Working in Indonesia
 

Has anyone worked, or known anyone who has worked in Indonesia?
My husband is scheduled to start an 8 week job there in a couple of weeks.
Any insight would be appreciated.

We are not 100% sure of the area yet, but it looks like it could be Jakarta, Surabaja, maybe Sumatra.


Thanks in advance!

Quite a few people on this forum have, including yours truly. I'd start off with this, and not just because I wrote much of it ;)

http://wikitravel.org/en/Indonesia

You'll find it quite... different from any place you're worked before. Go with the flow and take it easy like the locals do, and soon enough you'll understand what tak apa-apa means. For more in-depth expat-oriented info, http://www.expat.or.id/ is quite informative.

Thanks a bunch! I have sent my husband your Wiki link, it was very informative and I actually learned a lot! In a way, I now wish I were going with him on this trip, but I don't want to fly that long (LOL). We are on the East Coast of the US, so for us it would be one of those 24 hour flights! It does look beautiful though and I would love to see the temples and ancient places there.

Update...
 

We found out where he is going. This is what his company has said...

The location is Berkasi, Cibitung and it is approximately 1 to 1.5 hrs by car
from Jakarta's Soekarno Hatta International Airport. Techs will be staying at the Hotel Horizon in Berkasi which is approx. 1 hour from Jakarta.

Any further info now that we actually know where he is going?

Indonesia is a fascinating country. The 24-hr flights each way are well worth the investment in return for sites, sounds and smells that will stay with you for a lifetime.
--
13F

Lonely Planets Guidebook
 

Back in mid 80's, Lonely Planets' best guidebook was their definitive 1 kg Indonesia Guidebook. It had everything you needed to know. I would strongly suggest you invest in hard copy and start flipping through it....might convince you to tag along.

When you actually arrive, there are a number of books at bookstores that provide very good information for expatriates (or google for them) .... my family relocated to Jkt for 3 yrs in early '90's and we found a couple of them required reading....can't think of the names off hand and know we gave them away already.

And don't forget to start getting your Hep A and B shots asap. This is not to scare you, just very good common sense if traveling internationally for first time.

Thanks a bunch! Will look for that travel guide.

This isn't his first time International, but first time going that far west from us (LOL). He usually travels to Europe. He is scheduled for his Hep A&B, Tetanus-Diphtheria, MMR Booster and Flu shot on Tuesday. Also the Dr. is giving him an anti-malaria drug to use while there and an antibiotic to take with him just in case. I think all of this might be over kill, but his Mom looked up on the CDC all of this so to appease "Mom" we are doing it all. Besides, what can it hurt? LOL

Actually, anti-malarial drugs can have very nasty side effects, and are most definitely not worth the trouble if you're just going to stay on Java (which doesn't have malaria). As for antibiotics, Indonesian doctors hand them out like candy so it's hardly worth it to bring them from the US...

You might want to tell "Mom" that Indonesia is about the same size as the US (only with a lot more water!), and that if you're going to Alaska, then bites from crocodiles in Florida are not a top health concern.

Medication
 

Hep A and B takes 6 months to complete so make sure he leaves enough time for at least the first two B shots.

Jpatokai is right re anti-malarial drugs....be careful.

Tell your hubby to also bring immodium :)

Well, like I said, she read the US CDC web site and I guess just figures that "they know best." LOL (You should see the "laundry list" of things they say you "need"!!!)

He did get everything except the Hep A&B. Our doctor said there was not enough time to get them in before he left and it may do more harm than good if he could not get in at least the 1st and 2nd shot before he left. Our doctor is going to do a Hep screening when he gets back and if that is OK, we will do them when he returns so this won't be an issue for the next trip.

His company did suggest the Encephalitis and Typhoid, and this suggestion came from the company he will be working for. They said on those it was a "rather be safe than sorry" attitude because they did have someone come back from there to the EU with a "possible" case of Encephalitis.

He did get an anti-malaria prescription that I have not filled yet because it will have to be ordered, it is called Mefloquine, 1 pill a week begining 1 week before he leaves, the entire time he is there and for 4 weeks after. Our doctor said out of all the anitmalarial drugs, this was the "lesser of the evils" but it did tend to cause horrible gas (OH NO!). Our doctor has been on a "medical exchange" to Indonesia and this is what he took. I'm wondering if we should even bother knowing he is going to only be 1 1/2 hours from a major city. Yes, it is in the "country," but not all that far out. The doctor also gave him a prescription for Cipro.

