Job Discussion Forums

[Madame J]

I am strongly considering working there, but I must say that after receiving warnings from various people and reading the advice on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the potential dangers of Indonesia I'm having kittens about the place. Obviously I don't want to be scared off an entire country as a result of simple hearsay and government scaremongering, so how do people here, having first hand experience of the country, generally find it safety wise?

(I did actually do a search for "safety" in this forum, and the main topics that were thrown at me related to how dodgy the airlines were. This made me think, "Okay, if I want to travel in country I simply won't fly", until I saw a comment claiming that the bus services are even worse! Aaaargh!)

Just one last point, the strongly Islamic nature of the country is also a potential worry. Is it likely that I'd have problems checking into hotel rooms with my boyfriend, or finding anywhere to eat during Ramadan?

[father Mackenzie]

I am into my 3rd year now and I have not had any bad experiences with the food, transport or finding places to stay during any major holiday.
All governments advice should be considered but I find Indonesia stimulating and a great place to travel.
The trains work (unlike the west coast line in the UK it appears) and there were fewer accidents here last year, but rail travel is dangerous in all countries. The airlines are getting better slightly I feel and I have never felt unsafe flying on them, although delays are common with Air Asia.
The road network is not great and gets worse outside the major cities and traveling at Ramadan on a bus is not the best experience. As for food at Ramadan, well everything is open as normal but out of courtesy the larger restaurants and coffee shops hang curtains or blinds so the local people wont be offended by seeing people eat.
The natural geological events here are amazing to see and hear and the country is simply stunning to look at.
I have traveled Sulawesi, Java, Bali on motor bikes, cars, buses, trains and planes and its been ok for me so far.

[Shadow2009]

M.J.
You would be safer walking home in Indonesia at 3.00 am than any western city. You are not going to see drunks fighting on the street either.

Australia has not lifted its travel warning on Indonesia since the first bombing in 2002, people still go to Bali. Governments are too careful and basically covering their own behinds with warnings. They can't be seen to be ignorant or uncaring.

Just tell people you are married - that ends that discussion. I flew Air Asia a few times, no problems at all. Stay away from the small local airlines they are the ones that have dubious safety issues.

Happy Travels

[malu]

There are dangers here but they are greatly exaggerated. Consular travel warnings are quite often politically motivated - a few years ago when just being a westerner was enough reason to get your head blown off in Saudi, there was the same level of warning in both Saudi and Indonesia.

Most Indonesians are convinced that crime in their country is very high when in fact, with the exception of corruption, rates are surprisingly low. A BIG difference between Indonesia and, say, the UK is that alcohol-fueled disturbances are very rare.

The airline industry has been forced to get its act together over the past year or so on operational safety and the worst cowboy of the bunch - Adam Air - went bankrupt and lost their licence. Garuda is fine.

Per passenger km travelled, injury from road accidents in Indonesia is strangely quite low. The traffic looks chaotic - because it is chaotic - but to the chagrin of many western road planners the chaos seems to sort of work most of the time. Long-distance buses are the exception here, as they are party in to majority of accidents involving loss of life .

[Revenant]

Please keep comments towards others civil in the thread and the forums in general. Two members couldn't do so from the Indonesia forum recently and are no more.

[taponwood]

How safe is it in London, Glasgow, Madrid, Mumbai, New York... and on just about any continent you care to name (even travelling in Antarctica has its perils)?
I feel safer here than I do in my "civilised" homeland.
Common sense needs to be used wherever you go.
Best of luck, whatever you decided.

[missjo]

I've been living in Indonesia for the last 5 years and have always been treated with kindness and respect. As a single woman, I've never had a problem travelling and I've used buses, trains and planes. The vast majority of people are friendly and welcoming.

I have my off days when the day to day irritations of living in a developing country get to me but they soon pass by keeping an open mind and not sweating the small stuff.

Certainly wouldn't swap for Blighty.

[Shadow2009]

When you think about it during Ramadan is when you are more likely to see road accidents. The roads are very quiet after sunset and the ones who are on the road tend to drive like maniacs. The locals don't get a lot of practice driving at speeds above 80km/hr. For us westerners who drive regularly at home 100 - 110 on the main roads is normal and we speed too ! 120 ++

During the other times of the year the heavy traffic which is creeping along makes it almost impossible to have an accident. Very hard to have a major fender bender at 10 km/hr.

Most traffic accidents in Bali usually involve tourists. Once you get your head around the fact that if you make your intentions very clear the other drivers will let you in, no need to accelerate too hard at all.
It is a case of just going with the flow "ampun"......as they say.

[Vertumnus]