Europe Travel 101 -

Europe Pictures - European Photo Gallery - Travel Europe through Pictures  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors > Travel Photography > Europe Pictures - European Photo Gallery - Travel Europe through Pictures Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Europe for Visitors Europe Picture: Coriscan Sunset. James Martin Stay up to date! Europe Picture: Coriscan Sunset. James Martin Email to a friend Print this page European Travel Photography European Travel Photography Links Italy Pictures Making Pictures Travel Photography 101 Travel Photography Equipment Tips Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors Europe Pictures - The European Photo Gallery From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Europe travel pictures, indexed by place Photos are a great way for visual folks to do their European trip planning; they find the places they like to look at and plan their travel accordingly. Pictures below are in "slide show" format. Each group is viewed by going to the first photo and clicking next for the succeeding picture. All photos by James Martin . Austria Vienna (10 Pictures) For info see our Vienna Austria Quick Guide . Salzburg (11 Pictures) One of the most beautiful cities in the world, Salzburg has been used as a backdrop for many movies--the most famous being "The Sound of Music." Belgium Belgium Countryside - Landscape Photos (10 Pictures) The Belgian countryside has a brooding quality that I really like. Brugge (19 Pictures) Pictures of picturesque Brugge. See also Brugge Fall Colors Dinant (3 pictures) The Trench of Death WWI Monument. Ghent's Belfort - A Virtual Tour (11 pictures) Take this virtual tour of the 14th century belfort and its incredible views, then get historical and visitor information on the Ghent Belfry . Czech Republic Prague (21 pictures) Pictures taken before the European floods of 2002. England London Picture Gallery (49 pictures) A separate London Picture Gallery features pictures organized in a single (but long) walk across the city of London. Europeans - People Pictures Europeans - Pictures of European People (6 pictures) Part of Extraordinary Ordinary Europeans: A Photo Essay , this article looks at interesting people and their stories, from Kostas the protector of the goats, to festival goers in costume. France Paris Photo Gallery (21 Pictures) Visit our Paris Picture Gallery to see many of the top tourist sites in Paris. The France Picture Galleries (80 Pictures from 11 villages or regions) Germany Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial (8 pictures) Dachau Concentration Camp photographs. This series is from the Munich Germany Travel Planner . Dachau is a short daytrip from Munich, and the planner will tell you how to get there. Leipzig (12 pictures) Pictures from our Leipzig Germany Quick Guide . Nuremberg (17 pictures) Nuremberg is artistic, picturesque--a photographer's dream. The Pictures here are part of our Nuremberg Travel Planner . Romantic Road ( Information ) Rothenburg (9 pictures) Dinkelsbuhl (6 pictures) Neuschwanstein Castle (7 pictures) Hohenschwangau (7 pictures) Castle Road ( Map & Information ) Schwäbisch Hall (10 pictures) Nuremberg (17 pictures) Heidelberg (10 pictures) Greece The Greece Picture Gallery - 28 Pictures from Greece, including Delphi, Meteora, Crete, Hydra and the Corinth Canal annotated with travel information. Italy For over 200 Italy Pictures indexed by place, see the Italy Photo Gallery . Malta Ancient Temples The link leads to a feature with 11 pictures of Malta's prehistoric temples. The Netherlands Amsterdam (4 pictures) From spicy days to the rising of the moon, Amsterdam is a great place to visit. Portugal Portugal Pictures (29 pictures of Portugal's best destinations) Spain Asturias and the Picos de Europa (20 pictures) Great rural landscapes from this northern region. Barcelona (19 pictures) See some of Gaudi's best work, stop in at the Market for lunch, find a quiet place to chill out in the cathedral's cloister, and see some architectural gems. For Barcelona Travel Essentials, see our Barcelona Profile . Madrid--from Flamenco to Bullfighting to Flea Markets (12 pictures) A picture series from Ferne Arfin's review of the Hotel Reina