Indonesia travel
The Republic of Indonesia encompasses more than 17,000 islands that stretch 3,400 miles along the equator between Southeast Asia and Australia. Tropical rain forests cover a lot of Indonesia's terrain up to 3,000 feet. The tropical climate varies with season and altitude. A wet season begins in November and lasts until March, followed by a dry season from April to October.
Indonesia has long been a developing nation in the lowest 25% of the world's economies, but nowadays Indonesia's economy is the fastest growing in Southeast Asia. Tourist services are plentiful in the major tourist sites.
Indonesia health
Adequate medical care is available in Jakarta and some other large cities, but is not up to the standards of industrialized countries. Medical care is substandard outside major cities. Adequate evacuation coverage for all travelers is a high priority. In the event of serious medical conditions every effort should be made to go to Singapore. Adequate medical care is available in Jakarta and Kuta (Bali) at one or more internationally staffed outpatient clinics.
Indonesia health risks
Health risks include malaria (especially malaria tropica, the most dangerous), dengue fever, giardiasis, hepatitis, Japanese encephalitis. Vaccinations definitely seem like a good idea, especially for hepatitis and typhoid fever. Also bring your malaria tablets! Although in the highlands the risk of running into malaria mosquitoes is very slim, in the hot and humid lowlands of Indonesia you definitely are at risk. If you have symptoms (fever attacks) don't wait, but go see a doctor. Even if you use malaria tablets, you can still catch the disease, because more and more mosquitoes are resistant to the medicine.
Also rabies is still present in Indonesia. Especially pay attention when you are feeding monkeys.
Fakinah Hospital, Aceh
Food
All water can be a potential health risk. Don't drink it, use it to brush your teeth or put it in your drink as ice if you are unsure it wasn't boiled first.
Passport and visa
Visa applicants may need to meet specific requirements. Review the application and contact Indonesia's embassy if you have questions. A physician's prescription may be required for travelers carrying certain drugs.
DO NOT OVERSTAY YOUR VISA. Heavy fines and possible prison sentences result if you exceed the length of stay specified on your visa.
Money
The Indonesian currency is is called Rupiah. Automatic teller machines (ATM's) are available in the bigger cities throughout Indonesia. A credit card from Master Card or Visa can be used for paying almost everything. If you want to change money bring US dollars or euro's. Traveler cheques are rarely accepted nowadays.
Bargain
If you want to buy something, never forget to bargain ("tawar" - it's one of Indonesia's national traditions). This is even true when you want to exchange your dollars for rupiahs at a bank! Even in shops with a fixed price ("harga pas") you can have success.
Don't overdo it however and never loose your temper. Bargaining is always done with a smile. What always is a nice thing to do is to bargain your pisangs (bananas) down from the original 10 cents to 8 (this is often what you are talking about) and just pay the 10 cents. This is always good for a friendly conversation.
Post your holiday cards
When sending your cards from Indonesia to your relatives and friends oversees, it's best to bring them to the post office yourself and ask the man (or woman) behind the desk to actually stamp the cards. A lot of stories are known of post cards never to reach the destination, because somebody at the post office had other things in mind for your stamps.
You could also check your hotel reception. They don't want their name ruined, so they will make sure nothing happens to your cards.