haggling, especially for expensive souvenirs, and a good starting offer is around a third of the asking price. This does not apply for gold, silver and precious stones, where the margins are much smaller. Remember that haggling is a social activity here and not a matter of life and death! ‘Boleh tawar?’ means ‘may I haggle?’

Begging: In many cities you will be approached by beggars, who will ask you for money, soap or pens, and sometimes for sweets. Some beggars will immediately name an amount of money that they would like from you. You will be solving no great problems for them by giving them money. They have become dependent on this sort of income. In the larger cities, mothers with children are found on the street. Sometimes they lie in the street and look more bedraggled. Bear in mind that the children are often borrowed, to make it seem that the mother has bigger numbers of dependents than she actually has. A number of beggars use make-up, and they wash a number of wounds and scars off at the end of the day. Shoestring advises that you give no money to children; a better idea is to give them fruit or other food. If children earn a good wage begging, their parents will usually not send them to school and thus keep them on the streets. It is much more acceptable to give money to the elderly or to invalids. However, the reality behind every beggar is very varied; some genuinely beg for money to buy food, although more of them are forced to resort to begging to pay their rent. In the larger cities, the number of alcohol and drug addicted beggars is on the increase. You are better off giving money to reputable charitable organisations.

Dance and Drama
You will come into contact with dance, the art of storytelling and many forms of theatre in Indonesia. Dancers, shamen, actors, wayang puppeteers, storytellers, poets and gamelan musicians fulfil an important role in Indonesian entertainment, giving advice and teaching traditions to their fellow men. Dances are performed to prevent illness, drive away evil spirits, celebrate victories, to mark births, funerals, marriages, the onset of puberty and at annual celebrations usually related to farming and harvests. Sometimes a select group performs the dances, but the entire community often takes part. The musical accompaniment is provided by angklung (traditional instruments made of bamboo), flutes or an orchestra. During some of the dances, the dancers go into a trance. The most famous of these trance dances is the Balinese barong. This dance pictures the struggle between the forces of good and evil in the universe, symbolised by the good spirit Barong and the evil witch Rangda. Bali’s most popular dance performance among tourists is the kecak, which is sometimes performed by hundreds of singing, swaying men.

Textile Forms
People with knowledge of textiles will agree that Indonesia has the largest variety of traditional textiles in the world. Every ethnic group seems to have had their own unique tradition of fabric artistry. The eastern islands are home to the ikat technique, Sumatra is home to songkets, and Java is famous for its stunning batiks. Batik still plays a part in modern Javanese culture. The creation of intricate batik requires a huge amount of patience. It must first be sketched, parts of the fabric require particular treatment with wax and the cloths must be dyed, washed and dried. The dying and wax treatment has to be repeated as many times as is necessary to create the desired number of colours.

Crafts
Traditional handicrafts are one of the few things that the different islands have in common. The variety is once again as large as the variety of different cultures, from primitive carvings to elaborate cloth, cane and bamboo items, gold and silver jewellery and necklaces made from kauri shells. You can also find traditional items such as paintings, krisses (Javanese daggers), dance masks, wayang puppets and musical instruments. It is not at all difficult to find fantastic souvenirs.

In general
Remember at all times that you are visitors in this foreign land. Their behaviour and customs are not bizarre, yours are!

Food: It is surprising to talk of Indonesian cuisine in a country with so many different cultures, yet the basic ingredient of every meal is boiled white rice (nasi putih). Other ingredients that unite the island are coconut, chilli peppers and local herbs and grasses. The range and number of different spices harvested in this country is un-matched in the world. Rice is the basic ingredients of meals but the side dishes vary in ingredients and spiciness depending on the island. Javanese cuisine can be categorised into four regions; Sundanese (western Java), central Javanese, eastern Javanese and Maduran Javanese. Meals in central Java are cooked chicken (ayam) and gudeg. Javanese chickens are free-range, and wander everywhere in the villages. Consequently, they have a much better taste than factory farmed chickens. The Javanese cook their chicken for a couple of hours in a mix of herbs, spices and coconut milk before roasting them or deep-frying them for just over a minute at high temperatures, to crisp the outside. Gudeg is a delicacy from Yogyakarta and consists of new sweet potatoes boiled in coconut milk and herbs, served with chicken, eggs and buffalo meat which has been cooked with sambal sauce. An area’s religion also influences the ingredients. Balinese are the only Indonesians who eat pork (babi), while they see the consumption of beef, popular throughout the country, as taboo. Do not expect local Indonesian food to resemble the sort of Indonesian food that you may encounter in Europe. The most authentic dishes can be found in the warung, which are improvised stalls and kiosks in the streets. The cooks steam, deep-fry and cook in wadjans (Indonesian woks). You are better off going to the busiest of these kiosks, as this is usually indicates that the food is fresher and of better quality. Vegetarians are well catered for, some well-known dishes being
gado-gado and tjap tjoy. Fish (ikan) is also widely available.

