Indonesia

Indonesia is derived from "indos nesos", meaningLANGUAGE
islands near India. It is the world's largestThe national language is Bahasa Indonesia (a
archipelago with exactly 17, islands spreadmodified form of Malay), English, English, Dutch,
between the Asian continent and Australia, andalmost 600 local dialects, the most widely spoken
between the Pacific and the Indian oceans.of which is Javanese.
Air transport is the easiest and most comfortableCURRENCY
means of travel in Indonesia. Domestic air service,The official currency, Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) is
including the remote areas are provided byvalued at IDR 9,704.7 per US Dollar.
Garuda Indonesia, Merpati Nusantara, Sempati Air,DOMESTIC TRANSPORT
Bouraq and Mandala Airlines.Domestic rail service is available throughout Java,
Garuda Indonesia, operates both international andparts of Sumatra, Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya.
domestic routes and the only airline with an all-jetThere are comfortable sleeper trains that serve
fleet for domestic Indonesia operations. GarudaYogyakarta, Solo, and Semarang.
serves Honolulu, Los Angeles, London,Bus services are also available and ply the Bali -
Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Paris, Zurich,Banda Aceh route; many are air-conditioned with
Rome, Vienna, Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, Riyadh,reclining seats as well as TV with video programs.
Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Taipei,Cars can also be hired, for longer out of town
Manila, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Nagoya, Seoul,trips, from taxi or car rental companies.
Singapore, Brunei, New Zealand, Sydney,Inter-island ships are comfortable and offer an
Melbourne, Perth, Darwin, Port Hedland andalternative to flying. There are regular sailing
Auckland.schedules and routes at the main port of Jakarta.
The country's second national carrier, MerpatiCOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
Nusantara Airlines, flies to 110 local destinationsInternational Direct Dial Country Code = 62
and to Australia (Darwin), Brunei Darussalam andFixed Lines = 10,000,000
East Malaysia (Kuching).Mobile Cellular = 30,000,000
The country's three main gateways areIndonesia's telecommunications service is generally
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Poloniagood, provided by an inter-island microwave
Airport and Ngurah Rai Airport.system, HF radio police net, a domestic satellite
International airlines that serve Indonesia arecommunications system and satellite earth
Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines Systemstations.
(MAS), Qantas, Cathay Pacific, and JAL.Indonesia's GSM cellular service providers are
ENTRY REGULATIONSTelkomsel, PTT Saleti Palapa, Excelcom and PT
Citizens of most countries can stay 60 daysIndosat.
without a visa.Several prepaid calling card and phone card
CLIMATEcompanies are available to call both to and from
Indonesia's climate is tropical, hot, and humid butIndonesia.
moderate in highlands.