Indonesia: Sumatra, Java and Bali Unique natural, cultural and historical secrets! Trip code: Group size: Number of days: SIN 4-24 20 Detailed description Welcome We will take you on a wonderful journey through the diverse Indonesian archipelago! For three weeks you'll experience the enormous diversity of landscapes and colourful cultures. You'll devour the most delicious foods, see traditional dance performances and go searching for orang-utans. You will also enjoy beautiful coastlines, jungles, active volcanoes and rice terraces and with some luck you can see the largest flower in the world, the rafflessia, in full bloom. This most comprehensive journey through Indonesia will remain in your thoughts for a long time after its completion. Day to Day schedule Below is a summary of the day-to-day description. Transport Route Overnight stay 1 Medan Medan 2 Bus Medan - Bohorok (Sumatra) Bohorok 3 Bus Bohorok - Brastagi Brastagi 4 Bus Brastagi - Samosir (Lake Toba) Samosir (Lake Toba) 5 Samosir (Lake Toba) Samosir (Lake Toba) 6 Bus Samosir (Lake Toba) - Sipirok Sipirok 7 Bus Sipirok - Bukittinggi Bukittinggi 8 Bukittinggi Bukittinggi 9 Bus,Plane Bukittinggi - Padang - Yogyakarta Yogyakarta 10 Yogyakarta Yogyakarta 11 Bus Yogyakarta - Prambanan - Solo - Tawangmanggu 12 Bus Tawangmanggu - Malang Malang 13 Bus Malang - Bromo Bromo Tawangmanggu 14 Bus Bromo - Kalibaru Kalibaru
15 Bus,Ferry Kalibaru - Ubud Ubud (Bali) Ubud Ubud Ubud - Sanur Sanur 18 Sanur Sanur 19 Sanur Sanur 20 Sanur End of tour 16 17 Bus Day to Day description Day 1: Medan Welcome to Indonesia! Your tour will begin in Medan, where your hotel room will be available from 12.00 hrs. The rest of the group will also arrive today. The exact time will depend upon their flight schedule. Medan is a busy city and one of the larger in Indonesia. You can visit art déco buildings from the Dutch colonial era, such as the Old city hall. There are also examples of Chinese and Buddhist temples to be seen. The grand Maimoon palace, built by the sultan of Deli is well worthy of a visit. Day 2: Medan - Bohorok (Sumatra) This morning you will be driven to Bohorok, the home of the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Bukit Lawang and the Gunung Leuser National Park. This is one of the largest national parks in the world, containing over 800.000 ha. of virgin rainforest. The park is home to the Orangutan, gibbons, tigers, elephants and among the last of the Sumatran rhino. You will be in an environment of rubber plantations, small villages and immaculate forest! TIP: In the afternoon you can participate in an optional excursion in search of wild orangutans. Accompanied by a local guide you go for an energetic walk of about three hours through the dense jungle. The Bohorok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre used to be run by the WWF but now this has changed hands. The rangers still maintain the welfare of the orangutans. Day 3: Bohorok - Brastagi This trip continues to the picturesque hill town of Brastagi which has a pleasantly cool climate. The backdrop to Brastagi is dominated by the two volcanoes: Sinabung and Sibayak. You can visit the local market with its deliciously exotic fruit and vegetables. Today we travel for about 6 hours. Day 4: Brastagi - Samosir (Lake Toba) Travelling via the plantation route you follow your way to the island Samosir situated in the centre of Lake Toba, one of the largest and deepest lakes in Southeast Asia. The lake lies at an altitude of 900 meters, has an area of 1700 km ², is about 450 m deep and sits in a crater. On the way to Samosir you stop at a traditional Karo Batak village, Simalungun King s Palace and the Si Piso Piso waterfall. In the afternoon you'll cross Lake Toba with the local ferry to Samosir. Your hotel is pleasantly situated along the lake. Today you travel for approximately 6-8 hours.
