Traveller tips & tricks : What you need to know before travelling to Indonesia

Before travelling to Indonesia, here are some simple tips & tricks essenceofindonesia would like to tell you so that you will become fully prepared and ready for your equipped essentials, especially if you have never been to Asian countries before or  this is your first-time visit to Indonesia. These information are important simply because, before travelling to any country, you might need to do some research about the designated country, such as the weather, people, do’s and dont’s and the budgets involved.

1.WEATHER

Unlike other countries, Indonesia have only two seasons : wet and dry, with warm tropical temperatures averaging from 28 °C during the day, throughout the year. In most regions, the dry seasons starts from May to September and rainy seasons starts from October to April. The best weather in Indonesia is between June to September : the beaches are sun-drenched, the mountains are crisp and dry and skies will be clear across the country. If you are travelling to Indonesia, bring some breathable clothes since you will get sweaty if you bring thick clothing especially during dry season ( May – October).

2.PEOPLE

Aside from being one of the most interesting tourism destination, Indonesia has another unique enticement, which is the friendliness of the people. Indonesians are known for being friendly, always willing to strike up a conversation and have interest in connecting with foreigners. So whenever you feel lost – do not feel embarrassed to ask for help. Feel free to ask for directions to people around you – even if its food stall seller, public transportation driver or even a random passerby. They will be very eager and happy to help you. It would also be easier if you have the exact address of the intended destination to eliminate waste of time.

3. LANGUAGE

As a tourist, you should know that the official language of Indonesia is called “Bahasa Indonesia” or Indonesian. When compared to other countries, the most similar language is Malay, which is from Malaysia. Although Bahasa Indonesia is the official language, most of the citizens speak regional dialects such as Minangkabau or Javanese.

When travelling to Indonesia, language is not a barrier, especially in tourism area. You would not need to worry since nowadays, Indonesians are now starting to prioritise English and people do speak English in bigger / major cities especially the ones that heavily rely on tourism. However, it would be even better if you have internet connection so you can google translate whenever it is necessary.

4. DO’s and DON’Ts

There are several ethics you should know when travelling to Indonesia. For Indonesians, greetings is always essential and are conducted in stateliness and formality, in a slow, deliberate manner. A hurried introduction is considered impolite, especially to the elderly or the ones in higher position. In most cases, whenever you meet a person you know, it is uncommon to do greetings and handshakes and the same time.

Second, do not intend to use of the left hand in Indonesia whenever possible – eating, shaking hands or even accepting gifts. For Indonesians, using the left hand is considered inappropriate and disrespectful since the left hand is often considered unclean as Indonesians often refer left hand in the toilet for cleaning dirt / feces.  Remember to “Always use right hand“.

Last is to use proper dress etiquette when you are planning to attend religious events or visiting religious sites. When visiting place of worship, such as temples, mosques and churches, make sure you wear the proper dress etiquette as a way of showing respect to the Indonesians.

5. BUDGETS:

Before arriving to Indonesia, make sure to book and reserve your intended place of stay, since there will be lots of other tourist coming to Indonesia, especially during peak season. Also, make sure to bring enough money when travelling to Indonesia, where budgets may vary depending on when and where your intended destination is. Preparing your budgets for Indonesia will not be radically different than there rest of Southeast Asia as Indonesia is still a developing country and it’s as cheap as anywhere in the world to travel. Food is relatively cheap, especially for street food which may cost about $2 / meal. If you intend to travel around in Indonesia, transportation will likely be your greatest expense.