travel warnings

I think the Australian government is really nice by providing their citizen with a dedicated website just for travelling. If you guys (and girls) don't know, the website is http://www.smartraveller.gov.au. And basically you can research on a country or two over there. It will tell you the latest threats, dangers in a particular country and even, in some cases, intel reports. In RARE cases (like Indonesia), the government even puts in rumour threat because they want Australian citizen to be careful.

This website is constantly updated and you can even subscribe to their newsletter that will tell you if there is an update on your favourite country (or all countries).

Anyways, today the government (Australian) has updated its travel warnings to Indonesia (AGAIN). It was updated with the situation in Sulawesi. Also, it is advising Australians to be careful with petty crimes in Indonesia.

Isn't that amazing ? Another country finally recognize that Indonesia has this STUPID problems with crimes. Just read the official statement from the website.

Petty crime is common and robberies are increasing. Credit card and ATM fraud is on the increase. In some cases, violence has been used. Thieves on motorcycles commit 'snatch theft' where they speed to a victim from behind and snatch their handbag. Thefts and robberies from cars stopped at traffic lights are increasing.

There have been reports of tourists being robbed after bringing back visitors to their hotel rooms. In some cases, the victims' drinks were spiked.

In and around Jakarta tourists have been robbed when they have stopped to repair car tyres that have been deliberately punctured by criminals.

Only use official taxi companies in Indonesia as foreigners travelling with unreputable taxi companies have been threatened and assaulted. Reputable taxi companies have counters inside the airport and can be booked by phone or from stands at major hotels.

If you are an Indonesian and you're reading this, you will want to laugh and be sad at the same time. Isn't this pathetic ? How would you expect people to come to Indonesia if they read this ?

Mr. President please read this and FIX IT. Bring some goddamn army and start the 'cleaning up' process. As I always say, Indonesia has more than 200 million people. If 10 thousand dumb, stupid people are gone, it wouldn't hurt the population at all....(relax...stay calm....breathe..calm down).

Ok, that's a bit mean but what I'm trying to say is that these kind of crimes have been going on for too long. It has been like that ever since I was in high school. And now, 10 years later, it's getting worse.

When my dad was here a few weeks ago, he brought this book from Jakarta. The titled was "A collection of fraud cases". Basically, the book collects all the fraud crimes that are known. Imagine that, the author can make a book that is as thick as a Harry Potter's first book but the content is all CRIMES. Have we got that many crimes ? Isn't that revolting ?

Yesterday, I was just telling my Australian friends about this and they just cannot believe it. It seemed like I was telling them the story of some movie or something. Well, I wouldn't blame them. Coming from a nice and safe country, who would believe that people can be hypnotised (like everybody's David Copperfield), cars vandalised, lottery scam, etc, etc. The list just goes on.

So, I can only say to all of you foreigners that are going to Indonesia, please be careful and stay alert. And for you who is thinking of going to Indonesia, think again.