Day 5: Samosir (Lake Toba) A day on the island of Samosir. You may choose an optional boat excursion to the Christian villages of Toba-Batak, the colourful and musical inhabitants of this area. The clear waters of the lake are ideal for swimming and the island is best explored properly by bicycle or by motorbike. Even walking is a good option. Tomok is the main town on the east coast of Samosir and has several examples of traditional Batak houses, graves and tombs. Tuk Tuk is the place where most tourists congregate, where there are many restaurants, hotels, bars and souvenir shops. In the village Ambarita you can find a group of 300 year old stone seats, where local affairs by the Raja and village chiefs were discussed and where trials were held. The unfortunate prisoners were beaten to death, beheaded and dismembered! The pieces were then used together with buffalo meat to provide a cooked breakfast for the Raja, who drank blood. Day 6: Samosir (Lake Toba) - Sipirok In the early morning you cross the lake to Prapat. It is a beautiful route through Sumatra. There will be some interesting stops on the way at the hot sulphur springs at Sipoholon and at a traditional Adat village where you can see how Ulos has been weaved. You will stay the night in Sipirok. Todays' travel time is approximately 11 hours. Day 7: Sipirok - Bukittinggi Today you'll drive through a raw landscape, barely touched by human hands. When passing the equator at Bonjol a memorable stop will be made. It will take about 12 hours to reach Bukittinggi. Bukittinggi (the name means "high mountain") has a cool and sunny climate and is one of the most beautiful towns on the island. On one side of Bukittinggi stands the 2891 m high Mount Merapi, on the other side sits the Singgalang (2880 m). The city is inhabited by the matriarchal Minangkabau tribe, partly living in traditional beautifully carved wooden houses. The central landmark of the city is the Clock Tower with its distinctive fourpointed roof, which stands proudly in the town square. Bukittinggi has a historic Dutch fort built in 1825, the old Fort de Kock, the delightful market Pasar Atas and even a zoo. The people are friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed. At night you can sometimes see Minangkabau dance performances. Day 8: Bukittinggi TIP: Today you can take an optional excursion to the beautiful ravine at Ngarai Sianok or Karbouwengat. A walk through this gorge brings you to Kota Gadang, a village of silversmiths, truly a joy to behold. However, you can explore Bukittinggi on your own by walking or by dokar (horse cart). Bukittinggi is located just north of Batang Palapuh and between July and November the giant Rafflesia flower, the largest parasitic flower in the world, in on display. Ngalau Kamanga is a 1500 m long cave with a maze of stalactites and stalagmites. It is difficult to choose from the many opportunities that are on offer in Bukittinggi!
Day 9: Bukittinggi - Padang - Yogyakarta A travel day. You'll leave Sumatra behind and continue on your Indonesia trip with a flight from Padang airport, via Jakarta, to Yogyakarta on the island of Java. Day 10: Yogyakarta Today you are free to discover Yogyakarta and there is much to discover! The optional excursion will take you to the largest Budhist monument, the world famous Borobudur. A local guide will brief you in the early morning to tell you many details that can be seen on the walls of the Borbudur. In the afternoon you will be back in Yogyakarta. Yogyakarta is a great place to explore by yourself. You can use the bicycle rickshaws (becak) to drive yourself around and explore the Sultan's Palace, markets and the batik and puppetry workshops of Yogya. Or wander around, walking through the markets in Malioboro Street. In the evening you can attend a performance of the classic Ramayana concert ballet. Day 11: Yogyakarta - Prambanan - Solo - Tawangmanggu Starting from Yogyakarta, you will visit the famous Prambanan temples first (entrance fee exclusive) This encompasses 224 temple ruins. The Hindu temple complex is of stunning beauty, and devoted to the gods Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. In