The venues on ICTG
Indonesia Tourism
Let's go archipelago
The name Indonesia has its roots in two Greek words: "Indos" meaning Indian and "Nesos" which means islands. It is an appropriate description of the archipelago as there are estimated to be a total of 17,508 islands, of which only about 6,000 are inhabited, stretching for 5,150 km between the Australian and Asian continental mainlands and dividing the Pacific and Indian Oceans at the Equator. Five main islands and 30 smaller archipelagoes are home to the majority of the population. The main islands are Sumatra (473,6O6 sq.km), Kalimantan 1539,400 sq.km), Sulawesi l 189,216 sq. km), Irian Jaya (421,981 sq. km), and last but not leastJava (132,187 sq.km), 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.
The islands and people of Indonesia constitute the fourth most populated nation in the world. As a democratic republic, Indonesia is divided into 32 provinces, special territories and classified geographically into four groups. First are the Greater Sundas, made up of the larger islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan and Sulawesi. Second are the Lesser Sundas, consisting of smaller islands from Bali eastward to Timor. Third is Maluku which includes all the islands between Irian Jaya and Sulawesi. The fourth and final group is lrian Jaya in the extreme eastern part of the country.
Fast and Facts
DISTANCE TO ARCHIPELAGO :
London, United Kingdom to Jakarta : 6,557 miles (10,552 km)
Paris, France to Jakarta : 6,483 miles (10,432 km)
Rome, Italy to Jakarta : 6,038 miles (9,716 km)
Stockholm, Sweden to Jakarta : 5,812 miles (9,353 km)
Berlin, Germany to Jakarta : 5,979 miles (9,622 km)
Madrid, Spain to Jakarta : 6,885 miles (11,079 km)
New York, USA to Jakarta : 9,400 miles (15,126 km)
Los Angeles, USA to Jakarta : 8,790 miles (14,144 km)
Vancouver, Canada to Jakarta : 7,944 miles (12,783 km)
CURRENCY
The unit of currency is Indonesia Rupiah indicated as IDR. USD1 is roughly equivalent to IDR 9.980,-. Foreign currency can be converted at banks and money changers.
BUSINESS HOUR
Business offices are usually open either from 8.00 am - 4.00 pm or 9.00 am - 5.00 pm, with a break for lunch between 12.00 noon and 1.00 pm. but on Saturday many business offices are closed. Government office hours are from 8.00 am - 4.00 pm from Monday to Friday, Saturday many Government offices are closed.
POST OFFICE
Open from 8.00am to 4.00pm daily except Sundays and public holidays. Post offices are closed and public holidays.
TIME
Seven hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of U.S. Pacific Standard Time.
ELECRTRICITY
Voltage is 220 – 240 volts AC at 50 cycles per second. Voltage 110 – 130 volts AC are still use.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURE
Indonesia follows the metric system in weights and measures.
TELEPHONES
Local calls can be made from public phones using coins or pre-paid cards. International calls can be made from public phones with card phone facilities or at any Telkom offices.
ACCOMMODATION
Indonesia has a wide range of accommodation at competitive rates. International standard, medium and budget hotels; youth hostels; and timeshare apartments are just some of the types of accommodation available. Privately operated motor-homes are also available for rental.
The One and The Only Destination
The largest archipelago in the world, Indonesia lies at the crossroads between the Indian and Pacific oceans and bridges the continental land masses of Asia and Australia. It is one of the most volcanic and the most seismically active regions in the world: of its more than 400 volcanoes, 128 are considered active and 75 had erupted in historic times with more or less disastrous effects to the surrounding populations. Even today eruptions of varying magnitude occur regularly, rejuvenating the soil to make it among the most fertile on earth. Flanked by the tepid equatorial waters of two of the world's great oceans, the land rises from the darkest depths of some of the world's deepest oceans through to the towering peaks of the volcanoes and the realm of perennial snow of the Jayawijaya mountain range in Irian Jaya. It seems natural that the migratory waves of peoples from the Asian mainland in search of new dwellings began millennia ago. They found these islands a most ideal place to settle down.
Do and Don't
When visiting Indonesia, visitors should observe local customs and practices. Some common courtesies and customs are as follows :
Although handshakes are generally acceptable for both men and women, some Muslim ladies may acknowledge introductions to gentlemen by merely nodding and smiling. A handshake should only be initiated by ladies. The traditional greeting or salam resembles a handshake with both hands but without the grasp. The man offers both hands, lightly touches his friends outstretched hands, and then brings his hands to his chest to mean, "I greet you from my heart". The visitor should reciprocate the salam. It is polite to call before visiting a home. Shoes must always be removed when entering a home. Drinks are generally offered to guests. It is polite to accept. The right hand is always used when eating with one's hand or giving and receiving objects. The right forefinger is not used to point at places, objects or persons. Instead, the thumb of the right hand with four fingers folded under is the preferred usage. Shoes must be removed when entering places of worship such as mosques and temples. Some mosques provide robes and scarves for female visitors. Taking photographs at places of worship is usually permitted but always ask permission beforehand. Toasting is not a common practice in . The country's large Muslim population does not drink alcohol.
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