Getting there and around
Airlines and new routes, airports, ferries, trains and city transport.
Getting from Singapore to Jakarta
Singapore is a city-state in Southern Asia and a well known connection point between cities in other continents and Indonesia.
Bus Travel in Indonesia
In Indonesia, land travel, water travel and air travel complete each other. Where land travel is non existent, you can either fly or take a ferry.
Getting Around in a Becak
Last night I was at a get-together of University colleagues and during a conversation about Java one man said “ I’m going there next month. It will be my first time.
Zipping around in Jakarta: West Java
As anyone one would know that has visited Indonesia’s capital city, Jakarta , it is absolute mayhem in the traffic not to mention the pollution being pumped out of all the exhaust pipes of cars,…
New Airline Regulations Laws Now in Effect
If I received a dollar for every time I was delayed because my flight was late on arrival at an airport or leaving an airport then I would have enough money for several domestic flights.
Garuda Indonesia Flights to India
Travelling to Indonesia could become much easier next month, when the country’s national airline Garuda’s maiden flight between Chennai and Medan is set to take off.
Lorena Air to Start Flying Jakarta-Surabaya in June
The domestic airline industry is becoming more competitive with PT Eka Sari Lorena Airlines (Lorena Air) soon to enter the market hit hard by increasing fuel prices.
AirAsia Introduces Baggage Handling Fee
Low-cost carrier AirAsia has introduced a checked baggage handing fee for all AirAsia flights from April 21 onwards as part of the company's strategy to keep the airline's basic fares low, which is…
Garuda Indonesia to Fly Jakarta to Pontianak
In what is seen as a boost to tourism in Kalimantan , Garuda Indonesia will fly from Jakarta to Pontianak three times a day to cater to rising demand for air services.
EU to Keep Ban on Indonesian Airlines
Indonesia will remain on the European Commission's list of countries whose airlines are banned from entering the EU , the commission announced Friday.
Garuda to Organize `Discover Indonesia`
The Indonesian consulate general in Sydney and national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia will jointly organize a tourism promotion event called " Discover Indonesia " for Australian tourism operators…
AirAsia Launches New Service between Jakarta and Kuching
AirAsia has reported that it has officially launched its new service between Jakarta , Indonesia and Kuching, Malaysia. The new service is expected to operate three times a week.
Mandala Airlines Targets Increase in Passengers
New Airbus airplanes will help Mandala Airlines reach its goal of carrying 25 percent more passengers this year.
Surabaya-Madura Bridge Finished by December
The completion of a bridge connecting Surabaya and Madura Island had reached 87 percent and was expected to finish by December 2008.
Garuda Releases Holiday Guide
Great news for tourists wishing to visit the island of Bali . Now there is no more trudging down to your local travel agent to obtain a copy of the Garuda Holidays Book or copping the usual hype from…
Adam Air Banned from Flying
It had to happen eventually. Adam Air has finally been grounded after numerous incidents , the latest being Adam Air Plane with 175 people on board skidding off the runway in foul weather in Batam…
Soekarno-Hatta Airport Toilets Poor: Jakarta, West Java
So many times I have been ‘plane-delayed’ at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta , and of course I have used the airport as a transit point to other islands in the archipelago.
Monas Shuttle Bus: Jakarta, West Java
As most of you know that have visited Jakarta , Indonesia’s capital in West Java , getting around can be a hassle sometimes as most places you want to visit are far apart.
Cycling in Bali
There is no doubt about it, getting out on the open road on a bicycle is one way of getting healthy.
AirAsia to Launch New Services to Medan and Jakarta
AirAsia has announced that it will introduce new direct daily international flights to Medan and Jakarta from Penang, Malaysia.
Garuda to Fly to Kendari: South Sulawesi
Whenever I visit Sulawesi , I more often than not prefer to hire a jeep and drive around, mainly due to the fact that you can stop when you want and you get to see more of the countryside and its…
Plane Delayed, You Get Paid
What is it with Garuda Indonesia ? They are an excellent airline to fly with, and, now they are in the black after so long in the red, you‘d think they would get their flights out on time.
Papua Enters Venture with Merpati: Jayapura, Papua
The Tolikara regency administration has forged a joint venture with PT Merpati Airlines , investing Rp 7.4 billion (US$822,000) in a Fokker 27 plane to serve the Jayapura-Wamena route .The initial…
Trans Jogja Busway: Yogyakarta, Central Java
Yogyakarta has welcomed the newly launched Trans Jogja with hopes the system, similar to the TransJakarta busway , can provide affordable, comfortable public transportation.
New Airport: Mimika, Papua
Mimika is constructing a new airport to reduce the isolation of remote areas in the regency, says a local official.
