TRAVEL TIPS | ETIQUETTE

TRAVEL TIPS

CLIMATE/WEATHER
Indonesia is a hot and humid, tropical country.  The average temperature is around 30C (86F) and varies a couple of degrees or five, depending on the place you are and the time of day/night.  There are two seasons over the year, a hot and wet (October-April) and a hot and dry (May-September).
The dry season is the high season for tourism, maybe mostly because it coincides with the holidays in the countries the tourists come from, however, you can also choose to go here during the wet season, if you don’t mind a short, powerful daily rain shower which mostly does not last more than an hour or so. Obviously there are occasionally long spells of rain, but generally, the adventurous traveller is not dissuaded, and in return enjoys lower hotel prices and the refreshed landscape that follows the rains.
The temperatures are generally lower in the hills and mountains, and if you plan to visit a volcano in Indonesia, you will find that you may need to wear a jacket. We will guide you, when your program is being discussed.
If you have a tendency to suffer from heat, you should bring along your usual medication, be it for heat rashes or general discomfort.  Obviously, local doctors are familiar with related symptoms and illnesses, should you encounter any severe problems. Sun burns are quick to happen if you decide to lie in the sun around the pool side or on the beaches. Protecting creams help, but are no guarantee.
If you intend to use sun creams, buy those with the highest protection factor.
When travelling by plane, car and train, and in-doors, in hotels, shopping malls, some of the better restaurants etc, air conditioning makes for a pleasant, cool atmosphere but outdoors, the sun drives the show with the heat which ranges from very hot to extreme.
The humidity is generally high.

CLOTHING
For tourists visiting Indonesia, the heat is the overwhelmingly important factor in deciding what to wear. Without exception the best choice is light cotton clothing. For cultural reasons, it is recommended to dress moderately, whilst keeping the beach wear and skin revealing clothing for the beaches.
Light tops and skirts are seen, even in cities, but bear in mind, that the more revealing clothes, the lesser your morals may be judged to be and in some places you will be treated with contempt.
Lightweight shawls come handy for women for covering up against cooler breezes in some places and mosquitoes in general. In general, the more skin you cover, the less access for mosquitoes.
Locally bought sarongs are cool and comfortable for wandering around casually (i.e.  mostly at home) in hot places.
If you buy batik clothing locally, take advice from the Caddy in order to get the comfortable types, either cheaper cotton or more expensive silk with lining. If you buy wrongly, you will soon feel  like a fish being  cooked in aluminium foil.
Strong shoes are recommended if you intend to go on nature treks, but otherwise and generally, you will probably wish to wear sandals, like everybody else. Sandals can be the very expensive styles you can buy at home or the very cheap ones available on every corner around here, all depending on your comfort requirements. Bear in mind, if you buy cheap here, you will feel better about disposing of them when going home, leaving space for more important things in your luggage.
If you want to walk on beaches and in water, for instance in rivers during white water rafting, we recommend you bring along some light plastic or rubber shoes allowing water to run in and out freely. In some places, the sand on beaches is sharp to walk on due to corals, pumice stones or sea shells.

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Regulations concerning what you may import freely to Indonesia do change rather frequently. (The changes refer mainly to tobacco, drinks and value of merchandise). As of early March, 2011, the following is applicable.
Please note that this information is in fact newer and indeed slightly different from what you find in most websites, you get referred to, when checking via Google.
When you enter Indonesia, you will be required to fill in and sign a Customs Declaration form. You will usually get that during the flight to Indonesia, and it will be collected from you by a Customs officer before you exit the Customs area in the airport.
This simple form ask you to provide basic information about who you are and where you are going to stay in Indonesia, number of family member travelling together etc. Only one form per family travelling together is required. With regard to place of stay in Indonesia, you enter the name of the first hotel booked or similar.
The important part is the declaration by you on the following questions, which you must answer with a simple YES or NO. If you answer NO to all the questions, you should choose the GREEN CHANNEL when you go out from the luggage collection area. If you answer YES to any of the questions, you must go out via the RED CHANNEL.

“I am (we are) bringing:

We must again stress, that items under b) are treated very seriously, and smuggling of even small quantities of narcotics/drugs can result in the death penalty under Indonesian law.