Victoria . Merida (5 pictures) Merida is situated between Lisbon and Madrid, and was once one of the most important towns in Roman Spain. The pictures are part of our Merida Spain Visitors Guide . Salamanca (15 Pictures) Salamanca is one of my favorite cities, featuring a great and lively Plaza Mayor and an old and attractive university founded in 1218 by Alfonso IX of León. For Salamanca Traveler Essentials, see our Salamanca Profile . Semana Santa in Merida (5 pictures) If you go during Easter Week, you'll see plenty of colorful parades and festivals like this one. The head covering is called an antifaz (the piece of cloth covering the faces of nazarenos and penitents) and it's held together by the capirote (a cardboard cone inside the antifaz, keeping it upright on the head. Segovia (6 pictures) The Aqueduct, Alcazar and views of the scenic city of Segovia. For more information, go to the Segovia Travel Planner or the Segovia Links page. Granada and the Alhambra (13 Pictures) Black and white gallery. First a picture of Granada rooftops, followed by 12 pictures of the Alhambra. Switzerland Lugano (4 pictures) A pretty scenic town on a lake, Lugano is worth a visit. Turkey Pamukkale (6 pictures) Fantastic terraced basins formed by mineral springs have been used for centuries as bathing pools, plus the Roman theater nearby holds 20,000 and is in remarkable shape for a second century structure. Ephesus (3 Pictures) Fantastic ruins of the ancient Roman city are found at Ephesus. All Europe pictures by James Martin .        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There

Mexico Travel

Mexico Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links : Explore Mexico Zona Hotelera hotel resort zone, Cancun (Scott Doggett)" title="Crystal clear blue waters at Zona Hotelera hotel resort zone, Cancun (Scott Doggett)" width="159" height="113" / Mexico A country so lively that even The Day of the Dead is a hoot. At a Glance Fast Facts WORLDGUIDE Introduction Background Info See Image Gallery Events Transport Money General RELATED Thorn Tree Forum Postcards Travel Links More Places Check out our other destinations: Within Mexico Acapulco Cabo San Lucas Cancun Cozumel Mazatlan Mexico City Puerto Vallarta San José del Cabo View Map Click here Feature Attraction Popocatépetl & Iztaccíhuatl Mexico's second and third highest mountains, Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, form the eastern rim of the Valle de México. While craterless Iztaccíhuatl ... more Mexico is a traveller's paradise, crammed with a multitude of opposing identities: desert landscapes, snow-capped volcanoes, ancient ruins, teeming industrialised cities, time-warped colonial towns, glitzy resorts, lonely beaches and a world-beating collection of flora and fauna. This mix of modern and traditional, the clichéd and the surreal, is the key to Mexico's charm, whether your passion is throwing back margaritas, listening to howler monkeys, surfing the Mexican Pipeline, scrambling over Mayan ruins or expanding your Day of the Dead collection of posable skeletons. Hurricane Damage/Crime in Mexico City Mexico's Yucatan peninsular has been hit hard by Hurricane Wilma, causing widespread flooding and property damage. Travellers are advised to check local information services before venturing to the Cancun/Yucatan region as many hotels will remain closed while undergoing repairs. Crime in Mexico continues to plague travellers, particularly in Mexico City. The incidence of violent crime and, more specifically, sexual crimes against women is on the up. Taxi theft, armed theft, pickpocketing, purse snatching, credit-card fraud and ATM robbery are frequently reported. A spate of recent kidnappings have targeted travellers in the Nuevo Laredo region of northern Mexico. When To Go Mexico is enjoyable year-round, but October to May is generally the most pleasant time to visit. The May-September period can be hot and humid, particularly in the south, and inland temperatures can approach freezing during December-February. Facilities are often heavily booked during Semana Santa (the week before Easter) and Christmas/New Year, the peak domestic travel periods. Mexico's climate has something for everyone: it's hot and humid along the coastal