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Domestic air services have been
in a state of flux since the economic downturn
in the late 1990s. A few airlines have folded
and the remaining services have jacked up the
price of domestic travel to compensate for soaring
costs. For those with hard currency, though, air
travel is still relatively cheap compared to the
rest of the world. It is essential to reconfirm
on domestic flights in Indonesia, otherwise you
may be bumped from the list. Departure tax on
domestic flights fluctuates between US$1-3.
Indonesia's
main roads are generally excellently
surfaced, with the mainstay of land travel being
the ekonomi buses - cheap and cheerful fares that
may democratically include chickens, pigs and
anything in between. Next step up is the express
bus which carries the same cargo but gets to the
destination sooner, followed by luxury air-con
buses with all the whistles and bells that a coach
can have.
Rail
travel is restricted solely to Java and
Sumatra. Indonesia's trains are pretty much a
mixed bag: slow, miserable and cheap or comfortable
and expensive. It's advisable to buy train tickets
a day in advance to assure a seat. Cars, motorbikes
and bicycles can be rented in the main cities
and tourist centres. There are regular ferries
between the various islands. Kalimantan has an
undeveloped road system and internal transport
is primarily by river or by
air.
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Indonesia
