A Very Special Indonesia Expedition 

World Class Wildlife Experiences!

Mountain scene (photo copyright Mike Jarvis)

INDONESIA - Information and Travel Notes

Imagine following in the footsteps of such distinguished forbears as Marco Polo, Ferdinand Magellan, Captain Cook and the famous Victorian naturalist, Alfred Russell Wallace. Wallace observed that the fauna and flora of the islands of Western Indonesia (Sumatra, Borneo, Java and Bali) composed almost entirely Malaysian elements whereas far to the east, New Guinea and its satellite islands harboured an essentially Australian fauna and flora. However, it is the myriad of oceanic islands, sandwiched between these two continental island groups that are largely responsible for Indonesia's remarkable plethora of avian endemics. Known, appropriately, as Wallacea the archipelago includes such fascinating islands as Sulawesi (The Celebes), Halmahera, Seram, Buru, Sumba, Timor, Flores and Komodo. This specially designed bespoke tour will focus on the remarkable island of Sulawesi, Halmahera and the western tip of New Guinea and the wonderfully exciting raft of endemic birds and mammals that inhabit these lands. 

Girding the equator like a string of emeralds the Spice Islands (known today as the Republic of Indonesia) comprise one of the most extraordinary collections of places, peoples, sights, sounds, tastes and natural wonders on our planet. Known to naturalists and anthropologists as the Malay Archipelago, Indonesia encompasses 17,000+ islands ranging almost 6,000 kilometres from the northern tip of unruly Sumatra across some of the world's last extensive areas of tropical rainforest to the rarely explored mountains of Papua and West Papua and its spectacular glaciers, which define the border with neighbouring Papua New Guinea. The world's sixth largest nation, Indonesia supports c. 12% of the Earth's tropical forests and a vast storehouse of biological wonders and ethnographic curiosities. Of special interest to us, Indonesia hosts a total of some 1700 species of birds including circa 450 endemics; at least 140 of which are considered threatened. 

Crossing Wallace's line we will commence our exploration of the oceanic realm known as Wallacea. Clearly there are too many islands to visit in one go so this time we will focus our attentions on the strangely shaped and almost mythical island of Sulawesi, Halmahera and the western tip of the giant island of New Guinea. The birds of these islands are very different from the Bornean avifauna immediately to the west. And what is more they harbor some wonderfully exotic birds and mammals including several truly spectacular birds of paradise. Our exploration of these fabulous lands will be greatly enhanced by David’s beautifully illustrated Guide to the Birds of Wallacea, the new New Guinea field guide and the recently published field guide to the birds of the Indonesian Archipelago.  

TOUR LEADERS: David Bishop and Mike Jarvis

David Bishop loves his vocation and cannot imagine anything better than exploring wild and beautiful places in Asia and the Pacific in the company of friends and clients. He has spent much of the past 44 years studying the birds and natural history of Asia and the Oriental region, New Guinea, the Southwest Pacific and, more recently, little-known parts of Africa. David was once a police officer amid the streets of London’s West End, but has emerged as an acknowledged authority on the birds of these exotic regions. His enthusiasm for these places and their birds is contagious. This knowledge and enthusiasm along with his skills in locating wildlife, sharing what he sees with others, and conversing with local people in their native language, ensures you the very finest quality tour. David has undertaken a number of expeditions to survey the birds and other wildlife of previously unexplored regions throughout Indonesia, New Guinea (sometimes together with Professor Jared Diamond) and the Oriental Region. This has resulted in a number of exciting discoveries and rediscoveries including the incomparable Wallace’s Standardwing, an especially  bizarre bird-of-paradise. Some of the results of this work, together with observations gained during the tours David leads, have been published in the scientific and semi-popular literature to which David is a regular contributor. In July 1997, David, together with Brian Coates, published A Guide to the Birds of Wallacea (Sulawesi, the Moluccas, and Lesser Sundas), and David is currently working on other book projects. David lives with his wife, a koala or two, and a mob of kangaroos on a lovely wooded property on the outskirts of the university town of Armidale, NSW, Australia. David is an avid photographer and his images can increasingly be seen in the pages of wildlife publications. David first explored Indonesia in 1981 and then lived there for five years before moving to Australia. David visits Indonesia at least once a year for the purposes of birding and exploration.