DIETS
Indonesia has a vast variety of food. The many parts of the country each have their own kitchens making the best of local supplies of meat, chicken, fish etc.
Most tourists will find the Indonesian kitchen hot and spicy, as chillies generally find their way into most dishes. However, there are also many mild dishes and chefs are ready to serve milder foods for tourists upon request.
Most dishes are based on rice or noodles, but potatoes are available, mostly as side dishes.  The famous fried rice, -nasi goreng, as well as some of the less spicy soups, -with meatballs, are favoured by tourists, but with our Caddy at hand to guide you, you will be able to enjoy more adventurous dishes and this way we are convinced that you will truly enjoy Indonesian food.
Indonesia offers many tropical fruits, like mango, papaya, guava etc. They are fresh and generally considered tastier than the tropical fruits you are used to find in the local supermarket at home.
If you are vegetarian, you may have a bit of a hard time here, as the Indonesian kitchen is not designed for vegetarians, but with the guidance of the Caddy, we reckon you will be able to make it through the holidays without starving. Vegetarian restaurants are few and far between.
Bottled drinks, including potable water, and lovely fresh fruit juices are available everywhere. The Caddy will guide you when you will have any doubts.
If you have special dietary requirements it is important that you inform us beforehand, so that we can prepare for your visit.

ELECTRICITY
The electrical current is 220 volts, 50 Hz. A variety of plugs are in use, mostly the European two-pin and the UK-style three-pin. It is recommended to check before using an appliance to ensure the current is suitable. Not all electrical sockets provide grounding.
Adaptors and converters can be bought locally. We suggest you check your needs with Add A Caddy before your travel, in order to prepare to have the right gear upon arrival.
We recommend you use electrical surge protectors for any valuable items, including laptops and cameras.

WEBSITES ABOUT INDONESIA
We are giving you a number of links to websites in Useful Links.  In addition, you may find hundreds of other websites, - especially about travelling, which provide interesting information about Indonesia and the thousands of things to do and see here.
We are constantly trawling the internet ourselves and find that many websites, even official websites, provide information about Indonesia, which is out dated. We suggest you always check carefully the dates of websites you study and if any doubts you are welcome to ask us for our opinion. You would not want to run into trouble or miss out on opportunities just because some website owners are failing to update.

HEALTH AND HYGIENE
Before going to our tropical country we strongly recommend you to update your vaccinations prior to arriving in Indonesia. See Vaccinations.
Generally, your Caddy will see to it that your exposure to health risks will be minimized and will give you advice on risks you might not otherwise have thought about.
It can be difficult to find medical care in rural areas, but in most major cities, there are health clinics. Modern health clinics will have a sufficient standard of service and will be able to recommend good hospitals and liaise with insurance companies for evacuation, if necessary.  Your Caddy will always assist to get you the best possible care. This is a major comfort aspect of our Caddy service, especially if you need it outside the beaten track. During your trip, the Caddy service is inclusive, and should any further requirements exist, Add A Caddy will provide at actual costs.
Hygiene is a cardinal point in keeping a good health. Indonesians are known to bathe and wash regularly if not excessively. Two showers a day is quite normal and hands, and sometimes faces, are washed before and after meals.  Sweat and dirt is removed at the first given opportunity.
In general, personal hygiene is at a high level, but you must be careful when venturing into eating at street vendors stalls etc... Here your Caddy will guide you through the “jungle”.
Distances are huge in Indonesia, and some forms of travel are lengthy. Your Caddy will help you find comfortable ways to wash or shower and also ensure that you get safe and plenty of drinking water.
If you are on medication and intend to bring medicine with you to Indonesia, it is recommended to check beforehand whether the medicine is allowed through Customs.  In special cases, you may need to bring a copy of a statement from your doctor. Add A Caddy will be pleased to check for you.

IMMIGRATION

SHORT VISIT TOURISTS VISA ISSUED ON ARRIVAL
Citizens from 63 countries and 1 region are eligible to apply for a Visa on Arrival (VOA). This visa can be applied for after you have landed at certain airports and seaports in Indonesia. The Visa on Arrival can not be converted or extended to obtain an immigration permit. The maximum stay permitted by the visa on arrival is 30 days.
Those 62 countries and 1 region are as follows:

Please be advised that Visa On Arrival may only be extended upon approval from the Director General of Immigration of the Republic of Indonesia in case of natural disaster, illness or accident, but cannot be transferred to another type of visa. Overstay visitors incur to pay a penalty of US$20.- per day/person (for under 60 days stay) whilst over 60 days stay will be a 5 (five) year prison sentence or a fine of IDR25.000.000 (local currency).
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR VISA ON ARRIVAL (VOA)
– Passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 (six) months as from the date of entry into Indonesia.
– Onward or return tickets are compulsory
– No compulsory vaccinations
– Visitors must enter through the following airports and seaports in Indonesia.
There are 20 (twenty)  Airports and 23 (twenty three) Seaports across Indonesia that have the VOA facilities:
Airports
1 Adi Juanda in Surabaya (East Java)
2 Adisutjipto in Yogyakarta (Central Java)
3 Adi Sumarmo in Solo (Central Java)
4 El Tari in Kupang (East Nusa Tenggara Province, Timor
5 Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta (Capital of Indonesia)
6 Hassanudin in Makasar (South Sulawesi)
7 Ngurah Rai in Denpasar (Island of Bali)
8 Polonia in Medan (North Sumatera)
9 Sam Ratulangi in Manado (North Sulawesi)
10 Selaparang in Mataram (Lombok Island)
11 Sepinggan in Balikpapan (East Kalimantan)
12 Soekarno Hatta in Jakarta (Capital of Indonesia)
13 Sultan Syarif Kasim II in Pekanbaru (Riau Province, Sumatera)
14 Tabing in Padang (West Sumatera)
15 Sultan Iskandar Muda (in Banda Aceh, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam)
16 Sultan Syarif Kasim II (in Pekanbaru, Riau)
17 Hang Nadim (in Batam, Riau Archipelago)
18 Husein Sastranegara (in Bandung, West Java)
19 Ir. Juanda (in Surabaya, East Java)
20 Supadio (in Pontianak, West Kalimantan (Borneo))
Seaports
1 Bandar Bintan Telani Lagoi in Tanjung Uban, Bintan (Sumatera)
2 Bandar Seri Udana Lobam in Tanjung Uban (Sumatera)
3 Citra Tritunas (Harbor Bay) (in Batam, Riau Archipelago)
4 Belawan in Belawan (North Sumatera)
5 Benoa in Bali (Island of Bali)
6 Bitung in Bitung (Sulawesi)
7 Jayapura in Jayapura (Irian Jaya)
8 Marina Teluk Senimba (Batam Island)
9 Maumere in Flores (East Nusa Tenggara)
10 Nongsa in Batam (Batam Island)
11 Padang Bai in Bali (Island of Bali)
12 Pare-pare in Pare-pare (South Sulawesi)
13 Sekupang in Batam (Batam Island)
14 Sibolga in Sibolga (North Sumatra)
15 Soekarno-Hatta in Makassar (South Sulawesi)
16 Sri Bintan Pura in Tanjung Pinang (Riau)
17 Tanjung Balai Karimun (Sumatera)
18 Tanjung Mas in Semarang (Central Java)
19 Tanjung Priok in Jakarta (Capital of Indonesia)
20 Teluk Bayur in Padang (West Sumatra)
21 Batam Centre in Batam (Batam Island)
22 Soekarno-Hatta (in Makassar, South Sulawesi)
23 Yos Sudarso in Dumai (Riau Province, Sumatra)
Please note that these regulations do not apply for foreigners/expatriates (including members of their family) who are assigned/based in Indonesia. Visas are required and should be applied for before hand. Those whose countries ARE NOT included in the above list or wish to stay longer than 30 days in Indonesia, should apply for their visa in advance, at the Indonesian Embassy.
VISA – FREE SHORT VISIT FOR TOURISTS
The following countries do not require a visa to enter Indonesia for a Tourist visit of up to 30 (thirty) days:
Brunei Darussalam
Chile
Hong Kong SAR
Macao SAR
Malaysia
Morocco
Peru
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam
Please be advised that Visa-Free Short Visits may only be extended upon approval from the Minister of Justice and Human Rights/Director General of Immigration of the Republic of Indonesia based on natural disaster, illnes or accident, but cannot be transferred to another type of visa. Overstay visitors incur to pay a penalty of US$20.- per day (for under 60 days stay) whilst over 60 days stay will be a 5 (five) year prison sentence or a fine of IDF25.000.000 (local currency).
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR VISA-FREE SHORT VISITS
– Passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 (six) months as from the date of entry into Indonesia.
– Onward or return tickets are compulsory
– No compulsory vaccinations
– Visitors on Visa-Free Short Visits must be enter and exit from certain airports and seaports in Indonesia.
There are 20 Airports and 23 seaports (plus 1 overland port) across Indonesia as follows :
Airports
1 Eltari in Kupang (Timor)
2 Hangnadim in Batam (Batam Island)
3 Husein Sastranegara in Bandung(West Java)
4 Ngurah Rai in Denpasar (Island of Bali)
5 Polonia in Medan (North Sumatera)
6 Selaparang in Mataram (Lombok Island)
7 Simpang Tiga in Pekanbaru (Riau)
8 Supadio in Pontianak (West Kalimantan)
9 Adi Sumarno in Solo (D.I.Yogyakarta)
10 Hasanuddin in Ujung Pandang (South Sulawesi)
11 Adi Juanda in Surabaya (East Java)
12 Sam Ratulangi in Manado (North Sulawesi)
13 Sepinggan in Balikpapan (East Kalimantan)
14 Soekarno Hatta in Jakarta (Capital of Indonesia)
15 Tabing in Padang (West Sumatera)
16 Sultan Iskandar Muda (in Banda Aceh, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam)
17 Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II (in Palembang, South Sumatera)
18 Halim Perdana Kusuma (in the Special Region of the Capital City of Jakarta)
19 Adi Sucipto (in Yogyakarta, Special Territory of Yogyakarta)
20 Ahmad Yani (in Semarang, Central Java)
Seaports
1 Bandar Seri Udana-Loban (Tanjung Uban)
2 Belawan in Medan (North Sumatera)
3 Bitung (Bitung)
4 Maumere (in Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara)
5 Nongsa Terminal Bahari (Batam Island)
6 Sekupang in Batam (Batam Island)
7 Sri Bayintan (Tanjung Pinang)
8 Tanjung Balai Karimun(Tanjung Balai Karimun)
9 Citra Tritunas (Harbor Bay) (in Batam, Riau Archipelago)
10 Tanjung Priok in Jakarta (Capital of Indonesia)
11 Bandar Bentan Telani (Lagol)
12 Batam Centre (in Batam, Riau Archipelago)
13 Benoa in Bali (Island of Bali)
14 Yos Sudarso (in Dumai, Riau)
15 Lhok Seumawe (North Sumatra) Belawan (in Belawan, North Sumatera)
16 Marina Teluk Senimba (Batam Island)
17 Padang Bai in Bali (Island of Bali)
18 Jayapura (in Jayapura, Papua)
19 Maumere (in Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara)
20 Teluk Bayur (in Padang, West Sumatera)
21 Tenau in Kupang (Timor)
22 Sibolga (in Sibolga, North Sumatera)
23 Pare-Pare (in Pare-Pare, South Sulawesi)
Overland Port
Etikong (West Kalimantan)
Please note that these regulations do not apply for foreigners/expatriates (including members of their family) who are assigned/based in Indonesia. Visa is required and should be applied for.
What is the cost of a visa?
Visa for stay up to 30 (thirty) days – USD25/person (or equivalent in major currencies).
There are other types of visas which are used in connection with studies, social visits etc. We suggest you contact your local Indonesian embassy for detailed information.
Add A Caddy takes no responsibility for the above information. Changes to the rules frequently occur and we would always suggest you check with your local Indonesian embassy to be absolutely sure about your visa requirements.
Add A Caddy has it’s own service arranging visa extensions and other immigration issues for you, when you are in Indonesia, once you have got your initial visa. Contact your Caddy or Add A Caddy office, if you need any help.

