Post by Clinton Cool on Mar 19, 2024 13:44:05 GMT
The long journey home starts tomorrow. A day to get to Bali then another to Manchester then on to Barmouth.
I thought I'd share a few tips, should anyone visit Indonesia in the future. Help you to find it a magical country, rather than a frustrating and bewildering one. First, on the roads:
It's not complusory to ride/ drive the correct way down a dual carriageway. However, riding or driving the wrong way is limited to a short distance. Perhaps 100 to 200 metres.
Helmets are compulsory, whilst riding a motor bike. However, in practical terms, away from the richer cities, they are optional. Police realise that most people don't have the funds to pay their 'fines', so don't bother stopping them.
Stopping, if ordered to by the police, is optional. They will not chase you as such effort would limit their scope to secure more 'fines'. In any case, as a westerner, provided that you're wearing a helmet, it's the colour of your skin that leads to the order to stop.
Cars flashing their lights does not mean they are giving you priority. Rather, it means 'get out of my way'. Lots of flashing, from a long distance away means the car acknowledges that their overtaking manouvre will force you off the road.
Traffic joining a roundabout has priority over traffic already on one.
Cars will pull out in front of other traffic but will do so slowly. Provided that they do it slowly, it's the fault of the other vehicle if they hit them.
Undertaking is just as effective as overtaking.
Should a policeman succeed in stopping you treat him with polite contempt. Never become aggressive or agitated at his fabricated 'violations'. Simply smile and refuse to pay. Eventually, he'll realise he's on to a loser, and let you go.
In general now: Never expect anything to be planned. Expect your homestay to run out of water every evening when switching on the pump to the well a little earlier could prevent this. Do not become agitated when the homestay owner says you've only paid for 6 nights, when you've paid for 7. Simply smile, go through the calender on your phone and explain the situation. The owner will agree with you and likely wish to be your friend for life. There's no shame in being caught lying in Indonesia.
I thought I'd share a few tips, should anyone visit Indonesia in the future. Help you to find it a magical country, rather than a frustrating and bewildering one. First, on the roads:
It's not complusory to ride/ drive the correct way down a dual carriageway. However, riding or driving the wrong way is limited to a short distance. Perhaps 100 to 200 metres.
Helmets are compulsory, whilst riding a motor bike. However, in practical terms, away from the richer cities, they are optional. Police realise that most people don't have the funds to pay their 'fines', so don't bother stopping them.
Stopping, if ordered to by the police, is optional. They will not chase you as such effort would limit their scope to secure more 'fines'. In any case, as a westerner, provided that you're wearing a helmet, it's the colour of your skin that leads to the order to stop.
Cars flashing their lights does not mean they are giving you priority. Rather, it means 'get out of my way'. Lots of flashing, from a long distance away means the car acknowledges that their overtaking manouvre will force you off the road.
Traffic joining a roundabout has priority over traffic already on one.
Cars will pull out in front of other traffic but will do so slowly. Provided that they do it slowly, it's the fault of the other vehicle if they hit them.
Undertaking is just as effective as overtaking.
Should a policeman succeed in stopping you treat him with polite contempt. Never become aggressive or agitated at his fabricated 'violations'. Simply smile and refuse to pay. Eventually, he'll realise he's on to a loser, and let you go.
In general now: Never expect anything to be planned. Expect your homestay to run out of water every evening when switching on the pump to the well a little earlier could prevent this. Do not become agitated when the homestay owner says you've only paid for 6 nights, when you've paid for 7. Simply smile, go through the calender on your phone and explain the situation. The owner will agree with you and likely wish to be your friend for life. There's no shame in being caught lying in Indonesia.
