WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Travelling to Indonesia is relatively easy and cheap. Since Indonesia is a tropical south asian country, there are some things that are good to consider before departure, such as different vaccinations, visa arrangements and travel plans.
Indonesia is a huge country, and travelling from place to another takes a lot of time. Roads are often in bad condition and navigation is difficult. Roadsigns are a rare sight.
Two weeks is hardly enough even for discovering the little island of Bali, not to mention the enormous archipelago of Indonesia. If you really want to learn to know the county, reserve at least few months for your trip.
Also, study Bahasa Indonesia before you go! It is a really easy language to learn in just few months, and you will get a lot more of your experience.
I found this phrasebook extremely useful: Lonely Planet - Indonesian Phrasebook
I found this phrasebook extremely useful: Lonely Planet - Indonesian Phrasebook
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FLIGHTS AND TRAVELING
There are many entrance points to Indonesia. The cheapest flights are to Jakarta. For students and voluntary workers I recommend Kilroy Travel, because they offer cheaper tickets for students as well as a chance to change the date of your return ticket. It can be handy, if you need to return earlier, or if you decide to prolong your stay!
Here are the useful links I came up with:
Flights:
Vertaa.fi (from Finland only)
Supersaver (from Finland only)
Visas (more info on this page too):
Studying in Asia (in Finnish only, sorry)
Embassy of Finland
Traveling in Indonesia
In Jakarta, only trust Blue Bird taxi. Taxi from airport to Jakarta should cost no more than 60,000 rupiah.
From Jakarta to Denpasar you can find flights for about 500,000 IDR/person any time.
Using a train and a bus is a real experience in Indonesia. It is slow but also very cheap. Between cities you can usually choose a bit more comfortable Executive class or the very basic economy class. Be prepared for surprises. I recommend using the train if you are not in a hurry!
If you want to travel quickly, use airplane. It is generally quite cheap.
Seat 61 This page has information about travelling through Indonesia by train and bus. Not all public transportation have timetables, so hve a flexible schedule for your travel..
Sriwijaya Air A cheap Indonesian flight operator. Easy and simple, but be prepared that they want to call you to confirm the flight reservation by phone.
Garuda Air Another Indonesian flight operator.
Lion Air Flights also outside of Indonesia: Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia
Traveling in Indonesia
In Jakarta, only trust Blue Bird taxi. Taxi from airport to Jakarta should cost no more than 60,000 rupiah.
From Jakarta to Denpasar you can find flights for about 500,000 IDR/person any time.
Using a train and a bus is a real experience in Indonesia. It is slow but also very cheap. Between cities you can usually choose a bit more comfortable Executive class or the very basic economy class. Be prepared for surprises. I recommend using the train if you are not in a hurry!
If you want to travel quickly, use airplane. It is generally quite cheap.
Seat 61 This page has information about travelling through Indonesia by train and bus. Not all public transportation have timetables, so hve a flexible schedule for your travel..
Sriwijaya Air A cheap Indonesian flight operator. Easy and simple, but be prepared that they want to call you to confirm the flight reservation by phone.
Garuda Air Another Indonesian flight operator.
Lion Air Flights also outside of Indonesia: Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia
VISAS (updated 5/2012)
If you wish to visit Indonesia for tourism, study or social purposes, you must obtain a
visa to enter the country. You must either apply for visa in your home
country's embassy or get a visa-on-arrival from the airport you fly to.
All visas should be applied at least 14 days before departure.
Visa on arrival (30 days - 20 € + 30 day extension possibility for 20€)
Citizens of most countries can get the visa on arrival from almost any international airport or seaport in Indonesia. Eligible countries can be found here.
When you arrive to the airport, before entering the visa check there will be a counter where you can buy the visa on arrival.
Make sure they do not take your passport from you, also, don't attempt to bribe them even if there are problems. Ask officers or Indonesian co-passengers for help.
Tourist Visa (up to 60 days - 40€)
The tourist visa, once applied and accepted, makes it easier for you to make it through the immigration check in Indonesia. Note that this visa is a single visit visa, so if you exit the country, you must apply again
Contact the embassy in your home country. Request for tourist visa (length 60 days), and ask for instructions. NOTE THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE A TICKET OUT OF THE COUNTRY WHEN APPLYING!
1. Download the visa form. (If in Finland, download it here.)
2. Fill in the form (tick box "visit purpose-tourism")
3. Attach the following attachments:
- Receipt of the paid visa arrangement fee (40€ in finland, accnunt info here)
- Copy of your tickets, especially return / exit ticket.
- Two 4x6cm colour photos
- Passport (with at least 6 months time remaining from the date of entry)
The regulations from Finland are not very strict. For example the "evidence of sufficient funds" and "evidence of obligation/ intention to return" are not required.
Social Visit Visa (60 days - 40€ + extension up to 180 days, 30 days at a time, 20€/30days)
This visa option is meant for students and voluntary workers, but can also be used if you have family or relatives in Indonesia. Note that this visa is a single visit visa, so if you exit the country, you must apply again.
- Download the visa form (If in Finland, download it here.)
