What we have learned from travelling in Indonesia
- It seems that from most places you need to have a ticket out of the country to be able to go in the first place. Check this beforehand. The same situation can occur for the next country if it has a visa limitation.
- Many nationalities (including Sweden) are allowed a VOA (= Visa On Arrival). It costs 25 US dollars per person. We did not need passport photos despite all that we have read about it. Your passport also has to be valid for the next 6 months.
- Before you fly there you have to fill in a paper stating whether you are bringing in more than 1 million rupiah (currently this is 500kr). If so, you have to go through an extra procedure. So take out money there.
- The mosquitos are aggressive and like to bite. So come armed with spray or buy some good stuff here that is effective and cheap! Indonesia does have mosquitos carrying the virus that can gives you dengue fever - good to read up on the symptoms.
- DON'T DRINK THE TAP WATER. Ask if the ice in your drink is from bottled or filtered water, if not, don't have ice. Also be wary of the food you eat due to the heat - we are used to high standard in our restaurants and sometimes it's good to have a critical eye.
- Stay clear of the local alcohol called Arak. People have been known to get methanol poisoning.
- Be prepared to suffer from tourist diarreha. So bring stomach medicin and maybe tablets that keep you hydrated. If you have cramps - buy Buscopan.
- The Indonesian toilettes range from squatting toilettes that are a hole in the ground with foot rests, to Western toilettes. A lot of the time there is not toilette paper available, so ALWAYS have a roll with you... and hand disinfectant is a good idea too.
- The first night in a new place can always be nice to have booked beforehand. But prices are higher on the internet and when you get here, especially during low season you can bargain. And make sure to check the facilities before you agree - most places are good but sometimes you can save yourself a rubbish night.
- In Bali 93% of the people are Hindus. The temples are holy and you are expected to wear respectable clothes. This means a sarong around your waist (even guys). Also it is good to cover your arms, and in some places you are supposed to wear a scarf-like item round your waist too. This will help you not get fooled by people who can see you are a tourist too.
- The rest of Indonesia is 98% muslim. Make sure you wear the right clothes to respect the peoples' beliefs, especially in and around the mosques. From what we have experienced, the tourist areas are more liberal/accepting (like on the Gili Islands).
- At this time, a big bottle of water should cost 5000rp in a shop.
- Bargaining is a custom and even the locals do it with each other (though not to the same crazy prices). Sometimes you can knock off up to 50% of the price. (Expensive in Indonesian is "mahal").
- Thank you in Indonesian is " terimah kasih".
- One letter or postcard needs stamps worth totally 10 000rp.
- Cooking classes are widely available. A fun way to learn about the culture!
- A traditional Balinese dance is worth attending. They cost around 80 000 rp and are for approx. 1,5 hours. The dancers are dressed up and the musicians are very good.
Chef Nastasja
Nastasja know her way around the kitchen :) cooking some lunch for Cho and me
//DD
Fågelboinvadering
Som ena riktiga backpackers vi är så gick vi till receptionen o frågade om de hade en häxsax och en kratta som vi kunde låna. Så det fick vi och Nastasja började röja i mitt fågelbo som hon snidade iordning riktigt fint :) så jag är riktigt nöjd (o jag är kräsen) Tack! Resultatet får ni se på senare bilder!
/Daniel
Fransk Finmiddag
Igår blev vi bjudna av Mamma och Pappa Daniel på en middag utöver backpackerlivet. Vi hittade en bra fransk restaurang på Tripadvisor här i Byron Bay som vi bestämde för att testa. Vilket vi inte ångrar då vi blev riktigt bortskämda med supergod mat och vin. Nastasja tog råbiff och jag tog anklår! Som efterrätt tryckte vi i oss 5 olika ostar. Supernöjda! 
Länk restaurang: http://www.thepetitsnail.com.au
Länk restaurang: http://www.thepetitsnail.com.au
Tusen tack mamma & pappa från oss båda! Verkligen uppskattat att kunna komma ifrån den vanliga backpackermaten för en kväll
//DD
Places to stay in Adelaide + a few tips
We stayed at four different places in Adelaide as it was our base between all of our tours. We decided to change every time to get to see as much of the city as possible.
1. Shakespeare International Backpackers
- central, close to the market and China Town.
- very noisy because the TV was always on loud even when nobody was watching it, and the walls were very thin.
- the kitchen was okay, clean-ish but not very well equipped.
- there were a few lockers in the room.
- the cleaned the rooms by vaccuuming the areas with nothing on the floor, changing the bin and spraying some air freshener.
- $2 breakfast and $4/h wifi.
2. Backpack Oz
- about 10 minutes from the centre.
- pretty clean.
- the kitchen was equipped with a kind of tap for boiling water - golden star.
- the showers were pretty clean and there was one downstairs that was massive with a toilette as well.
- FREE wifi and FREE breakfast!
3. The Wright Lodge
- a 2-star hotel where we payed to stay in a private room with an ensuite bathroom.
- no real luggage storing.
- no breakfast but there was a fridge in our room and there was free tea and coffee with milk and sugar.
- FREE wifi.
- close to the centre.
- when we turned our lights of the lights from the room above shone through the ceiling so it was difficult to sleep until they'd turned theirs off.
4. Adelaide Backpackers Inn
- quite close to the centre.
- FREE washing powder to the $4 washing machine.
- FREE milk with the tea and coffee all day but it was almost always finished, no breakfast included.
- reception was across the road so there was nobody there to check that the kitchen was cleaned properly, which it wasn't. SO MESSY!
- Good showers.
- FREE wifi.
- the 6-share mixed room was so tiny that there wasn't really room for our bag
THINGS TO DO
- Take the tram from Victoria Square to the beach in Glenelg. It's $5 each way and you can pay onboard in coins or with your card.
THINGS TO DO
- Take the tram from Victoria Square to the beach in Glenelg. It's $5 each way and you can pay onboard in coins or with your card.
- If you have a car - visit Gorge Wildlife park in Cuddlee Creek.
- If you don't have a car - take the bus from the centre (pay on board) to the small village of Crafers, change buses and go to Cleland Wildlife Park. Make sure you find out when the buses go from Crafers as there are only two that go a day!
- Visit the Central Market and eat cheap food and buy cheaper vegetables than in Coles and Woolworths. Eat breakfast at Lamb spit BBQ!
- Go on a free tour at Haigh's chocolate factory.
- Share a coffee outside and use the free wifi that is available in most places.
Tur att man inte är beroende av snus...
Nastasja hittade en rolig sida såhär några timmar innan vi ska åka
Det som sägs i de nya reglerna, är att man endast får ta med 50g tobak in i landet (Australien) utan att behöva deklarera detta och betala sjuka summor för lite mungodis.
Så att, det, o så,, tur man inte snusar, sa någon, nån gång
