A guide through the maze of bemusing and ever-changing world of Indonesian city, airline and airport names.

Travelling around Indonesia can be a little confusing if you aren’t aware of the plethora of Indonesian cities’ alternate names, spellings and airport names. Some have changed names, others have changed spelling and some have changed multiple times.

This is one of the reasons why the Mau Ke Mana Flight Booking Service doesn’t just have an automated system of spitting back a list of flights and fares.

Wikipedia has a useful reference list of city and airport names/codes, but even it doesn’t cover all bases.

Here is an attempt at an all-inclusive list of all these issues, in alphabetical order:

Here are some alternate spellings, the current/official “Indonesian” one on the right:

Yogyakarta & Jogjakarta | Manado & Menado | Sumatra & Sumatera

Ambon (Airport Code: AMQ) (a.k.a. Pattimura Airport, Laha Airport, Ambon City, Kota Ambon, Ambon Island, Pulau Ambon)

Ambon City/Bay/Island/Airport

The city of Ambon is located on the island of Ambon, while Ambon Airport is located in Laha, 36km from Ambon City on the other side of the horseshoe-shaped Ambon Bay. Apparently no other names were available at the time…

Bali (Airport Code: DPS) (a.k.a. Denpasar, Ngurah Rai Airport)

Bali is not a separate country from Indonesia, but it is an island and province with its own unique culture. Some airlines, e.g. Air Asia, also use “Bali” as the name of the airport because Bali is much more well-known than “Denpasar”.

Officially, the name of the airport is Ngurah Rai Airport or Denpasar Airport, and is located about 10km south of Denpasar, the capital city of Bali.

Lion Air v Wings Air
Both airlines are part of the group/corporation and work together, like American Airlines and American Eagle in the United States, or Singapore Airlines and Silk Air in Singapore.

However, unlike Singapore Airlines/Silk Air or Garuda Indonesia and their budget wing Citilink, Lion Air and Wings Air continue to use the same website, airline code and booking system.

Their levels of service are mostly the same; the small differences are:

Wings Air ATR72-500	Lion Air Boeing 737-900ER

- Wings Air operates smaller ATR72-500 planes (see above left) on shorter/less popular routes. Lion Air uses mostly Boeing 737-900ER planes (see above right) and operates on the longer/more popular routes.

- Lion Air’s baggage allowance in economy class is 25kg for domestic flights, 20kg for international flights. Wings Air has a smaller – but not strictly enforced – baggage allowance: 15kg.

- Lion Air offers business/executive class on some routes.

You can tell which flight is operated by which airline in two ways:

1. The logo next to the flight number.
2. Usually a four-digit flight number also indicates a Wings Air flight.

Makassar (Airport Code: UPG) (a.k.a. Ujung Pandang, Hasanuddin Airport)

Makassar was renamed Ujung Pandang in 1971 by an Indonesian government that wanted to give the city a more Indonesian or less Dutch name (around the same time that Djakarta became Jakarta). However, it was changed back to Makassar in 1999 by then President Habibie. These days, some airlines use Makassar, others Ujung Pandang.

Mataram (Airport Code: AMI) (a.k.a. Ampenan, Lombok, Selaparang, Selaparang Airport)

The capital city of West Nusa Tenggara province, Mataram is actually one part of a conurbation of a few smaller cities. The airport is actually located in the city of Ampenan (what Garuda Indonesia’s website currently calls it). It is also the only airport on the island of Lombok, so Selaparang Airport also has the working name of “Lombok Airport”. Some smaller airlines flying from Denpasar/Bali also use Selaparang as the destination city name.

The new Lombok International Airport, still under construction

A new airport in Central Lombok, tentatively named Lombok International Airport, is also under construction. It was due to open in 2010, but still has no scheduled opening date. It is not yet determined whether the existing airport in Mataram (West Lombok) will reduce or cease operations when this new airport opens.

Old and New Lombok International Airports,
located in Mataram/Ampenan and Praya respectively

The new airport is located in Praya, Central Lombok; it is closer to (the other) Kuta, but quite far from Mataram and the tourist beaches of Sengigi and Gili Islands, so a complete closure seems unlikely. Any affected passengers will be informed if when the airport is about to commence operations.