Museum Dirgantara Mandala: Yogyakarta, Central Java
The Indonesian Air Force has an excellent but little known air museum in Yogyakarta called the Museum Dirgantara Mandala . The museum is located behind the main Yogyakarta airport.
International Airport Construction : Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara
West Nusa Tenggara Governor HL Serinata officially commenced the construction work of Lombok International Airport on Saturday, by laying a foundation stone.The new airport will be located in Tanak…
2007 - A Disastrous Year for Travelling
The first day of 2007 was marked by a jetliner going missing, in what some later saw as a sign of things to come: It was the first in what was to be a long line of accidents.
Direct International Flights to Reopen: Yogyakarta, Central Jav
Yogyakarta 's tourism industry is expected to bounce back this year thanks to the reopening of direct international flights from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by the end of this month, says a tourism…
New-Depok Manggarai Service Launched: Jakarta, West Java
State-owned railway company PT Kereta Api launched Thursday its new South Line train, which will run between Depok in West Java and Manggarai in South Jakarta .
Ferry fares to Rise on Jan. 1 in Indonesia
It always happens when a new year starts, everything increases in price. It seems to be a norm, not only in Indonesia , but also around the world.
Garuda Blows the Visit Indonesia Year Slogan
National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is willing to spend its own money to rectify the Visit Indonesia Year slogan painted on its 10 planes serving international routes.
Compensation for Flight Delays in Indonesia
Most of you that have travelled around Indonesia know that flight delays are inevitable at on time or another due to various situations and factors.
Changing Money in Indonesia
On the larger islands across the archipelago money exchangers are widely available. In places like Bali and Lombok there seems to one on every corner or every fifteen steps!.
Adam Air to Expand Operations in Indonesia
In a Business News report it was interesting to read that the low-cost national carrier PT Adam SkyConnection Airlines plans to lease five more planes next year to expand its operations, and has set…
Travelling by Ferry in Indonesia
As an alternative to hopping on a plane to connect to your next destination, why not take a ferry if you are travelling between the smaller islands in the archipelago and in particular East Nusa…
Inter-Island Ferry Costs Rise
It has been a while since the cost of inter-island ferries went up but the Indonesian government in all their wisdom has seen fit to raise the costs as of next month.
Sunda Kelapa Port: Jakarta, West Java
Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia and the financial hub of the country. Although a modern city, it harbours historical places from the times of the Dutch occupation of Indonesia and that of the…
Dokars on the Way Out: Bali
On that afternoon on Jl. Kartini in Denpasar , Moh Kusnan, 65, chatted with two of his colleagues; Dewa Ngurah and Wayan Pinen.
Becoming a 'Greener' Traveler
Next month much world attention will focus on Bali as representatives of national governments from around the world gather there for a climate-change summit which, it can only be hoped, will result…
Sekar Baruna Women's Cooperative: Tulamben, Bali
Before Ni Nengah Dempi joined the Sekar Baruna women's cooperative in Tulamben , Karang Asem , it was a daily struggle to feed her five children.
Garuda to Reopen Jakarta-Pontianak Route
National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia will reopen the Jakarta - Pontianak flight route beginning October 8, 2007 after it terminated its service to the West Kalimantan provincial capital in 2005 as…
Practicalities for a Long Bike Trip
Cheaper to buy and run than a car, the motorbike is the vehicle of choice for many Indonesians.
Merpati Will Launch Jakarta-Bintan Service
State-owned Merpati Nusantara Airlines is set to commence daily flights between Jakarta and Bintan island as part of the firm's restructuring process.
Aussies Stream Back to Bali
Now why doesn’t that surprise me!. After all, it’s almost on their back doorstep and of course damn cheaper to go to the paradise island than it is to travel in their own country – especially if you…
Troubled Merpati Airlines Soon to Fly Again
While it seemed doomed last year, troubled PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel thanks to a restructuring process that appears to be paying off.
Garuda Releases Electronic Holiday Guide
Australia-based Garuda Orient Holidays (GOH) has released the latest electronic version of its comprehensive guide to holidays in Bali and Indonesia as an article in the Jakarta Post explains.
Javanese Gambus Music
Gambus is the Indonesian word for a stringed instrument that belongs to the lute family, has six strings and is shaped like half a pear, but it can also be used to denote a style of music that is…
Bicycle-Only Lanes to Open: Jakarta, West Java
The group Bike to Work (B2W) won a victory after two years of campaigning with the Jakarta administration promising to provide special bicycle lanes along city streets.
Lombok International Airport to open in 2010
PT Angkasa Pura I is targeting to commence operations of a new international airport in Lombok , Bali's near neighbor to the east, by 2010. To be built at an estimated cost of Rp.
Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park: Jimbaran, Bali
The 50 or so visitors milling around the 20-hectare Garuda Winsu Kencana cultural park in Jimbaran looked small in comparison to their surroundings.
Water Taxis: Palembang, Sumatra
In a bid to ease traffic congestion, the Palembang city administration recently launched a water taxi service along the Musi River .
Training for Mountain Climbing: Bandung, West Java
If we talk about outdoor activities, be they mountain climbing , rafting or any other adventurous sport, Wanadri is one name that cannot be ignored.
Ferries Unsafe: Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara
The East Nusa Tenggara provincial administration issued a travel warning Saturday, advising the public not to use sea transportation over the next week due to high waves in the province's waters and…
New Railway Schedule: Java
State railway company PT KAI will introduce new schedules for Java starting Wednesday in response to complaints about delays.
Denpasar Public Transport Poor: Bali
Some half a dozen old public mini vans line up in downtown Denpasar's Kreneng terminal . The vans were empty and the terminal was quiet.
Air Travel Subsidized: West Nusa Tenggara
West Nusa Tenggara provincial administration will provide Rp 2.2 billion (US$244,444) cash assistance to help subsidize inter-regency flight in the province for a year, it was announced Tuesday.
Travel-Pass System for Tourism Needed
In an effort to boost tourism next year, when is set to be declared " Visit Indonesia Year ", the government should consider establishing a travel-pass system for overseas visitors, Indonesia's…
Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport – Simply the Best in Indonesia
The Directorate General of Air Transportation at the Transportation Ministry released on Tuesday the results of its audit of the nation's airports, with Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport…
Domestic Airport Grief: Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali
Domestic airports in Indonesia require a bit of patience, understanding and to a certain extent lee-way with the services offered. Nah, let’s face it, it is pretty well not up to scratch!.
'Eretan' - The Original Taxi Waterway: Jakarta, West Java
Long before the city administration hatched its plan to operate water taxis on Jakarta's rivers, Jakarta residents had eretan .
Tighter Airport Services: Jakarta, West Java
The Directorate General of Land Transportation will implement a stricter, quality-based approach when selecting shuttle service providers to link Soekarno-Hatta International Airport with nearby…
Lion Air Operates in Eastern Indonesia
The number of air passengers of Indonesia`s eastern provinces may increase significantly and has prompted Lion Air to tap the potential market by operating Boeing 737-900ER aircraft, a spokesman…
E-ticketing Takes Off in Indonesia
After long lagging behind in the e-ticketing stakes, 82 percent of airline passengers in Indonesia now access websites or telephone carriers to have their tickets issued electronically, according to…
Agreement on Trains: Sumatra
Nine regency and city administrations in West Sumatra have said they support and help operate and build new rail tracks in the province.
Polonia Airport Audited: Medan, Sumatra
The Transportation Ministry on Monday initiated a three-day audit of Polonia airport in Medan , North Sumatra to evaluate the airport's security, safety and services.
Revival of Airport Project: Banyuwangi, East Java
Ainur pedaled his bike quickly, enjoying the smooth ride on the asphalted road with the wind at his back. "It's like riding on an airplane," he said.
Domestic Airport Lacks Facilities for Disabled: Bali
Interesting letter in yesterday’s Jakarta Post regarding the lack of facilities for those people in our society who are physically impaired. I dislike the word ‘disabled’!.
Ojek - Unreliable Public Transport: Jakarta, West Java
As a news reporter, traversing all the five municipalities of Jakarta every day is the norm.
Govt Seeks Air Traffic Services Outside Indonesia
The Indonesian government is planning to use the air traffic control (ATC) services of other countries such as the Philippines and India to compliment its own controllers in Jakarta and Makassar to…
Teaching Traffic Rules: Jakarta, West Java
Its damn hazardous riding a motorbike or even driving a car in Indonesia and the job requires full-time attention. If you don’t give it 100% then you are surely to come apart in a mishap.
Mandala Airlines Delay: Jakarta, West Java
I used to get really annoyed in my younger years when a plane that I was going to board gets delayed. Over the years I have mellowed.
Airport Rail Link for Jakarta by 2008
A 30-km airport rail link between Manggarai in Central Jakarta and Soekarno-Hatta international airport west of the Indonesian capital is now in the early planning stage and expected to be…
Indonesian Airlines and E-Ticketing
While maintaining high safety standards is a top priority for ensuring flight safety, a number of full-service airlines have adopted e-ticketing as part of their efforts to boost services to their…
Garuda Indonesia Introduces New Routes
Garuda Indonesia is continuing its route restructuring program on its domestic route network with the introduction of two new domestic services connecting Yogyakarta and Balikpapan and Denpasar…
Are Travel Guidebooks Useful?