LAW
It is highly recommended to observe local laws. You should remember that a foreigner’s rights in local courts will defer from your country of origin. You would not want to experience the prisons from the inside. Beware also, that consular services and assistance cannot override local laws, however unjust they might seem.
The main issue where we must insist on completely clean behaviour is that of drugs. Drug penalties are very severe, and it does not take much to end up on death row.  This is not to make you scared, but to make you realistic, when going to Indonesia.  Similar strict drug regimes apply in some other Asian countries.
Generally the police are kind and helpful to foreigners, but there are incidents where debates with police about minor offences, mainly in traffic, result in some creative settlements. You will need police reports for lost and stolen items, if you wish to recover from your insurance, but you may find that the hassle and expense of reporting does not always make it worthwhile.
The Caddy is there to assist and ensure “no problems” and realistic warnings when your behaviour should be tending towards any offences, and assist you with evaluating any doubts.
Tourists in Indonesia acting normally and decently do not have any problems with the law.

LUGGAGE
Suitcases used during travel are subjected to many stresses and strains. We suggest you use high quality hard sided and sturdy suitcases for hold baggage, and perhaps back packs for cabin baggage, giving you extra flexibility for usage during your visit.
Using the hard sided boxes with good locking for the air travel hold baggage reduces risks of loss and damage, as well as acting as a deterrent against theft and manipulation of luggage during your stay.

MEDICAL CHECK PRIOR TO SCUBA DIVING ETC
If you intend to go scuba diving for the first time or you want to engage in heavy physical exercise of any kind, including mountain climbing etc, we recommend that you consult your own doctor at home to satisfy yourself that you are fit for the intended activity.

