PREPARATION and the JOURNEY

Visas

Since 01 Feb 2004, visa regulations have changed, but final solutions are still being discussed. Please contact any Indonesian embassy for latest information. At present, regulations are as follows; Citizens of the following countries get a 30 days visa on arrival for 25 US$

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Greece, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, U.S.A, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

60 days visas are available at the Indonesian Embassy in Penang and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, for a fee of 40 US$, all visitors must have valid passport for a least six months from the date of arrival. Proof of return tickets and sufficient money are also required.

Insurances
Travel insurance is always advisable Keep the insurance policy in good custody, because in case of damage, you need this paper. It is advisable to buy cancellation insurance at the time you book the trip. 

Vaccinations
Vaccinations are no longer obligatory. It is advised to consult your Health service or general practitioner ample time before departure.
For your own safety you are advised to become vaccinated against: Typhus
An intestinal infection. The vaccination is given in two doses, with a time lap of a month and is active during ca. 3 years. Besides vaccination it is also possible to build immunization by a cure of three capsules.

DTP
DTP vaccination (diphtheria, tetanus, polio). It is important to be guarded against polio, because this infection has a severe course in adulthood. Vaccination is valid for 15 years. Advised is to renew vaccination every 5 till 10 years, and after injuries (tetanus)

Hepatitis A
Gammaglobuline against infectious hepatitis. Infectious hepatitis is a virus infect of the liver that spreads mostly by ways of infested food and water. Depending on the given amount, injection of gammaglobuline gives 3 till 6 month protection. Since a few years is available: the vaccine Havrix that will give a 10 years protection.

Where to get vaccinations
Vaccination can be done by your Health Service or tropic-departments of big hospitals or by your own general practitioner
Malaria
Malaria is spread by infected mosquitoes. For prevention of malaria several kinds of malaria tablets are prescribed that have to be taken until 4 weeks after return from your journey. In Indonesia you can find in time treatment for a disease like malaria, especially in the tourist areas. Don't treat yourself, but let a doctor check by blood examination which treatment must be given. Do you travel with children or on your own to isolate territories, ask your doctor if additional measures have to been taken.

Cholera
Vaccination against cholera is not advisable, because the available vaccine gives a very low protection and because there is little risk for cholera for tourists. Nevertheless, always be careful with food, especially shellfish and fish. These always have to be cooked thoroughly.

Water
Never drinks uncooked water from the tap!
Always drink boiled water or water in sealed bottles.

Medication
In case you use medicines, bring enough with you, for example in your hand-luggage.
It is wise to take with you medicines against:
Diarrhea
Obstipation
Fever
Insect-bites and
Perhaps travel-sickness
Further plaster, jodium,
ORS (oral dehydration solution) in case of excessive fluid loss (by diarrhea stools)
Bouillon
Sun-protection-oil
Crème for lips
And vitamin-tablets for long journeys
Ask your pharmacist for a so called "medicine-passport" if you use medicines or medicines by injection. Ask also for the keeping qualities under the circumstances of your travel.

Information
Information about health in the tropics can be found in publications from the Royal Dutch Institute for the Tropics: Website: www.kit.nl

Health
You better adapt to your new day and night rhythm immediately at the beginning of the journey. It takes about a day to get accustomed to an hour time difference. To adapt your rhythm to the surroundings, it is a good guidance to follow the Indonesian habits. This means getting up early to use the coolness of the morning, to rest in the afternoon and to go to bed in the evening in time.

Luggage
The allowed free luggage is 20 kg per person. Per person of 21 years and older 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100-gram tobacco and 2 liter alcoholic drinks may be imported. In Singapore and Malaysia there is capital punishment on carrying addictive drugs like heroin with you.

Airport tax
Airport tax is sometimes included within the ticket price. In case it is not inclusive, airport tax has to been paid on the spot.

The journey
means of payment
the monetary-unit is the rupiah (Rp.). You can collect money from the automatic bank automates (ATM) with your bank pass. Bank automates are in the cities and major villages. In bigger hotels, restaurants and shops credit cards are accepted.

Prices
In larger stores are fixed prices, but in small stores bargaining is usual. This is particular true on the market, or for a short ride in a Becak. Bargaining is a very deep settled custom in Indonesia. You soon pay too much if you refrain from it.

Tips
Giving gratuities are a matter of common and good customs. 

Stomach or intestinal disease
In case you get stomach or intestinal diseases. This can occur because of the traveling itself, the time difference, or the change of temperature, humidity and food.
To lower the chance for intestinal disease your are advised:
Never drink water from the tap
Not drink too many cold drinks the first days
Never take drinks with ice cubes, if you want cold drinks, ask bottles from the refrigerator
Drink soft drinks and mineral water only from bottles
Not eat ice from street-carts
Sunburn
The sun radiance in the tropics is much stronger then we are used to. Very soon there is danger of sunburn. A hat, sunglasses and sun protection-oil are no luxuries!

Clothing
Advised are cotton summer clothes. Cotton textiles are important because they take transpiration fluid easily.

Post
Letters from Indonesia by airmail take about a week. In luxury hotels you can arrange your post affairs on the hotel counter. 

Other information
Time difference
Indonesia has three time zones!
On Java and Sumatra it is 6 hours time difference (later than) from the Netherlands and 12 hours time difference (later than) from Washington D.C.
On Kalimantan, Sulawesi and the Small Sunda Islands it is 7 hours time difference from the Netherlands (13 hours from Washington D.C.) and on the Moluccas and Irian Jaya 8 hours time difference from the Netherlands and 14 from Washington D.C.
In case of summer Daylight Saving-Time at home, the time difference is an hour less.

Telephone
The entrance number towards Indonesia is 00-62-. In Indonesia you can call automatic international in the Wartel (telephone shops) by dialling 00-, then your country number (-31 for the Netherlands, -01 for US), then the net number without 0 and then the phone number. GSM or Mobile phone can be used in all over Indonesia.

Aperture times
Businesses: 8.30-16.00 (mon till fri);
8.30-12.00 sat).
Shops: 8.22.00 (mon till sat;
9.00-19.00 (sun) warehouses.
Banks: minimal from 9.00-14.30 (mon till fri), 9.00-12.00 (sat).
Government: 8.30-15.00 (mon till thu); 8.30-2.00 (fri, sat).
Postoffices: 8.00-13.00 (mon till thu); 8.00-11.00 (fri, sat).

Voltage
In hotels 220 V current is used.