It is with some sadness that we announce Mau Ke Mana will cease operations on 30 September 2015.

After this date, we will not be accepting any new flight or train enquiries.

Goodbye

Why?
Mau Ke Mana’s full-time employees, David and Chris, are returning to their home country for personal reasons.

What If My Flight/Train Departs After 30 September?
Chris will advise affected clients of any schedule changes and cancellations to flights via the Twitter feed and their emergency contact telephone number (if supplied).

Some of the more common questions are answered on the FAQ page and in the text of the email containing your e-tickets.

How can I book flight/train tickets now?
Unfortunately, it is still difficult.

Most Indonesian airline websites continue to only accept local credit cards. Since earlier this year, you can’t book flight tickets at airports.

The official Indonesian train website is only in Indonesian, the train stations are in an unusual order (not just alphabetical) and our experience is that the booking system regularly doesn’t work properly.

If you have a question or a comment, please write it below and Chris will answer it, even after 30 September 2015.

Garuda Indonesia is a full-service airline. Skytrax recently gave Garuda Indonesia its highest rating: 5-star airline. It also won Skytrax’s 2015 award for world’s best cabin staff. It is also one of Indonesia’s most reliable and punctual airlines. Garuda Indonesia clearly cares about customer service.

So this begs the question:

Boarding GA884 from Jakarta to Tokyo, a Boeing 777

Why do Garuda’s international passengers at Jakarta Airport still have to take a bus, then walk up stairs to board the plane?

This is something you would expect to happen at the low-cost carrier Terminal 3, not on a full-service airline. Even first and business class passengers have to take a bus and the stairs too; they use one staircase, while economy class uses another.

It doesn’t provide a very positive or welcoming first impression (or last impression for passengers arriving in Jakarta). The author found it rather inconvenient to have to walk up a LOT of stairs when boarding an Airbus A330, especially in the evening while carrying a sleepy young child. The author wasn’t unlucky that day, either; last week, the author’s wife had to take the stairs and a bus in both directions.

Other international airlines (Garuda’s competitors) at Jakarta Airport have the same models of aircraft and use airbridges all the time, so it can’t be a problem with aircraft/airport compatibility.

It is also not possible that all the aerobridges are continually occupied. The boarding time of the flight pictured above was 23:00, not a particularly busy time of day.

Finally, it is highly unlikely that the airport management – a government-owned enterprise – would be in a dispute with or would decide to “sabotage” Indonesia’s national airline by making them park away from the terminal. Similarly, Garuda Indonesia might not be the most profitable airline in the region, but it is hard to believe they would choose this method of boarding passengers to e.g. save money on airport fees.

What happens for passengers with reduced mobility? It doesn’t rate a mention on the Garuda website’s section about passengers with special needs. The cynical would point out that in Indonesia – like in other developing countries – many places don’t have facilities for the disabled; also, walking up stairs is a common feature at smaller airports, especially for domestic flights.

However, there is a major difference in height between a Bombardier CRJ1000 NextGen (above) and the larger aircraft used in international flights. The author’s young child could ascend the Bombardier’s stairs without difficulty; not so for an Airbus A330 or Boeing 777.

Perhaps Garuda Indonesia needs to print in the booking conditions that international passengers at Jakarta Airport may need to walk up (many) stairs, like classic European hotels that don’t have lifts.

Even better, the Garuda Indonesia experience could include airbridges at Jakarta Airport whenever possible.

Previously, different fare classes were quite distinctive. For example, first class had air-conditioning and second/third class didn’t.

However, Indonesia’s rail operator recently completed refurbishing its trains; air-conditioning is now installed on all long-distance trains.

But there remain some small but important differences, which impact passenger comfort.

It is hoped that this detailed explanation will help passengers make an informed choice. Please click below the preferred class, or just scroll down.