Solo you can visit the Sultan s palace. Here a local guide will show you around. Passing through tobacco and sugar cane fields you will arrive at the Sukuh temple. From here you can walk an optional 3- hour trail through the beautiful nature of Central Java to a refreshing waterfall. To get to the hotel from here, you will need to walk many steps on a staircase leading to the official entrance to the park the waterfall stands in. If you don t want to walk, the bus will bring you to the hotel in Tawangmangu after visiting the Sukuh temple. Day 12: Tawangmanggu - Malang You move on today to the cool and former colonial city of Malang (planned travel time: approx. 8 hours). The city lies on a beautiful plateau surrounded by volcanoes, 450 meters above the oppressive heat of the lowlands. You have lovely views of the Lawu volcano in particular. The centre of Malang is best seen on foot. Day 13: Malang - Bromo Today you will drive via Probolinggo to the Bromo volcano. Here you will stay overnight in Cemoro Lawang, right on the outside edge of the Tengger crater. Your stay in Bromo, and the ascent to the top of the crater will certainly be a highlight of your trip. (Travel today for approximately 5 hours)
Day 14: Bromo - Kalibaru This morning you can join an optional jeep ride to see the sunrise from a viewpoint from where the Bromo and the Semeru volcano can also be seen. It will be an early start,at about 4 a.m! After the sunrise you will cross the 'sea of sand' by jeep, and continue to Mt. Bromo by horseback. If you want to go to the crater rim you will need to climb 246 steps. It is stunning to see the deep crater and it's made even better when the slowly rising sun reveals an amazing moon-like landscape. After this adventure you head back to your hotel for breakfast and continue to Kalibaru, where you will overnight in beautifully situated bungalows near coffee, cacao and rubber plantations. (From Bromo to Kalibaru takes approximately 6 hours) Day 15: Kalibaru - Ubud Our last stretch of the trip in Java. We drive to Banyuwangi where the ferry takes us to Bali. Children and bystanders will see you off on your short boat trip to Bali, "Island of Gods and Demons." In the daily life of the Balinese the struggle of good versus evil is still prevelent. The contrasts are not as black and white as we might sometimes think. The Balinese often realise that evil is necessary in order to present an opportunity for good to be reflected. It is a crowded island, but the majority is much unknown. In Bali, you can visit some of the most beautiful rice fields in the world. During the afternoon we arrive in Ubud, center of the island. Ubud is the cultural center of Bali, famous for its paintings. The traditional Balinese culture is honoured here. There are also many religious ceremonies, dances and parties. Almost certainly will you find one of these colourful festivities to be an experience. Today will be a total of nine hours on the road. Day 16: Ubud A wide range of optional excursions are possible for exploring Ubud and its surroundings. Interesting temples and palaces such as the Elephant Cave, Tampak Siring or the famous Pura Besakih (the mother temple) and Kintamani are only a few of the interesting sights worth a visit. Trekking around Ubud s rice fields, white water rafting and spa treatments are also available. Spend some time watching intriguing dance performances in former palaces or observing temple ceremonies. And last but not least, the many galleries in and around Ubud offer all types of handicrafts and arts. TIP: An optional half day bike tour will also be offered whereby you can follow the guide on the bike through small rice field paths, through villages and alongside temples. Day 17: Ubud - Sanur South of Ubud, you venture onwards to the seaside resort of Sanur (about 1 ½ hours). In Sanur you experience all the joys of sun, sea and sand. Off the coast lies a large pier, breaking the oceans' waves. On the gently sloping beach of Sanur you may enjoy swimming in the clear blue sea. Enjoy a balmy tropical night, go buy some souvenirs or feast upon one last portion of a satay.
