Do's and Don'ts when visiting Indonesia; Taboo and Acceptable

Bali View of Indonesia

There is nothing that you have to worry about, when visiting Indonesia, i mean, you will be threaten nicely. Indonesians are really friendly to foreigners. Foreigners are threaten like famous artist Especially if you visit a small town like Lombok, Papua or Lake Toba in Sumatra. Hey...I come from Sumatra, my house isn't really far from Lake Toba. 

Lake Toba was the seconds foreigners favorite destination, several years ago. But since the Tragedy in Bali which is known as Bali bomb, There was a significant change, People stop visiting  Lake Toba.

Right now, Government is trying to promote Lake Toba again. And there are about thousands foreigners visit Lake Toba every years.

So if you visit Indonesia, don't forget that North Sumatra or Lake Toba is waiting for you. You won't be regret it, i promise you. :)

Talking about what you should know before visiting Indonesia maybe mostly related to the things like Transportation, Languages, and goods price. 

Indonesia is a development country, i mean, we are not really poor. Airports are everywhere, at least one international airport in every province and there are many small airports in every province. We also have train transportation from economy class to business class. Beside buses, you can also use an android or apple application to order an online motorcycle or taxi which is called "Gojek or Grab". So there is no problem with transportation although you will find a serious traffic jam sometimes when you visiting Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya or Medan. 

There is only not more than 25% of Indonesian that will understand you when you speaking in English. So, i think that it is better for you to install an English-Indonesian dictionary in Your smartphone. You can also learn some phrases in Bahasa Indonesia, Especially the addressing, You can address an old woman with 'IBU' and young girl with 'Mbak or Kakak' and Old Man with Bapak or Pak, Young man with 'Mas or Bang'. Mostly, Taxy driver can understand english although they can't speak, or if you find difficulties when speaking with taxi driver, be sure to ask for help from others Indonesian people. Indonesian won't offering you any help if you don't ask because we usually not really confidence to speak to foreigners.

If you want to buy something, make sure that the price is normal. Sometimes i heard that price for Foreigner is more expensive.  If you have some local friends from Indonesia, ask them to help you.

Taboo things

• You can not enter any mosque with footwear like slippers or shoes. If you want to go inside make sure to take off your shoes. 
• It isn't Polite to call older people with their names. 
• Spit in front of people is not polite
• Couple kissing in public area is not polite
• Drugs is not allowed and everybody were caught with drug will be jailed either Foreigners or Indonesians.
• When you meet people while eating lunch or dinner and offering you to join, they don't really mean it. so don't suddenly join and eat with them before they really force you about four times.
• Never Insult any Religions, God, Cultures or traditional things because people still quite sensitive about that stuffs here.

You Can do these things

• You can ask for help any time from local people, they will be really proud to help you.
• You laugh everywhere outside
• You can hold your couple hand
• It is really polite to smile when you meet older people who stares at you
• You can help students in their school by teaching english, they will be really happy although it is only for an hour. If you want to do this, speak to the  principal first.