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Navigating Yogya
First, a word of
caution:
Yogya have two crazy characteristics that
can cause all sorts of the difficulties -- most of the streets don't
have names and the buildings are not necessarily numbered
sequentially. Even locals may have difficulty locating places. Use a
combination of maps, directions written in Indonesian by your
hotel's concierge, local assistance (pedicab drivers usually know
their area of operation well). The National Tourist Department
provides an excellent map; however, never pass up the opportunity
for a free map -- they'll all come in handy (even those tiny ones
printed on the backs of business cards).
- Currency Exchange
- The best rates are obtained at banks
(generally open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.). Better rates are given for cash
than for traveler's checks. Some foreign banks have branches in
Yogya -- contact your bank for information. Larger hotels also
offer currency exchange service. ATM machines also work (but we've
found that many international machines only respond to 4-digit
PINs) -- look for machines that display the symbols found on the
back of your card or that allow advances from credit
cards.
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- Embassies/Consulates
- Foreign emassies are located in the
city of Jakarta, while consulates are located in several remote
cities. There is none in Yogya.
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- Medical Care
- In non-emergency situations, contact
your local embassy for recommendations. Most hospitals in Yogya
accepts walk-in patients. Drugstores, or "toko obat" are located
throughout the city. Note that as with most stores in town,
pharmacies close at 9:00pm. For emergencies, dial 118 for
ambulance or 110 for police -- the person answering will most
likely not speak English or other languages, be as clear and
precise as possible. Hotel concierges can also assist in finding a
hospital if necessary.
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- Neighborhoods
- Yogya has many neighborhoods or wards.
The locals usually know neighborhood names rather than street
names, especially ones accross town. Although the more popular
streets (like Malioboro) are known by everyone. When you are given
an address, try to find out which neighborhood (or nearby
landmarks or shopping centers) area it belongs to . This
information will be very helpful when you ask
directions.
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- Police
- Police posts are placed on major
street crossings, while departments are located in their
respective neighborhood regions. The emergency number for the
police is 110.
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- Postal Service
- Letters and postcards can be mailed
from your hotel or from the orange mailboxes located around town.
The Central Post Office is located at Jl. May Suryotomo 8,
564-310. Branch offices are located in various parts of the
city.
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- Public Transportation
- There are many ways to move about
within the city: by bus, car, motorcycle, bicycle, pedicab,
horse-carriage, or shoes. Automobile and motorbike rentals are
available, wear your seat belt and helmet, respectively. For more
information, refer to the local transit
page.
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- Taxes
- They exist everywhere. Currently, a 2%
consumption tax is added to most items, including meals in
restaurants and hotel rooms. Passengers departing on international
and domestic flights will have to pay Rp25,000 (approx. $12) and
between Rp6000-10000 (approx. $3-5) of airport tax
respectively.
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- Telephone Information
- The country code for Indonesia is 62;
the city code for Yogya is 274. When in Yogya, omit the city code;
if making a call to Yogya from outside the city, dial 0274 from
outside the city (adding a 0 before the city code is standard
procedure for all calls between cities in Indonesia).
Public telephones are located
everywhere. They accept only certain types of coins (check before
using). Prepaid phone cards are also available at many
locations.
When dialing internationally from
Indonesia, either follow the instructions indicated on the public
phone or hotel phone. Generally, you will dial an access code
followed by the country code and phone number. Hotels generally
provide detailed instructions for using their systems.
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- Tourist Information
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The Post, Tour, and Telecommunications
Department operates Tourist Information Centers to aid travelers.
The TIC in Yogya is located in Malioboro Street (about 750 meters
South of Tugu Station). Here you can acquire maps and assistance.
Office hours are 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. -
11 a.m. Fridays, and 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
Tourist Information can also be found
in the Adisucipto Airport and Tugu Station. Tour agencies can be
found in resources.
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