• Mission Dates are Tuesday 7 July through Wednesday 15 July.

• Flights and Travel
  First is the flights to Indonesia. To get to Jakarta, we tend to transit through Sydney or Melbourne. Flight time between Australia and Indonesia is around 7.0hrs. The return flight from Jakarta is an overnight flight. Overnight travel from Indonesia tends to start in the afternoon, flying out in the evening..

• Flight options are usually Qantas, Singapore, Malaysian or Garuda when flying into Jakarta.

• Qantas and Garuda transit through Melbourne or Sydney, and then onto Jakarta

• Singapore and Malaysian depart from Adelaide and transit through Singapore or KL respectively.

• A riskier yet cheaper and faster alternative is to fly Air Asia or Jetstar to Bali, and then onto Jakarta.

• For those considering a holiday connected with the mission trip, there are always cheap Jetstar options from Adelaide to Bali, and then local flights from Bali to Jakarta. However there is no shortage of alternative transfer options which can be worked through depending on your travel plans.

• Transfers from the Airport to accommodation and to Bukit Karmel are handled by Bukit Karmel. The travel time from Jakarta (CGK) airport to Bukit Karmel is 2-3hrs depending on traffic.

Flight Costs

• Flight costs tend to amount between $1050 to $1450pp

Time zone & weather.

• Travelling to Indonesia in July, the time difference is 2.5hrs. In other words, Adelaide is ahead 2.5hrs.

• Weather in Jakarta is warm, tropical and humid. See current weather here via BBC. And average weather in July here.

What is needed before you leave.

Things you need to be able to travel for mission:

• Valid passport with at least 6 months of validity

• Comprehensive travel insurance, must be arranged yourself, and will cost approximately $120.

• Vaccinations and medical clearance to travel, as determined in consultation with your GP

• As at July 2023, there are no COVID requirements.

• $55-60AUD for immigration tourist VISA upon arrival. This can be done online, and is known as an e-Visa on Arrival (e-VOA)

• Complete a health declaration online as part of the All Indonesia Arrival Card and within 72 hours (3 days) of your travel to Indonesia.

• Signed Mission Trip Consent & Commitment form

• Attend team meetings prior to leaving which cover cultural and language briefings, trip information, personal preparation and shared prayer

And if you are willing, we ask every member to make available 5-10kg of checkin luggage space to transport supplies from Australia to Bukit Karmel.

• Freight is very expensive and so every person travelling to Bukit Karmel helps to move donated and purchased items from Australia to Jakarta.

• Such items include stationery, materials, clothing, educational products, books - which we provide you to inspect, and pack yourself.

Accommodation, Food & Incidental Costs ($AUD).

• Hotel accommodation is hosted at Bigland Hotel in Bogor, which is owned by a member of the Bukit Karmel Governance Board.

• Approximate costs for accommodation is around $70-80 per night, or $30-40pp per night for twin share. These costs include breakfast each morning.

• Allow daily costs of $10pp which we contribute to Bukit Karmel for our food, and transport to and from Bukit Karmel

• We also contribute $30pp for the airport transfer from CGK to Bukit Karmel Bogor

Mission Trip Cost Summary ($AUD).

• Expected costs mission approximately $2100. Personal costs tend to be anywhere from from $200 and up.

• Fixed costs are Flights (~$1300), Visa ($60) and Airport Transfers ($30)

• Accommodation per day is ($70-80), Bukit Karmel Transfer per day ($10)

• Personal costs include travel insurance ($120), gifts ($), giving ($), spending($)

‘Giving’ here relates to being a blessing to the staff and ministry at Bukit Karmel. Giving is to be through the Bukit Karmel leadership to avoid any conflict after we leave.

Exchange rate and cost of goods.

Costs for food and accommodation, most clothes and labour based services are comparatively low when compared to Australia.

However other items like electronic equipment, petrol and imported goods is parity with Australia.

The Australian dollar fetches a strong exchange.

