Introduction to Indonesia

The name Indonesia has its roots in two Greek words: "Indos" meaning Indian and "Nesos" which means islands. The main islands are Sumatra , Kalimantan, Sulawesi , Irian Jaya and last but not least Java, home to 70 percent of the country's population. Indonesia shares Irian Jaya with Papua New Guinea and two thirds of the island of Kalimantan with Malaysia and Borneo.

Indonesia's cities are in a constant state of urban evolution, where dense populations, technology and construction live in hectic symbiosis. But most of the archipelago's territory remains unexplored, concealing a wealth of cultures and a myriad of landscapes waiting for you to explore on one of Goway's many programs.

Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean

Area: 1,919,440 km².

Population: 238,452,952 (July 2004 est.)

Capital: Jakarta

Ethnic Groups: Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, other 26%

Religion: Muslim 88%, Protestant 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%, other 1% (1998)

Languages: Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects, the most widely spoken of which is Javanese.

Currency: Rupiah (RP1 = 100SEN)

CLIMATE JAN          APR JUL         OCT
Jakarta        29/23 31/24 31/23 31/23 Temp C High/Low

Electricity: Generally 220 volts AC, 50 Hz, but in some rural areas 110/220V AC, 50Hz

Country Code: Country Code 62, Bandung 22, Jakarta 21, Surabaja 31

Emergency No:
Police: 510110
Fire: 371309
Ambulance: 334030 (Jakarta), 361 (Bali), 274 (Yogyakarta), 061 (Medan), 0751 (Padang)

BUSINESS HOURS:
Banks: 0800-1400 Mon-Thurs. and 0800-1200 Fri.
Offices: 0900-1700 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0800-2000 Mon-Sat
Tipping: If service charge is not included, 10% is normal.

Driving Licence: International. Driving Permit is required.

Jakarta Airport: Soekarno-Hatta/CGK 20 km NW of Jakarta. Two terminals. Bali Airport: Located in Denpasar, Ngurah Rai / DPS. There is a taxi counter at the airport where you can buy a fixed-price ticket (RP4500) to the south end of Kuta. Two terminals.

Passport/Visa: Passport required.

Departure Tax: Domestic RP80000 (Approx. CAD$13, US$10); International RP150000. (Approx. CAD$16, US$12)