Executive (First) Class | Business (Second) Class

Economy (Third) Class With A/C | Economy (Third) Class Without A/C

Executive (First) Class

Number of rows/seats per carriage: 13 rows, 4 seats per row Graphic
Air-conditioning: Yes
Seats face the: Front, but can be rotated to face the rear; this is suitable for families and groups
In Jakarta, trains depart from: Gambir Station
Popular routes: Jakarta to Yogyakarta, Jakarta to Bandung
Also:
1. Seats have footrests, reclining backrests and cushions.
2. Eks (A), Eks (H), Eks (I) and Eks (J) are only ticket classes, like the different fares on a flight; the seats are the same.

Business (Second) Class

Number of rows/seats per carriage: 17 rows, 4 seats per row Graphic
Air-conditioning: Yes
Seats face the: Alternating front and rear; see YouTube video above for configuration
In Jakarta, trains depart from: Pasar Senen Station
Popular routes: Yogyakarta to Surabaya, Bandung to Yogyakarta
Also:
1. Sometimes business class is one section of a multi-class train; sometimes it’s a completely different train.
2. Photographers used to like sitting in business class because the top of the windows can be opened for (ventilation and) photos. These days you are not supposed to open the windows, but there is nothing STOPPING you from doing so temporarily.
3. Bis (B), Bis (K), Bis (N), Bis (O) are only ticket classes, like the different fares on a flight; the seats are the same.

Economy AC (Third) Class With Air-Conditioning

Number of rows/seats per carriage: 24 rows, 5 seats per row Graphic
Air-conditioning: Yes
Seats face the: Front or back, alternating i.e. seat backs are facing each other.
In Jakarta, trains depart from: Pasar Senen Station
Popular routes: Yogyakarta to Malang, Banyuwangi to Yogyakarta More
Also:
1. These are long-distance economy class trains.
2. Trains tend to stop at more stations than other classes, which increases the travel times.
3. Eko (C), Eko (P), Eko (Q) Eko (S) are only ticket classes, like the different fares on a flight; the seats are the same.

Economy (Third) Class Without Air-Conditioning

Popular routes: Medan to Pematang Siantar (near Lake Toba), Semarang to Solo

These trains have the same configuration as the other economy (third) class trains, but there is no air-conditioning, only fans and windows that can be opened. They are mostly shorter routes and offer the lowest fares, often only a few dollars. Please note: some of these trains cannot be booked in advance; passengers can only buy tickets on the day of travel.

Questions welcome – you can ask them below in the comment field.

Anger has erupted at the latest pricing policy (right) for visitors to Indonesia’s most visited volcano: Mt Bromo.

As well as a large price increase, local hotel and tour operators are concerned that a new pricing policy – charging foreigners 10 times the rate of domestic tourists – will decrease visitor numbers.

However, Indonesian national parks aren’t the only tourist attractions charging more.

Maria Sharapova: $US20

Julia Perez: $US2

For example, locals currently pay Rp30 000 ($US2.25) to enter Borobudur, while foreign tourists are expected to part with $US20. This isn’t a little secret either; Borobudur and Prambanan openly advertise the different ticket prices online.

Is this another example of shameless exploitation of foreigners by government bureaucracy? Or is there an economic benefit of a dual pricing policy, a.k.a. “tourist prices”?

Arguments For & Against
Canadian tourists, Nick and Dariece, from the website Goats on the Road, strongly believe foreign tourists should be welcomed, not asked to pay extra. They point out that e.g. rich Egyptians visiting the pyramids are doing just as well as foreign tourists. They also use a reverse example: asking e.g. Saudis to pay more to visit Canada’s biggest tourist attraction – the Niagara Falls – would be rightly called discriminatory.

However, a Mexican travel blogger, Raphael Alexander Zoren, argues local people deserve discounted entry if at least one of the following is true:

1. It’s a World Heritage site built by the ancestors of the locals.
2. The attraction/service is managed by the Government, thus, paid by the taxes of the locals.
3. The locals simply CANNOT afford the standard price of admission.

Beyond that, he suggests it can be counterproductive, resulting in talented local people wanting to become tour guides rather than e.g. doctors, because they can earn more.