plains, and drier and more temperate at higher elevations inland (Guadalajara or Mexico City, for example). Try to avoid Mexico's southern coast between July and September - the resorts are decidedly soggy and jam-packed, as July-August is also the peak holiday months for foreign visitors. Factoid Pyramid Envy While Egypt might be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about pyramids, Mexico is actually home to the world's largest pyramid. The Quetzalcóatl Pyramid at Cholula de Rivadiais measures 3.3 million-cubic meters (4.3 million cubic yards) compared to The Great Pyramid of Giza's 2,600,600 cubic metres (3.4 million cubic yards). SPONSORED LINKS Enquire Accomodation Reviews Find Lonely Planet author reviewed places to stay * Required Fields Country * Please select Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada China Cuba Czech Republic Denmark Egypt England Estonia Finland France Germany Hungary Iceland India Ireland Israel & the Palestinian Territories Italy Japan Malaysia Mexico Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Poland Portugal Russia Scotland South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Taiwan Thailand Turkey USA United Arab Emirates Vietnam City * Please select Travel Services · Flights · Hostels · Hotels · Travel Insurance More Services › Disclaimer: We've tried to make theinformation on this web site as accurate as possible, but it isprovided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injuryor inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information.You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety,customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before youtravel. text & images © lonely planet 2005 about us | privacy | feedback | advertising FAQs worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links

Spain Travel Guide @

spain travel tours vacations Spain Tourism Home World Tourism AfghanistanTourism - Albania Tourism - AlgeriaTourism - Andorra Tourism - AngolaTourism - Antigua and Barbuda Tourism - ArgentinaTourism - Armenia Tourism - AustraliaTourism - Austria Tourism - AzerbaijanTourism - Bahamas Tourism - BahrainTourism - Bangladesh Tourism - BarbadosTourism - Belarus Tourism - BelgiumTourism - Belize Tourism - BhutanTourism - Bolivia Tourism - Bosniaand Herzegovina Tourism - BotswanaTourism - Brazil Tourism - BritishVirgin Islands Tourism - BulgariaTourism - Cambodia Tourism - Canada Tourism - CaymanIslands Tourism - Chad Tourism - ChileTourism - China Tourism - ColombiaTourism - Comoros Tourism - CroatiaTourism - Cuba Tourism - CyprusTourism - Czech Republic Tourism - DominicaTourism - Dominican Republic Tourism - DenmarkTourism - Ecuador Tourism - EgyptTourism - El Salvador Tourism - EstoniaTourism - Ethiopia Tourism - FijiTourism - Finland Tourism - FranceTourism - Georgia Tourism - GermanyTourism - Ghana Tourism - GreeceTourism - Grenada Tourism - GuyanaTourism - Haiti Tourism - HondurasTourism - Hungary Tourism - IcelandTourism - India Tourism - IndonesiaTourism - Iraq Tourism - IranTourism - Ireland Tourism - IsraelTourism - Italy Tourism - IvoryCoast Tourism - JamaicaTourism - Japan Tourism - Jordan Tourism - KazakstanTourism - Kuwait Tourism - KyrgyzstanTourism - Laos Tourism - LatviaTourism - Lebanon Tourism - LibyaTourism - Lithuania Tourism - LuxembourgTourism - Madagascar Tourism - MaldivesTourism - Mauritania Tourism - MauritiusTourism - Mexico Tourism - MoldovaTourism - Mongolia Tourism - NepalTourism - Netherlands Tourism - NewZealand Tourism - Nicaragua Tourism - NigeriaTourism - North Korea Tourism - NorwayTourism - Oman Tourism - PakistanTourism - Panama Tourism - PapuaNew Guinea Tourism - Paraguay Tourism - PeruTourism - Philippines Tourism - PolandTourism - Portugal Tourism - QatarTourism - Romania Tourism - RussiaTourism - Saudi Arabia Tourism - SerbiaTourism - Seychelles Tourism - SingaporeTourism - Slovakia Tourism - SloveniaTourism - Somalia Tourism - SouthAfrica Tourism - South KoreaTourism - Spain Tourism - Sri Lanka Tourism - St.Kitts and Nevis Tourism - St. LuciaTourism - Sudan Tourism - Sweden Tourism - SwitzerlandTourism - Syria Tourism - TajikistanTourism - Thailand Tourism - Trinidadand Tobago Tourism - Turkey Tourism - TurkmenistanTourism - Turks