A word about our accommodations: Without doubt, Sulawesi is one of the most attractive islands in the Indonesian Archipelago. With spectacular scenery and a host of endemic and near-endemic birds, it is a place that all serious birders and naturalists must visit. However, in the past the very poor quality of hotels at almost all the birding spots made many people think twice about visiting this country, and many simply stayed away. David Bishop Bird Tours has made a special effort to seek out better accommodations and happily this has been largely successful. We will commence our expedition with a night in a lovely lodge settled in the cool of the uplands of northeast Sulawesi. The following few nights will be based at a very comfortable local guesthouse right in the midst of the birding, with a/c, western bathroom facilities and good food. The night before we fly to Ternate will be at a very attractive four-star hotel in Manado. On the island of Halmahera we will stay at a superb facility located on the east coast and surrounded by gorgeous forest and super bio-diverse coral reefs. Sorong at the western tip of New Guinea hosts several 3-4 star hotels with all the associated good facilities. On the island of Waigeo we will stay at a local guesthouse, which has air-conditioning, a western bathroom and comfortable bedroom and is close to the the lodges private beach.

We will do our utmost to make your experience comfortable as possible, but please do not always expect a/c, flat screen televisions, massages, and wireless internet at some of the more out of the way locations.

Please Note:

• It can be very hot in some areas, especially in lowland areas whilst the highland areas can get cold, especially at night. Rain may also be experienced anywhere at any time. Most of our time will best spent in hot/warm steamy lowlands J

• The food, away from our hotels, which have extensive buffets, is limited. If at all possible we will provide al fresco meals in the field.
• Other realities of travel in Indonesia are that some days involve long drives. Parts of the drives are through partially settled landscapes but much of time will be through forested or natural and semi-natural environments. There is usually something going on out the window typically more often cultural rather than natural.
• Beverages are limited: Diet soft drinks are generally NOT available away from the big towns. The most common types of beverage are soft drinks, decent beer, sparkling and regular bottled drinking water.

EXTRA ARRANGEMENTS: Should you wish to make arrangements to arrive early or extend your stay, please let us know as soon as possible prior to your departure date. We can very easily make hotel arrangements, often at a group rate, if we receive your request with enough advance time.

BAGGAGE: While on this tour, you will be in a four-wheel drive vehicle or Mini-bus sometimes for extended drives. As we are only a very small group there should be plenty of room so please feel free to bring whatever baggage you deem necessary.

CLIMATE: We should expect a range of temperature and weather conditions over the course of the trip, with considerable variety possible from one day to the next. Generally, it will be deliciously cool in the morning hours, but becoming warm-to-hot and humid during the midday and afternoon. Temperatures will range from the 70s to the low 90s. As Indonesia is a tropical location, rain is an ever-present possibility. Precipitation usually occurs in the form of heavy but short-lived showers. Sulawesi, Ternate, Halmahera, and New Guinea generally have a warm to hot, humid climate in the lowlands up to circa 3,000 ft. Above that elevation the climate will be much less hot and humid. However, night temperatures are notably cooler reaching the low forties. We can expect some showers and misty weather at a few locations.

CLOTHING: Long-sleeved and lightweight blouses or shirts and slacks are appropriate, with a sweater or light jacket for the evening, and a thermal top for "layering” or sleeping in on cool nights. Neutral colors such as gray, khaki and tan are best for field wear (bright colors and patterns, including white, can spook the birds and animals). Clothing that can be easily rinsed out and that dries quickly is helpful. Dress will be casual throughout the tour. Something a little dressier for our hotel in Singapore, Manado and Sorong would be a good idea. You cannot get by with light footgear. You will most certainly want to have hiking boots for most of the walking that we will be doing. However, rubber sandals (fipflops) are useful for wearing in the room and in the shower in the more rustic accommodations and light pair of ‘training shoes’ are good for when you are not hiking. I like a pair of shorts for around camp BUT in the field stick to long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Do remember that Indonesia is a fairly conservative country with regards dress and that women in particular are expected to dress modestly (despite what you may sometimes encounter!).