From this viewpoint, it could be argued that at least the first two points are true for Borobudur: it was built 1200 years ago by the local people and is government owned/operated. For many Indonesians, the third is also true.

Locals at Mt Bromo benefit more from large visitor numbers, not large entry fees

However, Mt Bromo came from tectonic forces, not local people. Also, many of the Mt Bromo locals (the Tengger people) work in the local tourist industry, offering jeep and pony rides – their income will not improve from higher admission prices; to the contrary, it may even decrease with fewer tourists. In addition, the standard price of admission for foreign visitors used to be reasonable by local standards.

So, from Mr Zoren’s perspective, a dual pricing policy would be justified at Borobudur, but not at Mt Bromo.

A Local Perspective
As a long-term resident of Indonesia, the author can now distinguish a reasonable price from a tourist price. Many locals, however, cannot distinguish him from a tourist and still try to give him a tourist price. On a daytrip to Bali to renew his daughter’s passport, the author intentionally wore formal clothes including batik to not look like a tourist, yet he still frequently received e.g. offers of transport.

Shopping makes life more interesting again. If visiting a traditional market, prices are often not fixed and bargaining is required. The experienced person decides in advance how much he is willing to pay for something. If the vendor does not offer a price you consider to be reasonable, it’s ok to walk away.

The complaints by some over Indonesia recently granting free entry to tourists from many Western countries suggests tourist prices has some local support.

Starting 12 June 2015, tourists from an extra 30 countries can visit Indonesia for free.

This brings the total to 45 countries:

Initially, it seemed these countries would need to give Indonesian tourists free entry in return (called “reciprocity”), suggesting the new policy was never going to happen. However, the government later decided that the benefits to the Indonesia tourism industry were too large to ignore, and changed the law requiring reciprocity.

The Fine Print
However, there is one important restriction.

Visitors of the 30 new countries can only receive free entry by entering and departing through one of these airports:

Jakarta Bali Surabaya Medan Batam or one of these seaports: Batam Center Batam Sekupang Bintan Tanjung Uban Bintan Sri Bintan Pura

Visitors arriving at or departing from other airports (e.g. Yogyakarta) will still need to pay $US35 per person for a tourist visa, a.k.a. visa on arrival. This might seen unusual/unnecessary, but there is also a list of airports and seaports where tourist visas can be purchased.

How Does It Work?
On arrival, passengers can bypass the visa on arrival queue and head directly to immigration.

Reactions
Despite the economic benefits, some locals are unhappy about the government allowing e.g. European visitors free entry when it is relatively difficult for Indonesian citizens to obtain visas to those countries.

Many have also noted one large omission from the list: Indonesia’s third largest source of foreign visitors, Australia. Initially, govenment spokespeople blamed this on the – now removed – reciprocity requirement. The cynical would suggest that only political considerations (i.e. the currently strained bilateral relationship) are preventing Australian tourists receving free entry.

With plans already afoot to expand the list of countries receiving free entry, there is an opportunity for Indonesia to correct this perception. It would also increase the country’s international competitiveness with e.g. Malaysia, who already gives free entry to 164 countries’ citizens.

Mau Ke Mana staff do their best to respond to flight and train enquiries within two working days.

However, as Mau Ke Mana has grown, so have the number of enquiries and it can be difficult to meet this target, especially if staff need to urgently assist clients whose flights have been rescheduled or cancelled.

In addition, it is sometimes difficult to know why the respondent is providing minimal information in the form. Perhaps they’re just “testing the waters”; maybe they’re slow to trust an online travel agent; potentially, they are serious but also enjoying the form’s simplicity.

While Mau Ke Mana always puts its clients’ needs first – check the testimonials page – it is, ultimately, still a business and needs to sell tickets. Therefore, the staff will naturally respond more quickly to enquiries where the respondent has provided extra details, writing a comment with e.g. their preferred airline and departure time.

