Trip to and in Indonesia

Wisnu

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This is our first trip backhome Indonesia during the pandemic Typically we visit Indonesia 2-3 per year. The last trip was January 2020.
During the pandemic we've travelled to US, UK, Turkey, and Liveaboard trip in red sea - all went well. No quarantine requirements, no vaccine requirement. No issues at all
For this trip, I expect a bit more complicated though. I'll share anything relating this trip here as I don't have Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Tiktok.

Preparations
Pedulilindungi app installed in our mobile.
To enter my birth date data. I have to scroll hundreds times just to choose the correct date.
Took more than a week to get US covid 19 vaccinations verified in the system. We have very nice digital certificate now, instead a piece handwritten paper.

Completing e-hac is also cumbersome. The date of PCR test and our ticket are always displayed wrongly although we entered correctly.
We gave up. Let see if we'll get problem with our incorrect PCR test and flight dates.

PCR test - easy, we did at company clinic. Get the result email in 12 hours.

Flights
Several options available.
We choose Qatar airways Lagos - Doha - Jakarta.
This is the most direct and shortest travel time, much better than Turkish and other airlines.
Company jet is available from Lagos to Farnborough UK and Rotterdam every month but will take more time and require overnight in London or Amsterdam.

First leg: PHC - LOS
Commercial flight is available but company policy during pandemic to use a chartered flight, typically twin otter to get to Lagos from PHC.

But, for this time, since the passengers is only both of us, we use nice helicopter, Augusta Westland aw109 from our compound to the airport hotel. Took two hours for 620 Km.

IMG_20211016_113425_copy_800x577.jpg


We overnight in Lagos before our next day morning flight to Doha
 
Lagos - Doha
Honestly I don't enjoy manuvering Lagos airport. The most "check points" from all airports I have been visited so far which require lot of patience and effort if you don't want to contribute or participate to the corruption in the country.

Anyway, we survived the temptation to shortcut
qatar9.jpg
and now enjoying a glass of Champaign at spacious biz class of Qatar airways. Surprisingly all seats are full.
 
Pedulilindungi app installed in our mobile.
To enter my birth date data. I have to scroll hundreds times just to choose the correct date.
I know this is a bit late to help you, @Wisnu, but for anyone else: if you tap the year, you can scroll by year. You don't need to tap month by month.
 
I know this is a bit late to help you, @Wisnu, but for anyone else: if you tap the year, you can scroll by year. You don't need to tap month by month.
Thanks a lot. Not sure why I didn't think it.
Hope will help others not to repeat my stupidity.
 
Doha - Jakarta.
Very smooth flights for Lagos - Doha;10 minutes ahead schedule, plus 2hours transit time. Great service, foods are excellent, either at flight and the lounge. Probably the best long haul flights compared to others airline we have used in last five years, ie. Turkish air, Emirates, Etihad, Egypt air, delta air.

Took 30 minutes to complete registration, PCR test and get our luggages.

IMG_20211018_084737.jpg


The issue is, we have to wait the PCR test at the airport. They told us it will take 1 - 2 hours to get the result.
We are still waiting the result right now.

Others issue, I can't use my mobile. Have to register the IME but can only be done after quarantine. This mean, we have to return to airport after 5 days quarantine.
Very annoying and not practical.
 
People waiting the PCR test result
IMG_20211018_095937.jpg


We get our results in 1.5 hours.
In 2 hours since our flight landed we are in the car on the way to our hotel.
 
Very interesting, looking forward to updates from the quarantine.
So you didn't have any problems with the ehac card?
Also can you explain why you have to go back to the airport after quarantine, I didn't really understand that.
 
Very interesting, looking forward to updates from the quarantine.
So you didn't have any problems with the ehac card?
Also can you explain why you have to go back to the airport after quarantine, I didn't really understand that.
Yes, we have no problems with e-hac card.

We have to go back to the airport to register our mobile phone IME. I bought my mobilephone not in Indonesia.
The only place to register is at the airport.
I complained to the officers there. They told me, many people complain too. They are considering to revise the procedure but for now I have no choice.
 