Day 18: Sanur A free day, so spend it as you wish. Stay poolside at the hotel or on the white beach by the rippling waves, take a refreshing swim or have a relaxing Balinese massage in the shade of an overhanging palm. The centre of Sanur boasts many shops and restaurants. In the immediate vicinity are several water sports like surfing, water skiing, diving, sailing and fishing, all possibilities. Day 19: Sanur Free day. Sanur is also a good base for exploring the lesser-visited eastern part of Bali. You can make a day trip to Goa Lawa temple, the village of Tenganan, the Water Palace of Tirtagangga and Ujung with the white sandy beach of Pasir Putih, just perfect for a dip in the sea. This can also be combined with a visit to the largest temple in Bali, Besakih. Day 20: Sanur The last day of your tour. You can use your hotel room in Sanur until check out time (most times at 12.00 hrs noon). Sanur is situated only 20 km (½ hour drive) from Denpasar, the capital of Bali. We wish you a comfortable journey home and are sure you will take with you some wonderful memories of Indonesia. Your personal my.shoestring page on our website is the perfect way to make contact with other travellers before and after your trip. You can read and create journals from trips and upload your photos onto the photo gallery. Visit my shoestring today. When booking your tour, please check to see whether you need any posttour nights, bearing in mind that accommodation for the night of the final day of the tour (day 20) is not included. Please note that when the group size is between 2 and 7 you will have one guide for Sumatra and another for Java and Bali. When the group is 8 and above, then it will be one guide staying with you throughout. More info What's included: domestic flight Padang, Jakarta; transportation in (mini) bus; train Jakarta-Yogyakarta; Boat and ferry transfers Toba and Java-Bali; Hotel accommodation with breakfast; Entrance fee Sumatra and Bromo; English speaking tour leader. What's excluded: other meals; optional excursions; other entrance fees; visa; tips; booking fee; airport transfers; airport tax for domestic flight; travel insurance; international flights. Attention
Please note that when the group size is between 2 and 7 you will have one guide for Day 2-9 (for Sumatra) and another for Java and Bali (Day 9-21). When the group is 8 and above, then it will be one guide staying with you throughout. Travel documents It is your own responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents for your trip. You should have a minimum of 6 months validity on your passport beyond your return travel date. For a number of nationalities, it is possible to gain a free 30-day tourism visa (depending on point of entry). For those not qualifying for the free visa, it is possible to organise the visa upon arrival at a cost of US$35 per person (11/14). If you need to organise your visa in advance of travel then you should do so either through your closest Indonesian embassy or through an agency such as CIBT. Please check visa information in good time before your trip commences as this information is always subject to change. You can check this information through a site such as this one Accommodation and transport
Transport During this trip we have access to a private bus. The transfers to/ from the airport are not included. The routes between the islands are covered with a domestic flight (Sumatra to Java) or boat (Java to Bali). On the domestic flight from Padang via Jakarta to Yogyakarta, you may take up to 15 kg of luggage (for each extra kilo you will be charged a supplement locally). Travel Distances Medan to Bohorok: 97 km / 7 hours (including stops and lunch time) Bohorok to Berastagi: 163 km / 8 hours (including stops and lunch time) Berastagi to Toba: 188 km / 8 hours (including stops, lunch and sailing time) Toba to Sipirok: 198 km / 10 hours (including stops and lunch time) Sipirok to Bukittinggi: 384 km / 13 hours (including stops and lunch time) Bukittinggi to Yogyakarta: 9 hours (including flights and waiting times) Yogyakarta via Prambanan and Solo to Tawangmangu: 95 km / 10 hours (including time visiting Prambanan and Solo) Tawangmangu to Malang: 233 km / 9 hours (including stops and lunch time) Malang to Bromo: 198 km / 6 hours Bromo to Kalibaru: 188 km / 7 hours (including lunch time) Kalibaru Ubud: 186 km / 9 hours (including ferry time) Ubud to Sanur: 46 km / 1½ hours Sanur to Denpasar Airport: 20 km / 1 hour *Of course all times given are approximate and depend upon conditions locally. Accommodation You will stay in hotels in rooms for 2-persons, with private bathroom. Most hotels have a restaurant, sometimes with a lovely garden or patio. Some of the planned hotels have a swimming pool to rinse off from the Indonesian heat! This applies to those in Yogyakarta, Kalibaru, Ubud and Sanur. In exceptional cases it may happen that we change the hotel. If the alternative