Jakarta, Indonesia Travel Tips & Advice

Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia and located on the western side of the island of Java. Unless you are flying into Denpasar (Bali) this is most likely the first Indonesian city that you will experience. Be warned: traffic sucks! 2 hours to get from one side of the city to the other is normal.

It is a business city, not a tourist city. There are a few things to see, and plenty to eat, but given the traffic and pollution most foreign visitors do not want to spend more than a couple days here.

Make the most of your limited time in Jakarta

Other Nearby Locations Bali Bandung Java Lombok Sulawesi Sumatra Surabaya Yogyakarta

Indonesian Food Cheat-Sheet: Tips & Translations For First-Timers

Indonesian food can be summed up in two words: delicious and inexpensive. Whether street food or actual restaurant, whether on Sumatra, Java, or somewhere further east, it is pretty hard to go wrong in this culinary country. I’ve eaten some amazing meals that cost only 15,000 rupiah ($1.00 USD) yet have left me so stuffed … Read More

The Ultimate Indonesian Food Guide: Regional Dishes

Part of the beauty of Indonesia is that the country and islands are composed of hundreds of different cultures that have all come together to form one diverse nation. As such the food in Indonesia varies not just island to island but city to city. So now I present to you the Ultimate Indonesian Food … Read More

40 Signs You Have Been In Indonesia Too Long

Local girls in Siak crowd around for a photo with a bule

I have spent more time in this archipelagic nation than in any other country…some might even argue that I’ve been in Indonesia too long. And you know what, maybe I have been. But there is a good reason for this, a method behind my madness if you will. For every new place I visit here … Read More

FriFotos: Finding Solitude In The Bogor Botanical Gardens, Indonesia

Frifotos: Derek Freal In Solitude At Bogor Botanical Gardens, Indonesia

Sometimes the hustle and bustle of city life gets to be too much and you just need to escape. That’s how it was for me after living in Jakarta for six weeks. So I called up my friend Riyanni — you may remember we did a tourism film on Siak, Indonesia together last September — … Read More

FriFotos: How To Chill Indonesian Style

Life in Indonesia often goes at a slow pace, whether it be a result of bad traffic or the fact you’re relaxing on a beach. However no matter where you may be there is always a way to “chill” Indonesian style — this week’s FriFotos theme. How To Chill In Traffic Traffic can be bad … Read More

Indonesia Travel Advice: What To Know Before You Go

Cloudy morning sunrise over Borobudur Temple in Indonesia, a world famous UNESCO site

Indonesia is a vast and diverse archipelago that continues to impress and surprise longtime expats and even locals. To think that because you’ve seen Jakarta and done Bali then you “know” Indonesia is to be sorely mistaken. There are 17,508 islands here! How can I even summarize that much information and Indonesia travel advice in … Read More

First Impressions & Basic Information: Indonesia

Although your feelings towards and opinion of a particular country will grow and evolve as you see more of the country and experience more of the local culture, nothing can ever duplicate your initial impressions. For that exact reason I will be publishing a First Impressions post for every one of the 80+ countries on … Read More