Now another question, since he will be staying in a nicer hotel, do we really need an insecticide-treated sleeping net?

He already takes this everywhere he goes. He loves spicy foods, but sometimes they do not love him! LOL

Hep B and A: must vaccines
 

Hep B requires three shots, month 1, 2, and 6. First two are key shots, last is really for memory cells. I would strongly recommend getting shot 1 and bringing shot 2 with him to get local doc to administer. Or get 2nd shot locally....there are two suppliers: MSD (Merck) and Glaxo SK. If doc home gives him Merck, get same in indonesia; if GSK, same same. Both brands are definitely available (pm if you need help re this).

Hep A requires two shots, month 1 and month 6th so he should get first shot if entire trip/assignment is only 8 wks, right? And do 2nd when he's back.

Nice hotels - no sleeping net needed if 5 star in Jkt.

We will recheck into the Hep shots. He has to go to an "International Travel" clinic through our local health department to get the Encephalitis and Typhoid, so we will ask them again if they will administer the Hep shots or if they will have a "problem" with it like our doctor did.

He is supposed to stay with the other International Techs at Hotel Horizon in Berkasi. I can't find much about it online, but it does look as if it might be a "Crown Plaza" resort (?). Maybe not 5 star, but close.

Well at least the Hotel Horison in Bekasi is close to the mall, as there's not a whole lot of interest in Bekasi itself (mostly an industrial city that's become part of the Jakarta metro area).

On the plus side, it's not too far from Bekasi into Jakarta if looking for something more exciting, well so long as you travel outside of rush hour anyway (they know how to do traffic jams in Jakarta, that's for sure :D ). Later at night and on weekends it would be closer to 30 minutes than 1 hour from Bekasi into Jakarta.

Bekasi is on the right side of town to head up towards Bandung for a weekend escape as well, get some cleaner air into the lungs. :). Down side is it's on the wrong side of Jakarta for quick trips away flying to other parts of Indonesia - that trek out to the airport can be a killer with traffic.

Hopefully your husband gets the chance to get some spare time to look around Indonesia though, it's certainly an underrated destination.

He is hoping to get out a little and see Indonesia. We have a German friend who also works for the same company, that married an Indonesian woman, and they live close to Bali. He wants to get over to see him while he is there. Also, the other tech is from our Singapore office and he is fluent in the language, so he will act as tour giude and interpreter while there. He has promised to take my hubby around to see the island they are on. :D

Do you happen to know if the Hotel Horison has high speed Internet? The only site I can find for it, is through Asia Travels and has not been updated since 2004. We are to the understanding that this is a popular "chain" and should have it, but would like to confirm it.

Thanks for the reply! :D

My family lives in Bekasi .. not far from the hotel actually lol

The city is called Bekasi not Berkasi. And perhaps the reason why you can't find any info on the hotel online is because it's called Hotel Horison.

Hotel Horison is right next to a mall called Metropolitan Mall. In fact I believe they're connected. I don't think the hotel have high speed internet but if anything he can just walk a few steps next door and use the internet cafe inside the mall. And Metropolitan Mall is a pretty big mall .. but again the standard size of Indonesian malls is usually bigger than the ones you find here in the US ;)

As for malaria .. your husband shouldn't worry about it unless he plan on taking a trip to the Borobudur temple area in Central Java.

Jakarta is between 45 mts to 1 1/2 hrs away from Bekasi, depending on traffic. And Bandung city is approx 2 hours away using the tollway that pass thru Bekasi.

If he have a long weekend, tell him to take a trip to Bali. Should be no more than $100 r/t using Garuda Indonesia or even less on the LCC's.

Your husband will have a good time in Indonesia .. don't worry about it. Just use common sense anywhere he go and he should be fine. You should go with him next time .. it's soo worth the long trip :D

Borobudur vs Bali
 

Encourage your husband to take a one day trip to Borobudor, he can fly out in morning, arrange a tour guide/car to visit and then fly back in afternoon. It is a visit well worth the effort.

I personally think Bali is over-rated, just POV.

I just wanted to thank all of you for the replies and advice.

My Husband is on the way as I post and the replies here have helped us plan for this trip better than we have ever planned before!

He will fly to Atlanta this AM and then from Atlanta into Narita for a 22 hour layover. He is going to stay at the HOLIDAY INN NARITA TOBU and try to get some sleep and a good meal, then he will fly out to Jakarta. The company he is working for will have a driver meet him there and take him to the hotel.

So, he is off on his new adventure and I am sure he will love it!


Again thank you all so much! :D