The official language is Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia). Each ethnic group has its own language. Around 250 regional languages and dialects are spoken. English, Dutch and Arabic are compulsory school languages. The older generation tends to speak Dutch as a second language, while the younger generation tends to speak English.
Idioms
Goodbye = Selamat tinggal (“Have a good stay” wishes the departing person) Goodbye = Selamat jalan (“Have a good journey” wishes the staying person) Eight = Delapan Eighty = Delapanpuluh Beer = Bir Please = Sama-sama Thank you = Terima kasih Tuesday = Selasa Doctor = Dokter Thursday = Kamis Three = Tiga Thirty = Tigapuluh One Hundred = Saturibu One = Satu One Thousand = Saturibu Friday = Jumat Five = Lima Fifty = Limapuluh Good Day = Selamat siang Hello = Helo Today = Hari ini Hotel = Hotel I feel ill = Aku sakit. I got injured. = Aku terluka. I don’t understand this = Aku tidak mengerti itu Ja = Ya Can I have the menu please? = Boleh minta daftar makanan My name is … = Aku namanya… Wednesday = Rabu Monday = Senin Tomorrow = Besok No = Tidak Nine = Sembilan Ninety = Sembilanpuluh Restaurant = Restaran Saturday = Sabtu Six = Enam Sixty = Enampuluh Seven = Tujuh Seventy = Tujuhpuluh Sunday = Minggu Do you speak German? = Bisa Anda berbicara bahasa jerman? Toilets = Kamar kecil Four = Empat Forty = Empatpuluh Wein = Anggur How are you? = Apa kabar Anda? How much is it? = Berapa? Where is …? = Dimana ? Ten = Sepuluh Twenty = Duapuluh Two = Dua Wednesday = Rabu Monday = Senin Tomorrow = Besok No = Tidak Nine = Sembilan Ninety = Sembilanpuluh Restaurant = Restaran Saturday = Sabtu Six = Enam Sixty = Enampuluh Seven = Tujuh Seventy = Tujuhpuluh Sunday = Minggu Do you speak German? = Bisa Anda berbicara bahasa jerman? Toilets = Kamar kecil Four = Empat Forty = Empatpuluh Wein = Anggur How are you? = Apa kabar Anda? How much is it? = Berapa? Where is …? = Dimana ? Ten = Sepuluh Twenty = Duapuluh Two = Dua
Public Holidays
02/01/2022 Chinese New Years Festival
02/28/2022 Lailat al Miraj (Night of the Ascension)
03/03/2022 Hari Raya Nyepi (Hindu New Year festival)
04/15/2022 Good Friday
05/01/2022 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
05/15/2022 Vesakh Day (Buddha’s Birthday)
05/26/2022 Ascension of Christ
07/09/2022 Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)
07/30/2022 islamic new year festival
08/17/2022 Independence Day
10/09/2022 Milad un Nabi (Birthday of Prophet Muhammad)
(a) Buddhist holidays are based on the lunar calendar and are subject to change.
(b) The dates given for Islamic holidays are calculated according to the lunar calendar and therefore shift from year to year.
During the fasting month of Ramadan, which precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims are forbidden to eat, drink or smoke from sunrise to sunset, which causes disruptions or deviations in the normal course of business (including reduced opening hours of shops and authorities) and therefore there may be restrictions for travelers.
Many restaurants outside the hotels are closed during the day, and the consumption of alcohol and cigarettes is restricted or e.g. T. even strictly forbidden, even for non-Muslim vacationers. In hotel complexes it must be taken into account that meals and drinks during Ramadan may only be taken in the hotel restaurant or in the room.
Travelers should expect increased sensitivity in religious matters as well as in respect of Islamic traditions.
Some interruptions may also occur during Eid al-Fitr. This festival, like Eid al-Adha, is indefinite and can last from 2-10 days depending on the region.
Duty free shopping
Overview
The following items can be brought into Indonesia duty-free by persons over the age of 18: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 200 g of tobacco; 1 liter of alcoholic beverages; Gifts up to a value of US$250 per passenger or US$1,000 per family. Mobile phones, laptops, video cameras, radios, binoculars and sports equipment must be declared upon entry and exported upon exit. Films, audio and video cassettes, CDs and computer software must be submitted to the censorship authority for inspection. Possession of even small amounts of drugs is punishable by long prison sentences, and drug trafficking is punishable by death.
Prohibited Imports
Cordless telephones, portable televisions, facsimile machines and other merchandise, fresh fruit and animal, fish and plant products, guns, ammunition, pornographic products, narcotics, non-physician prescription drugs, Chinese publications and medicines. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Contact addresses
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia
Elfenauweg 51
Bern
Switzerland
+41 (31) 352 09 83/84/85.
https://kemlu.go.id/bern/lc
https://kemlu.go.id/bern/lc
Consulates General in Hamburg (Tel. +49 (40) 51 20 71/73) and Frankfurt/M. (Tel. +49 (69) 247 09 80). Honorary Consulate General in Stuttgart. Honorary consulates in Bremen, Kiel and Munich.
Business should be conducted through agents in the country and is often slow going. Business letters and brochures should be written in English and prices should also be quoted in US dollars. Business cards are common.
Opening hours
Business hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00 or 08.00-16.00. Some offices are also open on Saturday mornings. Authorities: Mon-Fri 08.00-16.00, Sat 08.00-12.00.
Business contacts
Communication
Phone
According to Abbreviationfinder.org, the country code is 0062. Even in smaller towns there are telephone offices from which you can easily call abroad. Prepaid cards can be purchased for international calls, which are a cost-effective alternative. Many hotels have payphones that accept phone cards or credit cards. Across the country, especially outside of the big cities, there are still a few telecommunications centers (WARTEL) where international calls can be made and received. Numbers for emergencies are: 110 (police), 118 (ambulance for traffic accidents), 119 (emergency doctor) or 113 (fire brigade).
Mobile phone
3G and 4G (GSM 900/1800). Mobile phone companies include Indosat Ooredoo, XL Axiata and Telkomsel. International roaming contracts exist. However, mobile telephony with prepaid cards is cheaper. SIM cards must be officially registered and must therefore be purchased from the official branch offices of the mobile network provider by presenting your passport. Prepaid SIM cards are also available at airports. Telkomsel office is located in T3 of Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Telkomsel’s prepaid cards can usually only be used in the region in which they were purchased.
Internet
One of the main providers is Indosat Ooredoo. There are internet cafes with fast connections in all major Indonesian cities and in the tourist areas of Bali. A few free WiFi hotspots are available in major cities. Numerous hotels, international airports, train stations and some trains offer free Wi-Fi.
Post office
Post to Europe takes 10 to 18 days. Indonesia Post is fast and generally reliable. It also offers an express service (Pos Express). Postal service to the outlying islands is often delayed.
Radio
Numerous German-language radio stations can be received over the Internet in Indonesia.
