Culture, Custom and Etiquette for Indonesia: Traveler Guide

Nation of plenty cultures

Indonesia get pass 17,000 islands, more than 300 ethnic groups and hundreds of languages, still Bahasa Indonesia dey unite everybody. Most Indonesians na Muslim, while Bali dey mostly Hindu and pocket of Christianity, Buddhism and local belief dey shine for other places. Manner dey change by island, but warmth, respect and patience important everywhere.

Greetings

• Soft handshake wey follow touch your hand to your chest dey show sincerity.
• Use both hands or your right hand to give and receive anything; left hand no clean for this side.
• Address elders and officials with Bapak (sir) or Ibu (ma) before their name.
• Avoid public display of affection; smile go carry you far pass hug.

Do and don't

• Do dress well: cover shoulder and knee for temple and mosque, and wear sarong (dem dey often provide am) for Balinese temple.
• Do remove your shoe before you enter house, mosque and plenty shops.
• Don't touch anybody head, even children own; e sacred for dem.
• Don't point with one finger or your leg; use your whole right hand to gesture.
• Don't lose your temper for public. If you raise voice, everybody go shame.

Religion and ritual

During Ramadan, chop and drink quietly during daytime. For Bali, you fit see small palm-leaf offering (canang sari) for pavement; waka around dem, never step on top. On Nyepi, Bali Day of Silence, the whole island go shut down, even the airport.

Food and dining

Many Indonesians dey chop with right hand or spoon and fork (fork go push food go the spoon). Try nasi goreng, sate, rendang and gado-gado. Wait make dem invite you before you start, and leave small food to show say you don full. Tap water no safe, so use sealed bottled water only.

Tipping

Tip nice but no be compulsory.

• Restaurant sometimes add 5 to 10 percent service charge; if e no dey, na kind thing to round up.
• Hotel porters: around 10,000 to 20,000 rupiah.
• Drivers and guides: 50,000 to 100,000 rupiah per day if service good.
• For taxi, use meter or apps like Gojek and Grab; round up the fare.

Bargain normal for market and for souvenir; stay smiling and friendly, but fixed-price shops and minimart no dey negotiable.

Stay connected for Indonesia

HelloSIM eSIM go keep you online as soon as you land, so map, translation apps and ride booking dey work without dey find Wi-Fi or pay roaming fee.