Drinking Water: Indonesian mains water is not fit to drink. Buy bottles of purified water, available all over the country. However, make sure that the seal is intact and original. Ice cubes in drinks are also worth avoiding, as they are made from tap water.

Drinks: Despite the Islamic ban, the Indonesians do not particularly quibble over the consumption of alcohol. Beer brewed in Indonesia, such as Bintang or Anker, is widely available, although spirits are more difficult to obtain. Soft drinks and mineral water (air minum) are available. Coffee (kopi) is made from excellent quality Indonesian beans and is available everywhere, as is tea (teh). There is also a large range of fruit juices.

The Republic of Indonesia is an island nation in Southeast Asia. The distance from the most westerly point of Aceh to the eastern border with Papua New Guinea is 3,100 miles, and from north to south the country stretches over 1,250 miles. There are 13,677 islands of which 6,000 are populated. The surface area of the country is 735,000 square miles, 14.5 times larger than England. The landscape varies from spectacular smoking craters in chains of volcanoes that run from Sumatra as far as Flores, to green, fertile rice fields, tropical rainforest, white beaches and the dry savannahs of the eastern islands. These different landscapes are separated by equally numerous seas. Indonesia’s rich nature encourages a huge range of flora and fauna to flourish. It is home to elephants, tigers, leopards and orang-utans. Sea tortoises live in the waters around Bali and the rafflesia, the world’s largest flower, grows on Sumatra. There are several national parks. Unfortunately, the tropical rainforest in the country is disappearing at an alarming rate.

Java: The island of Java is roughly the same size as England and has a population of over 120 million. This gives Java a population density at least twice as high as other countries in the world with a similar area. The Javanese landscape is dominated by the volcanoes, of which there are over 100 on the island, such as the Papandayan and the Bromo. About 30 of the volcanoes are still active.

Bali: Bali is dominated by the Gunung Agung, a volcano with a height of nearly 2 miles. It is a small island with very varied geography, ranging from majestic inland mountains and volcanoes to limestone and lowland on the coast. Beautiful beaches and coral reefs surround the island. Bali is also famous for its stunning rice fields in the hills.

Lombok: The predominantly Islamic island has empty beaches and a quiet, rural way of life. The Rinjani volcano dominates Lombok, with its peak at 2.3 miles above sea level.

The Lesser Sunda Islands
This chain of islands is situated east of Bali and extends over a distance of 800 miles. In modern Indonesia the islands are called Nusa Tenggara (the south-eastern islands). The archipelago is known amongst geologists as the Lesser Sunda Islands, as opposed to the Greater Sunda Islands of Sumatra, Java and Borneo. However, with regards to tourist attractions there is nothing lesser about Nusa Tenggara. A region of such small scale with such diversity and wealth of nature and culture can be found nowhere else in the world. From Lombok in the west to Timor in the east, this group of islands is blessed with calm white sandy beaches, clear water and stunning coral reefs. Nusa Tenggara has no less than 566 islands, 320 of which are so small that they are as yet unnamed. 42 of these islands are inhabited. The islands in this volcanic archipelago are potentially very fertile. Several volcanoes rise up to a height of around 2 miles and many contain deep crater lakes. Mass tourism has not quite reached these islands and the facilities are quite modest.

The predominantly Muslim island of Lombok is an island with quiet beaches and a peaceful rural community. It is dominated by the Rinjani volcano (2.3 miles high) and is a stop on our tour of the islands.

