Riding in Indonesia- Important Info
 

Hi Folks,
This is Linda, now in Sumatra and I want to explain the hassles you may have if you take your bike across on the ferry from Melaka to Dumai.
To start with your bike must not be more that 3 feet wide as they have to carry it through the side doors of 2 boats to get it into the passenger department. I was also told that it depends on the tide if they will take the xtra weight, if you miss it it could be another 2 weeks wait.

You may be warned by the boat people about the police regulations the other side and they may not take you because of this as the police were not happy with the shipping company after my experience which is this:
As soon as I landed and took the bike to customs ( I was escorted from the ferry there) the customs phoned the police station to alert them that a foreign bike had landed and I was escorted again to the police station where I was told that it is impossible to ride a foreign bike without permission from Jakarta. I told tham that I had not been informed about this at either the Penang consulate or the KL embassy where I had asked about the procedure having heard about Chris being stopped. Neither of these places could give me any info. They said I had to have police permission but admitted that they didn't know how things worked in situ.
Anyway to cut a long story short I asked the police to help me and they said come back on Monday (it was Saturday) and they would ask the office in Pakenburu, the main station 200kms away. I was not allowed to ride my bike which was impounded at the station. On Monday the chief officer gave me a letter (after hours of negotiations) to take to Pakenbaru which was a 5 hour bus ride away. I caught the afternoon bus, stayed the night and saw the magic man the next day. He is very helpful and explained that because of smuggling , especially in this province of Riah) this police permission is necessary and enforced. However he took copies of all my papers and faxed them to Jakarta and gave me written permission for the whole of my 60 day stay in Indonesia. His name is Mr Aswin A Siregar phone number 0761 29031
Police headquarters are at Jl. Senapelan 10 Pakenburu. Aswin has travelled in Europe, speaks perfect English and is very helpful.

You will need to have your carnet stamped in as they have to have a copy of this too.

So, I advise anyone not to go that way but try the ferry from Penang to Bulawan which is near Medan. As all the good things are up north anyway it makes more sense to go that way. It is easier to ride up to Penang from KL in Malaysia than coming up on the Indonesian side where the roads are bad, the traffic awful and the pollution choking.

I lost 4 days of my precious visa time getting this sorted. I dont know if you can ask the embassy in KL for the Jakarta address. for permission or at least get the embassy to write you a note on their headed paper asking the police to give you permission. Aswin gave me an address but I cant find it at present.

Whatever you do, good luck.

I am about to try and find out if I can get to East Timor. the border was closed for a while but I think the situation has improved since. My main hassle is that it is impossible for me to ride all the way down to Timor in the time I have on my visa and will have to fly out from Bali back to Malaysia to get another 30 days to then ride the bike the rest of the way. Monsoon looms, I have got very wet and its no fun on these roads in the rain.

Any more questions, I hope I can help.
Safe riding

linda

thanks
 

Hi Linda,
Thanks for this message, this is great to know. On this stage we can manage and change our route true Indonesia with no problems, becouse we planning to enter somevere abaut begining of november.
I will take a look in the map and ask you moore questions, if its ok.
What is your plans after Inonesia?

hi folks, dear linda!!

when we where in malaysia we read about the problems from chris, but unfortunately he never answered, what happened in the end :-(

we decided to fly from kuala lumpur to perth in australia!
that was very very easy and not too expensive.

you can find all informations under the shipping page here

good luck linda!!!!

one moore question
 

Hi Linda,
Why you did not send your bike from Singapur, they have very common fery line? How is it going , still rains? In Cambodia + 28, now in Seem Rap.
Take care.

I'm about to go that way!
 

Hi Linda, and everyone else.

Boy am I glad I checked the Hubb! I'm in Sumatra right now, having ridden through from East Timor. I've been looking at my map, my very poor quality map, trying to figure out which way would be best to nip over to Malaysia. I think I'll heed your advice, and go up to Bulawan.

Where are you now? I'd love to catch up, even if only for a quick coffee. Best way to get me is sms. My Indonesian number is 0852 394 64295.

I'm about a days ride from Java, heading north. All the best for your big adventure.

Tim

Forgot to mention
 

The other thing I meant to say, was that I came through the border with East Timor about two weeks ago.

I'm pretty sure that you won't have a problem, even if Dili goes a bit wild. The border is miles away and won't suffer problems unless E.T and Indo start to argue.

It would be worth finding out about a visa though, coming from E.T I had to arrange my Indonesian visa in Dili, which took a week. The Indonesians don't issue visa's at that border. Don't know about the Timorese.

I can put you in touch with some friends in Dili itself if you like. I'd seriously advise you to have a secure place to stay there. The problems there are quite real. And although I'd happily go back, it's very imortant that you're well informed.

The rest of Timor Leste is a very safe place to be I believe. Just Dili.

Tim

Indonesia
 

Hi Linda,
Dili is in a bit of strife at the moment with the Aussy troops there keeping peace.
Have you thought of how you are going to get through the rest of Indo yet?
I travelled the same way you did in February 2005 (check out travellers stories)
As I only had a 30 day visa from Midan, you have to fly if you want to island hop to East Timor.
Remember the traffic in Java is horrendous, I got diesel fume sickness twice and only averaged 28k an hour.
Plus the fuel quality problem and the lack of support if you have mechanical problems.
The cost of hotels is far more than anywhere in SE Asia and sub standard.
Be very careful in parts of Indo if you are travelling alone. especially in the more prominant muslem areas as a lone female.

I was lucky and my GS650 Dakar didn't let me down.
Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, West Timor then East Timor, Dili.
Hopefully you have more than 30 days on your visa, if not get another 30 days in Jakarta or Bali.

Cheers
Tom Forde
Australia

Probably because the info that we have here is that there are no ferries from SIN and getting in is a big hassle and expense.

Can you give us some details on the ferry service, please?

Thanks,
Peter.

Now in Singapoure
 

Hi,

We are now in Singapoure and checking for lines to Indonesia, if not, we gonna go from Penang, as suggestwed.
See how it goes..............

Dilli
 

Hi |Skidder,
Am now in Bali having just got an extra 30 day visa to get down through Lombok, Flores, Timor west etc. Would be glad of contacts in Dili. I have one already bt the more the merrier.

Thanks in advance
Linda

travelling in Indonesia
 

Hi Tom
Thanks for your advice. I am a slow traveller and already realised in \sumatra athat I would need to extend the 60 day visa so have a nother 30 days now to get from Bali to Dilli
I found the traffic in Java very managable if you keep off the main highways.
Looking forweard to the rest of the trip and hope to catch up with you in Oz.
Let me know where!
Linda

Linda

Send me an email tpwalker@mac.com and I'll try to put you in touch with a couple of folks.

Tim