• $1AUD = 10,000 Rupiah and that provides a rough guide for exchanges.

• In order words, 1,000,000 Rupiah = 100 Aussie dollars

• The number of zero’s is hard for us to work through at first - but its four decimal points to the left!

• See exchange rates here.

Government advisories.

• Smart Traveller has advisories for Indonesia here.

• DFAT advice can be found here.

• Australian Embassy details can be found here.

What do I pack and bring.

• Travel light but travel well. Travelling can be tricky at a local level where space is at a minimum and distances long.

• Light coloured, loose-fitting clothing. Cotton clothing are easy to wash and carry.

• Modest clothing is important. Sunday Services are more formal in attire.

• Bathers and swim gear can be handy.

• Toiletries like soap, toothpaste, deodorant, shavers, etc.

• A roll of toilet paper is recommended, it can help in a variety of ways, for all those tricky moments!

• Journal book or app, pen etc.

• A portable battery is helpful for your electronics while out and about during the day.

• Basic medicinals, including sunscreen, panadol, savlon, bandaids, imodium and hygiene products.

• Personal prescribed meds should have clear writing on packets, and doctors prescription also. Indonesia has strict drug laws so bring a doctors note with any prescribed medication that is ‘complex’. And if you are in doubt, check with your GP.

• Insect repellent (tropical strength) is important.

• Ensure you have locks for your baggage and backpacks so that your things are secure. Remember to adequately label all your supplies.

• 'Zip lock bags' or laundry mesh bags are very useful to compartmentalise your gear.

• A bath towel and single sheet can prove handy for swimming, bathing and sleeping.

• A torch can be handy but mostly your phone handset will suffice.

• Gifts from Australia to share.

• Leave most of your jewellery and other values home!

Mobile Phones and Data/Call Access.

• Your phone will provide an alarm and torch and the time!

• Access to Wifi is reasonable in the hotel, but not easily available at Bukit Karmel.

• The best way to communicate is using data based services. This includes emails, web surfing and using ‘data’ to video or voice call via messenger or whatsapp or facetime etc.

• Access to the local phone network can be pre-purchased from Australia in the form of a sim card or e-sim that allows access to the local Indonesian Mobile network.

• International roaming on your own Australian phone plan is likely to be very expensive so be cautious and beware, but some providers like vodafone offer $5 per day to roam.

Practical Advice.

• A single case with wheels is advised, with a backpack which you can use for carryon and daily movement.

• Light-weight long pants and long-sleeved shirts, as well as a hat, are especially recommended, for both modesty reasons and to protect yourself from diseases you can be exposed to through insect bites.

• Casual but presentable clothing should be worn for meetings/Bible studies.

• Female bathing costumes need to be under T-shirts and shorts. When in public, women should avoid wearing camisoles, tank tops or halter tops that bare their shoulders. And avoid short shorts or miniskirts in general.

• Be prepared to hand wash your own laundry. Take a few pegs and some coat hangers use as a clothes line. The Hotel can wash your clothes, and they usually have deals like $5 for 5 items.

• A cross-cultural experience is about leaving our western lifestyle and entering into another world; a different world. This affects our sleeping and bathing arrangements, taste buds, and tests our attitude!

• Your Backpack / Day Bag will rarely leave your side, whether you're travelling, attending meetings or on site at Bukit Karmel. You'll carry your every-day items in it including water bottle, bible and camera, so you'll need to bring something that is both appropriate and comfortable. Some backpacks have a detachable day pack which is ideal.

• Money Bags and belts are a good way of stashing your cash. 'Bum bags' can be a target for fast hands wanting fast cash.

Food Advice.

• Drink only bottled water and beware ice unless it is from a hotel.

• Be cautious of street food. Our Adelaide stomach’s are too refined to handle some of the local bugs.

• Hotel and restaurants are normally your best options, but feel free to ask for advice.

• Meals served at Bukit Karmel are already considerate of visitors and safe to eat.

• It always pays to have something like imodium on standby…but not too much.