Sumbawa is larger than Lombok and Bali put together. It is a sparsely populated (just 900,000 inhabitants) series of connecting peninsulas, and the areas of forest in the western region are particularly uninhabited. The eastern side of the island is more densely populated, especially in the plains around Bima. Sumbawa is a photogenic island, ideal for travellers who wish to visit areas less trodden by tourists. Komodo is a hilly and deserted island, sandwiched between Sumbawa and Flores. The main attraction here are the numerous 10-foot long Komodo dragons. Just a few hundred people live on this island, in its only village of Kampung Komodo. The ‘dragons’ also live on the nearby islands of Rinca and Padar and on the west coast of Flores. Rinca has fewer tourists and Komodo dragon spotting is less organised here. Flores is one of the largest and most beautiful of the Sunda Islands. A chain of volcanoes runs across the island and a great number of diverse ethnic groups are native to the area, many of which follow Animist religious beliefs. The multi-coloured crater lakes of the Kelimutu volcano and the traditional Ngada village are a couple of this fascinating island’s highlights.

Indonesia has a population of 235 million. 9.3 million live in the capital city of Jakarta. The range of peoples, languages, cultures and customs found in this archipelago is unbelievable. There are 365 different ethnic groups and 300 different languages. Indonesia could almost be the Tower of Babel of the modern world. The language predominantly spoken is Bahasa Indonesian. The Javanese form the largest ethnic group, with 60 million people, followed by the Sundanese on West Java. The Balinese number 2.5 million. 2.4 million live on Lombok, 80% of which are Sasak. These people follow Islam, although they have a culture that is unique to the island. The Lesser Sunda Islands are more sparsely populated than Java or Bali, and the villages and cultures there are metaphorically and literally far away from each other. There are enormous physical differences between the people of the different islands in the country, differing in pigmentation, hair types, physiques and facial features. Many on the island still live isolated existences. The feeling of ‘Indonesian identity’ is the strongest in the more developed region, while the more isolated (and therefore more traditional) communities identify more with their own ethnic identity and their ‘adat’ (traditional laws and customs of one ethnic group or community).

About 87% of the population is Muslim, and in some areas this figure is as high as 95%, although not all of them share the same ideologies. The further east in Indonesia you travel, the larger the population of Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and Animists becomes. Of the Lesser Sunda Islands, Lombok and Sumbawa are predominantly Muslim, although Flores has a Christian majority.
The adat plays a large role in all of these religions in Indonesia. Religious beliefs and customs are greatly influenced by local traditions which are passed down through the generations. A follower of Islam in Indonesia usually adheres also to other traditions, such as the burning of incense and the offering of small sacrifices to local spirits. Many followers of Islam combine Muslim rituals with a deep rooted mysticism which dates back to the pre-Islamic period in Indonesia. Only a small percentage is orthodox, and these Muslims live mostly in Aceh, on North Sumatra, South Kalimantan and Madura. Indonesian Muslims are Sunnis. Compared with Malaysia and the Middle East, the Islamic practises in Indonesia are generally much more moderate, although this has begun to change in recent years. Only a small population of the women wear veils and alcohol consumption is quite widespread. Indonesia is currently the largest Islamic community in the world.

Islam: The Arabic word ‘Islam’ means ‘submission to God’. The basis of Islam is the belief in the one indivisible god, Allah. Mohammed is his prophet. Through the archangel Gabriel, Allah revealed His word to Mohammed in the 7th century, and this was written down to form the Koran, the Muslim holy book. The sharia, the holy Islamic law based on the Koran, dominated education and justice for centuries. There are five duties that all Muslims must fulfil, known as the five pillars of Islam. These are:
- Shahada: The declaration that there is no god other than Allah and Mohammed is his prophet.
- Salat: Prayer, which every Muslim must recite five times a day in the direction of Mecca. Before prayer, face, hands and feet must be washed. The verses and bodily positions/movements are fixed. Men are obliged to say their Friday afternoon prayer in a mosque. Muslims are called to prayer from the minarets, which are spread throughout the country.
- Zakat: The giving of alms to the poor. This is generally not observed as strictly as in earlier times.
- Sawm: Fasting during the month of Ramadan, in which time people may not eat, drink, smoke or have sexual relations in the period from sunrise to sunset.
- Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca. Every Muslim must make this pilgrimage once in their lives, as long as health and finances permit.