hotels do not have pools, suitable other facilities will be found (pools). Travellers booking alone share a double/twin or sometimes triple room. We of course keep in mind to pair you with someone of the same sex. If you prefer to have a room for yourself for the tour then this is possible. You should indicate this when making your booking. A single room supplement is then payable. NOTE: It is possible that in places (especially Java) unexpected changes in the program need to be made because of congested roads or overbooked trains or hotels during Ramadan for example. It seems as if the whole of Indonesia is travelling somewhere during this period but if these issues occur, we will try to find suitable alternatives. During your trip, it is possible to participate in 'single' excursions offered locally by the tour leader. These excursions are optional. To allow you to plan a budget for your trip we have provided you with an idea of the cost of these excursions. The price can change due to currency fluctuations. The amounts are therefore only meant to give you an indication of the cost. Entrance fees will often change and therefore are excluded from the prices displayed (unless explicitly stated). We display the prices in Euros/GB Pounds/US Dollars. When you are in your destination, it is possible to pay for the excursions in local currency. Excursion package ( 156 ) Excursion Details Single excursions
Excursion Details Price Bromo - Sunrise Bromo volcano Book at location Early in the morning you'll drive in jeeps to a viewpoint, where you have a beautiful sight of the sunrise over the Bromo volcano and surrounding sea and sand. Then you drive the jeep into the crater, through sea and sand to Bromo. You can go to the craters' rim of Mount Bromo and see the yellow sulphur vapours rising from the center. The jeeps returns through the sea and sand to your hotel. Excursion schedule: 04:00 am: Depart from hotel 8:00 am: Back at the hotel Note: If the Bromo is still active the excursion may differ depending on the circumstances. Your tour guide will tell you what the alternative is. Included: Transport by jeep Not included: Entrance fee, gratuity 18 Bukit Lawang - Orangutans and Jungle Walk Book at location 32 You start with a walk led by an English speaking guide for 2 to 3 hours through the dense jungle. You can encounter orangutans and other ape species. The walk ends at the feeding site of the orangutans. Then you visit the World Wildlife Fund managed Orangutan Observation Center. They have orangutans that were raised in captivity and bring them back to the jungle life, before being fully released into the wild. With a small boat you cross the river and walk back to your hotel. Excursion schedule: 7:30 am: Depart from hotel 10:30 am: Back at the hotel Included: English speaking guide, entrance fees, boat trip Not included: gratuity
Bukittinggi - Karbouwengat trek Book at location In the morning walk from the hotel to the Panorama Hotel in Bukittinggi, with stunning views over the Singgalang volcano. Here you'll descend into the gorge, also known as Karbouwengat. You cross the river with a bridge and along the gorge to Kota Gadang (silver village). Sometimes you see monkeys and always buffaloes. Along with the traditional Minangkabau houses you will see the old colonial houses. After a cup of coffee at the warung (small family run cafe) walk along the rice fields to the other part of the gorge through bamboo forest to the village Lambah, where you get a local bus that takes you to your hotel. The tour takes about 3 hours. 16 Lake Toba - Batak tour Book at location Excursion schedule: 9:00 am: Depart from hotel 12:00 pm: Back at the hotel Included: English speaking guide, entrance fees, transportation Not included: gratuity From the hotel you sail in a boat on Lake Toba to Simanindo. The house of the former Batak king (now a museum) and some ornate Batak houses form the backdrop of a dance performance that you will see here. On the way back the boat stops at Ambarita, where the place of execution and other articles from ancient times are on display. Excursion schedule: 8:00 am: Depart from hotel 13:00 pm: Back at the hotel Included: transport by boat, English speaking guide, dance performance, lunch Not included: entrance fee, tips, drinks 34 Sanur - Nusa Lembongan Book at location Travel approximately 30 minutes by boat to the island of Nusa Lembongan. A glass bottom boat takes you to a beautiful reef. You can snorkel from the boat, or choose to go through the glass bottom to view the tropical fish and the reef. Lunch is served at the beachfront. After time for the beach and pool you go by car to explore the island. A pickup truck takes you to a mangrove forest where you continue through the mangroves by canoe. A lovely relaxing trip, with the opportunity to watch birds in the trees that stand with their roots in water. 67 Excursion schedule (subject to change and in consultation with the tour leader): 09:00 am: Depart from hotel 17:00 pm: Back at the hotel Included: English speaking guide, rental snorkelling equipment, mangrove tour, transportation, lunch, mineral water Excluded: other drinks, tip