I complained to the officers there. They told me, many people complain too. They are considering to revise the procedure but for now I have no choice.

This is absolutely ridiculous... this whole IMEI farce is a nightmare and a money grab, once again. And of course, nobody will take responsibility for fixing this. This 2-hour wait would be the perfect moment to deal with this.
 
@Wisnu check this out: https://indonesiaexpat.id/outreach/...chased-from-abroad-and-avoid-getting-blocked/

More than 24 hours after your arrival

If you arrived in Indonesia after 18th April 2020, with a phone that hasn’t been used in the country before, your phone may stop working with local SIM cards. In this case, you will need to visit your local Bea Cukai, or customs office, with your phone and proof of your date of arrival in Indonesia, such as a flight ticket.
Your phone can be registered after paying the appropriate taxes and customs. The tax applies to the full value of the phone, there is no US$500 threshold in this instance.

So what's the deal, they force travelers to do it after the quarantine, meaning now they have to pay taxes on the full value of the phone? No more USD 500 threshold? What a scam if that's the case!
 
We just check-in at Borobudur hotel. Garden wing suite one bed room. Spacious 75m2 with separate living room, kitchen and balcony. The nice thing, we can also rent a static bicycle.
IMG_20211018_115345.jpg
 
@Wisnu check this out: https://indonesiaexpat.id/outreach/...chased-from-abroad-and-avoid-getting-blocked/



So what's the deal, they force travelers to do it after the quarantine, meaning now they have to pay taxes on the full value of the phone? No more USD 500 threshold? What a scam if that's the case!
I don't know.
The custom officer asked me to come again after quarantine. I had no idea about 24 hours threshold.
I will not go there exactly after quarantine. We plan to visit Bali 5 days after quarantine.
Let see if I can get my IMEI registered at that time.
Actually not very crucial for me as my wife phone is working here. I also have old mobile phone bought in Indonesia.
 
You get 3 days after your last day of quarantine to return to the airport and get the $500 deduction. Still a dumb rule, as who wants to return to the airport if you are staying in Jakarta and your final destination is in the opposite direction....
 
You get 3 days after your last day of quarantine to return to the airport and get the $500 deduction. Still a dumb rule, as who wants to return to the airport if you are staying in Jakarta and your final destination is in the opposite direction....

my phone is a cheap Chinese phone, Vivo V7. I checked the price here is Rp. 1.1 - 1.3Million. I will not return to the airport just to register for IMEI. May be it's time for me to have better one.
 
You get 3 days after your last day of quarantine to return to the airport and get the $500 deduction. Still a dumb rule, as who wants to return to the airport if you are staying in Jakarta and your final destination is in the opposite direction....
Good to know!
 
We just check-in at Borobudur hotel. Garden wing suite one bed room. Spacious 75m2 with separate living room, kitchen and balcony. The nice thing, we can also rent a static bicycle.
View attachment 2268
Quarantine or not, I'd love to stay there for a week! (provided the A/C is stable during the night unlike the rooms we had a few years ago when we were still members there).
 
Quarantine or not, I'd love to stay there for a week! (provided the A/C is stable during the night unlike the rooms we had a few years ago when we were still members there).
so far so good. AC is well controlled. Internet is good enough for WFH (I dont want the quarantine eat my day leave )
balcony overview the swimming pool (quiet).
 
Day 4th, PCR test. They came to our room at 08:00. Result will be available at 20:00.
 
Are you allowed out of the room, and if not who is stopping you from leaving to walk around? A security guard? Also is it true they take your passport until you've finished quarantine?
 
Are you allowed out of the room, and if not who is stopping you from leaving to walk around? A security guard? Also is it true they take your passport until you've finished quarantine?

Yes these days it's extremely strictly monitored despite what people claim

Floor is locked down. Lift doesn't work. And security stationed on every floor or at least the beige uniform government guy.
They take your passport at the airport.

Since so many ignorant people flouted the rules previously, it is now impossible rightly to leave the room for a smoke break or stretch your legs.

I mean that is the whole point of quarantine right?

Some places even use a GPS tracker band
 

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