About Indonesia

Indonesia is centrally-located along ancient trading routes between the Far East, South Asia and the Middle East, resulting in many cultural practices being strongly influenced by a multitude of religions. Most people in Indonesia define themselves by their local culture, rather than their national culture. Indonesian culture is focused around the community, with a hierarchical structure.

Indonesians believe in the concept of gotong royong (mutual assistance) and mufakat (consensus), and the national motto is Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in diversity). Jam Karet (rubber time) highlights the cultural attitude: that life should not be rushed – everything has its time and place.

Most Indonesian people are indirect when they communicate, so as not to offend others. Much of the language is communicated non-verbally, so pay attention to body language. This is an important part of the culture.

The majority of the population is Muslim, while in Bali the Hindu religion is predominant. Whereas in areas like the Minahasa in North Sulawesi, the Toraja highlands in South Sulawesi, in the East Nusatenggara islands and in large parts of Papua, in the Batak highlands as well as on Nias island in North Sumatra, the majority are either Catholics or Protestants.

On the whole, Indonesian people are religious in nature. No matter how old or independent they are, Indonesians tend to keep tight relationships with members of their family.

For many Indonesian youths, moving out of parents’ house is simply not a thing, even when they already have a stable income of their own. Many choose to live under their parents’ roof unless they absolutely have to (many Indonesians leave their hometown to get a job in the city). And it’s not necessarily a sign of dependency, it just shows the values and principles the nation has when it comes to family.

Indonesia is the largest nation with people following the Islamic faith in the world, with 88% of the population being Muslim. In addition, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Christianity are all practised and prevalent within Indonesia.

Indonesia is the largest nation with people following the Islamic faith in the world, with 88% of the population being Muslim. In addition, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Christianity are all practised and prevalent within Indonesia.

Due to the diversity, you can see religions that have been fused with different influences, and you can witness this during the many colorful religious festivals, which play a major part in the culture of Indonesia.

Bahasa Indonesia is the national and official language of Indonesia and is used in the entire country. It is the language of official communication, taught in schools and used for broadcast in electronic and digital media. Most Indonesians also have their own ethnic language and dialect, with the most widely spoken being Javanese and Sundanese. Some ethnic Chinese communities continue to speak various Chinese dialects, most notably Hokkien in Medan and Teochew in Pontianak.

English is not widely spoken, however, an acceptable level of English can be understood in a number of major cities and tourists’ destinations including Bali, Batam, Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta. Moreover, most hotel and airline staff can also communicate in English on a basic to moderate level.

The best time to visit Indonesia is among April and October, when the weather conditions is ideally suited for island-hopping, Snorkelling, and beach side unwinding. Spanning the Equator, Indonesia is hot throughout the entire year, with the possibly change separating November and March when the nation sees widespread rain, particularly in the south.

Although the rain may scupper your plans to relax by the beach, it brings a few lovely changes. Indonesia's rich collections of temples are often quieter at this time of year, making exploration much more rewarding. The scenery is beautiful, and if you venture into the highlands the temperatures are cooler, which can be a welcome change from the humid conditions on lower ground.

Being a diverse country of origins and religions, Indonesia has a good mix of cultural events, ceremonies and festivals. Come and experience the Indonesian festivals all year round, as you can see you will never be short of choices.

From a child’s first step on the ground to certain months of pregnancy, many cultures in Indonesia has special ceremonies for even the tiniest milestones. Many cultures also make a huge deal out of life events like weddings and funerals, mixing them with mesmerizing traditional customs and celebrations. There are also communal celebrations like a myriad of different ceremonies of harvest or thanksgiving, and special dates associated with legends or history.

The official currency of Indonesia is Rupiah which is Issued and controlled by the Bank of Indonesia. The currency code for Rupiahs is IDR, and the currency symbol is Rp. By law, all transactions are required to be conducted in rupiah, and information on the daily exchange rate can be found in newspapers or from the internet and online apps. Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, large restaurants, and large stores.

Indonesian banknotes come in denominations of IDR1000, IDR2000, IDR5000, IDR10000, IDR20000, IDR50000, and IDR100000. Coins in circulation include IDR1000, IDR500, IDR200, IDR100, and IDR50.

You can exchange foreign currency in major cities throughout the archipelago at banks and money changers. Most tourists’ resorts have money changer facilities; however, if you are traveling to more remote areas it is advisable to exchange your money beforehand.

Tipping in Indonesia isn’t a standard practice, as a service charge may be added to the final bill in hotels and restaurants. If service, however, isn’t included or it exceeds all expectations, you are welcome to leave a little extra to show your gratitude and it will be appreciated.

The currency in Indonesia is the rupiah (Rp) and it’s considered acceptable to round up to the nearest rupiah when in doubt on what to tip. Be sure to hand the tip directly to the person you want to thank for excellent service.

Though tipping might not a standard practice, there are general guidelines that will help ensure a stress-free vacation. This Indonesia tipping guide will help you navigate when/where you can leave a little extra for great service.