Indonesia Statistics

Capital:  Jakarta (capital) 9.121 million inhabitants

Area:  1,904,569 sq km

Climate:  tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Population:  245,613,043 (July 2011 est.)

Languages:  Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects (the most widely

Government-Economy

Government type: republic

National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1945)

Independence Day: 17 August 1945 (declared); 27 December 1949 (by the Netherlands)

Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) ; 100 IDR = 0.01 USD ; 1USD = 8,662.19 IDR

GDP: $1.033 trillion (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP): $4,300 (2010 est.)

Information for Foreign Students in Indonesia

Obtaining a Visa

It is compulsory for all foreigners, so we recommend you to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.

Types of visa and cost: Single-entry: £35. Multiple-entry: £125 (business only). Transit: £15. Tourist visas issued on arrival:dependent on port of entry, check with relevant embassy. Fees are non-refundable.

Housing

Link for flats: http://www.expat.or.id/info/apartments.html

Hotels: http://www.iexplore.com/hotels/Indonesia ; http://www.worldtravelguide.net/indonesia/hotels

Health

Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or sterilized. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Contract a health insurance that would include emergency repatriation cover. Adequate routine medical care is available in all major cities, but emergency services are generally inadequate outside major cities. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payments before any treatment is given. Clinics catering specifically to foreigners can be found in most capital cities. Although medical costs are relatively cheap, drugs can be expensive.

Money

Foreign currency can easily be exchanged at banks, hotels and money changers in major tourist destinations; US dollars are the most accepted currency. Cash often yields a better exchange rate than travelers' cheques, which are not always accepted. It is recommended that travelers' cheques also be in US dollars. Most major credit cards are accepted at hotels, restaurants and stores catering to the tourist trade. ATMs are available in main centres.

Transportation

Bus: Indonesia is the land of jam karet (literally 'rubber time'), and complicated journeys involving more than a single change should not be attempted in a day. Bus fares are relatively low; most are fixed, with a higher price for the air-conditioned buses which have more room than on the cramped regular buses. There are night buses on a number of long-distance routes; pre-booking is essential. Visitors should note that buses can be extremely crowded, and that drivers are reckless. Lorena Transport (www.lorena-karina.com) operate an extensive network of routes on Java and Sumatra.

Taxi: Widely available in cities and towns. Ojek (motorcycle taxis) are available in cities and towns and they congregate at road junctions. The driver should provide a helmet and you must agree on the fare before starting the journey.

Phoning

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage may be limited to main towns and cities. There are Internet cafes in all major cities and tourist destinations. Country code: 62 (followed by 22 for Bandung, 361 for Bali, 21 for Jakarta, 61 for Medan and 31 for Surabaya). Many hotel lobbies have public phones which take credit cards and phone cards. State-operated phone booths or offices (Telkom) and privately-owned companies (wartel, warpostelwarparpostel), which work on a pay-as-you-leave basis, can be found in towns and cities throughout the country.