Practical information about Indonesia

1. Indonesia’s climate

As one of 9 countries starting with I listed on Countryaah, Indonesia stretches from north to south on both sides of the equator, so the country has a tropical climate. Temperatures hardly vary from island to island. The biggest difference in the weather is reflected in the amount of rain and the rainy seasons. The relative humidity of the air is usually high, but decreases as you get higher in the mountains.

According to Bridgat, Indonesia does not have the same seasons as we do in Europe. Instead, the year is divided into two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. However, the dry season and the rainy season coincide slightly different months depending on which island you happen to be on.

Bali (Munduk – Lovina – Ubud – Sanur)

Bali is a very lush and green island. The island often does not rain during the day, even during the rainy season, as the rains usually come in the evenings or at night in heavy but short-term deafness. So there are plenty of sunny hours even during the rainy months.

The dry season runs from April to September.

The rainy season lasts from October to March.

Bali weather statistics:	OAK	PEARL	PAINTING	APRIL	MAY	SUMMER	HAY	LIFE	AUTUMN	MUD	MARRAS	CHRISTMAS
Average. highest temperature	30	30	31	31	30	30	29	29	30	31	31	31
Average. lowest temperature	24	24	24	24	23	23	22	22	23	23	23	24
Precipitation e.g.	328	261	225	117	107	90	119	53	116	173	187	258
Average seawater temperature	29	29	29	29	29	28	27	26	27	28	29	29

Java (Yogyakarta – Bromo – Kalibaru – Banyuwangi)

The dry season lasts from May to September. During this time, the days are warm, dry and very sunny.

The rainy season lasts from October to April. It rains less in East Java than in the West. Rainfall usually comes in the late afternoon as heavy rainfall, which usually lasts for a couple of hours.

Yogyakarta (Central Java) weather statistics for:	OAK	PEARL	PAINTING	APRIL	MAY	SUMMER	HAY	LIFE	AUTUMN	MUD	MARRAS	CHRISTMAS
Average. highest temperature	29	29	29	31	30	30	29	30	31	31	30	29
Average. lowest temperature	22	22	22	22	22	21	21	21	22	22	22	22
Precipitation e.g.	353	335	310	211	127	89	41	25	30	94	229	340

Sumatra (Medan – Bukit Lawang – Berastagi – Samosir – Tobajärvi)

Sumatra is the third largest island in Indonesia. The equator runs across the island, which also affects the seasons: the dry season and the rainy season are slightly different north and south of the equator. Despite the two seasons, temperatures are very even and showers occur throughout the year.

The dry season lasts from May to September. In the northern parts of the island and in the northern jungle regions, temperatures are slightly lower than in the south, but in general, mercury always rises higher during the dry season.

The rainy season lasts from October to April. North Sumatra receives the most rain from early October to January, while the south receives the most water between early November and late February.

Medan (North Sumatra) weather statistics:	OAK	PEARL	PAINTING	APRIL	MAY	SUMMER	HAY	LIFE	AUTUMN	MUD	MARRAS	CHRISTMAS
Average. highest temperature	32	32	33	33	33	33	33	33	32	32	31	31
Average. lowest temperature	22	23	23	24	23	24	24	23	22	23	23	23
Precipitation e.g.	92	115	97	157	178	147	167	185	263	387	253	228

Komodo National Park (Flores, Komodo Island and Rinca Island)

The archipelago known as Komodo consists of several different islands that form a national park. The most famous islands are Komodo Island, Rinca Island and the slightly larger Flores, where most hotels and resorts are located. As elsewhere in Indonesia, the year in Komodo National Park is divided into two seasons:

The dry season lasts from April to October. The dry season is indeed dry , as sometimes during it it may be necessary to even limit water use. Humidity is also very low at this time.

The rainy season lasts from November to March. Most water comes in January and February. During the rainy season, it usually rains for a couple of hours in the morning and for a couple of hours in the late afternoon, and there are only a few sunny hours during the day.

Labuhanbajon (Flores) weather statistics:	OAK	PEARL	PAINTING	APRIL	MAY	SUMMER	HAY	LIFE	AUTUMN	MUD	MARRAS	CHRISTMAS
Average. highest temperature	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	32	32	32	31
Average. lowest temperature	21	21	21	20	20	19	18	18	19	20	21	21
Precipitation e.g.	396	361	310	154	120	51	28	29	45	99	193	298

Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan is one of the Gili Islands to the east of Bali. Although in the Gili Islands the year is divided into two seasons as elsewhere in Bali, in Gil the sun can shine from the clear sky at the same time as Bali is cloudy and rainy.