If you have any other questions or areas of concern, please write a comment below, and we’ll answer it.

Confusion! is brought to you by Indonesia Matters, where you can book flights in Indonesia, and features listings of Indonesian hotels, like Kuta hotels, Sanur hotels, hotels in Jakarta and near Jakarta airport, and more.

Flighty

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has abruptly canceled his visit to the Netherlands at the last moment, saying at Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base just before an aborted takeoff today to the Land of Tulips that he was insulted by the plans of a Dutch member of the separatist South Maluku Republic (RMS) movement to file criminal charges against him. He said:

I have decided to cancel this visit

The president had been scheduled to leave Jakarta by Air Force One at 13.30, remaining in the Netherlands until October 9th, but it was not to be.

SBY spoke of his fears:

There has even been a demand for my arrest

This was despite the fact that a spokesman of the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague, Firdaus Dahlan, had assured the president that the Dutch government did not recognise the RMS, and would ensure the security of President Yudhoyono during his visit.

John Wattilette

John Wattilette, the self-proclaimed president of the “Republic of South Maluku” (RMS) movement in exile, had made a demand for the arrest of SBY, in a teletext statement to the Dutch broadcasting network Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) on 2nd October. [1]

Unfortunately the cancellation of the visit will mean SBY will not be showered with the awards and medals he had been due to receive in the Netherlands, now losing out on the coveted Order of The Dutch Lion, from the Dutch government, and the equally prestigious Willem Van Oranje medal, from Leiden University. [2]

SBY: Not a Dutch Lion is brought to you by Indonesia Matters, where you can book domestic flights in Indonesia, and features listings of Indonesia hotels, like Kuta hotels, Sanur hotels, hotels in Jakarta, and more.

Lonely Planet’s picks for the best hotel and hostel accommodation in Indonesia.

In every travel guide it publishes, Lonely Planet chooses a few of the best hotels and restaurants in the destination and gives it an extra recommendation: “Our pick”.

As written in the new 2010 edition of its Indonesia guide, here are the hotels that Lonely Planet has picked:

(Where applicable, follow the links for more information on the hotel or its location.)

I generally respect Lonely Planet and its opinions, especially after reading the story of its creation:

“Unlikely Destinations – the Lonely Planet story”
written by its founders: Tony and Maureen Wheeler

However, after looking through the list, I ask myself a few questions, like:

- What, aren’t there any nice hotels in Jakarta?

As the capital city, Jakarta probably has the most hotels of any province/region of Indonesia, except perhaps Bali. Yet, none of them apparently makes the grade to be an “our pick”.

Marco Polo Hotel, Jakarta

Curiously, in the previous edition the 3-star Marco Polo Hotel was an “our pick”, but not any more.

Possibly it might be because most of the places reviewed are budget losmen/hostels and guesthouses, many in the vicinity of the infamous Jl Jaksa.

Jl Jaksa

Also, unlike previous editions there are very few 4-star and 5-star hotels reviewed – only: Alila Hotel, Kemang Icon Hotel and Dharmawangsa Hotel – and the first two have the same management.

Dharmawangsa Hotel
one of the most luxurious hotels in Jakarta,
with e.g. in-room butler service

However, luxury hotels in Indonesia are often cheaper than their peers in Singapore or Hong Kong, let alone e.g. Australia, Japan, Europe. So, it isn’t like most visitors – readers of Lonely Planet guides included – can’t afford them.

Plus, after a long flight (and possibly almost as long a wait to buy a tourist visa), visitors are perhaps more willing to splash out a bit on a hotel than they otherwise might be.

- How come so few hotels in Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Sumatra were picked?

Looking through the guidebook more closely, it doesn’t seem as though the hotels in these regions are all bad. But, if so, it doesn’t seem clear what makes the difference between a positive review and an “our pick”.

On the other hand, it is clear the LP reviewers don’t have a quota of “our picks” they have to give per province/island/region, and therefore they aren’t just giving them to anyone.

