KEYS FOR INDONESIA

 

AT THE AIRPORT

• Do not change too much money at the airport, 100 USD should be enough for the first evening. You will get better change rates in town with privates money changers.
• Once you passed the custom, you will end-up in a crowd where you will receive many proposals to get a "taxi". Do not accept these offers which are more expensive than dangerous. Join the queue for the "silver/blue bird group" taxis which are more reliable.
• The trip to the Central Business District will take 40 to 60 minutes depending on the traffic and the precise location of your hotel/meeting point. It will cost between 80.000 to 130.000 IDR (US$ 9-14) for a normal 50 minutes trip.
• Small change will be useful for the taxi. The fare includes everything but foreigners are expected to round it up to the one/two thousand.

AT THE HOTEL

• Hotels above 3 stars have English speaking staff .
• Everywhere your credit card print will be asked unless you give cash deposit or you have a prepaid voucher (a deposit will be needed anyway for telephone and others expenses).
• Click below for a list of the main hotels that your travel agency will be able to identify.
• We advise that you check with us the rate obtained by your travel agent with us booking locally can often save money.

TRAVELING IN JAKARTA

• If, as is often the case, you are meeting a local partner he will normally pick you up at your hotel and you will not need a car.
• If you prefer or need to be independent, your hotel will usually propose car rental services.
• Taxis are sufficient to get around the CBD even though you will maybe encounter difficulties to find a taxi in the rush hours (7h00/9h00 and 17h00/19h00).
• A car can be rented with the driver from 3 to 4 hour periods and you will need to book it 1 to ½ a day in advance.
• It is important to note that taxi drivers are more familiar with the names of hotels or towers in the CBD than with precise addresses.

CREDIT CARDS

• The major ones are welcome almost everywhere.
• Using your credit card is a calculated risk as several fraud rings have recently targeted foreign visitors, even the most cautious ones using their credit cards only in well-known places.
• Cash advances are available in most of the ATMs (except for VISA cardholders who can encounter some difficulties) or go the World Trade Center (Jl. Sudirman) where the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank ATMs allow withdrawals up to 1,500 USD in one day (depending on your card credit limit).

FOREIGN BANKS

• They are many but not all are offer a full range of services. In fact, most are Representative Offices or when they operate directly they tend to focus on corporate banking.
• ATM machines can be found amost everywhere.

THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

• The CBD is located within a "Golden Triangle" starting at the Monas monument (in front of the Presidential palace) and running South down Thamrin and Sudirman Avenues and East along Gatot Subroto Avenue and up Rasuna Said Avenue that goes back North to the Menteng area.
• In this triangle, most of the ministries, banks, office buildings and hotels can be found. - If your hotel is in the CBD, you should not have any transport difficulties in the morning but be aware that taxis are not always readily available during the rush hours (7h00/9h00 and 7h00/19h00).
• Traffic jams are part of daily life in Jakarta and should be taken into account in planning meetings.

RESTAURANTS

• The choice is not as rich as in Singapore but there is enough in Jakarta to fully satisfy the gastronomic needs of any normal business trip for at least a month!
• Restaurants are generally located within easy reach of the CBD in central Jakarta or in the residential district of Kemang to the South of the city. Local, International, Asian, Italian, French and even brazilian cuisines can be found in Jakarta. Bon appétit !

NIGHT LIFE & BASIC PRECAUTIONS

• Night spots are located roughly in the same area as the restaurant's. Of course, many other spots, especially local one, are found everywhere in the city. Just take care of your belongings when going in and out of night spots (especially in the North of Jakarta where gangs of kids can very quickly nab your wallets and hand phones). Never leave anything valuable in a rented taxi/car especially if hired in the street. Lock your doors while traveling and you will be able to enjoy all the delights of Jakarta by night!
• Safety precautions apply here as in every major city around the world. Credit cards and passports being precious documents, we advise not to bring them along with you at night: cash in 2 different pockets and a photocopy of the first pages of your passport should be enough. It is always useful to remember that all valuables should be kept in the safety box of your hotel: this includes laptops that should not be left in sight and at least closed in your luggage.

