Travel tips for tourism in Jakarta

ENJOY JAKARTA: TRAVEL TIPS FOR YOU TO BLEND IN...

The national language of Indonesia is Bahasa Indonesia. It is derived from, and largely the same as Bahasa Malayu, which was historically the language used by traders around the region. With English on the national curriculum, most Indonesians can at least speak a few words of English. In the larger cities, English i smore widely spoken, especially in the hospitality trade. In country areas, you will find it very helpful to master at least a few basic phrases of Bahasa Indonesia.

As a predominantly Moslem county, Indonesia ostensibly observes Moslem religious practices and traditions, such as fasting during the month of Ramadhan. Each year on Ied-ul Fitr Day, there is generally mass exodus from the capital as Jakarta’sinhabitants, especially those from Java, Sumatera and the other outer islands, return to their hometowns for an annual family reunion. At this time, Jakarta becomes relatively quiet and decongested. The notable exception to this is the island of Bali, which is predominantly Hindu, and has its own cycle of celebrations and even its own calendar.

When greeting people, the word “selamat” is being used a lot. It can mean good, well or congratulations depending on the context. “Selamat pagi” is good morning, “selamat siang” is good afternoon and “selamat malam” is good evening. “Selamat makan” means enjoy your meal. Three other useful words for polite relations are “terima kasih” meaning thank you, “sama sama” or “kembali” meaning you are welcome, or “permisi” meaning “excuse me”, and “silahkan” meaning “please” is used to urge someone to go ahead or continue with an action.

Clothing

Except for mountainous areas, Indonesia’s climate is hot, humid and tropical. Remember, the string of volcanic islands that makes up the archipelago is roughly strung out along the line of the equator. Loose, cool clothing is therefore essential, as is a hat and sunscreen. Temperature usually hover around the 30 degree Celcius mark. In the wet season (Otcober – April) tropical storms can break out at any time, so carry an umbrella would be recommended. It is a good itea to carry one on hot days too, to ward off the hot sun’s rays. If you are going to be walking, wear sturdy shoe, or sandals, and bring some water. Bottled water can be bought just about anywhere. Check the seal to make sure it is still intact.

Taxis

There are many taxis available in Jakarta. Make sure to hail your taxi from a hotel or order it from reputable company. The better taxis are equipped with GPS and radio. Always note down the company, taxi number and name of the driver, which is written on the ID card on the dashboard, in case you forgot something in the cab or get into trouble. If we may recommend, you might want to pick the taxis by Blue Bird Group company or Whitehorse Taxi Company. It is very easily found on the streets of Jakarta of which cars are Blue or black colored, with the company’s name sticker on the upfront side of the taxi.

Money Changer and ATMs 

Money changers are conveniently located throughout the city as well as in many shopping malls, department stores and hotels. It is recommended to bring only brand new unmarked notes, as old, dirty or marked notes are often rejected by money changers.

While you are doing that, check their exchange rates which are generally at least as good as the money changers, and sometimes a bit bitter. Banks also have a lower risk of giving you fake Indonesian money, but they do offer shorter opening hours and the exchange can take much longer.

Once you understand the mysteries of Indonesia’s money banking system, you will soon feel comfortable with the local currency. For expatriates with foreign currency salaries to convert into rupiah, Indonesia offers many great bargains! Apart from wandering round the malls gazing at those with money, so you’ll need some rupiah. This comes in various sizes and colors. The smallest bank note is Rp. 1,000, followed by Rp. 5,000, Rp. 10,000, Rp. 20,000, Rp. 50,000 and Rp.100,000. The colors are changed regularly as counterfeiters, some even from the country’s min, learn how to make fairly reasonable copies on personal computers and photocopiers. The largest notes is now heavily plasticized.

As we write, there are still a couple of ‘real’ coins in use. The yellowfish Rp. 500 and the Rp 1,000 which is silverish with a yellowfish center make satisfying clink when you drop them. You will probably also come across Rp. 500, Rp. 200 and Rp. 100 coins which are lightweight alloy discs liable to float away in a stiff breeze. The boiled sweets which used to be given as small change in mini-marts have now been withdrawn from circulation –by law.

ATMs are conveniently located in shopping centers, malls and office buildings throughout the city and operate with widely accepted international credit and debit cards affiliated with Alto, Maestro, Cirrus, Plus, Mastercard and Visa.

Indonesian banks are also connected to ATM Bersama and Prima, a countrywide network. Cash withdrawals in US Dollars are available from Citybank and some BII ATMs.