Indonesia

[JA]

Is anyone here familiar with Indonesia?  

I had met this woman a year ago and our online relationship has grown to the point where I really want to meet her in person.  The only thing holding me back is her location.  She's in a predominantly muslim country.  There is a travel advisory on Indonesia but it mostly refers to the smaller islands.  She lives outside Surabaya.  

Does anyone here know how safe Indonesia is?  

P.S. I know my profile says I'm interested in East Europe but that's really not an issue for me.  I don't care as much where she's from as her character.

[JA]

... in response to Indonesia, posted by JA on Jul 21, 2002

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[BradUSA]

... in response to Indonesia, posted by JA on Jul 21, 2002

I traveled to Indonesia last year to meet a girl in Jakarta.  I felt pretty secure for most of my trip except for the earliest moments in the airport after arriving.  I was frantically trying to find her, but she was nowhere in sight.  During that time, I was being harrassed by a solicitor in the airport who was trying to sell me a phone card.  I was frustrated until I finally saw the girl in the crowd.  For the rest of the trip, I relied on her to show me the way around.  She knew where it would be safe for me.

I don't know where you are planning to go in Indo, but I believe that Jakarta or another metropolitan area would be safe if the woman you want to meet knows the place well and can help you avoid undesirable spots.  As for the travel advisory, there was a travel advisory when I took my trip last year.  It's my understanding that the U.S. State Department has advised Americans to avoid nonessential travel to Indonesia for YEARS.  New travel warnings for Indonesia are released from time to time which update the details of specific threats or risks to Americans who would travel there.

I would encourage you to take the trip if you really feel there is a potential for your relationship to get serious.  Remember that you are trying to find someone with whom you could share the rest of your life with.  What other life decisions are more important that that?  I decided, for myself, that the chance to find true love outweighs the risks of traveling to a third world nation.  I've been alone for too long to allow a relatively small risk stop me from pursuing my dreams.

Hope this helps, and good luck to you!

[BrianN]

... in response to Re: Indonesia, posted by BradUSA on Jul 22, 2002

In the early 80's, my ship was enroute fm PI to New Guinea, and a navy LSD boat was trying to be (basically) confiscated by some radical crap regime that was going on there.  We were diverted immediately to go help (ie, blow their sorry ases out of the water if they dare try anything like that), but the state dept apparently got it fixed before anything happened.

However, there is no substitute for proper vigilance.

Ignorance will kill you even in downtown usa.  Anywhere you go... watch your BUTT, and read the state dept travel advisories, as bland and "mediocre sounding" as they may seem.

[The Walker]

... in response to Indonesia, posted by JA on Jul 21, 2002


If she, herself, is anything other than a Muslim in name only you had better be prepared to convert. Islamic women are forbidden to marry outside the faith.

For what is it is worth, right now I would not travel outside Jakarta. The same blend that did the kidnapping in the Philippines us active in Indonesia and they have a lot more popular support in Indinesia. YMMV. Talk to State and ask them what they think.

Don

[William]

... in response to Re: Indonesia, posted by The Walker on Jul 21, 2002

What Walker says is correct. Not only will you have to convert to the Moslem religion (even if in name only) you will also have to.. ummm...get things shortened up.
Snip snip!!

[JA]

... in response to Re: Re: Indonesia, posted by William on Jul 21, 2002

She's not muslim.  I would never get involved with one for exactly the reason you mention.  It's not that Islam is any worse than Christianity but it is more demanding and seems to be more prone to creating zealots.

[outwest77]

... in response to Indonesia, posted by JA on Jul 21, 2002

My family and friends all thought i was nuts to go to the philippines this past april
"after all, There are americans being kidnapped there!"
its on all the TV STATIONs.

They were convinced i was in mortal danger by going to
southeast asia, expecially the phils.

When i went, i never felt in danger, it is much more
dangerous driving my car in my city, i never saw a police car going screaming by, never saw a car wreck, or ambulance.
in Manila, a city of 12 million.
By comparison my city of 500 thousand, i see police cars
screaming by regularly, murders and drive by shootings on tv every day.............I laughed when i got back at thier
statements............i said , hey , people in the phils are too busy earning a living to be out there causing as much trouble as the average american citizen faces daily.

Go see your GF and have a wonderful time, you will be safe
happy, and you wont believe that you waited so long to go and you wont be able to wait till the next trip like me.

Im going next month again. cant wait.

[Stephen]

... in response to dont' llsten to your family and friends, posted by outwest77 on Jul 21, 2002

Say Outwest:

How are things going with your gal over there?  Are you still going forward?

When you get ready to post your story and photos I'm anxious to read it.

But you do it on your time schedules.

Best wishes.

Stephen

[outwest77]

... in response to Re: dont' llsten to your family and frie..., posted by Stephen on Jul 21, 2002

Well things are going well as can be expected with a  long
distance relationship, cant wait to go back. As for the
story pics etc dont have a scanner yet but lets just say
the trip was great and i love the phils , maybe next trip
i will be able to post some pics etc, thanks for the response.

[Bear]

... in response to Indonesia, posted by JA on Jul 21, 2002

My attitude about all this "terrorism" is how different is it than the American 20's or the gangs that permeate a lot of cities or the drugs and their influence on different groups.  Those are all things right here at home.  Is it worse anywhere else in the world?  I think not.  Not all Muslims are bad but the info they get on us is very biased and like most people they are too lazy to check out the bogus info.  How many people have read the Bible much less the Quoran yet millions claim to live by them and haven't a clue what it really says in them.

Don't let fear run your life.

Bear and Honey