and Caicos IslandsTourism - Uganda Tourism - United Arab Emirates Tourism - UnitedKingdom Tourism - United StatesTourism - Uruguay Tourism - Uzbekistan Tourism - VenezuelaTourism - Vietnam Tourism Due to the nature of the topic and the wide range of information available, in order to cover only a tiny bit of it properly, some of the websites included here may have a commercial element in addition to the excellent information they provide. Such inclusion does not constitute an endorsement of product or service by archaeolink.com. Sites are included for information value only. The number of sites available online for this topic is enormous. This site can not and does not index all travel resources for a country. These "tourism" pages are basically designed as a supplement to the Spain Social Studies links rather than for the avid business or pleasure traveler. For those of you for whom this "supplementary" material is not enough, the following does provide some idea of what is available online and will hopefully be a good starting point for a more serious search. Discover Spain with the Tourist Office of Spain __ Official website for travel and tourism information. You will fina all you need to know to plan a great Spanish getaway. - illustrated - From Government of Spain - http://www.spaintour.com/indexe.html IgoUgo: Spain Tourism, Things To Do In Spain __ You will find a series of journals written by real travelers giving their impressions and recommendations. - illustrated - From igougo.com - http://www.igougo.com/planning/journalRegion.asp?LocationID=289 Spain __ "The exuberance of the Spaniards and the glorious predictability of the summer weather have been attracting refugees from northern Europe's damp and clammy lands for decades, but Spain is much more than the Costa del Sol and warm English beer. It is drenched in the historical pageantry of empire and conquistadors, the artistic legacy of Goya, Velzquez, Picasso and Dal, and the romance of Don Quijote, Papa Hemingway and the International Brigades." History, culture, statistics and more. - illustrated - From Lonely Planet - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/spain/ Spain Tourism __ General website covering many aspects of travel in Spain. Beaches, nature, area guide and more. - illustrated - From spain-info.com - http://www.spain-info.com/tourism_index.htm Spain Travel Guide @ TravelNotes.org __ "...Culture and summer sun by the sea, with copious quantities of sex, and sangria stirred in for good measure. Find out more about Spain." - From TravelNotes.org - http://www.travelnotes.org/Europe/spain.htm Web archaeolink.com Top of Page

South America Travel

South America Travel | Panama, Argentina, Brazil & Chile | iExplore.com FORBES' #1 ADVENTURE TRAVEL SITE 5 YEARS IN A ROW — TIME MAGAZINE TOP 50 Keyword Search: -- Home Trip Finder Travel Guides Community Special Offers Store My iExplore advertisement -- Home Travel Guides Central and South America The dense Amazon rainforest . The jagged spires of the Andes Mountains . Tropical beaches. Towering waterfalls. With this kind of nature all around, it's no wonder why Central and South America have become nearly synonymous with ecotours . The cloud forests of Costa Rica , the birds and animals of Belize , the otherworldly Amazon rainforest , Ecuador's Galapagos Islands , Argentina's 22,834-foot Mount Aconcagua , Chile's Class V Rio Futaleufu , Mayan ruins hidden in the jungles of Guatemala , Peru's Machu Picchu ... There is an endless variety of things to see and do in Central and South America. Countries Argentina Belize Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Costa Rica Ecuador El Salvador Falkland Islands French Guiana Galapagos Islands Guatemala Guyana Honduras Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Suriname Uruguay Venezuela Tour Spotlight iExplore Galapagos - Resort Based Adventure 600 miles off the South American coast of Ecuador, is a crown jewel of the natural world... Trip Overview Trip Itinerary Departure Dates Ecuador Photos Ecuador Travel Guide Destination Spotlight Venezuela Venezuela is bordered by the Caribbean, Guyana, the Atlantic Ocean, Brazil and Colombia. Venezuela offers the tourist a great variety of... Overview Where To Go Travel Tips Venezuela Trips Venezuela Photos advertisement Sponsored Listings ( Add your listing ) Advertisement -- advertisement Why iExplore? About Us Advertise Site Map Privacy Policy Travel Agents Contact Us © 2005 Adventure Travel with iExplore --