The dry season lasts from April to October. August is the driest month. In the dry season, snorkeling and diving conditions are best, as the visibility in the water is at least 30 meters.

The rainy season lasts from the end of October to the end of March. January is the wettest month. During the rainy season, it mostly rains in the afternoon, but at other times of the day the sky can be completely cloudless.

Please note that the journey between Bali and Gili Trawangan passes through the Lombok Strait. Sailing can be intense especially in January-February and June-July. If the weather does not allow movement on the waters, the ferry trip may be canceled for safety reasons. This happens on average 1-2 times a year, and the interruption of ferry traffic usually lasts 1-2 days at a time.

Gili Trawangan Weather Statistics:	OAK	PEARL	PAINTING	APRIL	MAY	SUMMER	HAY	LIFE	AUTUMN	MUD	MARRAS	CHRISTMAS
Average. highest temperature	30	30	30	31	31	30	30	30	31	31	31	30
Average. lowest temperature	22	22	22	21	21	20	19	19	20	21	22	22
Precipitation e.g.	358	297	245	117	107	53	58	38	37	97	152	246
Average seawater temperature	29	29	29	29	28	28	27	27	27	28	29	29

Lombok (Senggigi)

Lombok is located east of Bali next to the Gilis Islands, so the climate here is essentially similar to that of Gil. Temperatures are consistently high all year round, but the highlands can be cooler in the evenings and at night.

The dry season runs from April to October, and the best travel time is from June to September. There are a lot of sunny hours at this time, the air is not distressingly warm and there is a nice refreshing breeze from the sea.

The rainy season begins in November and ends in March, and January is the wettest month of the season. During the rainy season, rains usually come in the morning and late afternoon, but between the rains the sun shines again. Temperatures are still consistently high and humidity is high.

Lombok weather statistics:	OAK	PEARL	PAINTING	APRIL	MAY	SUMMER	HAY	LIFE	AUTUMN	MUD	MARRAS	CHRISTMAS
Average. highest temperature	30	30	30	31	31	30	30	30	31	31	31	30
Average. lowest temperature	22	22	22	21	21	20	19	19	20	21	22	22
Precipitation e.g.	358	297	245	117	107	53	58	38	37	97	152	246
Average seawater temperature	29	29	29	29	28	28	27	27	27	28	29	29

3. When should you travel to Indonesia?

You can travel to Indonesia all year round. Bali’s high season is from July to September as well as December.

6. Languages

The official language of Indonesia is Indonesian ( b ahasa Indonesia ) and is spoken in both educational institutions and public institutions. Indonesia is spoken by about 200 million people as their mother tongue or as a foreign language, while Indonesia has a population of about 260 million. In addition to the official language, several local languages ​​are spoken in the country, and a minority of about 25 million speak only some of the hundreds of local languages. However, as a tourist, you are fluent in English, which is spoken fluently, especially by young people.

8. Visa

As a Finnish citizen, you do not need a visa to Indonesia if the trip takes less than 30 days. For trips lasting more than 30 days, you will need a 60-day tourist visa, which must be applied for in advance at the Indonesian Embassy. A 60-day visa costs 55 euros. As always when traveling abroad, you must have a valid Finnish passport. The passport must be valid for 6 months after leaving the country .

9. Currency

According to Countryaah, the Indonesian currency is the Rupee (IDR). We recommend that you bring some US dollars in cash, which you can exchange at an official exchange point. Ordinary credit cards like Visa and Mastercard are quite common, and there are ATMs in the cities. Credit cards can be used in hotels, restaurants and shops, but not in small local markets.

10. Drink money

Drinking money is common in Indonesia and is also expected – especially when you receive personal service. In general, tips are given according to the quality of the service.

The indicative amount for drinking money is:

• Pikkolo: Min. 10000 Rp / bag (approx. 1 USD)
• Floor cleaner: Min. Rs 20,000 / room / day (approx. USD 1.5)
• Drivers: Rp 30,000 / day / person depending on service (approx. 2 USD)
• Guides: Min. Rs 50,000 / excursion / person depending on the service (approx. USD 3.5)
• Restaurants: Drink money is not expected in small local restaurants and street kitchens. In international restaurants, it is customary to leave at least 10000 Rp on leaving the restaurant (approx. 1 USD)

In our gratuity guidelines, amounts are given in U.S. dollars, however, on-site gratuities are paid in local currency.

11. Time difference

There are three time zones in Indonesia. The time difference between Indonesia and Finland varies depending on whether Finland has summer time or winter time.

The time in West Indonesia is +5 hours ahead of Finland when we have winter time, and +4 hours when we have summer time.

