Indonesia is made up of thousands of small islands that are surrounded by warm seas and many of them are perfect for resort holidays. And in addition to sunny beaches, amazing relics of the past, ancient temples, places of worship and exotic animals are hidden in the greenery of the jungle. Meanwhile, with the development of civilization, tribes that are at the level of development of the Stone Age also remained here, which makes traveling to this country even more exciting and interesting. Here you can easily combine all types of recreation: beach holidays, hiking of any level of complexity, observing wild animals, ethnographic excursions and much more.
Geography of Indonesia
According to smber, the state of Indonesia, located in Southeast Asia, occupies most of the Malay Archipelago, and this despite the fact that the country is located on more than 14,000 islands, among which entire groups stand out (Sumatra, Java, Madura, etc.). Approximately half of these islands are inhabited by people and have names. On land borders, Indonesia shares borders with Popua New Guinea, Malaysia, and East Timor.
Capital
Jakarta
Area
The area of Indonesia is 1,919,440 km2. sq., occupies the 15th place in the world by area.
Population
237,556,363 people.
Currency
The national currency is the rupee (IDR).
Language
The official language is Indonesian.
Visa to Indonesia
If you plan to stay in Indonesia for no more than 30 days, then a visa is not required, and if your arrival time exceeds this period, then you can apply for a visa on arrival at the airport, seaport or border checkpoints. It is also possible to extend the visa (once) for a period of 30 days. To extend your visa, you must contact the Aliens Police Department. If you are traveling with a child under the age of 9 who is inscribed in the passport of one of the parents, then you will not have to pay for a visa, but children over 9 years old pay the cost of a visa, regardless of whether they are inscribed in the parents’ passport or not.
Weather in Indonesia
The country has a predominantly equatorial and subequatorial maritime climate. In the flat areas, the temperature stays all year round – +25 +27С, and in the mountains it is somewhat cooler. In the south and east of the country there is a more noticeable division by season (rains – September-May, dry season – May-October). Sunny weather is observed almost the whole year, and precipitation falls at night or early in the morning in mountainous areas. Separately, it is worth highlighting the climate on the island of Bali, which is mostly equatorial. The temperature is almost the same all year round and stays within +23 +27С. The water temperature in the sea is +26 +28C, and precipitation falls mainly in January-February. Traditionally, the tourist season in Indonesia lasts from April to November, and on the island of Bali you can relax all year round.
Transport
Most city buses in the country are old and almost always full. When traveling by bus, pay attention to the payment of other passengers, as very often foreigners are cheated. Taxi services are very common. When boarding a taxi, make sure the driver turns on the meter and keep an eye on it. If the driver does not want to turn on the meter, then it is advisable to find another car. It is more profitable to pay with Indonesian currency, although many taxi drivers accept US dollars.
Currency exchange in Indonesia
As of August 2011, the national currency rate is 1 USD = 8.5 IDR. The national currency is the Indonesian rupiah. From Monday to Thursday, local banks are open from 08.00 to 15.00, and on Friday until 11.30. Currency exchange can be done at the airport, some hotels and markets, but there the exchange rate is often the most unfavorable. Large shops, hotels and restaurants accept credit cards. In tourist areas of the country, such as the island of Bali, the use of various means of payment is much wider, even in small private shops you can pay with a credit card. It is advisable not to exchange currency in tourist areas, since the exchange rate there is often the most disadvantageous for the changer.
Electricity
220V/50Hz (American and European sockets).
Religion
A significant part of the believing population of Indonesia are Muslims (87%), although Christianity and Hinduism are also widespread (on the island of Bali). The country has a free religion, information about which is written in the passport of each person.
Security
The crime rate in the country is not too high, but in places with a large concentration of tourists, there are frequent cases of pickpocketing and theft from hotels. It is not recommended to visit the West Timor and Ase area.
Health
There is a possibility of infection with hepatitis and malaria, so it is recommended to get vaccinated. When visiting infected areas, a yellow fever vaccine is required at the entrance to the country. No vaccination is required to visit Bali.