Balinese Hinduism: Most Balinese follow a form of Hinduism that they call Agama Hindu Dharma. It is a unique combination of Hindu and Buddhist ideals developed on top of native, pre-Hindu religious practises. The three main ideas of Hinduism are knowledge of the epic verses (the Mahabharata and the Ramayana), knowledge of philosophy and theology and ritual worship (puya), characterised by bakti (religious devotion) and sacrifice (banten). Typical ceremonies are held to honour the gods, the dead, ancestors, births, the onset of puberty, exorcistic rituals, ritual sacrifice and numerous purification rituals. Altogether, the Balinese take part in hundreds upon hundreds of rituals and will devote much time and money to them.

Animism: Animists believe that all matter has an intrinsic soul and spirits inhabit every man, animal and object. Many hundreds of ghosts inhabit forests, rivers and hills. Satisfying these spirits is the integral purpose of Animism. Tattoos and enchanted amulets are reputed to bring luck and protect against the influence of evil spirits. Anyone possessed by the devil or evil spirits must go to the shaman, medicine man or exorcist. Many peoples combine Animism with the practise of ancestor worship, a custom that honours dead family members and forefathers.

Climate: Indonesia has a tropical climate with two clear seasons. The dry season runs from April to October, the rainy season from November until March. Most of the rain falls in December and January. The amount of rain varies from island to island and is influenced by geography and altitude. On Java and Bali, the dry season is between May and October, and in the mountainous regions rain falls mainly on the lowland plains. The word ‘rain’ has a different connotation in Indonesia; a downpour in the high temperatures can have a very refreshing effect, clearing away humidity. The roads become less dusty and plants come to life. The average temperature at sea level in Indonesia is around 30 degrees centigrade. In the mountains, the temperature drops at a rate of around one degree per 650 feet climbed. This results in cool, pleasant temperatures in higher- locations.

The Lesser Sunda Islands are known for their fresh breezes and many hours of sunshine. In most of the coastal areas the sun shines for 7-8 hours per day between June and October, and in December and January you are still pretty much guaranteed at least 4-5 hours per day. The inland areas are wetter and cloudier in general. The warmest period is during October and November, with a maximum temperature of 33 degrees centigrade, although the difference is negligible given that the temperature is just three degrees lower on average during the coolest months of June and July. The temperatures drop to between 16 and 21 degrees at night. The regions of higher ground are cooler and more pleasant than the lowland coast, and the nights there could sometimes even be described as cold.

Best Time to Travel:
The best time for this Java/Bali tour is during the dry season, from May until October.
The optimum period for visiting the Lesser Sunda Islands is between May and October.

The first impression that you will get of Indonesia is of tropical luxuriance and warmth. You will also notice immediately that it has a well developed tourist industry, although this is much less evident in the more remote areas. Take time to acclimatise. The difference in climate, culture and food can be rather overwhelming. Let it sink in gently at a pace that you find comfortable. Welcome to Indonesia!

Continental 2-pin plugs fit into most sockets in Indonesia, although they may need a bit of a push. Most places use 220 volt current, but some places use 110 volts. Power failures or disruptions are quite common. Hotels usually have a supply of candles or oil-lamps for such occasions, but it is useful to bring a good torch, especially for when you are out walking in the evening or at night. If the street lighting fails, the many holes, bumps and ditches in the road can cause nasty surprises in the dark.

The following health information is a general text that applies to all our travellers in Indonesia. Those who pay some attention to hygiene and skincare don’t usually run into health problems.

Food and Drink :Tap water is unfit for human consumption; you should drink mineral water instead. In small eating places it is better not to eat fruit or salads that have been skinned beforehand. In the cities, preferably take your meals in busy restaurants. Do not eat ice cream, except in expensive restaurants. Clean your hands thoroughly before eating, even if you are only having a snack.