MONEY MATTERS
Every tourist coming to Indonesia becomes an instant millionaire!! (-in Indonesian rupiah).
The rupiah’s value is low and you get around Rp 8,500-9,000/1 US dollar.
During the economic crisis in 1997/8, the Indonesian rupiah went from the pre-crisis level of about Rp 2,500/1 US dollar to a lowest level of Rp 17,000/1 US dollar, followed by a few years when it fluctuated more than most other major currencies. In recent years the rupiah has become much more stable, and seems settled around Rp 8,500-9,000, with major deviations created more by the dollar than the rupiah.
Coins: 50/100/200/500/1,000 (light aluminium coins)
Bank notes: 1,000/2,000 (grey)/5,000 (brown)/10,000 (purple)/20,000 (green)/50,000 (blue)/100,000 (red).
You can exchange most major foreign currencies in the airport money changers, as well as money changers around the country. It is best and safest to change money in the banks, and banks can be found in all major cities.  It is strongly recommended to bring new bank notes, as some money changers will refuse notes which are bent or crumbled.
Upon arrival in the airport, we recommend you exchange a small amount, no more than the equivalent of about USD 100, which equals around Rp 900,000. Make sure you get some smaller notes, a few 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 notes, so you can pay for the airport porter and perhaps the  toll road fees during a taxi drive from the airport to your first hotel. (The driver will ask for the toll fees to be paid directly by you during the trip to town).
If you have arranged for Add A Caddy to pick you up in the airport, we will take care of this and you need not to exchange money until you are in town.
Your Caddy will assist you to make sure you change where you get the best rates.
ATM machines are widely available, especially in cities and tourist areas, but you must be aware of any withdrawal limits. They operate with widely accepted credit and debit cards affiliated with Alto, Maestro, Cirrus, Plus, Master Card and Visa.
You can pay with most major credit cards in hotels, malls, major restaurants etc. Visa and Master Card are widely accepted whereas others may be rejected in some places. Be aware that when you pay with credit cards, there will often be surcharges.
Credit card fraud does occur and you should not leave your card out of sight.
Paying with your debit cards is not recommended due to the risk of further withdrawals without your authorization.
Your Caddy will guide you to manage your payments in the most favourable way.
Generally your bills will be settled in rupiah, even if the quotation has been made in US dollar.
Traveller’s cheques should be in US dollar, but be aware that they may be difficult and time consuming to exchange.
Western Union service points are common all over Indonesia, and represent a quick and effective way to arrange money transfers, should you run low on funds. Normal bank transfers may take a few days.

MOSQUITOES
Mosquitoes are all over in Indonesia. You can manage to run around for days without seeing one, only to suddenly find out one lovely evening that they have selected you for dinner whilst you are enjoying your own al fresco serving on the balcony and you do not discover it until the itch begins.
This will mostly only mean that you have been stung and that’s it, but you will hate the mosquito dining on you until the itch disappears.
Various websites and other sources will inform your about the risk of malaria, being less in some areas like Jakarta and Bali and higher in other, remote areas. The brutal fact is that you can never be 100% sure, but indeed actual malaria cases in the areas mentioned are very rare if at all. If you go travelling to the country side or “remote” areas you should decide with your doctor about the prophylactic treatment for malaria, mainly pills.
If you are pregnant, we do not recommend travel to Indonesia as malaria is high risk during the period of pregnancy. Several other risks are higher for pregnant women, including dehydration as a potential risk in connection with diarrhoea.
Dengue fever is a mosquito transmitted       disease, for which there is no vaccine. It can result in high fever, severe head ache and body ache, and you should treat any symptoms seriously, and seek medical help immediately as in the very worst cases, it can be fatal.
About mosquito borne diseases, all experts agree, that the best way to avoid them is to avoid being bitten!
The Caddy will assist you in selecting anti mosquito remedies when required. We do not recommend that you spend a fortune on buying anti mosquito sprays at home before travelling. Indonesian shops have large stocks of anything you need. Sprays, ointments, mosquito coils etc.
Add A Caddy will do our best to make you avoid the dangers in nature, but there can be no guarantees in view of the wealth of creatures and plants about.
The danger of snake bites is mostly not that imminent but again cannot be ruled out when you are in the nature. You are recommended to wear boots and long pants, but we realize this would not always be the case. In the unlikely event of a snake bite, you will need medical assistance immediately. Whilst awaiting same or during transport to a medical facility, you will need to apply a pressure immobilizer in the form of a elastic bandage with a splint, firmly wrapped around the affected limb, starting on the bite site and working up towards the heart. The circulation should not be completely cut off but almost. Anti venom is available in medical centres for most species.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Ramadhan, which is scheduled for 1-30 August, 2011, is the holy fasting month for muslims. During this period, many restaurants and eateries are closed during daytime. There are still places where you can eat, but generally, they maintain a low profile with curtains covering their windows. It is considered best behaviour not to eat in public. Nightlife closes early, and many bars, clubs and other entertainment places are closed.
At the end of Ramadhan, the two day Idul Fitri celebration is a period, where Indonesians travel  home to visit family.
We believe that you can comfortably arrange holidays during Ramadhan, but should not include the week around the end of Ramadhan and Idul Fitri, as the traffic congestion makes moving around near impossible.
Otherwise, many holiday celebrations include actual attractions for tourists in the form of festivals, dances etc.

