Information on visiting Indonesia
WHEN YOU GO
VISITING JAKARTA’S PORTS
• If you are staying at one of Jakarta’s tourist hotels, ask the bellman to arrange a taxi for you. Ask the bellman to tell the driver that you want him to wait for you while you are at the port. Otherwise, it may be difficult to find a taxi for the return trip. Jakarta traffic can be horrendous, so allow plenty of time, three hours or more for the round trip.
• At the port, don’t be surprised if a self-appointed tour guide appears at your side and begins bombarding you with facts about the place. Don’t be put off. These guys can enhance your visit and even arrange entrée to a ship or two, if you’re willing to traverse the narrow planks to go on board. The guides work for tips; $5 or $10 should do it, and it’s well worth it.
• If you want to make a day of it, consider visiting nearby Old Batavia, or Kota, the former center of the Dutch colonial administration. Attractions include the Maritime Museum, Jakarta City Museum and the Museum Wayang, featuring Indonesia’s traditional puppets. Leave time for a meal at the classy Old Batavia Inn.
RESOURCES
• A U.S. State Department travel warning is in effect for Indonesia because of the possibility of terrorist attacks. For information and advice, go to the State Department Web site (www.state.gov) and check the section for international travel, or go directly to travel.state.gov/travel/ cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_918.html.
• For information on Indonesian culture and destinations, see the Web site of the Indonesian Embassy, www.embassyofin donesia.org.
Source: http://www.dallasnews.com/
Add comment August 8th, 2007