Sunshine and Heat :Sunburn is a frequent cause of health problems. Sunburn and heat strokes are easier caught than you may think. You should therefore avoid the sun during the hottest hours of the day, always wear a hat (or carry an umbrella) and good sunglasses when you are walking or cycling, and use the recommended factor of suntan lotion when sunbathing. At high temperatures the body’s need for water increases very rapidly, as does its need for salt. Make sure you drink enough. Take it easy during the hottest hours of the day. Treat small scratches, wounds and insect bites before they become infected.

Diarrhoea: Next to sunburn, the most common health problem is diarrhoea. Travellers are often hit by it after they have been on holiday for only a few days. In most cases it is an utterly innocuous phenomenon caused by the change of diet, the heat or harmless bacteria, against which the body will soon develop its defences. The main risk is dehydration, especially in children. It occurs when the body loses more fluid, salt and sugars than it receives. The result is a feeling of listlessness and weakness. It can be prevented by drinking a solution of water and ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution). It is sold in bags at the pharmacies and contains all the minerals and sugars that are evacuated with diarrhoea. Instead of this solution you can also take noncarbonated soft drinks or heavily salted broth. For many people, Coca Cola has a constipating effect in the first stages of diarrhoea. When the diarrhoea is accompanied by high fever and/or bloody defecation it is sensible to consult a physician. When the diarrhoea lasts for more than a few days without the above-mentioned symptoms or when you have to travel, you may take Imodium (or Diacure) a couple of times. It is an opiate that prevents bowel movement for a number of hours.

Insect Bites: In Asia it is impossible to completely avoid contact with insects, but there are a number of precautions you can take to reduce the inconvenience. In many hotels you can request mosquito nets or electric anti-mosquito devices for your room. The so-called ‘mosquito-coil’, a spiral-shaped stick of incense, is also effective and can repel mosquitoes for up to eight hours. These can be placed, upon request, under your table if you visit a restaurant. Finally, it helps to wear long trousers, long sleeves and high collars/turtle necks in the evening. There are many brands of insect repellent that have an effect, but don’t expect miracles.

First-Aid Kit: A good first-aid kit could consist of: plasters, bandages, cotton wool, scissors, a thermometer, iodine, painkillers, malaria tablets, Oral Rehydration Solution bags, Imodium, sun cream, earplugs, tweezers, insect repellent and an anti-itch cream or lotion. If you must regularly use prescription medicine, bring with you an exact description of the medicine in English (no brand names, just the essential ingredients, composition and dosage), bring twice the dosage necessary for the duration of the holiday and store in two separate places, so you have a back-up supply.

Vaccinations
The following information is a general recommendation of vaccines for this particular trip. The information is subject to change. Furthermore, necessary vaccinations vary depending on previous vaccinations you may have had, sensitivity to particular treatments, pregnancy, age etc. For these reasons, ALWAYS contact your GP before travelling. The recommended vaccinations for holidays like this are DTP (combined vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), typhus and jaundice vaccinations. Furthermore, you are advised to take preventative pills against malaria. The latest information regarding vaccines can be acquired on the internet or via your GP.

Further Advice : Allow your body and mind the time to steadily adjust to the new time-zone and location. Avoid tension, do not draw up a plan immediately. In any event take it easy on the first day. Getting up early is a good habit; in warm weather countries the morning temperature is usually the most agreeable. The people in these countries are used to getting up early. If you adapt to their rhythm you will get the most out of their country. If you have had enough sleep you will be better able to cope with all the new impressions etc. and still have enough energy to do a lot.

Ensure that those at home know which country you are in and how long you are planning to stay away for. You may wish to fix a date when you will contact them again. Making telephone calls from Indonesia is not a problem, but it’s not cheap. Provide the people that will pick you up from the airport with your flight number and arrival time. Shoestring will not provide flight and/or travel information, hotel names and telephone numbers to third parties. Any information on delays may be retrieved via the airport information number.

Contact person
In case of an emergency it is important for us to have details of someone we can contact on your behalf. You have entered a name on the booking form. In case this person is unavailable or on holiday during your trip, please enter a second person so that we are sure to be able to get in touch with somebody.

