Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago, comprised of more than 13,000 islands of which 6,000 are inhabited. The islands span more than 3,000 miles (~5000 km) from east to west, and more than 1,200 miles from north to south. Some of these islands are famous for its tourist attractions, like Bali, Lombok, Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Ambon, and Kalimantan (formerly known as Borneo), because our country is blessed with breathtaking natural wonders. Tourists find Indonesia's 19 active volcanoes, vast tropical forest, spectacular coastlines, beaches, and blue seas (to mention a few) fascinating.
The climate is tropical with temperatures ranging from 68 to 92 degree Farenheit. Humidity ranges from 60 to 90 percent. Indonesia's rainy season last from November through April, with a peak around January and February, where it can rain for the whole day (mostly only several hours, though). Then, comes the dry season from May to October.
More than 200 million people from over 300 distinct ethnic groups (with different local languages) make Indonesia the fourth most populous nation in the world (after China, India, and US). Indonesia has one natinoal language to help all the people communicate with one to another, which is called "Bahasa Indonesia," or Indonesian language. Only with Indonesian language, people from different islands are able to communicate, since the local languages are so much different Almost anywhere you go in Indonesia, including Bali, people will speak Bahasa Indonesia as well as their own local language. Many of them will also speak English as a third language.
A few words in Indonesian language:
Good morning = Selamat pagi
Good day = Selamat siang
Good afternoon = Selamat sore
Good evening = Selamat malam
Good night = Selamat tidur
Hello/Hi = Halo
How are you = Apa kabar?
I am fine, thank you = baik, terima kasih
Welcome = Selamat datang
Good bye = Selamat tinggal
See you again = Sampai jumpa lagi
Happy New Year = Selamat Tahun Baru
Happy Ied Fitr = Selamat Hari Raya Idul Fitri
Merry Christmas = Selamat Hari Natal
Good = Bagus; Yes = Ya; No = Tidak
Thank you = Terima kasih
Please = Tolong
Sorry = Maaf
Excuse me = Permisi / maaf
What is your name = Siapa nama anda (kamu .. for informal one)?
My name is ... = Nama saya adalah...........
Bathroom = Kamar mandi
Toilet = Kamar kecil
Room = Kamar
Bed room = Kamar Tidur
Bed = Tempat tidur
Ticket = Tiket
Bus = Bis
Train = Kereta Api
Airplane = Pesawat Terbang
What = Apa
Where = Di mana
How much = Berapa
Who = Siapa
How = Bagaimana
Why = Mengapa
I = saya; You = kamu (anda ...for more polite); He/She= Dia (beliau ...for more polite); They = mereka
(to make it more polite, people usually address others with his/her name rather than just say you or he/she, for example: Are you going to your office = Apakah pak/bu (Mr/Mrs) .... mau pergi ke kantor? Pak or Bapak means Mr. ... and Bu or Ibu means Mrs. .... So you have to remember his/her name from the beginning).
How much does the train ticket cost to Yogyakarta = Berapa harga tiket kereta api ke Yogyakarta?
Where is Borobudur-temple = Di manakah letak Candi-Borobudur?
I want to see a Balinese/Javanese traditional dance = Saya ingin melihat tarian Bali/Jawa
This = Ini; That = Itu; From = dari; To = ke; What is it = Ini apa (namanya)?
This food is delicious = Makanan ini enak sekali
I like Sate/Gado-gado = Saya suka makan Sate/Gado-gado (typical Indonesian food)
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