So if you would like to receive a quote as soon as possible, please help us to help you in these ways:

1. Ensure your contact information is correct
   It is amazing how many people mis-spell their own email address. If you didn’t receive an automated message from Mau Ke Mana acknowledging your enquiry submission, you probably got the address wrong. One exception: AT&T email accounts, which always blocks the automated response, like AOL did previously.
2. Do some research
   For flights, aggregator websites like Skyscanner are good for getting a general idea of what is available, although sometimes the fares are unrealistic – either too cheap or too expensive.
   For trains, this timetable covers the most popular routes for visitors and – unlike others – is regularly updated with the latest schedule.
3. Read the enquiry form carefully
   For example, when the flight enquiry says “Minimum 10 days in advance”, it really does mean that Mau Ke Mana cannot help you find a flight for tomorrow. Another unusual yet common mistake is respondents giving two different answers for the number of passengers.
4. Tell me more, tell me more
   A little more detail will go a long way.
   For example, if you are connecting from an international flight in Jakarta, please advise the arrival time.
   Or if you are bringing the kids and need a family-friendly departure time, please say so.

By contrast, sending the same enquiry multiple times or posting messages on the Mau Ke Mana Twitter feed will not speed it up.

Mau Ke Mana tries to keep its enquiry forms easy to use, but if you do have a question about filling them in, please ask it below.

According to timeanddate.com, several cities in Indonesia will provide the best opportunity to see the total solar eclipse on 9 March 2016.

Mau Ke Mana is already booking flight tickets and hotel rooms for international tourists visiting Indonesia around this time. (Indonesian domestic airline websites only accept Indonesian credit cards, unlike Mau Ke Mana).

But which of the cities listed is the most suitable?

1. Getting There & Away
Which of the cities is easiest to visit?

Palembang and Balikpapan are by far easier to travel to than other cities. There are many more flights to these two cities than the others. They also have international connections to Malaysia and Singapore, although it is usually cheaper to fly through Jakarta.

Sofifi doesn’t have an airport, so is not rated; it is very close to Ternate anyway.

2. Other Attractions
Maybe visitors would like to do more than just stare at the sun, seeing they come a long way. Which cities have the most tourism potential?

Near Ternate and Sofifi, there are the note-worthy islands of Maitara and Tidore, with multiple sites for snorkelling.

Few people visit Balikapan or Palangkaraya themselves, but use them as a lanchpad to visit other nearby locations. From Balikpapan, you can travel upriver, to nearby wildlife sanctuaries, or a bit further to offshore island resorts. Palangkaraya is an alternative location to Pangkalan Bun for river cruises, orangutan tours, etc.

There’s not as much to do in Palembang, Palu and Sofifi.

3. Weather
Wikipedia helpfully points out:

Unfortunately, the Indonesian region is prone to a 60-70% likelihood of cloud cover in March.

Less helpfully, it doesn’t mention that rain showers usually occur in the mid-late afternoon, and the eclipse occurs in the mid-morning, Indonesian time.

Still, March is the tail-end of the wet season in Indonesia, and it would suck if – after travelling so far – your view was obscured by clouds; where is this least likely to happen?

Source: World Weather Online
Palu would appear to be the driest city on average, but the rains falls across a similar number of days to Palembang and Balikpapan, so the gap isn’t as big as it may appear at first.

Unfortunately, reliable monthly weather averages were unavailable for Palangka Raya.

Please note: it is not known whether airlines are planning to run special flights that fly above the clouds, as happened in Norway earlier this year.

Mau Ke Mana is already booking flight tickets and hotel rooms for March 2016.

Are you interested in booking flights? Please send an enquiry.

You can book a hotel directly through the links below:

Balikpapan

Palangka Raya

Palembang

Palu

Ternate

In recent years, the safety ratings of Indonesia’s airlines have been improving. Some are now permitted to fly in EU airspace. Lion Air’s rating increased in 2014 after 10 years of fatality-free flying.

So, the author was surprised to discover recently that all the safety ratings had decreased by two stars. For example, Garuda Indonesia’s rating – 5 stars out of a possible 7 – is now 3 stars. When AirlineRatings.com was asked what had happened, they replied:

Indonesia the country failed the last ICAO* audit in December/January, therefore ALL Indonesian airlines lost a further two stars to get to their current scores.