CURRENCY: Indonesian Rupiah. The official currency of Indonesia is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). As of 19^th November 2019, the conversion rate is 1 USD = 14,084.00 IDR. You can check the latest currency conversion rate by visiting “XE- The World’s Favorite Currency Site” at: http://www.xe.com/.

Currency can be exchanged at the airport banks, major hotels and commercial moneychangers. Best to change what you think you will need upon arrival. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted, while American Express has limited acceptance. Please note that traveller’s checks are no longer accepted (and we suggest that you do NOT use them). ATM machines are widely available if you need additional cash.

DOCUMENTS: A passport valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure is required for United States citizens to enter Indonesia. Citizens of the USA, UK, and Australia can obtain a one-month tourist visa upon arrival at the international airport in Jakarta and Manado. A yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required if entering from an infected area. It is very important to have your passport and money with you at all times. Suggestions for doing so are a money belt or a pouch with a shoulder strap to be worn on your side or around your neck. We caution against carrying these in a purse or daypack. It is also wise to carry a copy of your passport information pages in a separate piece of luggage.

EQUIPMENT: You should have a good pair of binoculars that are in good repair, along with a day pack for carrying books, sunscreen, batteries, etc. Your tour leader will have a new Swarovski spotting scope; however, you are encouraged to bring your own if you so desire. You should bring all the camera equipment and spare batteries that you will need, as they will be difficult to obtain during this expedition. And yes, do bring a small folding umbrella or rain jacket, as we may encounter mist or rain on a few occasions.

Other items that will be useful are a hat and sunscreen for sun protection, a good flashlight – we will almost certainly go out on sometimes to see what we can find of the nocturnal wildlife and a small amount of non-spray insect repellant - the best way to avoid any chance of disease is not to get bitten. You may also want to have a small supply of snacks. Moist towelettes are essential. Pepto-Bismol is recommended in case of mild stomach upset. Bottled water is available throughout, so a canteen is not necessary. All participants should bring a good supply of all their medical/pharmaceutical supplies, as they are likely to be very difficult to obtain anywhere on the tour. A reliable alarm clock that you know works with new batteries (and some spares).

HEALTH: If you are taking prescription medication or over-the-counter medicine, be sure to bring an ample supply that will allow you to get through the tour safely. Please consult your physician as necessary. Remember to pack all medication in your carry-on baggage, preferably in original containers or packaging. As airline baggage restrictions can change without warning, please check with your airline for procedures for packing medication. We recommend drinking only bottled water (available everywhere) or filtered water provided by the lodges. Roads are now often surprisingly good with many sections paved, however we will certainly be on some dirt roads and occasionally some rough roads hence the four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Although no vaccinations are required, as standard travel precautions you should be up to date with tetanus shots and current on your yellow fever protection, and strongly consider inoculations against Hepatitis types A and B. It is strongly recommended that you follow a program for malaria prophylaxis. There have been some recent changes in recommendations for malaria prophylaxis. The newer Malarone, which has fewer side effects, seems to be very effective. This is available by prescription only and may not be suitable for those using cardio-vascular medication; please consult your physician.

In addition to your physician, a good source of general health information for travelers is the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta Georgia. The CDC operates a 24-hour recorded Travelers’ Information Line at 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636), or you can check their website at www.cdc.gov/travel.

About the Physical Requirements & Pace: Typically the night before David Bishop will go over in detail what to expect in terms of physical conditions the following day including an approximate idea of the distance involved and how much time we plan to be in the field. Typically we will rise early, sometimes very early and return to our hotel or lodge around 11.00 AM – Midday for a generous amount of time to relax and rest up. We will go out in the late afternoon and sometimes stay out into the early evening to look for night creatures.

There will be a few moderately long and/or strenuous walks. Most other hikes will be relatively easy, comfortable walks (mostly within a few hundred yards of the vehicle, but up to a maximum of 2 miles) mostly over easy to moderate terrain. We will be spending our time largely in lowland and hill forest, occasionally coastal areas and some scrub and wetland areas.