RETURN TICKET
When you border the flight to Indonesia, the airline should check that you have a return ticket or at least a ticket that takes you onwards, out of Indonesia again within your given period of your visa regulations.
If you do not have such a ticket, you might get through the airline counter check upon boarding at your origin, but you will have a high risk of being stopped in the Immigration in Indonesia. There are examples that visitors have been able to convince the Customs officer that they are not intending to stay in Indonesia, but there are also examples that entry has been denied. Therefore, have your return ticket ready for show at those points of checking.

SAFETY AND CRIME
Safety in relation to travelling and nature encounters is a core concern for the service provided by Add A Caddy. We cannot prevent earthquakes or other natural calamities, but we can, based on our local know how and experience, take you safely around such places with a minimum of disruption to your vacation. We guide you to understand and evaluate risks and assist you to get the most out of any situation in accordance with your own wishes.
Terrorism has been a serious problem in Indonesia and there have been some spectacular events, like the Bali bombing in 2002 and the two hotel bombings in Jakarta in 2009. The common factor has been the terrorists aiming at foreigners and tourism. Meanwhile the security situation has improved, security checks at hotels, malls and other places has been vastly increased, and the government police security forces have managed to catch most of the wanted terrorists.  The terror risk will never go away entirely, but the present situation should certainly not dissuade tourists from visiting Indonesia. The fact is, that the flow of tourists into Indonesia is growing every year.

The general crime scene of Indonesia is no worse than other countries you normally visit on holidays. There are pick pockets in busy spots, there are people with bad intentions who will attempt scams etc, but generally, with the guidance provided by the Caddy, you will be able to avoid these menaces.
As long as you take the few necessary precautions the Caddy will inform you about, -when required, you will be able to enjoy a very safe and comfortable vacation.

TAKE ONLY PHOTOGRAPHS LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS
As a result of growing awareness about climate, environment and other “green” issues in recent years, Indonesia has moved to the forefront of conservation programmes, and “green” policies are taken ever more seriously. In particular, as a tropical archipelago, the marine habitats and fauna, including the beautiful coral reefs in the seas are now subject to stricter and tighter preservation rules. National parks are being developed to preserve and protect.
Most sightseeing locations consist of temples or remains of palaces hundreds of years old, and some are visited by millions of tourists every year.
All of this requires responsible tourist behaviour.  Do not pick stones from temples or damage sites with rough behaviour and follow the instructions and rules to not pick up “private” souvenirs like pieces of monuments etc.
Indonesia is slowly beginning to develop real eco-tourism, where tourists may participate in developing marine life and farming whilst living in eco-friendly accommodation etc. Mostly, this is as yet quite primitive, but given a bit more time will create new opportunities and dimensions for tourist experiences.

TELECOMMUNICATION
Telephone and internet connections are available throughout most of Indonesia. You will rarely find yourself without communication, except for remote areas.
Firstly, there are local shops all over Indonesia called Wartel and Warnet where you can make telephone calls and use computers to access internet respectively.
The cellular phone systems in Indonesia cover through GSM most areas you will be travelling. Your telecom operator will have roaming agreements with one of the major operators in Indonesia.
However, as roaming charges are high, Add A Caddy has developed our own inexpensive service, where we can provide you  with a hand phone which you can use with a local SIM card and thus save money compared to using your own via roaming services, whilst you still keep your own phone open for incoming messages. We will also arrange SIM cards at cost prices.
Your Caddy will arrange top up whenever required.
Internet is available at all major hotels, mostly at a charge. (In the lobby of many hotels, internet access is free). Many food and beverage chains, like Starbucks and Mc Donalds are providing free WI FI service, provided you buy some of their products. This is constantly spreading to ever more outlets and WIFI zones are now found in many, sometimes unexpected places.
Internet connection modems for your laptop are available at relatively cheap prices.
Add A Caddy will arrange to provide you with the right service for your convenience.
The country code for Indonesia is 62. Local telephone numbers and codes for various types of calls will be provided by your Caddy.

TIME
Indonesia spans three time zones. GMT + 7 (West, including Java and Sumatra, West and Central Kalimantan), GMT + 8 (Central, including East Kalimantan, Bali, Sulawesi and Lombok), GMT + 9 (East, including Irian Jaya).

