Indonesia Fact File
General facts
Population: 221,932,000
Capital: Jakarta; 13,194,000
Area: 1,922,570 square kilometers (742,308 square miles)
Languages: Bahasa Indonesia, English, Dutch, Javanese, and other local dialects
Religion: Muslim, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist
Currency: Indonesian rupiah
Life Expectancy: 68
GDP per Capita: U.S. $3,100
Literacy Percent: 89
(National Geographic 2008)
Total number of species: 436
Number of endemic species: 201
Number of threatened species: 1996: 128 (25 % of total species) 2000: 140 (32 % of total species)
(Groombridge & Jenkins 1994)
Percentages of primary world ecosystem types:
• Other Coastal Aquatic: 24 %
• Major Wetland: 9 %
• Grass and Shrub: 4 %
• Crop and Settlements: 9 %
• Interrupted Woods: 14 %
• Major Forests: 40 %
Protected Lands
Area: 192,310 sq km (74,232 sq mi)
Percent of land protected: 7.19 % totally protected; 2.83 % partially protected; 10.02 % totally or partially protected
(Groombridge 1992)
Climate
Like other regions in Indonesia, North Sulawesi has a typical equatorial climate with two seasons: rainy and dry.
Starting in September, cool north westerly winds pick up moisture while crossing the South China Sea and arrive in the Sulawesi Sea about November. The wet season lasts from about November to March, but it is usually less pronounced than in many other parts of Southeast Asia and thus not really a serious concern in North Sulawesi.
With the effects of global warming already changing the climate in tropical areas, it is hard to predict what the next season will bring in rain and temperature, however, the following is a rough guideline for this part of Indonesia:
Dry Season: May to October (23-31°C, rare occurrence of rain).
Wet Season: November to April (23-30°C, brief heavy rain showers, few times per week).
Local Expenses
The official currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). Volunteers will find little opportunity to spend money on site however below are examples of items volunteers may wish to purchase.
As of writing the exchange rate is US$1 = 10,000 IDR
Can of a soft drink - 5,000IDR
Meal at a good restaurant - 50,000 IDR
Meal from a street vendor - 15,000 IDR
One Hour internet access - 10,000 IDR
Taxi ride one hour - 250,000 IDR
Can of beer - 7,000 IDR
There are no banks or ATMs in the vicinity of the project. Please ensure that you bring sufficient funds with you for the duration of your stay. On your arrival, there are ATMs and exchange offices in the arrivals hall of the airport. Traveller’s cheques may be exchanged in Manado during banking hours. You may have an opportunity to change money during the weekly shopping trip however keep in mind that this maybe outside of banking hours.
Getting to the project
The nearest international airport is Manado (airport code MDC). Flights to Manado are available only certain days from within Indonesia (Jakarta, Denpassar), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Singapore and the Philippines (Davao). Volunteers can arrange their own flights to one of these international cities and then use a local low-cost airline (Lion air or Air-Asia) to fly to MDC. The best value airline obviously depends upon where you are flying from, but also depends upon the dates that you fly.
We recommend you contact a local travel agent for the best deals or research online. Try searching for “cheap flights Manado” on Google, for example, more airlines flying to North Sulawesi can be found by following this link: http://www.sulawesi-info.com/flight.html
Note that the cheapest flights will have fixed dates, so if you are unsure of your return date and wish to have a flexible ticket, then this will probably cost more.
The rescue centre is 40km southwards of the airport, approximately 40-60 minutes drive away. Volunteers can be collected from the airport for all flights arriving into MDC.
Visas
Visas - Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months after you enter Indonesia, please check and make sure your passport will not expire soon, or otherwise organise a new one plenty of time in advance of your departure date.
If your stay in Indonesia is no longer than 30 days, then the VOA (visa on arrival) should cover you, no problem. If you are staying longer, then a 60-day tourist visa is sufficient.
Tourist visas must be obtained before arrival in Indonesia at an Indonesian Consulate in your country (or the country you are residing in during the 3 months before travelling to Indonesia). You will need to complete an application form and submit your passport, some photos and a fee (check your consulate for the current rates). You will also require some form of proof that you will be leaving Indonesia after the specified date, e.g. flight itinerary or letter from employer or student body stating you are expected to return.
Please note that these rules can change at any time so please check with the relevant embassy for current information.
Indonesia and Sulawesi
Population wise, Indonesia is the fourth largest nation in the world and the largest in South East Asia. Indonesia is made up of more than 17,000 islands, less than 7,000 of these islands are inhabited.
Sulawesi, formally known as Celebes, is located on the equator and is the world’s eleventh largest island. It is one of the main islands of Indonesia with a population of more than 15 million.
Due to its volcanic origin, Sulawesi has a highly irregular shape, the terrain being mountainous and fertile with many lakes and waterfalls.
Sulawesi’s coastline is more than 6,000 kilometres long and is surrounded by deep waters. Not surprisingly, the inhabitants of the island are renowned as seafaring traders. Sulawesi has now become particularly attractive to divers since tourism was developed in the 1990s.