Sanur - Temples and Barong dance performance Book at location The day starts with a Barong dance performance in Denpasar. Then visit the Pura Taman Ayun temple in Mengwi and then the famous Tanah Lot temple located in the sea, where we will have lunch in the vacinity. In the early afternoon you'll be back at your hotel. Excursion schedule: 8:30 pm: Depart from hotel 10:00 am: Barong dance in Denpasar 11:30 am: Pura Taman Ayun Temple Visit 14:00 hrs: Visit Tanah Lot temple 14:00 hrs: Lunch 16:30 pm: Back at the hotel Included: barong dance, English speaking guide, entrance fees, lunch, transportation Not included: drinks, tips 41 Ubud - Dinner with local family Book at location Before having dinner you get a tour of the house and the surrounds. You see that more than one family is living here, each with its own sleeping quarters. Several buildings are built according to religious guidelines. Thus, the direction is determined by the location of Gunung Agung, the Hindu Balinese 'Holy Mountain'. In the yard is a shrine from where offerings are made to the gods. Your host can tell you more about this. Balinese dinner can be combined with a visit to a small shrine carved into the rock, dating back to the 11th century. During this excursion you will learn a lot about the Balinese culture. 19 For dinner, it is useful to adopt the Balinese style, sitting on the floor. You can choose to eat with your hands, like the Balinese. Your meal is freshly prepared in the kitchen and usually consists of soup, vegetables, beans and chicken. 'Selamat makan! " The price mentioned is based on a minimum of 7 participants. Included: dinner, visiting temple Candi Tebing, transport Excluded: drinks Ubud cycling Book at location In the morning you get on your bike and you'll ride from the hotel to a Balinese family to see how people there live. We walk through the rice fields a little, and with luck we can see how the rice is planted or harvested. Then we cycle to the small village and drive through the beautiful rice fields near Ubud back to the hotel where you arrive in the afternoon. You're on the road about three hours. Please note that there are a few steep climbs in this tour. 17 Excursion schedule: 9:00 am: Depart from hotel 12:00 pm: Back at the hotel Included: bicycle, English speaking guide Not included: gratuity
Yogyakarta - Borobudur Book at location Early in the morning in around one hour you travel to one of the largest Buddhist shrines in the world, Borobudur. This pilgrimage site, from the 9th century AD consists of several terraces, decorated with 2,672 different relief panels and over 500 stupas and displays the path to nirvana. A local guide can tell you all about this magnificent edifice, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. After seeing this incredible wonder of the world you are returned to your hotel. Excursion schedule): 6:00 am: Depart from hotel 11:30 am: Back at the hotel Included: transportation, English speaking guide, entrance fee Not included: gratuity 50 Yogyakarta - Fun evening out with the locals Book at location A night out with the local youth! You start with a walk from Jalan Prawirotaman to the town square Alun Alun. Here a local guide will tell you about the history of the square and then you sit among the local people where you can try new snacks from local shops. You make a trip around the square on a colourful becak and can join in with the game Mesangin. This evening you will have lots of fun and insight into the local culture. 16 Excursion schedule (subject to change): 18:00 pm: Hike to the square Alun Alun 18:20 pm: Games, food and drink 20.00: Walk back to Jalan Prawirotaman Includes: Non-alcoholic beverage, round in a becak, games on the square Excluded: tips, other drinks Festival info News 5/16/2013 Baggage allowance for internal flights Please be aware that you are allowed to check in a maximum of 15 kg of baggage for all internal flights within Indonesia. If you exceed this limit then there will be an additional (per kilo) amount to be paid on the spot. COUNTRY INFORMATION INDONESIA BACKGROUND INFORMATION Culture
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!
Religion 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.
Festivals 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. Food and drinks 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.
Tipping 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 Englishspeaking 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. Weather and climate 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. Population 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).
Landscape 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. PRACTICAL INFORMATION