TRAVEL INSURANCE
Taking out travel insurance before you go to Indonesia is an absolute must. We leave it to you to arrange but we can assist you with advice if required.
You must consider to be covered for medical expenses, including repatriation by air, if necessary. In addition the insurance should cover loss or damage to your personal belongings as well as cover planned activities (be aware that some cheap insurances do not cover any rough nature activities, like mountain climbing or scuba diving, and some do not cover riding on motorbikes, even if you only sit on the back).  You should consider to be covered for cancellations and curtailments to your trip, if you wish to limit your exposure to such eventualities.
If you are pregnant, (and decide to travel – which would be against our general advice) do make sure the policy covers all pregnancy related matters including premature labour.
The insurance provider should have a 24 hour helpline, the details of which you should bring along and leave details with Add A Caddy.

TRAVEL PERMITS
Occasionally, the Government of Indonesia will issue restrictions on travel to certain regions, mainly in connection with natural disasters and/or communal riots. Add A Caddy will keep you informed if any restrictions should hamper your travelling in accordance with your wishes. Where required, we shall arrange for your travel permits, when possible.

TRAVEL WARNINGS
Countries all over the World issue travel warnings, when they feel their citizens should refrain from visiting a country or part of a country. Travel warnings for Indonesia have been issued in the past in connection with earthquakes, tsunamis, volcano eruptions, terrorist attacks and similar.
We honour travel warnings, but would point out, that mostly, such warnings are issued with a conservative protective policy background, taking no chances for political correctness reasons, when in fact, such warnings for Indonesia may at times be exaggerated, bearing in mind the vast geographical area and the diverse nature of the country.
An earthquake in West Sumatra will have no effect on life in Irian Jaya and vice versa, and a volcano eruption in Central Java will normally only affect people within a 20 km radius or so.
If you have any doubts, feel free to ask us, as it is one of our core services to keep you safe and direct your holiday around and away from danger and trouble spots.

VACCINATIONS
You should consult your doctor concerning immunizations. Your doctor has your history and can advice what additional inoculations you may need, depending on your destinations, length of stay etc.
Generally, you should cover vaccinations against hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis, typhoid and rabies.
Vaccinations for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, chickenpox and polio should be up to date, if required.
Yellow fever is the only vaccine made mandatory by international regulations and you will be required to sign a paper upon entry to Indonesia which ask you if you have been in a country in the yellow fever zone within 6 days prior to entering Indonesia. If you have not, obviously you do not need the vaccination for yellow fever.
The list may seem onerous to deal with, but generally, the process of getting the vaccinations is relatively short, a few weeks, after which you are free to travel to also many other countries in the tropical world for many years.  Actually, few people coming to Indonesia have got all the recommended vaccinations, but this is entirely up to your own judgement, which is why we recommend you to consult your doctor to get the best advice.

WHAT TO BRING AND NOT TO BRING
Passport/Money/Tickets
Dress lightly, but be ready to cover body, don’t take only shorts – women benefit from having a light shawl for cool or windy places, including air conditioned restaurants.
Rubber/plastic shoes, if intend to go white water rafting and for sharp stone beach areas. Can also be bought in Indonesia.
Sandals – can also be bought in Indonesia
Sun glasses – can also be bought in Indonesia
Baseball caps – can also be bought in Indonesia
Swim suit
Towel – can also be bought in Indonesia (bulky in luggage)
Wet tissue and other tissues are available everywhere in Indonesia.
Toiletries – only most necessary. Indonesia has well stocked shops.
Necessities for your children.
Personal electronics –Camera/video equipment/Memory cards/Laptop/Handphone. And remember chargers and any adaptors for the electronics. We recommend to bring an electric surge protector for your laptop.
Medication, -any prescription medicine.  Ask Add A Caddy if we shall need to check for importing through Customs.
Sun block and mosquito spray can easily be purchased in Indonesia. If you have a preferred sun block, you may bring it along.

YOUR TRAVEL INFORMATION/DOCUMENTS
We recommend you bring copies of your basic documents like your passport, tickets and any other information you might wish to deposit with Add A Caddy during your travel. We will give it back to you upon your return or destroy it in accordance with your wish.
You might leave copies of your document details including also credit cards at home for safekeeping.
Similarly, we suggest you leave details of your travel itinerary with someone at home for sake of safety, and you might want to inform Add A Caddy about your home contacts for cases of emergency.

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ETIQUETTE

Indonesia being a very large country, you will come across people of many different ethnic and religious backgrounds. We cannot cover all questions of behaviour and etiquette here, but a few items are general and it would serve visitors well to observe those. You can read further entertaining stories about the subject in many books and papers.
Adhering to appointment times
“Traffic congestion” is the standard excuse for being late in Indonesia, and it is a bit of a national habit to be late, except for appointments with Government officials. We suggest you preserve your habits from home and be in time, in particular for travel arrangements. For more casual appointments, indeed, you need not go into any major panic should you find that you cannot arrive spot on time, as hardly anybody expect you to be in time. On the other hand, announcing delays give the telephone operators a handsome share of profit, as Indonesians are quite hot on using the latest and most sophisticated communication gadgets and would miss no opportunity to tell you about their in-transit problem on the way to an appointment.

