Indonesia
The information below is provided by Lonely Planet readers and is not verified by Lonely Planet. For the official lowdown, contact your nearest embassy or check out our Travel Links.
Visas, Embassies & Border Crossings
Visas for Bali cost US$25 on arrival and there is a 100,000 Rp departure tax.
Ronelle Hutchinson, Australia (Mar 05)
Before our recent trip to Sumatra, in early January 2004, after many inquiries we were told at the Indonesian Embassy that though we needed a visa, we could obtain it easily on arrival. However, when we arrived (from Malaysia by sea) the officers said it was impossible and that we should have obtained the visas at home. In the end it cost us US$20 more and half a day to get the stamps in our passports. So until things become clear again, we suggest that everybody makes sure if they need a visa and if yes, they should get it before setting off.
Viktor Kaposi, Hungary (Feb 04)
Travel Tips
I'd like to tell you what I did at Dumai in Sumatra. I met a local English teacher when I was waiting for the bus to Parapat and I actually visited his school, joined the class and talked to his students. They were so glad to practice speaking English in the school and some of them could already speak well so I was so impressed. I reckon at least it's much better to visit them and join the class than being stuck at the bus terminal for a couple of hours. Best place to kill the time in Dumai. The school's name is G.E.C.(Grand English Course), 10min away from ferry station. Of course you don't have to pay to join the class and so many tourists have visited there so it's worth to have a look!
Yuichi Fukumoto, Japan (Oct 05)
We were surprised to find out that Bali does not accept US dollar bills that are older than 1994. We had tried to pay for items at our hotel and were told that if they accepted our bills, it would hold no value to them as the banks in Bali do not accept them. However, we had gone with only traveller's cheques so at some time, the hotel must have given us these "unusable" bills. Maybe they were trying to get rid of the bills that they had mistakenly accepted from tourists in the past.
Irene Kawahara, Canada (Jan 05)
Probably the safest place to exchange money in Bali with good rates is Pt. Dirgahayu Valuta Prima on the corner of Jalan Pantai and Jalan Legian. They are guaranteed by the Bank of Indonesia. There is no need to worry about being short changed - they count out the money in front of you and also give you a receipt.
Scott Crosby, Japan (Jan 05)
Moving About
I would actually recommend taking local buses as opposed to tourist buses. You get to meet more Indonesians this way. However, be warned that for inter-city travel, buses will regularly stop at mid-points (or towns along the route) and wait for passengers to board so that the bus proceeds with a full complement. What this means for the tourist is that you have to reckon with this and allow for a substantially longer period of time than a 'straight' journey. I remember that the Blitar-Pacitaan bus journey nearly broke me, although it seems funny in retrospect. For buses that travel between cities, the driver will usually make sure that everyone, more or less, has a seat. But be warned that for intra-city bus travel the eventual complement of the bus setting out can be double what it was at the stage when you were sure the bus had to be full!
Shashi Jayakumar (Jul 04)
Scams & Warnings
Gunung Rinjani, Lombok: We camped by the lake (Sengara Anak) and at 1.30am the next tent to us was attacked by 4 or 6 robbers with machetes. They slit open the back of the tent and dragged out the occupants. Those attacked made a great deal of noise and when we all appeared, the robbers ran off leaving a traveller with some nasty cuts on his arm. Although there must have been around 200 local people in the vicinity, none of them came out of their tents to help. We learned during the next 24 hours that there had been attacks the same night on the two camp sites on the rim of the crater, one where several people had received injuries. It is difficult to know whether this was an unusual event or not; our porters suggested the former which is understandable but we were struck by the fact that no locals came to help and that clearly attacks on 3 camp sites the same night must have been more than coincidence. The lack of a radio meant using mobile phones was the only alternative but there was no signal in the crater so it was difficult to get help (even if help was available as we saw no sign of any in the ensuing 24 hours).
Sue Kellerman, UK (Jan 06)
Mt Bromo/Cemoro Lewang: There is a scam going where the bus driver lets you off before arriving at the bus station in Probolingo. He says that to get to Mt Bromo you need to get off at some spot a kilometer before the station, which is a travel booth run by a real sleazeball hustler who will try to bully you into buying overpriced tickets, etc. It's a difficult situation, especially for those arriving at night. I spoke to a number of people who experienced the same thing. If you could advise people to make sure they don't disembark until they are at the bus station no matter what the bus driver says, I think it would help people avoid the current situation. Someone told me she saw the bus driver getting handed cash by the sleazy guy.
Tim Marshall, Canada (Nov 05)
There is a scam involving motorbikes on isolated roads in Bali. One or two guys start waving by the side of the road, indicating there is something wrong with your bike (i.e. the exhaust pipe blowing smoke). After you have stopped they "research" the cause of the damage while touching parts of the motorbike's engine. In fact, they interrupt the fuel transmitting to the engine and after a few hundred metres; your motorbike will blubber and fall down. Soon after that, another guy shows up offering to call a friend of his - a mechanic. The mechanic will fumble and repair your bike while in fact all he does is get the fuel flowing again. For their service, the guys try to get a huge fee such as 500,000Rp. Too many honest travellers have paid for this scam.
Frank Igelhorst, Germany (Mar 04)
Please be careful of scams run by people claiming to be "authorized money exchangers" in Kuta, Bali. The rate offered is higher than average to make sure they lure enough customers. The rate is usually a complex number e.g. 9395Rp instead of e.g. 9300Rp to add to complexity of the exchange. They do not give 100,000Rp banknotes but rather 50,000 or 20,000Rp banknotes. Exchangers often work in pairs. They are so skilled that we did not even notice that they gave us 20% less banknotes even when two of us watched them counting. We figured it out only after we counted ourselves. Lured by high exchange rates and later curiosity, I tried to change money three times at these kinds of exchangers often with similar results. If you use an exchanger who charges commission, you will end up with a lower rate than when using those advertising no commission. Suggestion for travellers: Always use money exchangers who do not charge commission and always count the notes yourself. Make sure they give you big notes so that you can count easily.
Rastislav Kulich (Jun 04)
I'd like to make readers aware (and beware) of accepting lifts from "taxi drivers" upon arriving at Denpasar airport. I was told I was being taken into town, but instead was taken to a hotel miles away where I ended up being conned into taking a HUGELY overpriced room. When I discovered the actual cost of staying elsewhere I tried to get a refund and to leave, but the staff turned nasty and threatened me. I had to cut my losses and walk the couple of miles into town with my luggage.
Craig Bradley, UK (Jul 04)
There are a lot of scams from the travel agents selling bus tickets from Probolingo (on the road to Mount Bromo). I had problems with a Mahkota travel agent who sold me a ticket (to Denpasar) approximately twice the regular price. Several other travellers have experienced problems with other travel agents so it seems to be a general problem. People should be warned against this. It is difficult to suggest what to do - there do not seem to be any honest agents around. Maybe try to book trough hotels at Mount Bromo.
Jan-Henrik Johnsen, Norway (Nov 04)
Gems, Highlights & Attractions
A useful addition for Alor, around the first weekend of August they hold the Alor Expo which brings people in from the remote mountain communities to perform and present their cultures and craftwork. Very interesting and visitors are very welcome.
Graeme and Isabelle (Sep 05)
While travelling Eastern Java I came across Gunung Kelud (Mt. Kelud). This mountain, just outside Kediri and Pare, makes a great hike - just make sure you bring enough food and drink because this site hasn't turned into a tourist attraction yet. They're currently widening the roads in order to make Kelud more accessible. Mt. Kelud offers a lot of beautiful scenery.
Mara Soplantila, The Netherlands (Feb 04)
^ back to top
|