While I have travelled a bit in Indonesia – 11 provinces so far – I haven’t stayed at any of the places listed above. So, I am wondering:

1. Are these hotels worthy? If you have stayed at one of LP’s “our picks”, please share your experiences.

2. Are there other hotels – especially those not reviewed by Lonely Planet – that are also particularly good (or bad)? Please list your recommendations (and/or warnings); either below or, where possible, please consider writing a review via the IM Hotels page or hotel list page using these guidelines.

Indonesia Hotel Picks is brought to you by Indonesia Matters, where you can book domestic flights in Indonesia, and features listings of Indonesia hotels, like Kuta hotels, Ubud hotels, hotels in Jakarta, and more.

A discussion of Indonesia’s finest, according to Indonesia’s best travel guide, Lonely Planet.

The new ninth edition (published January 2010) of “Lonely Planet: Indonesia” recently hit Indonesian bookstores, retailing at e.g. Periplus for Rp378 800.

I will review other parts of the book in future postings, but in this article I will focus on the first few pages:

Highlights of Indonesia.

Here is a list, with links to more detail of each destination. For simplicity, they are split into different themes or sections, in order of west to east.

Or, if you want to explore a particular region, here they are again, this time separated into islands or provinces:

Parks/Scenery

Indonesia’s tropical climate and mountainous topography gives it a wide range of highlights; unique flora and fauna, along with some amazing landscapes and scenery.

Lake Toba, North Sumatra
Noteworthy as the world’s largest volcanic lake and one of the largest inland lakes in Asia, it’s surrounded by great views and the very friendly Toba Batak people.

Ujung Kulon National Park, Banten
Home of the increasingly endangered one-horned rhinoceros, and some of the little remaining rainforest in Java.

Mt Bromo, East Java
Indonesia’s most visited volcano, if not it’s most (in)famous. A frequent stopover on the backpacker trail through Java to Bali.

Tanjung Puting National Park, Central Kalimantan
An eco-tourist destination where you can get up close and personal with some of Indonesia’s endangered orangutans.

Loksado, South Kalimantan
A protected rainforest where the preferred way to travel is by boat.

Mt Kelimutu, East Nusa Tenggara
Onspiring and similarly noteworthy, a rare combination of three volcanic lakes, each a different colour.

Komodo Island/Natural Park, East Nusa Tenggara
Home to the most well-known of Indonesia’s many uniques creatures.

Lake Sentani, Papua.
Sentani isn’t just home to Jayapura’s airport, but also this lovely and picturesque lake. I know one person with a middle name “Sentani”; his pilot father remembers how much he enjoyed flying over it.

Cultural

The people of Indonesia are certainly multi-cultural; they speak 726 different languages, 247 of them in Papua alone. So whether you’re an anthropologist, archaeologist or just interested in learning about different cultures, there is something for everyone in Indonesia.

Borobudur, Yogyakarta.
Indonesia’s most famous and deservedly World Heritage Listed Buddhist temple, visited by David Beckham in 2007 and soon to be visited by the Obamas. It also is regarded as one of the 1000 Places To See Before You Die.

Sukuh Temple, Central Java.
Arguably Central Java’s finest religious monument, near Solo.

Ubud, Bali.
Recently voted Asia’s top city as well as one of the 1000 Places To See Before You Die, Ubud is justifiably popular as a place to relax, learn/appreciate Balinese culture and handicrafts, or just a change of pace from the south of Bali.

Tanah Toraja, South Sulawesi.
Home to a unique culture where funerals are the biggest party. It also is regarded as one of the 1000 Places To See Before You Die, and the location of arguably Indonesia’s most unusual postcard.

West Timor, East Nusa Tenggara.
Included in the new edition at the expense of Sumba for its unique culture and bee-hive houses.

Baliem Valley, Papua.
Undiscovered until 1945, it is surrounded by amazing mountain scenery and lots of great hiking opportunities. It also is regarded as one of the 1000 Places To See Before You Die.

Clubbing in Bali and Jakarta.
A somewhat more controversial choice IMHO (as it’s not really unique to Indonesia)… but if that’s your thing, then that’s another way you will also enjoy your time in Indonesia.

