Travelers in Indonesia are always advised not travel to areas where tourist especially Westerners aren’t safe. Such places are the following: Maluku province particularly Ambon area and Central Sulawesi province. Both of these provinces have always been the subject to a lot of outbreaks of the internal violence and some security situations that always continue to be unresolved.

Travelers are also advised to employ caution with their travels to Aceh province. As it recently emerge from their long – running internal conflict. Travelers should be careful when they are traveling to other remote areas of the region and should also be knowledgeable and monitor any information of the situation of the place before visiting.

In Indonesia, terrorism still poses a great threat. Foreigners and all major tourist attractions and other places which are frequented by foreigners especially westerners are the potential targets to those terrorists. From all the previous attacks, those terrorists have made known to everyone in the globe that they have all the means and strong determination and motivation to accomplish successful attacks.

Foreign travelers should practice sensible precautions for their own personal safety and should stay away from any assembly of large crowds, demonstrations and any political gatherings.

Indonesia is situated in an active earthquake zone. Some major earthquakes could occur at any given time. Remember not to panic when such situation happens.

There have been reports in Indonesia of more than 90 human casualties during the out break of the famous Avian Influenza or rather Bird Flu. As a safety measure, travelers should rather stay away from poultry farms, live animal market, and any other places where they can have a close contact with any domestic, wild or even caged birds. Also make sure that those egg and poultry dishes are meticulously cleaned and cooked.

The country also suffer from a poor sanitation and its locals are often seen eating those contaminated food that can intensify the threat of cholera, typhoid, diphtheria and other common diseases. Foreign travelers should never drink the country’s tap water or any water that isn’t sealed or bottled. It is better safe than sorry. Always look for bottled water from any reputable sources.

Another health hazard scare was the endemic of Anthrax in the East Nusa Tengarra province. Its an acute viral infection that generally affects the livestock, nevertheless humans can also be affected by such if humans would handle, get in contact or worst eat those affected animals. Last October 30, 2007, East Nusa Tengarra’s three villages were closed to outsiders after several villages fell ill from eating the anthrax – infected buffalo meat.

Last October 28, 2007, there was a leprosy epidemic that was reported in the East Nusa Tengarra. When the health officials investigated on the outbreak, they found out that malnutrition, water shortage and poor sanitation as the caused of the dreaded disease.

The country has a strict rules and regulations with regards to illegal drug importation as its penalties can be very severe which includes a death penalty. Better should just stay away into such ‘easy – business’.

These advices are based on the recent information that was disclosed from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office – United Kingdom. Since situations can abruptly change, visitors and travelers are advised to contact these organizations for their latest travel advices.

US Department of State http://travel.state.gov/travel
British Foreign and Commonwealth Office www.fco.gov.uk
Telephone No. 0845 850 2829

Health Care

There’s health insurances are strongly recommended if you wish to travel within the islands. A sufficient routine medical care is readily available in all Indonesian major cities; however, emergency services may be inadequate for those remote areas outside the leading cities. Hospitals and doctors commonly require cash payments prior to any treatment is given. Though a comforting notion is that the country’s medical costs are reasonably economical but its drugs and medicines can be very costly.

Note

1. Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is mandated from travelers that come from those yellow fever infected areas.


2. After WHO guidelines that were issued last 1973, cholera vaccination certificate is not anymore a requirement in order to enter Indonesia. But since cholera is a serious and a deadly risk, travelers are advice to be cautious always.


3. Typhoid would often time occur in the country. Poliomyelitis transmission has already been eradicated in the country.


4. Malaria risk has existed all through out the year in all regions except only on the major tourist resorts located in Bali and Java. The country’s top cities which include Jakarta were at slight risk only.