I learned more about Indonesia in only this week. If I would travel to another country, the most essential things to remember is always ask lots of questions of the locals. To see the lives of people in different cultures, it is just amazing, like how do they get to school? What do they eat for lunch? How does marriage in this country/ region work? Can everyone go to university in this country? What is the weird thing in that strange looking package? I just always be curious about things that I don’t know, things that I am not familiar with.
This article will help you get the simplest glimpse of what to do and to avoid in Indonesia based on my experience.
I went to 2 times before, the first time is to review a retreat and the second is for a boss ladies trip. In summary? I would say Bali is pretty much the 7th state in Australia. Bali has a rumor on A Current Affair that is one Australian dies in every 9 days in Bali. You should not be surprise at all. This opinion is way too accurate since I can count there are more Australians than Balinese local people in there. That is a comprehensible mathematical equation – based on the statistic of how many Aussies die in Australia every day, percentage wise, one Aussie dies in every nine days in Bali is probably believable.
Most of the cities in country are either Muslim or Christian but Indonesia has always been recognized as a majority Muslim country. The fact is generally important since visitors in Bali are likely to wander around drinking alcohol and not wearing too much clothes, carry accessories which is not the tradition in other parts of the country. If your tourists travel to Indonesia, be careful to cover your knees and shoulders by less revealing clothes that can covered out of respect for the local custom. Bikinis and tiny shorts are out of the question.
In Indonesia, each resident has their chosen religion specified on their license. They can choose from six different religions. Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism. It’s no biggie, it’s just a good thing to know because religion is very important and you may be asked what religion you practice if you’re in more rural areas of Indonesia.
It is kind of embarrassing to say how often I go overseas to countries where the locals don’t drink alcohol and these people find out I’m Australian and say sorry immediately for the lack of drinking culture and behavior. I recall one waiter said to me: “I’m so sorry we only have smoothies, no wine or beer.”
I am sure that the waiter is trying to avoid offensive by saying polite words. Furthermore, I assume no Australians have ever acted like a fool in front of them because they do not serve an alcohol drinks in restaurant. It is usually wiser to not drink if you are traveling to a non-drink country, especially in Southeast Asian region. In addition, beside of that the locals are so hospitable. I bet you will have the best time in Indonesia.
So if you are looking for a spoiled weekend in Indonesia, Bali is still the best choice rather than in other parts in this lovely country.
I am that kind of complicated and sarcastic person. That make everything pretty hard to translate what I am saying to native language. I was happy to know that Balinese people can understand my joke and get want I meant to be. In Germany or India, I received a comment that I was lamed and not be humble at all.
Despite the high temperature, Balinese locals still wear long and covered clothes. Once I went to a morning trekking trip to the mountain and the atmosphere in there is just so pleasurable. For European like me, it was not a big deal at all, however, for the local guide who went with me on that trip, they were all shaking because of the cold temperature.
The people in this country are just frenzy when they can get access to free vaccinations and their children will not become sick of preventable diseases. I once go to a health center in Palu and it was filled with local people waiting for their children to get vaccinated at tables in a ramshackle tiny building that don’t even get a clean running water system available. I previously was getting injected at a fancy and cozy clinic in Kiama by the time I’m going to depart from this town. That made me feel to be treated with full privilege, which is the thing that I can’t experience in any different places.
8. Indonesian people would live with families, even after they get married
My previous tour guide is Stevan, who is 31 years old already and he still lives at home with his father and brother. He stated that he would seemingly always live with them, even if he gets married. That is a bit strange in Australia since everyone wants to move away with their gloom/ bride, however, in some Southeast Asian countries, it is becoming a common sense because of the housing crisis and high population. The custom of Indonesian people is to stay with their families, mostly for taking care of the parents when they get old. People really think that that action will show the thankfulness and gratefulness to their parents.
9. The locals don’t use sunscreen or insect repellent
Surprisingly, they are all healthy and lively as ever, the sun is not a problem for Asian people. When I went to Bali, I regretted every time I forgot to apply repellant insects after shower. However, the locals seem alright with them and they do not even taking any concern at all.
10. Hot orange juice, a weird stuff but it’s kind of common there
I have stated before, there is no alcohol drinking tradition in Indonesia but they have alternative things to replace it and they are smoothies and juices. The drinks menu is always just as the same number as the food menu in every restaurant, orange juice, strange as it may sound to you, local people usually drink a hot one. Yes, of course it will make every visitor feel weird but it is not bad at all. I would recommend you to try it once you go to Indonesia since words cannot describe it thoroughly. Remember to order a hot orange juice when you are visiting Bali, Indonesia.
11. Gado Gado salad is an amazing dish for vegetarians
I was not fond of big carb eating and as you can imagine, everything dish in here is served on a bed of rice. You should not be surprised since there are actually many countries in Asian follow that way to serve food in restaurant. Refined white carbs totally pull down my energy levels, so I want to not get in touch with it. The Gado Gado salad is available pretty much everywhere – it’s just simply boiled vegetables, eggs and peanut sauce. It is tasty and fresh. But a single dish of salad would not fill my belly, I ordered another meat dish with peanut sauce again and an omelette. Indonesian people has a great taste for food as it has been refined and enhanced over centuries, with a mix of western and eastern style.
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