Indonesia is a tropical country, so bring thin, cotton clothes with you. For the evenings, a high-collared T-shirt with long sleeves or a thin roll-necked sweated will help reduce insect bites. It is better to bring too little than too much clothing, as anything you feel you are lacking can be bought very cheaply in Indonesia. An umbrella and a raincoat can come in handy, and the umbrella can provide protection against the bright sun as well as the rain. For the visit to Mount Bromo, a thick sweater is necessary. A good, worn-in pair of walking shoes/hiking boots and a pair of slippers is all that your feet require. Remember that you must remove your shoes when visiting sacred sites, and slippers are useful in these instances. Other important items include sheets, hand towels, sunglasses, sun creams, toiletries, a first-aid kit, a roll of toilet paper, headgear/headscarves, a (video)camera with enough film, a torch, a pen/pocket knife (make sure it is not in your hand luggage during the trip), a lighter, a small supply of snacks, an alarm clock, writing materials, books, your (valid) passport, all relevant travel insurance details/documents, copies of your passport and travel insurance details, sufficient money and/or travellers’ cheques, a list of numbers of your travellers’ cheques and the receipt of purchase (store separately), your flight ticket(s), a diary with important addresses and a good travel guide. You may also wish to bring a mosquito net and string to hang it up, or a reading light. Small tokens from home such as pens or postcards can make nice presents for any locals you may meet. Pack all of these items into a weekend bag or backpack: do not bring a hard suitcase as this will prove difficult to transport. A shoulder bag or small backpack is useful for daily hand luggage. For storage of valuables or important documents, a thin money belt worn under your clothing is very useful. Make sure your hand luggage is sufficient for a possible period of 48 hours in case your main luggage is delayed. Pack a change of clothes, a toothbrush and any medication in your hand luggage. Make sure also that your luggage is not too heavy, as it must be hoisted up and down from the roof of the bus many times.

The amount of spending money suggested is the minimum required to pay for your meals, drinks, optional excursions, entrance fees, airport taxes and tips. The amount you actually need of course depends on your own spending pattern; that is why souvenirs are not included. We suggest an amount of € 125-150 per week.

Indonesians generally enjoy being photographed. However, you must remember that you can’t simply force yourself in front of them without asking. So always ask before taking a photograph of someone, and respect any objections. It is forbidden to photograph airports, military encampments, bridges, government buildings, ports, industries, stations, police and such like. You can develop and print your pictures in many places in Indonesia, and the quality is quite good in general but can vary. Anyone who wishes to take photographs underwater could bring a few water-resistant disposable cameras. Do not leave film or cameras in closed cars, as the temperature rises quickly and can ruin or at least lessen the quality of the pictures.

Theft from tourists is rare in Indonesia, although there are exceptions, so take sensible precautions. As long as you keep an eye on your belongings and do not flash money/valuables around, you should have no problems. Wear a money belt under your clothes and carry your daily hand luggage on your back at all times. Don’t keep wallets in your back pocket and carry bags against and in front of you when it is busy (which it almost always is). Do not leave valuables/important documents behind in the hotel; hand in money and passports by the hotel reception and store important equipment/items in a locked cupboard in your room. Fraud is not uncommon. Examples of this are numerous and can be avoided by following one simple rule; never give money or valuables out until the services or goods have been delivered. Westerners are particularly susceptible to overpricing. Always consider and work out the real price of something before purchase, although in our experience the practical difference is often negligible.

Indonesia has three different time zones, which are +7 to +9 hours GMT. This is one hour less during the summer period, as Indonesia has no daylight savings time.

People working in restaurants, bars and hotels who make your trip pleasant by cooking, making your beds etc. all earn paltry wages. You cannot put an end to the general poverty on the islands, but you can certainly ensure that your staff gets a reasonable tip to supplement their meagre wage. For your bus driver and possible second driver, a tip of 50 cents per day for each of them (per traveller) is a good guideline. For this sort of tip, it is useful to pass around a collection box (consult with your tour guide first). This pot can also be used to buy small snacks for the group during the journeys. The local English-speaking tour guides will also expect a tip for their services, assuming they have performed their duties in a satisfactory manner. Our guideline is around € 1 per person per day. Naturally, you may give more if you wish.