*International Civil Aviation Organisation

The author investigated Indonesia’s score:

The results show that Indonesia is:
1) Well below average in all 8 parameters (i.e. it scored 0/8), and
2) Worse than another country in the news lately regarding air safety: Malaysia.

Curiously, Indonesian media has not reported this concerning development. Even if ICAO ratings are less widely publicised, this is very different from the national outrage eight years ago when Indonesian airlines were first banned from EU airspace. Local journalists now seem hesitant to report any bad news about Indonesian air safety, even when the results could have been disastrous. There was nothing in e.g. Jawa Pos or Radar Surabaya after an enquiry into the emergency landing of a 2010 Cathay Pacific flight found engine problems were caused by contaminated fuel from Surabaya Airport.

So, bloggers such as Carl Bialik have filled the void. Written shortly after the crash of AirAsia QZ8501, he points out that AirAsia Indonesia didn’t have official clearance to fly between Singapore and Surabaya daily, as it was doing. (Actually, a subsequent audit by local aviation authorities found that AirAsia wasn’t the only offender in this area, resulting in several airlines needing to cancel or reschedule flights while permission was obtained).

Mr Bialik also includes the above graph which shows quite clearly how Indonesia’s new ICAO safety rating is the worst of any country with more than 10 million passengers annually.

But Mr Bialik does concede Indonesia’s low score does not mean all the country’s airlines are unsafe. He quotes Andrew Herdman, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, who says:

One of the frustrations is, you can be an airline operating to the best international standards, but you may be registered in a country that has relatively poor performance in regulatory oversight.

In other words, the safety of e.g. Garuda Indonesia is no worse, even if its safety rating on AirlineRatings.com has decreased from 5 stars to 3 stars.

You can check the new safety ratings of Indonesian airlines here.

Local trains cannot be booked in advance like long-distance trains and it can be difficult to find the schedule online anywhere, let alone in English.

One of the more useful routes is between Yogyakarta and Solo.

They depart frequently and are faster than buses because the stations (unlike bus terminals) are in the centre of town.

In addition, this route doubles as an airport train because Maguwo station is next to Yogyakarta Airport.

And when tickets cost a maximum of $US1 each, passengers can’t complain about the price.

The 75km trip takes a bit over one hour.

Prambanan Ekspres train

Ramadan (a.k.a. the fasting month, the holy month) is a period of 30 days where Muslims abstain from earthly needs from sunrise to sunset. In 2015, it goes from about 18 June to 16 July.

One consequence of Ramadan is that Muslims don’t travel as much, saving their money and energy for the end of Ramadan trip back to their hometowns – known locally as mudik – to celebrate Idul Fitri (the end of Ramadan, a.k.a. the Muslim Christmas).

Some airlines cut/reduce flights. The right thing to do would be to change the schedule in advance, and not sell tickets on flights that will later be cancelled/moved.

But the two airlines that fly to Pangkalan Bun – Trigana Air and Kal-Star – do not do this.

Instead, both airlines sell tickets for a normal schedule, then inform their passengers only a few days before departure that they will need to fly one day earlier or later. They avoid the financial compensation required for last-minute flight cancellation by calling it a reschedule.

Unfortunately, most passengers have already booked and paid for their boat tour of Tanjung Puting National Park, so their travel dates are not flexible. It is also a major problem for clients with a connecting flight on another airline the same day, because it needs to be rescheduled too, at the client’s expense.

To avoid disappointment and nasty surprises for clients, Mau Ke Mana will therefore include a warning with all flight quotes to/from Pangkalan Bun departing between 18 June and 22 July. Clients will also be discouraged from booking connecting flights on the same day as flights to/from Pangkalan Bun, especially international ones.

This is not a decision taken lightly.

In 2014, flights from Jakarta to Pangkalan Bun was the most popular route, surpassing flights between Bali and Labuan Bajo, near Komodo Island for the first time.

But as can be seen on the testimonials page, Mau Ke Mana puts their clients first, not sales.