- Fill in the visa form (tick box "limited stay-social")
- Attach the following attachments:
1) Passport (with at least 6 months time remaining from the date of entry)
2) Copy of passports front page, showing your personal info
3) Filled visa application (tick box "limited stay-social")
4) Two 4x6cm colour photos
5) Copy of your tickets, especially return / exit ticket. (note that you must have some kind of exit ticket. If you dont know your exact day of return, buy a cheap ticket from eg. Air Asia from Jakarta to Singapore. It does not matter if the date of you return ticket is later than your visa allows: you just need to extend the visa later in Indonesia)
6) Invitation letter from the organization you want to visit.
7) Receipt of the paid visa arrangement fee (40€ in finland, account info here)
The regulations from Finland are not very strict. For example the
"evidence of sufficient funds" and "evidence of obligation/ intention to
return" are not required.
Required attachments for students:
1) Passport (with at least 6 months time remaining from the date of entry)
2) Copy of passports front page, showing your personal info
3) Filled visa application (tick box "limited stay-social")
4) Two 4x6cm colour photos
5) Copy of your tickets, especially return / exit ticket. (note that you must have some kind of exit ticket. If
you dont know your exact day of return, buy a cheap ticket from eg. Air
Asia from Jakarta to Singapore. It does not matter if the date of you
return ticket is later than your visa allows: you just need to extend
the visa later in Indonesia)
6) Invitation letter from the univesity in Indonesia (also scanned copy is eligible)
Links and addresses:
Embassy of The Republic of Indonesia c/o Consular Section
Kuusisaarantie 3, 00340 Helsinki
Phone: (358-9) 477 0370
Email: info@indonesian-embassy.fi
Visa Office Hours: Monday - Friday
09.30 – 12.30
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Vaccinations (updated 5/2012)
Here is a clear list of recommendations:
| Hepatitis A Price (finland) 35€ | Recommended for all travelers |
| Typhoid Edible vaccination Price (finland) 35€ | For travelers who may eat or drink outside major restaurants and hotels. |
| Polio Price (finand) free | One-time booster recommended for any adult traveler who completed the childhood series but never had polio vaccine as an adult |
| Yellow fever | Required for all travelers greater than one year of age arriving from a yellow-fever-infected area in Africa or the Americas. Not recommended otherwise. |
| Japanese encephalitis 2 shots, 30 days period Price (finland) 300€ | For travelers who may spend a month or more in rural areas and for short-term travelers who may spend substantial time outdoors in rural areas, especially after dusk |
| Hepatitis B Often included in Hepatitis A vaccination | Recommended for all travelers |
| Rabies | For travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, or at high risk for animal bites, or involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats |
| Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) Price (finland)100-200€, but usually you have this already | Two doses recommended for all travelers born after 1956, if not previously given |
| Tetanus-diphtheria Price (finland) 20€ | Revaccination recommended every 10 years |
In Finland, I recommend contacting the Aava Travel Clinic if you live nearby Helsinki. Otherwise your local health center can help you.
Malaria and Dengue fever
Malaria
Malaria is not a very significant threat in the tourist areas of Indonesia, but the anti-malaria drug is nevertheless recommended. The risk areas include rural areas in Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan (Borneo), Nusa Tenggara Barat and all the areas east from Bali (Lombok, Komodo, Flores, Papua...) Bali is not listed in the danger zones.
There are a few different anti-malaria drugs: doxycycline (Doxitin), mefloquine (Lariam) and andatovaquone/proguanil (Malarone). Ask for you doctor which one he/she recommends, but my favourite is Doxitin, since it is the cheapest and the only one with no major side effects. 6 months portion only cost me about 30€, making it over ten times cheaper than Malarone.
Dengue fever
I don't have much information about the Dengue fever, but my doctor's answer was this:
"Don't let any mosquito bite you, or don't leave at all."
According to locals, at least in most of Java and Bali the dengue fever is not a considerable threat.
Dengue fever has no vaccination or specific cure. Problem is that the medication can not be tested with any animals since only humans react to the dengue virus. Luckily it is not very common.
In any case this is important:
If you get a sudden fever in a malaria zone, don't wait. Go to the hospital immediatelly. Both dengue and Malaria are deathly diseases if not treated correctly.
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Healthcare in Indonesia
Healthcare in Java is good and reliable. Unfortunatelly I can't talk for the more rural areas such as Borneo, Sumatra or Papua, since I have not visited them.
Pharmacies
Generally speaking you don't have to be concerned about buying everything before you leave on your trip. There are many pharmacies and everything you need is available for purchase. Many antibiotics can be bought without recipe.
My doctors tips for the trip were very good:
- Don't stress about buying all the necessary drugs from Finland, you can buy the same stuff in Indonesia for a lot cheaper.
- Take mosquito repellent
- Take sunscreen +30 or +50, it's hard to find in Indonesia (It indeed is!)
- Take some wet wipes for the way
- Most problems are caused by drinking, taking drugs and having sex. TRY to avoid them..
- Only trust a pharmacy that sells only drugs. If they sell nails and bike wheels too, it's probably not a real pharmacy.
Hospitals
I have hospitalized myself here two times, once in a public hospital, once in private hospital. Both provided quick and effective healthcare, and understood the situation of a westerner in a new climate.
Try to take a local with you, though, because even the doctors don't necessarily speak much english. Or study bahasa Indonesia yourself, like I told you, because it's easy.
The hospital check-up in a private hospital cost 50,000 rupiah, about 4 euros. Medication is more expensive, but rarely exceeds 30€.
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