ElectricityElectrical current is 120/230 volts, 50 Hz. A variety
of plugs are in use including the European two-pin and UK-style
three-pin. LanguageBahasa Indonesia is the official language, but many
dialects are spoken. English is widely understood in Jakarta and
tourist resorts. TippingMajor hotels add a 10% service charge to bills in Indonesia and,
where it is not included, a tip of between 5% to 10% of the bill,
would be appreciated. Airport porters usually receive around Rp
2,000 per small bag. Tipping taxi and rental car drivers is not
mandatory, but if you do choose to tip, Rp 1,000 is sufficient for
taxi drivers and a little more for rental car drivers. Safety InformationFollowing the bombings in Bali in October 2005, there remains a
high risk of terrorism directed against foreigners throughout the
country and reports indicate that terrorists are planning further
attacks on Westerners and western interests and are likely to be
carried out at locations frequented by tourists. Extreme caution is
advised in public places, including transport terminals, shopping
malls and public buildings, and especially in restaurants, hotels
and places of entertainment in tourist areas. The security
situation remains unsettled in Sulawesi and foreigners are advised
to avoid parts of Maluku, particularly Ambon, and Central Sulawesi.
Visitors are also advised to be cautious if travelling to Aceh.
Religious violence between Christians and Muslims and unstable
politics has also made many parts of Indonesia unsafe for
travellers; there is continued risk of harassment of Westerners by
fundamentalists. Indonesia has a high crime rate and theft and
petty crime is common in tourist areas and on public transport.
Credit card fraud is on the increase. It is strongly recommended
that visitors contact their foreign office for the latest travel
advice before travelling to Indonesia. Flooding and landslides
occur frequently during the rainy season between December and
March. The safety of air travel in Indonesia has come under the
spotlight following a series of fatal airline accidents; six of its
airlines have failed to meet international safety standards,
including the national carrier, Garuda, and in June 2007 the EU
announced that all Indonesian airlines have been banned from
entering the EU. Local CustomsIndonesian people are generally friendly and polite and while
they understand that western culture is different to their own, it
will be appreciated if their customs are respected. Religious
customs should also be respected, particularly during the month of
Ramadan when eating, drinking and smoking during daylight hours
should be discreet as it is forbidden by the Muslim culture.
Visitors should always be polite and avoid public displays of
affection. It is considered impolite to use the left hand for
passing or accepting things. Appropriate dress is important in
places of worship and women should dress conservatively, covering
the shoulders and legs, especially in Muslim areas. The concept of
'saving face' is very important and public displays of anger, and
personal ridicule and blame are considered extremely vulgar and bad
mannered. In Jakarta a new law bans people from giving money to
beggars, buskers and unofficial traffic guides in an attempt to
'bring order' to the city. Offenders could face up to six months in
jail and $5,000 fines. Gambling is illegal. BusinessDue to the hot and tropical climate, when conducting business in
Indonesia, formal business attire in a light, cool material is the
best option. Indonesia is largely Muslim so dress should be
conservative, especially for women. Business cards are often
exchanged and it is customary to shake hands with a slight bow when
greeting and leaving. Some Indonesian names can be long and hard to
pronounce and making an effort to get it right when greeting
someone will be appreciated. It is best to use formal titles such
as Doctor, or 'Bapak' for Mr. and 'Ibu' for Madam. Business hours
vary, government
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