GREETINGS
Indonesians are conservatively formal in their contact with people.
They use the terms for Miss, Mrs. and Mr. when addressing unknown people.
Indonesians generally greet by shaking right hands, which they subsequently bring up to their chest to show that their greeting comes from their heart.
If you are greeting a woman, the woman must stretch out her hand first, otherwise you do not give hand. Generally, any physical contact between man and woman must be on the woman’s instigation.
You are not allowed to touch the head of an adult person and you have to be careful even with children. The head is considered to contain the soul, which should not be touched. Once you know people better, it becomes possible to pat shoulders and similar more close gestures.
The Caddy will give you a crash course in greetings in Indonesian language, called Bahasa Indonesia, which will assist you to impress and open up conversations.

SAVING FACE
Indonesians are very friendly. They smile to you at all times, and you will mostly want to smile back.
However, there may be times, when you feel an urge to change attitude, and this is where you have to stay cool and understand about “saving face”.
The concept of “saving face” is deep rooted in the Indonesian culture. This means that you must do your best to not scold or talk in a derogative manner to others in public, but show respect even if you would prefer to complain or take up an argument.
Indonesians smile, also when they are not happy with your behaviour and you are clearly best off showing similar moderation in your expression and attitude.
Problems or conflicts are handled in private, on one-to-one basis. This allows the other party to “save face” and retain their dignity in their environment.

DRESS CODE
Being a predominantly Islamic country you are supposed to dress conservatively and avoid revealing clothes, especially if you are a woman. Most holiday wear, including short pants, is for the holiday resorts, topless appearance by women is not accepted.
Indonesians are generally very tolerant towards tourists however, and you will find, that you can mostly wear what you want, with few limitations.
Our general advice is to dress lightly and cover most of your body, which has the added benefit of keeping the mosquitoes away from your body.
If you wish to enter religious places, you will find that the dress code is strict but in most places, the hosting location will have special shawls, sarongs or head covers available for you to use during your visit.
You are required to take off your shoes when entering people’s homes. You will notice the habit, when you come across a large number of sandals outside the entry door. You must also take off your shoes when entering religious places.
Women may wish to use make up. The hot climate does not support large amounts of make-up and neither does the culture. But modest make-up is no problem and indeed also used by a lot of local women.
Perfumes are widely used, although supposed to be non-alcoholic for muslim women.

HANDS AND FEET
The left hand is not used. It is considered dirty. Hence you eat, pass on plates and similar activities with your right hand only, even when it may seem unpractical. You will notice that when served in restaurants, there are often two servants serving you the food, -one holding the tray and the other passing the dishes with the right hand.
Indonesians eat a lot with their hands, even rice. You are welcome to do the same, but remember you can ONLY use the right hand. You may get away with holding the bone of a chicken with your left, but you do not take it to your mouth with the left hand.
Pointing fingers is a bad idea and considered rude. Left hand is totally unacceptable, but even with the right hand, you rather make it your habit to hold the palm of your hand down and point with your fingers as if you scratch. When asking waiters and others for the menu, the bill or other service, you can get away with most gestures known, but try to avoid finger pointing.
Never point your foot soles or shoe soles at people. This is considered rude. So here’s a bit of exercise to learn to keep the feet flat on the floor. You will quickly adopt and learn that this it is not a real problem at all to control one’s feet to levels acceptable.
When you are sitting or standing, you should avoid crossing your arms or putting your hands on your hips as it implies a hostile attitude.

TABLE MANNERS
Much is written about table manners. In effect, you mostly will be eating with fork and spoon, rarely knives, or you will eat with your right hand as locals mostly do.
Once you come into a place you will be assigned a seat, which you should take.
When you are offered food or drink, it is polite to accept, -in many cases unpolite to refuse. If you wish to get a refill of your drink it is considered polite to leave a bit of the drink in the bottom of the glass, rather than emptying.
Remember to pass food with your right hand!

RAMADHAN
During the muslim fasting period of Ramadhan, you are advised to refrain from eating in public. You can still eat of course but this will be in restaurants which are often covered up by cloth or boards so that muslims cannot see you eating.
During Ramadhan you must be aware to indeed not cause disturbance to this important muslim peace and prayer time.

SOCIAL OCCASIONS
You are advised to seek guidance from your Caddy before attending. The Caddy may have a few good party tricks and useful advice for you.

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