Diving and Beaches

These locations are all fantastic, so arguments over which one is the best are futile. Just visit and enjoy as many as you can!

Pulau Weh, Aceh.
Enjoying a revival in tourist numbers. You can read and see more about it here.

Batu Karas, West Java.
Near Pangandaran, this volcanic sand beach is a lovely place to sit back and relax. Apparently, it is also a great place to learn to surf.

Bingin beach, Bali.
One of Bali’s many surf beaches, this one is for the more experienced surfer.

Gili Islands, Lombok.
Previously noted for its quiet beaches, the Gili Islands offer a respite from reality for a fraction of the cost of some of its peers next door in Bali. You can now travel there direct from Bali by Perama boat. Read more here.

Pulau Derawan, East Kalimantan.
If it’s Lonely Planet writer M. Cohen’s favourite place in all of Borneo/Kalimantan (including Malaysia and Brunei), then it must be pretty good. Read more in Best deserted beaches.

Pulau Bunaken, North Sulawesi.
Forms part of the famous Coral Triangle, and recently hosted an international conference on ocean protection. Former Miss Indonesia and current WWF Marine Conservation Ambassador Nadine Chandrawinata is apparently a fan, after learning to scuba dive there in 2006.

Banda Islands, Maluku.
It has some very nice and quiet beaches, possibly because it can be very difficult to get there in the first place. Apparently, the diving is spectacular too.

Ternate Harbour, North Maluku.
Home to such lovely sea views, which currently adorn the Rp1000 note.

Around Morotai Island, Papua.
The unique attraction of diving here is the many World War 2 relics that still dot the marine landscape. Some really nice beaches too.

Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua.
A new addition to the Highlights of Indonesia this edition, deposing diving in Biak. Again, its relative isolation can be good (conservation and not crowded) or bad (difficult to go there), depending on your viewpoint.

Do you agree with Lonely Planet’s choice of locations? Why/why not?

Regardless, please also share your favourite places in Indonesia below.

Lonely Planet’s Indonesia Highlights is brought to you by Indonesia Matters, which also features listings of Indonesia hotels, like Kuta hotels, Ubud hotels, hotels in Jakarta, and more.

A review of “The Indonesia Reader”, an anthology of Indonesian history, culture and politics.

This new anthology about Indonesia is a welcome addition to books (like “Culture Shock: Jakarta“) for expats and others who want to improve their knowledge of the archipelago’s history, culture and politics.

The editors have compiled a very wide range of articles and authors, including the current President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former President Soeharto, Pramoedya Ananta Toer and sporadically controversial Metro TV journalist Desi Anwar.

A star studded line-up of authors

Like a long biography, (as the stories are published in chronological order) some of the earlier sections might be a bit heavy and hard going for the casual reader. As such, it is tempting to read the book from finish to start. However, there are several rare articles and some which are published in English for the first time, so there are a number of pleasant surprises, including:

• an early article by Alfred Wallace, British naturalist and later the creator of the Wallace Line
• a story of the 1883 eruption of Krakatau by a Dutch survivor, RA Van Sandick.
• a history of the very slow Dutch conquest (starting in 1873 and taking at least 30 years) of Aceh, an interesting pre-cursor to later events.

Later sections cover a number of comtemporary subjects including: Indonesian reactions to Danish cartoons of the prophet Mohammed, separatist violence in Ambon, anti-Western terrorism via an interview with Bali bomber Imam Samudera and the new pornography bill.

One man who possibly doesn’t support the Pornography Bill

There are also some rare personal accounts of the 1965-1967 anti-communist massacres and being a “comfort woman” (i.e. sex slave) to Japanese soldiers during World War 2.

I would like to say that it is available at all good bookstores, but to my knowledge you cannot buy it within Indonesia. I got my copy in Australia. It doesn’t retail at all good bookstores for $US25.95; you can buy it on Amazon here or direct from the publisher here.

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Tags: Books, Culture, Desi Anwar, History, Imam Samudra, Krakatoa, Maluku & Ambon (Moluccas), Muhammad Cartoons, Pornography & Porn, Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Suharto (Soeharto), Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), Terrorism & Terrorists