Sunday, July 14, 2013

Indonesia Travel Guide

http://westhillconsulting.info/travel.html

Indonesia Travel Guide
Full country name: Republic of Indonesia
Area: 1,904,569 sq km
Population: 242,97 million (July 2010 est.)
Capital City: Jakarta
Language: Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects (the most widely spoken of which is Javanese)
Religion: Muslim 86.1%, Protestant 5.7%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 1.8%, other or unspecified 3.4%
Government: Republic
Time Zone: UTC+7
Dialling Code: 62
Electricity: 220V 50 Hz
Weights & measures: Metric
Money & Costs:
Currency: Indonesian rupiah (IDR)
Average Yearly Salary: USD 4,000
Geography: Indonesia, the largest archipelago in the world, is located in Southeast Asia and Oceania. The country comprises 17,508 islands all in all, with 5 (Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, Sumatra and New Guinea) being fundamental. The country shares maritime borders with Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia and Australia. The country's location make it a place of numerous volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.

Climate: Indonesia has a tropical climate, with two distinct seasons: wet and dry. Mountainous region receive the highest rainfall. Humidity averages to about 80%. The average yearly temperature is 26-30 C (79-86 F) throughout the year.

Recommended clothing: Lightweight cotton clothes are recommended throughout the year. Rainwear is essential during the rainy season. Pack warmer clothes if you are planning to travel to upland areas.

Social conventions: Handshaking is the normal form of greeting. If invited to the home, a small souvenir from one's homeland is an acceptable gift, and something for their children is always welcome. Do not give money. Remember that a nod of the head means 'no' and a shake means 'yes'!

Health: There are many health risks associated with traveling to Indonesia, therefore all the necessary immunizations and vaccinations should be taken ahead. Malaria is a risk everywhere, except the larger cities. The dengue fever is present throughout Indonesia, especially during the rainy season. Mosquito repellents and any other possible protection is advised. Travelers' diarrhea is also a major risk; you should only drink bottled water and avoid uncooked meat, salads and unpeeled fruit. Poor sanitation can increase the risk of cholera, typhoid and other diseases. Health care is of a poor quality and very expensive, therefore travel insurance is strongly recommended.

Food & Drink: Indonesian cuisine is formed not only by the local cultures and foreign influences as well. The basis of all Indonesian meals is rice, which are mixed with either fish or meat. The food is usually strong in spices and flavor. Goat and lamb are the most widely used meats. Coconut milk and lemon grass is widely used in cooking. The national Indonesian dish is called Nasi Goreng (fried rice with a fried egg). Some other national dishes include: Kari Ikan (fish curry) and Semur Daging (beef in Soya sauce). The most popular Indonesian drinks are teh (tea) and kopi (coffee). Jasmine and green teas are the most popular varieties of teas drunk in Indonesia. Kopi susu (coffee with sweetened condensed milk) is an Indonesian version of Café au lait. There are also various famous brand soft drinks such as Coca Cola or Fanta.

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