Indonesia: A change of scenery guaranteed between the temples, heavenly beaches and volcanoes of Indonesia

When to go to Indonesia

Indonesia is a country that can be visited all year round, but the best time to go depends on the activities you want to do and the regions you want to visit. May to September are generally considered the most pleasant months, with milder temperatures and less rain. However, December to February are also popular as there are fewer tourists and prices are lower.

Things to avoid when travelling in Indonesia

Indonesian traditions are different on each island. However, there are a few things to avoid throughout the archipelago. Never hold out your left hand to receive something (a sign of impurity), never speak with your hands on your hips (a sign of fighting), never touch people with your index finger and never touch their heads, whether they are adults or children. When asked a question, Indonesians prefer to give a wrong answer rather than admit their ignorance of the subject. In the event of disagreement in a conversation or negotiation, do not raise your voice or express your anger openly, and try not to make the other person "lose face". Living in a tropical environment is no excuse for not dressing decently.

Tasty, fresh and spicy food

You can eat at any time of the day in the warungs or from street vendors. In Indonesia, rice and fish are staple foods throughout the archipelago, although the way in which they are served varies from island to island. The way fish is prepared varies from our European culinary knowledge, mainly due to the heat and the lack of means of preservation, and it can be bought dried, smoked or in paste form. The national dish is nasi goreng (egg-fried rice served with meat or prawns and vegetables). Take advantage of your stay in this tropical country to feast on tropical fruits: bananas, pineapples, mangoes, mangosteen, rambutan, jackfruit or, for the more adventurous, the very 'fragrant' durian (the smell of which could wake the dead)... The presence of so many tourists has led to the development of Western cuisine as well as Thai, Indian and Japanese. Due to high immigration, Chinese cuisine, often of good quality, has made its mark.

When it comes to drinks, beer is the number 1 choice in Indonesia. The most popular brands are Bintang and Anker. They are sold in small and large bottles. In Java and all Muslim-majority islands, beer and all alcoholic beverages are heavily taxed, and tap water is rarely safe to drink. Indonesians boil it for 20 minutes before drinking. Always make sure it is air masak (boiled water) if you order ice cubes with a drink.

Indonesian handicrafts

Indonesian handicrafts offer many ideas for souvenirs and gifts to bring back from your trip to this paradise archipelago. A distinction can be made between tribal handicrafts with a religious dimension, those from Java and Bali, which are a blend of Buddhist and Hindu art, and those influenced by Islam, which have had a major impact on local art but are less important because human and animal representations are banned.

If you declare it to your country's authorities when you arrive at the airport, you can bring back a kriss, a kind of traditional curved dagger. As for fabrics, we recommend batik (a printed fabric) and, more expensively, Songket (a silk fabric with gold threads). You'll also find basketry, carved wooden objects and even pearls, which may or may not be mounted on jewellery. In Indonesia, when a price is not on a label, it is customary to haggle ("tawar" in Indonesian) with local sellers of handicrafts, clothing or works of art.