Do’s:
1. Smile and be friendly
Because most of Indonesian people are friendly and they love smile even for strangers. You can give a smile when you’re passing the native Indonesian and give a slow nod. It means you respect them and Indonesian love it.
2. Shake hand
When you want to introduce yourself to people, don’t forget to have a shake hand. Make sure that you use your right hand.
3. Right hand is better
Use your right hand more often to do something, like when you’re eating or drinking. And the most important one is when you offering something, please use the right hand. Because Indonesian always use the left hand mostly for bathroom things, so we think it is not good for doing our main good activity.
4. Bargain while shopping
It’s a usual thing to bargain in Indonesia. So you can try but at least don’t ask for an extreme low price. You can start bargaining from the half of the real price.
5. Left Riding
In Indonesia, we drive in the left side. So it is very important also for you especially if you’re riding motorcycle, to get on or get off from the left side. And also it’s because there’s a very hot exhaust in the right side of motorcycle that could burn your skin.
6. Greeting with someone that you don’t know: call him/her Mbak or Mas
If you meet someone you don’t know and you need to talk to that pesron, you can call him “Mas” for male one or call her “Mbak” for female one. Mas and Mbak is a common address here so anyone can use it.
But if that person looks a bit old, you can call him “Pak” for old male one or call her “Bu” for old female one.
7. take care of your belonging
the crime here is exist and it could be anywhere. So be careful! Put your belongings into a bag that has enough space. It could be better to put your bag on your front side so you can keep your eyes on it.
the crime here is exist and it could be anywhere. So be careful! Put your belongings into a bag that has enough space. It could be better to put your bag on your front side so you can keep your eyes on it.
Don’ts:
1. Touch people head
Especially for the people that older than you. Because here, touching head is a kind of offensive.
2. Pointing someone with your point finger
It is also really rude. People will feel insulted if you point them with your point finger!
3. spit in public place
As we know that it’s also a rude thing to do, especially in public.
4. wearing too sexy dress
If you wear a very sexy dress in public like very short pants or singlet, people here could think that you’re like a sex worker. It is normal as a stereotyping. Because mostly we respect those who could dress more politely like long trousers or rather long short pants and a T-shirt with short sleeves.
5. kissing or showing sexual activity in public
It is an eastern country, so it’s still a taboo to show our affection with couple in a public area. Other people might stare at us weirdly. Surely it will make you feel uncomfortable, so just do it in your private room.
