Java – General information

Area
1,912,988 sq km
Population
231.328.092 (2002)
Population density
12.1 per sq km
Capital
Jakarta (Java)
Population
9.341.400 (1996)
Geography
Indonesia consists of the six main islands of Sumatra, Sulawesi, Java, Bali, Kalimantan (part of Borneo) and West Papua (Irian Jaya, western half of New Guinea) and 30 smaller archipelagos. In total, Indonesia consists of over 13,000 islands, of which 6000 are uninhabited, which extend over 5150 km and are located in the volcanic zone with over 300 mostly extinct volcanoes. From a landscape point of view, the islands are quite different; some have mountains or plateaus, others consist of flat coastal plains and alluvial plains.
Form of government
Presidential republic since 1945. Constitution of 1945, last amended in 1969. Bicameral parliament: Chamber of Deputies with 500 members and People’s Consultative Assembly with 700 members. Head of State and Head of Government: Megawati Soekarnoputri, since 2001, Vice-President: Hamzah Haz, since 2001. Independent since 1949 (former Dutch colony).
Languages
The official language is Bahasa-Indonesian. Each ethnic group has its own language. Around 250 languages and dialects are spoken. English, Dutch and Arabic are compulsory languages at school. The older generation is more likely to speak Dutch as a second language, while the younger generation is more likely to speak English.
Religions
88% Muslims, 10% Christians, 2% Hindus (especially in Bali), 1% Buddhists and followers of nature religions in remote regions.
Local time
Bangka, Belitung, Java, West and Central Kalimantan, Madura and Sumatra: West: CET + 6 (UTC + 7), Central: CET +7 (UTC + 8), East: CET + 8 (UTC +9).
Mains voltage
220 V, 50 Hz, in rural areas sometimes also 110 V, 50 Hz.
Phone
International direct dialing in the larger cities. Even in smaller towns there are telephone offices from which you can easily call abroad. Many hotels have public telephones that accept phone cards or credit cards. There are telecommunications centres, warung telekomunikasi (WARTEL), throughout the country where international calls can be made and received. Telephone numbers for emergencies are: 110 (police), 118 (ambulance for traffic accidents), 119 (emergency doctor) or 113 (fire brigade).
Country code
62 – Area network codes: Bandung “022”, Jakarta “021”, Medan “061” and Surabaya “031”.

Java has a tropical monsoon climate with pronounced regional differences.

The east monsoon brings the driest weather to Java in the months of May to October.

The west monsoon carries the rainy season to Java in the months of December to March.

In the west of Java, year-round precipitation is often to be expected.

It is cooler in the mountains.

There are over 200 different languages and dialects in Indonesia. Since independence, many Indonesians have developed a strong national pride.

The traditional dances and the traditional techniques of painting, wood carving and sculpture are still adhered to. Dancing is an important art form in Indonesia and is promoted and practiced from early childhood.

The comprehensive repertoire is based on old legends and traditions. Performances take place in village halls and village squares, as well as in some of the leading hotels. Some of Bali’s most famous dances include the Legong, a slow, graceful dance of divine nymphs; the Baris, a fast-paced, noisy
Monkey – Java
Depiction of masculine, martial behavior, and the Jauk, captivating solo dance of a masked and richly costumed demon. In the dramatic Kecak dance with 100 or more participants, young men dressed only in loincloths act as a wild flock of monkeys, subjects of the Hindu monkey god Hanuman.

Indonesian gamelan orchestras consist primarily of various xylophone-like percussion instruments, flutes, and instruments similar to the harp. These sounds can be heard in many Indonesian shops and restaurants and are part of every dance and shadow theater performance.

Shadow plays are performed nationwide, using the traditional wayang kulit shadow puppets made of wood and leather. The subject of the plays is often the stories of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, famous ancient Hindu legends. However, modern plays will also be shown.

For visitors who do not understand Indonesian, it is most interesting to sit behind the stage, because there you can best watch the puppeteer at work.

For ticket and hotel bookings on the island of Java and within Indonesia, often only the first name is used.

In company, you are often quite formal, for example, you should not start eating or drinking at a meal before the host asks you to. You should never point your finger at people or objects or touch children’s heads.

Food or money is always taken or given with the right hand in Java.

Indonesians are polite and friendly and render countless favors and friendship services to foreigners they trust. Shaking hands as a greeting is common.

If you are invited to a private home, a gift is welcome. Casual attire is common, but some elegant establishments require evening wear at mealtimes.

Islamic customs and traditions concerning women’s clothing should be observed. Temples should only be entered with sarong and shoulder/arm covering tops.

Tipping is customary, but not mandatory. In some hotels and restaurants, 10% extra is charged for service.

Food

Indonesian spices make the local cuisine, which is based on rice (nasi), incomparable.

There are countless specialties, including Rijstafel (Indonesian-Dutch mixture of a variety of meats, vegetables, salads, fish and curry), Sate (spicy spiced, grilled beef, fish, pork, chicken or lamb on a skewer with peanut sauce), Ayam Ungkap (Java; marinated chicken fried in oil), Ikan Acar Kuning (Jakarta; lightly marinated fried fish with a sauce of pickled spices), SotoAyam (soup with dumplings, Vegetables and Chicken), Gado-Gado (Java; Salad of raw and cooked vegetables with coconut milk and peanut sauce), pempek (palembang; fried fish balls in warm sweet and sour vinegar sauce), Babi Guling (roasted suckling pig) and Opor Ayam (boiled chicken in mildly spiced coconut milk). Fish and seafood as well as tropical fruit round off the menu.

Indonesians like their food very well seasoned, especially the small red and green peppers, which are often found in salads or vegetables, are hot and hot.

In restaurants that are used to foreign tourists, however, you are usually set up to their taste. Visitors who like to experiment also try the specialties of the many street stalls (warungs).

Some warungs are fixed and have tables with benches where guests can sit and offer, for example, nasi goreng (fried rice with vegetables) or mie goreng (fried noodles) and drinks, while other warungs consist only of a larger glass and wooden box on wheels and specialize, for example, in tahu (tofu, soybean cheese) or tempe goreng (dish of deep-fried, fermented soybeans), sata, fruit or sweets. Almost every flavor of international cuisine is represented in Jakarta.

Drinks

Domestic and imported beer in Java is available in almost every restaurant, but the larger restaurants also have spirits. Bali’s alcoholic speciality is the rice wine Brem, in South Sulawesi there is the high-proof Tuak. Tea and coffee are usually drunk black and sweet. Throughout Indonesia, many different, extremely tasty fruit juices are offered, such as pineapple, papaya, avocado and durian juice.