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Indonesia

  • 14-11-2007 4:58pm
    #1
    Woofer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 96 ✭✭


    Planning a round the world trip, and would like to know if anyone has been to indonesia and would they recommend it? Specifically a suggested route. I will be flying in and out of Bali around august and have approximately 1 month and the usually limited back-packer budget.

    Concerns I have -
    1)is it safe? you hear a lot about the terrorist threats etc
    2)is it expensive/difficult to move around between the big islands (look pretty far apart on the map - eg: java to borneo
    3)is it just the normal beach affair - like the islands in thailand? (which are great - but i've done em before!)

    Thanks in advance!


Comments

  • #2
    Board-in-work
    Closed Accounts Posts: 135 ✭✭Board-in-work


    Hi there....

    Word of warning about Bali - It's a great place an all, but out of everywhere I have travelled it has to have the most aggressive touts and street sellers anywhere. It started as soon as I landed! money changers at the airport. Everywhere guys shouting 'Transport?' at you - moto drivers constantly hassling you. People following you down the street trying to sell stuff. I've travelled around Asia, and this was definately the most extreme. The loney planet does say that the hawkers are 'aggressive' - so beware. Stay away from Kuta beach. You won't be able to sit down without a hoard of massage people / beer sellers / t-shirt sellers / surf board renters gathering around you. Everyone seemed to be trying it on. Quoting prices to me in Rupiah that would be on a par with what I could buy in Ireland for the same cash! Taxi drivers wanting the equivalent of 50 USD for short hops!

    Also, the money can be confusing, because the denominations go into the thousand. So the exchange rate can confuse, when people are quoting prices to you. Next time I go (because I will be better prepared!) I'm taking a small calculator with me to work out pricing.

    Be assertive with the people on the beaches. Agree prices before you buy anything or get anything done (massage/taxi etc) Usually the taxi driver will try to say the meter is broken - just get out and get another cab! Enjoy Bali - it's great - just a few things pissed me off about it!


  • #3
    Board-in-work
    Closed Accounts Posts: 135 ✭✭Board-in-work


    Look at Air Asia, and Tiger Airways. I flew Air Asia cheaply from Bali into Singapore, then onto Borneo (Kinabulu trip !) . Beware of the low-cost Indonesian airlines, as they don't have a good safety record. Check on the UK aviation websites to see which airlines are banned from European airspace, and that will give you an idea. I think Air Asia do a 3 stop passport ticket to fly around the area. Good value.


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