LITTLE THINGS THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

• Bahasa Indonesia (national language) is a very easy and grammar-free language that allows you to learn simple sentences in matter of minutes. Indonesian business people will invariably be able to speak English but showing a minimum attention to their culture with some Bahasa Indonesia words/expressions will always be received positively before engaging a normal English discussion (Indonesians are sometime a bit surprised to see long term expatriates that are unable to order a cup of coffee after years staying in Indonesia!).
• Even if many of your business contacts will be Chinese Indonesians, remember that proposing a break on Friday at 11h45 in the morning will be felt as a proof of interest by the mainly Muslim Javanese.
• "Time is rubber" sums-up the flexibility that is needed in Indonesia regarding appointments and their timing: no need to get impatient!
• Avoid pointing at someone and do not give your business card, with the left hand as it is regarded as impure.
• Self-control is always respected.
• Everyone will tell you to avoid causing someone to lose face in public.
• A frank negative answer will be often difficult to obtain as a business meeting, especially when it is the first one, is expected to end on a positive note. You will often have to wait to see if there are many unreturned phone calls or unanswered letters, faxes and e-mails to measure the level of interest of your contacts. For the latest news about Indonesia visit the Jakarta Post's website: www.thejakartapost.com/headlines.asp

IDEARS FOR A WEEKEND IN INDONESIA

The present travel warnings issued by most of the Western countries, the ridiculous cancellation of life assurances by several assurances groups for travel in Indonesia has partially affected the country's tourism receipts but the recovery is already on the way. Bali of course and also Yogyakarta, are both very enjoyable destinations. Bandung is a nice and pleasant city but very crowed during the weekends.

• Shopping malls : SARINAH on Jl. Thamrin SOGO on Jl. Thamrin under the GRAND HYATT Hotel PLAZA SENAYAN on Jl. Asia Afrika PASARAYA in Blok M and so many others as they are popping up everywhere in Indonesian cities
• Furniture/Antics in Jakarta : Jl. Kemang Timur Jl. Ciputat Raya (keep your taxi)
• Batiks : Can be found in most of the shopping centers starting with PASARAYA DANAR HADI on Jl. Melawai Raya
  
  
  
• Weekend in Yogyakarta : 55mn by plane from Jakarta, book your flights in advance
  There you will have SHERATON (5 stars), NOVOTEL (4 stars) and IBIS (3 stars) hotels among others If you want to play golf, choose a package at the HYATT.
  Visit the BOROBUDUR early in morning and the KRATON PALACE as well as the BIRD MARKET.
  At night do assist to the RAMAYANA SHOW at the PRAMBANAN TEMPLE.
  Do not miss the RAMAYANA spectacle that your hotel or any travel agent will book for you (you are picked-up).
  
  
• Weekend in Bali : many packages available in all the travel agencies … to be compared!
  The October 2002 and later bombing have not changed the fact that this is a very safe and peaceful island.
  Have a look to this interesting diving website: www.diving4images.com/indo-lingo.html

OBVIOUS FACTS BUT NEVERTHELESS USEFUL TO BE REMINDED

• political tensions, risks of riots, delinquency … a cool mind is always more useful than one filled with spectacular and alluring "prime-time" news reports. If clearly a minimum of safety measures is necessary (pick-pockets, crowds, shady taxis, …) as in every country developed or not, do not gave in to unjustified fears fed by some «dauntless» expatriates telling you in minute detail about the may 98 Jakarta riots while they where luxury refugees in 5 stars hotels in Bali, Singapore or Bangkok!
• terrorism … the Bali and Jakarta bombings have cruelly added to the "image problem" of Indonesia but as recent history since 9/2001 has shown, no country is safe. Therefore, there is no reason to feel less safe in a shopping centre in Jakarta than in London.
• dimensions … several companies happened to cancel their trips in Jakarta in 2000 after seeing the sad results of the Ambon religious riots (molluques archipelago) … this town is 2.000 km away from the Capital!
• by the way, Indonesia is here … with it's 245 millions population and the largest archipelago in the World (16.700 islands) : Indonesia in the world

Practical matters

• Some Hospitals/Clinics usually used by foreigners :
  AEA
  MEDIKALOKA
  MMC
  
  
• Water: tap water in the hotels is not suitable for drinking and even to clean your teeth. Use the mineral bottles that are always provided.
  
  
• Public transportation : avoid buses and limit train use to the executive class.