Everywhere you travel in Indonesia you will undoubtedly see westerners, backpack slung over the shoulder and guidebook in hand, wondering where the hell is that place or thinking where the hell are…
Lorena Air Set for Services by End of May
By the end of May, a new full-service Indonesian airline , Lorena Air , is set to have taken to the skies, serving six routes between six major cities using three leased Boeing 737-400 aircraft.
Stricter Baggage Regulations for Domestic Flights
In the wake of recently imposed stricter cabin baggage regulations aboard airlines serving international flights, the Indonesian government hinted similar rules might be imposed on domestic flights.
Air Asia Starts Kuala Lumpur-Banda Aceh Flights: Sumatra, Indonesia
Great news for those travellers on RTW’s wishing to enter Indonesia through Sumatra . Budget airline Air Asia will be starting direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Banda Aceh next month.
Getting into Indonesia
You can fly into Indonesia from practically any place in the world, but, you must enter the country through one of the official gateways where there are immigration and customs points located.
Semarang - Getting There: Central Java
Getting to Semarang is relatively easy from most of the major cities in Indonesia.
Indonesia Air Plans to Expand: Indonesia
Indonesia Air provides a wide range of aviation services to the oil, gas and mining industries within Indonesia and with a main base located at Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport in Jakarta ,…
Fractured Window on Merpati Flight: East Nusa Tenggara
This whole airline safety fiasco just keeps on getting worse…and worse. In general, Merapti planes are okay (I use the word loosely) and, I can still remember boarding one in Yogyakarta through the…
Air Paradise International Up Flying in March
I met quite a few people in Bali several years ago when the ill-fated Air Paradise Airlines decided to pull the plug and these people were really angry and rightly so.
Ferry Check: East Nusa Tenggara
Over the years I have travelled on a lot of ferries, some old and some not so old, and in general they are an excellent way to travel inter-island, especially in East Nusa Tenggara .
Adisucipto Airport: Yogyakarta, Central Java
Adisucipto International Airport is the main airport serving the Yogyakarta area and is located in the Sleman district, a twenty minute drive from the centre of Yogyakarta city.
Airport Tighten Passenger Controls: Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta
There are a lot of cowboys out there on the streets in Indonesia who sell tickets ‘ under the counter ’ and also a lot of ‘ fly-by-night ’ operators who do the same.
Garuda Crash Update: Yogyakarta, Central Java
It appears my source was correct but unfortunately there has been casualties and fatalities.
Garuda Airlines Plane Explodes on Landing: Yogyakarta, Central Java
I have just received a phone call from one of my many sources in Yogyakarta and apparently a Garuda Airlines plane coming into land overran the runway and burst into flames.
Pelni Shipping Line: Indonesia
Back in the 1990’s I was fortunate enough to travel inter-island aboard a Pelni ship and found them to be excellent and quite an adventurous way to get around.
Train Travel in Indonesia
I have mentioned many times that travelling by train in Indonesia is an experience in itself and a worthwhile one.
Garuda Indonesia Increases Seat Capacity
It’s a well known fact that a majority of tourists to the paradise island of Bali originate from Perth in Western Australia.
Adam Air 737-300s Has a Hard Landing: Surabaya, East Java
Adam Air has been in the news of late with the disappearance of one of its planes off Sulawesi and now, one of its Boeing 737-300 aircraft literally collapsed on the runway yesterday at Juanda…
Merpati Nusantara Airlines to Lease 15 Chinese Planes
Over the decades I have been flying around the archipelago of Indonesia I have flown in some real metal heaps in which many times I have prayed to any God that would listen to me and grant safety in…
Rail Travel Revival in Sumatra
I really enjoy train travel and especially in Indonesia. Of course you can travel 1st class but that’s a bore.
Garuda Wisnu Kencana Complex: Bukit Peninsula, Bali
When I was in Bali a few months ago I wandered around the Garuda Wisnu Kencana complex and was strikingly impressed.
ID Needed for Boarding Aircraft: Indonesia
Interesting article in yesterday’s Jakarta Post regarding the upcoming enforcement of having ID when you check-in for your flight.
Toll Roads in Indonesia
One of the greatest ways to get around the major islands is by hiring your own vehicle and taking your time cruising from place to place. There are, however, many pitfalls.
Garuda Indonesia Upset at Claims of Frequent Accidents
When I first read about this claim, I reflected on just how many times over the decades I have flown with Garuda Indonesia inter-island and internationally.
Train Derailment: Purwokerto, Central Java
Getting around the major islands in Indonesia by train is relatively safe and far more interesting than by air.