Bali is located in the time zone of Central Indonesia, which is +6 hours ahead of Finland when we have winter time and +5 hours when we have summer time.
In summer +5 hours: when it is 12 in Finland, in Indonesia it is 17. In
winter +6 hours: when it is 12 in Finland, it is 18 in Indonesia.

East Indonesia’s time is +7 hours ahead of Finland when we have winter time, and +6 hours when we have summer time.

12. Electricity

In most areas of Indonesia, the voltage is 220 V, especially in tourist destinations. The plugs have two rounded pins. Sockets that fit a three-prong plug (grounded computer plug) are rare. So make sure you take the adapter with you if you need to charge a laptop, mobile phone or camera, for example.

13. Telephone and internet

According to AllCityCodes, Indonesia’s international area code is +62. In Indonesia, making and receiving a call can be expensive. Check your mobile phone coverage and prices with your mobile operator.
Larger cities have internet cafes, and most hotels have WiFi.

14. Security

In Indonesia, it is generally safe to travel as long as you stay in tourist areas. Unfortunately, there have been terrorist attacks in Indonesia in recent years, which have also affected tourists. That is why security is a priority in the country. Usually, the crime against tourists is pickpocketing or, in rare cases, credit card misuse. However, these can be avoided by following general caution and using common sense. Avoid wearing expensive jewelry and keeping large sums of money in sight, and never get your credit card out of your sight at tourist destinations. When you always follow the safety instructions in this guide, you don’t have to worry unnecessarily.

15. Meals and beverages

Indonesian food is healthy, smells good and tastes delicious. The country’s food culture has been influenced by Indian, Malaysian and Chinese cuisine, among others. The most common dish is “satay”, which is grilled chicken or beef on small skewers, served with peanut sauce, for example.

Use only bottled water as drinking water. Bottled water is cheap and available everywhere. Never drink tap water.

17. Flight reservations and airline tickets

We will send you an itinerary as soon as we have booked your flight. From the itinerary, you can see exactly what is included in the trip. If you notice an error in the name on the booking, please contact us immediately. We use e-tickets that you have to print yourself. Once the tickets have been booked, we will send you an email with the booking number and instructions on how to print the ticket. At the same time, you will receive a newsletter containing important telephone numbers, such as a number that you can always catch up with a representative from Asia Travel – even outside opening hours.

If your itinerary includes a domestic flight, you will not receive this flight ticket until you arrive in Indonesia.

20. Your luggage

We use many different airlines on our trips to Indonesia, so the amount of baggage allowed can vary for both checked-in suitcases and hand luggage. Baggage information can be found on the flight ticket. You can also contact us if you have any questions about our luggage. If your trip includes an internal flight, the maximum amount of luggage is 20 kg.

Make sure you have all the essentials in your hand luggage. Essential goods include passports, airline tickets, insurance documents, credit cards, money, prescriptions and vital medicines. In addition, you should pack a camera, binoculars, computer and tablet, as well as chargers and adapters in your hand luggage.

Due to the air conditioning, it can get cold on the plane, so pack a warm sweater or windbreaker in your hand luggage.

21. Airport transfers

When you arrive at the airport, you will be met by our local representative, who will be identified in the Arrivals Hall by a sign bearing your name. You will also be transported to the airport on the day of departure. The departure time of the transfer on the day of departure will be notified to you upon arrival in Indonesia.

22. Etiquette and cultural differences

Experiencing cultural and etiquette differences is one of the pleasures of traveling, and it is important to respect these differences. The saying goes “in the country the way of the country,” and that’s why we’ve put together tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your trip to Indonesia.

• If you’re angry, don’t let it show up. Showing irritation or frustration by shouting or rude behavior is extremely bad and degrading behavior, and it never results in any good.
• Never use a red ballpoint pen or marker, as this is interpreted as a sign of aggression.
• Always take your shoes off when you step into a private home or temple.
• If you’re invited to visit a private home, don’t leave until you’ve enjoyed the food or refreshments provided by the host or hostess – no matter how long it takes to make them. It is a disgrace to the house and its master or hostess if you leave without eating or drinking anything.
• Always use either hand or just the right hand when handing something to the other or when you are being handed something. Never use only the left hand.
• Do not stand with your hands on your hips as this will give an arrogant and threatening impression.
• Never point at a person or object with your finger or even your whole hand. If you want to get someone’s attention, hold your hand at pelvic height and point toward you.
• Touching a child’s head is believed to bring bad luck.
• Avoid public displays of affection, such as hugging or kissing, as they are considered offensive.
• Avoid wearing shorts, short bottoms, and sleeveless shirts in temples and churches.
• Never go swimming naked or sunbathe without a swimsuit, as it is considered completely inappropriate – even on beaches and hotels.