On the road with Indonesia's transportation services

World Transportation Day gives us the prime opportunity to take stock and look at how far we have come over the years.

Compared to many other developing countries, Indonesia boasts surprisingly developed transportation services, although patience will stand foreign travelers in good stead for the odd hitch here and there.

If you have the funds, it is basically your choice to make in what you choose to putter around Indonesia's major cities.

Even helicopters are on offer for those with plenty of funds to spare.

PT Heli Zona is promoting helicopters from the Robinson Helicopter company in the U.S. Certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and ISO 9001-accredited, they can be used for passenger and cargo transportation, air surveys in exploration for mining and natural gas, news reports, police activities, pilot training, Search and Rescue and aerial photos. They come in two-seat and four-seat models.

And, of course, a trusty chopper can help you rise above Jakarta's maddening traffic snarls. * Taxis -- Metered taxis offering comparatively cheap prices can be flagged down around Jakarta. Caution is recommended as there has been a spate of crimes involving taxis in the past few months. But these are in the decided minority, and there are recognized taxi companies (no plugs here, but be discriminating about the "blue" vehicles which come your way). And even the best of the bunch are bound to have their oknum, those few bad apples intent on taking you for a ride.

Visitors unfamiliar with the city should note the appearance of the taxi driver (neatness, as always, counts for a lot), look for the obligatory identification card posted prominently on the dashboard and trust their intuition: if something seems amiss, politely but firmly tell the driver you want to get out. * Buses -- Vehicles, including air-conditioned vehicles, ply an extensive network in major cities like Jakarta and Surabaya. Although probably not recommended for travelers accustomed to creature comforts, it may be a pleasant and bearable adventure to try one of the familiar routes in Jakarta, including along Jl. Thamrin-Jl. Jend. Sudirman to Blok M in South Jakarta.

Best advice is to ask those who know best -- the bus passengers themselves -- on route schedules.

Buses, replete with air-conditioning, toilets and video movies, also operate to far-flung areas nationwide. They can be much cheaper to locations such as Denpasar, Bali, and Surabaya than air travel or trains, although travelers may need a day to recover from the experience. * Trains -- For those with time to spare, trains can be the most pleasant and inexpensive way to travel to other parts of Java. The trip to Bandung, West Java, costs only Rp 32,000 (US$4) for an executive-class seat; the trip also includes an eyeful of stunning natural landscapes. Sit back, take it easy and relax.

There are other regular daily services, including to Cirebon, Surabaya and Yogyakarta. Few services other than cargo operate outside of Java.

The biggest problem, however, can be obtaining a ticket. Tickets for popular routes, such as Bandung, Yogyakarta and Surabaya, are often sold out days before the departure date. Weekend seats are particularly difficult, which just leaves one wondering if the oknum are also at work in the ticketing office.

Routes are being cut and tourist arrivals are dropping, but Indonesia remains an important international crossroads for cargo and commercial air travel.

Jakarta and other major cities in the country rank prominently in global air transportation networks, both for passengers and cargo.

The capital and other major cities in the country such as Medan, Surabaya and Denpasar are served on regular routes by numerous international air carriers.

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport has both domestic and international flights. Flights also depart from the smaller Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta.