TRAVEL IN INDONESIA

Because Of The Variety Of Its Cultural Groups And The Diversity Of Their Arts, As Well As The Natural Beauty Of The Landscape, Indonesia Is A Fascinating Country In Which To Travel. There Are An Increasing Number Of First Class Hotels Throughout The Archipelago, But The Interested Explorer Must Be Prepared To Use More Modest Accommodations If He Is To Visit Most Of Indonesia’s Regions. In This Section, We Provide A Survey Of Some Of The Most Interesting Tourist Spots In Indonesia. We Have Not Attempted To “Cover” Indonesia, However, And The Reader Should Not Conclude That A Certain Remote Spot Is Impossible Or Even Difficult To Reach Because It Is Not Mentioned here. Since Guide Books To Java And Bali Are Readily Available, Our Material On Them Is Somewhat Condensed. The Travel Section Also Mentions Only A Few Hotels And Restaurants In A Given City Which Are Known To The Editors Or Their Acquaintances. Each Hotel Has Been Rated A, B, Or C On Quality Of Facilities, Service, And Maintenance; And High, Moderate, Or Low On Price. An Asterisk After The Name Indicates Western Style Bathroom And Bedding; Omission Of The Asterisk Means That There Is Probably A Cold Water, No Toilet Seat, Usually No Top Sheet. These Ratings Are Based On The Experience Of Several People Who Have Stayed There. In Choosing A Hotel, You Should Consider All Three Things.

The Traveler In Indonesia Must Be Prepared For Certain Inevitable Confusion In The Course Of His Trip. Accommodations May Not Be What He Expected; He May Discover To His Surprise That All Restaurants In A Small Town Close At 7:30 P.M. Or He May Ran Into 50 Kilometers Of Road Repair The Day He Was Intending To Cover 600 Kilometers. In General, It Is A Good Idea To Include Several Unscheduled Free Days For Leeway In Any Trip, And To Go Equipped With The Following Supplies If You Know You Won’t Be Staying In A Modern Hotel The Whole Time: Rubber Sandals, Insect Repellent, Safety Razor (Current May Not Always Be Suitable For An Electric One) Bar Of Soap, Towel, Kleenex Or Toilet Tissue, Top Sheet Or Sarung. Additional Items That Are Useful If You Travel By Car Include The Following: Plastic Water Container For Boiled Water, Ice Chest, Paper Dishes, Can Opener, Flashlight, Thermos To Fill With Hot Drinks. On Java, There Is No Need To Carry Extra Gasoline, But Do Not Let Your Tank Get Too Low. Western Style Gas Stations Are Found Only In The Large Cities. Gas Is Sold From Large Metal Drums By Roadside Vendors, Who Stock Only A Small Supply. Other Than In Restaurants, Hotels And Some Filling Stations In Large Cities, Bathroom Facilities Are Not Available. The Following Common Sense Health Observances Are Followed By Most Experienced Travelers In This Country: Hot, Cooked Food And Coffee Or Tea Made From Boiled Water Are Safe, But Avoid Ice, Milk, Raw Vegetables And Fruits That Can’t Be Peeled. In Chinese Restaurants, The Food Is Cooked Fresh And Served Hot. Wherever You Question The Water Supply, Quench Your Thirst With Tea, Coke, Or Beer. No Matter How Careful You Are Going To Be, Always Carry Dysentery Tablets. Take Malarial Suppressants Before, During And After You Trip. And Be Prepared For Changes In Climate; A Sweater Is Necessary During The Rainy Season And For Mountain Resorts; Suntan Lotion, A Hat, And Sunglasses If You Will Be On The Sea Or Doing Any Hiking, And Comfortable Shoes To Cove With Uneven Roads And Paths.

If You Are Travelling By Car, Buy Or Borrow Any Maps You Can Find. But, Be Aware That The Maps Can Be Misleading As To The Size And Importance Of Some Roads.

If You Do Follow The Wrong Road To An Unexpected And Completely Unfamiliar Destination. Turn To A Local Government Office For Assistance. The District Head Or Head Of A Small Town Or Neighborhood Will Help You Find Accommodations Or Start You Off On The Right Road.

One Can Travel At Any Season In Indonesia; However, January And February, At The End Of Rainy Season, Are The Least Desirable Months For Travel. Roads And Bridges, A Few Of Which Are Washed Away Completely, Are The Worst For Wear. Airline Flights Are Delayed, And In Some Areas, Unpaved Airstrips Are So Waterlogged They Are Closed Completely.

It Is A Good Idea When Traveling Within Indonesia To Carry Your Passport, Immunization Records And Indonesian Identity Card. Finally, The Traveler In Indonesia Should Remember That Outside Jakarta, Yogyakarta, And Denpasar He Must Generally Pay Cash For What He Buys. Personal Checks Are Useless, And Travelers Checks, If They Can Be Cashed At All, Often Take Several Hours To Negotiate In Small Cities.