Jakarta

The high-profile terrorist bomb blasts at the JW Marriott in 2003, the Australian Embassy in 2004 and the JW Marriott again and the Ritz-Carlton in 2009 mean that security in Jakarta tends to be heavy, with car trunk checks, metal detectors and bag searches at most major buildings. Statistically, though, you are far more likely to be killed in the traffic.

Strict gun control laws make Jakarta safer, but theft and robbery are real problems. Even these appear to have improved in recent years, but still take care. Violence is low, and most criminal acts are done by stealth or intimidation rather than lethal force. It is rare for even serious injuries to occur during these situations, although there are exceptions.

If the theft is done by stealth, often simple catching the thief in the act will cause him to run away. For intimidation such as robberies, simply giving them an object of value will usually satisfy the thief, who will leave without further ado. Most Indonesians are also very protective of their neighbors and friends; in many neighborhoods, a thief caught by the local residents will be punished "traditionally" before being taken to police. Indonesians rarely ignore pleas for help "Tolong!".

Be on your guard in crowded places such as markets, because pickpockets often steal wallets and cellular phones. Keep a close eye on your valuables and choose your transportation options carefully, especially at night. Business travellers need to keep a close eye on laptops, which have been known to disappear even from within office buildings. For all-night party excursions, it may be wise to keep your cab waiting; the extra cost is cheap and it's worth it for the security. Lock your car doors and windows, and show no cellular phones or wallets on the dashboard. Organised criminals sometimes operate on the streets especially at traffic lights without fearing crowds.

Tap water in Jakarta is not drinkable. Always drink bottled water. If buying bottled water from a street vendor always check the 'tamper proof' seal is intact.

Remember to check the water you bathe in and only brush your teeth with drinkable water.

According to the World Health Organization WHO, Jakarta is the 3rd most polluted city in the world after Mexico City and Bangkok.

During the rainy season December, January, and February, lower parts of Jakarta mostly those to the north are often flooded.

There is a law against smoking at public places in Jakarta, and the smoker can in theory be fined up to US$5,000. You may see the signs threatening a fine denda of Rp 50 million or 6 months jail for smoking, although that law seems not to be enforced, as locals still smoke everywhere on the street and even in local buses, as anywhere in Indonesia. It's generally prohibited to smoke, however, inside shops, offices, and air-conditioned buildings generally. If in doubt, you can ask locals: Boleh merokok?

internet

If you have your own laptop you may be able to access networks at many of the capital's malls. Ask at the information desk for access codes. Free hotspots are also available on most McDonald restaurants and StarBucks Cafes. Several hotels also provide a free wifi hotspot in their lobby.

Internet cafes are available in many parts of the city with a price of Rp 4,000-5,000. However, most of them only have dial-up capabilities. Most of the internet cafes can be found around universities, residential areas, and in most shopping malls. However, the internet connection speed can be better in the internet cafes found at malls.

If you are keen on using the internet for long hours, try to get the "happy hour" deals provided by internet cafes near universities or residential areas. They provide 6 hr of surfing on the internet for Rp 12,000, but only available at midnight-6AM.

telephone

Wartel telephone shops are ubiquitous on the streets of Jakarta.

If you see a public telephone, lift the receiver and check the number in the display near the keypad. If the number is not 000, don't insert coins, because the phone is broken. They usually are, but are very cheap just $0.01/min when they do work.

Finland Embassy

Marshall Islands Embassy

Spain Embassy

France Embassy

Royal Norway Embassy

Papua New Guinea Embassy

The Departemen Luar Negeri Deplu or Ministry of Foreign Affairs (http://www.deplu.go.id) maintains a complete searchable database of diplomatic institutions. The embassies are located in Jakarta, except some consulates general and honorary consulates. The addresses of some of the embassies and consulates are listed here:

Bangladesh Embassy

People's Republic of China Embassy

Royal Danish Embassy

Egypt Embassy

Sri Lanka Embassy

Sweden Embassy

Democratic People's Republic of Korea Embassy

Timor Leste Embassy

Royal Thai Embassy

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Embassy

Lao People's Democratic Republic Embassy

Vietnam Embassy

Jakarta City Government Tourism Office

(http://www.jakarta-touris...), jl. kuningan barat no. 2, ☎ +62 21-5205455 [email protected].

Jakarta City Digital Map and Travel Guide

(http://www.streetdirector...), wisma 77 lantai 5 jalan letjen s. parman jakarta barat. ☎ +62 21 5369 0808 .