Asia Travel || Indonesia

Travel Information of Indonesia Indonesia Country and Travel Information Climate || Visas || Customs || Transport || Currency || Tipping || Clothing Office hours || Food || Shopping || Culture || Public holidays Tourist Destinations || Map of Indonesia Introduction The Republic of Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago and is the fifth most populous country, with 17,700 islands streching 5,120 kms (3,200 miles) between Australia and the Asian mainland. Population and Language 200 million people are distributed throughout 27 provinces. However, 55% of these people are concentrated on Java, Bali and Madura, on only 7% of the total area. Climate A tropical country, with humidity ranging from 69% - 95%, there are two seasons: Dry Season, from May to October and Wet Season, from November to April. It should be noted that occasional showers do occur during the dry season; similarly, during the "rainy" season it is more likely that heavy tropical down-pours are interspersed with sunshine. Average temperatures range f rom 68 to 86 or 20 to 30C . Passport and Visas Visitors must arrive in Indonesia with passports valid for at least six months after arrival and with onward or return tickets. Visas are not required for nationals of: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, New Zealand, Singapore,South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America and West Germany. A non-extendable tourist pass for citizens of these is issued for a maximum of 60 days with entry and departure through: Airports: Medan, Batam, Pekanbaru, Padang, Jakarta, Bali, Manado, Ambon, Biak,Ku pang, Pontianak, Balikpapan and Surabaya; Seaports: Medan, Batam, Jakarta, Surabaya, Semarang, Riau, Bali, Manado, and Ambon. Through other ports, a visa is required. Nationals of countries not listed above can obtain 30-day tourist visas from any Indonesian embassy or consulate abroad. Health Certificates International certificates for smallpox and cholera are not required and yellow fever vaccination are necessary only for visitors coming from infected areas. Customs Each adult is permitted to bring, on entry, a maximum of two litres of alcoholic beverages, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 grams of tobacco and a reasonable quantity of perfume. Photographic equipment and typewriters must be declared and are admitted provided they are taken out on departure. Prohibited from entry are the following items: narcotics, arms and ammunition, TV sets, radio and radio casette recorders, pornography, fresh fruit, printed matters in Chinese characters and Chinese medicine. All movie films and video casettes will have to be deposited for review by the Film Censor Board. There is no restriction on import and export of foreign currencies and travellers cheque; however, import or export Indonesia currency exceeding Rp 50,000,- is prohibited. Airport Tax Airport tax levied on passengers for international travel is Rp 17,000,-. While for travel within Indonesia it varies from one region to another with an average of Rp 3,500,- for each departure. Top Transportation An airconditioned airport-hotel shuttle service, operates frequently scheduled trips to/from major hotels to coincide with flights from Jakarta's international airport at a cost of approx Rp 4,000,per person. Taxis at a higher rate, are also available with metered taxis operating only in Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Semarang and Solo. Elsewhere, other forms of transportation, which required setting the fare in advance, include minicars for two passengers, "bemos" or small buses covering regular routes and "becaks" powered by human energy. Trains operate in Java and parts of Sumatra. Garuda Indonesia has an extensive networkof dailyflights toallcitiesinthe 27 provinces. These flights are supplemented by domestic air services on Merpati, Nusantara, Mandala and Bouraq . Currency The local currency is the Rupiah. Foreign currencies, either banknotes or travellers cheques, are easily exchangedatbanks and moneychangers in major tourist destinations. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels and restaurants in main cities. It is advisable to carry sufficient amounts of Rupiah when travelling to smaller towns or outer provinces. Tipping Major hotels add a 10% service charge to bills. Where it is not included a tip of between 5% to 10% of the bill would be appropriate if service is satisfactory. Airport poterage is Rp 500,- for a small bag and Rp 1,000,- if weighing more than 20 kg. Tipping taxi and hire-car drivers is not mandatory, but Rp 500,would be sufficient for a taxi driver, but more for a hire-car driver. Clothing Dress is generally informal in Indonesia. Light fabrics are recommendeddue to the warm, humid climate. For men, a jacket and tie is considered appropriate when making officials calls or non formal occasions. Or, follow local custom by wearing a long-sleeve batik shirt. It is recommended to bring a sweater or light jacket for travel to mountain areas. Shorts and beachwear are not considered appropriate except at sports facilities and on the beaches, and never appropriate for visits to temples, mosques and other places of worship. Top Office Hours Government offices: Monday - Thursday 8 am to 3 pm Friday 8 am to 11.30 am Saturday Saturday 8 am to 2 pm Business offices Monday - Friday 8 or 9 am to 4 or 5 pm Some offices are open half day on Saturday. Banks: Monday - Friday 8 am to 3 pm Food The main staple food of the majority of the population is rice. Coconut milk and hot chili peppers are popular cooking ingredients nationwide. Tastes range from very spicy dishes of meat; fish and vegetables to those that are quite sweet. The most popular dishes are "nasi goreng" (fried rice) which is otten served for breakfast, lunch or dinner, "satay" barbequed meat or chicken on skewers and "gado-gado", a vegetable salad with a pean ut sauce.All are most compatible with internationaltastes. Inthemaintouristcenters and cities, restaurants catering to international visitors are many, from fine continental grill rooms to Japanese specialty restaurants. Chinese restaurants are found in all towns throughout Indonesia. Tropical and subtropical fruits are available yearround. Bottled drinking water can be purchased everywhere. Shopping Many of Indonesia's main cities have department stores, supermarkets and large shopping complexes, open generally from 9 am to 8 pm, where fixed prices prevail. In local markets and small shops bargaining is the rule. Time Indonesia streches across three time zones:Western Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, West and Cen tral Kalimantan) + 7 GMTCentral Indonesia (Bali, South and East Kalimantan, Sula wesi, Nusa Teng gara) + 8 GMTEast Indonesia (Maluku and Irian Jaya) , +9 GMT Electricity Most hotels use 220 volts 50 cycles and two-pronged plugs. However it is not uncommon to find some hotels using 110 volts, particularly in the provinces. Check before using an appliance. Some hotels supply adaptors on request. Communication Long distance calls within Indonesia may be made by direct dialing through International Direct Dial (IDD) in major cities or through operator-assisted calls. Telex and fax services are readily available in major hotels and larger cities. Top Culture and Traditions Indonesians are a very friendly and polite people. Handshaking is customary, for both men and women, on introduction and greeting, smiling is a national characteristics. The population is predominantly Moslem. Nevertheless, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and other religions are freely practiced. Traditional customs form a major part of family and community life. The use of the left hand to give or receive is considered ill-mannered. Likewise crooking your finger to call someone is impolite. Public Holidays January 1 New Year Feb 20, 21 Idul Fitri Festival March 21 Seclusion Day / Saba New Year April 5 Good Friday April 28 Idul Adha Great Day May 16 Ascention day of Christ May 19 Hijriah New Year June 2 Waisak Day July 28 Maulid of Prophet Mumammad August 17 National Independence Day Dec 8 Isra Miraj of Prophet Muhammad December 25 Christmas Day Top Asia Travel || Indonesia Hotel and Resorts