ELECTRICITY: Electricity in Indonesia is 220 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Indonesia with a device that does not accept 220 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter. There are three main types of voltage converter. Resistor-network converters will usually be advertised as supporting something like 50-1600 Watts. They are lightweight and support high-wattage electrical appliances like hair dryers and irons. However, they can only be used for short periods of time and are not ideal for digital devices.

Transformers will have a much lower maximum Watt rating, usually 50 or 100. Transformers can often be used continuously and provide better electricity for low wattage appliances like battery chargers, radios, laptop computers, cameras, mp3 players and camcorders. However, they are heavy because they contain large iron rods and lots of copper wire. Some companies sell combination converters that include both a resistor network and a transformer in the same package. This kind of converter will usually come with a switch that switches between the two modes. If you absolutely need both types of converter, then this is the type to buy.

Indonesian Plug Adapters and Outlet Shapes

Indonesia 2 Pin Plug Power Cord

JF-01, Indonesia SNI two prong power cord plug with SNI certification, rated up to 2.5A 250V. Built to Indonesian standards and designed for Indonesia 2 prong power cords applications usually connected With IEC C7.

LANGUAGE: There are about 742 different languages and dialects in Indonesia. The official language of Indonesia is Bahasa Indonesia, however, English is commonly used in the cities of Indonesia but not widely spoken outside of them. The lingua franca, Bahasa Indonesian is widely spoken. Both David and David’s colleague Pak Politarius speak both Indonesian and English. (Mike has a good command of the English language, albeit with an Australian accent.)

 

TIME: With its diffuse geographic layout, Indonesia sprawls across three different time zones. At the time of this expedition, the part of Indonesia where we will spend the majority of our time is 12 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Jakarta is 11 hours ahead of EDT. When it is 19.00 hrs (7.00PM) in Jakarta it is 08.00 in New York. 

SUGGESTED READING: You may want to consider visiting such online stores as www.amazon.com, and for those out-of-print or hard-to-find titles, www.abebooks.com or www.buteobooks.com which specializes in ornithology books.

Birds (Field Guides):

Eaton, James et al. 2016. A guide to the birds of the Indonesian Archipelago. Lynx Editions, Spain. This fine field-guide is THE book you should have with you for the first half of this tour.

Coates, Brian J. and K. David Bishop. 1997. A Guide to the Birds of Wallacea: Sulawesi, the Moluccas and Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia. Dove Publications, Australia. Sadly this fine book is now out of print, however, it is still a very useful resource. If you are lucky enough to own a copy.

Pratt, Thane, K., and Bruce M. Beehler. 2015. Birds of New Guinea. Second Edition. Princeton University Press, New Jersey, USA. Tis superb new field guide is THE book you will need for the second half of this tour. 

Strange, Morten. 2003. A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Indonesia. Princeton University Press, 

There is some excellent contemporary literature about Indonesia, including its natural history and its wildlife. The following is a small selection of titles that may be of interest. 

Beehler, Bruce M. and Thane, K. Pratt. 2016. Birds of New Guinea. Distribution, Taxonomy and Systematics. Princeton University Press, New Jersey, USA. This is an important work but not so useful to have on tour. 

Caulfield, C. 1986. In the Rainforest—Report from a Strange, Beautiful, Imperiled World. University of Chicago Press. 

Coates, B.J. Birds of Papua New Guinea, Vol. I and II. Australia: Dove Publications, 1990. Out-of-print. A large, spectacularly illustrated (photographs) in-depth account on all birds recorded from Papua New Guinea. Includes the only reasonably accessible information on birds of New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago, and North Solomons. 

Coates, B.J. & W. Peckover. Alderley, Brisbane. Dove Publications, 2001. A Photographic Guide to the Birds of New Guinea. An excellent guide which nicely supplements the field guide and also covers New Britain. 

Cooper, W.T. and J.M. Forshaw. The Birds of Paradise and Bower Birds. Boston: Godine, 1972. A marvelous over-sized volume that effectively brings together what is known of each species, accompanied by indescribably beautiful illustrations. Out-of-print 

Daws, Gavan and Marty Fujita. 1999. Archipelago: The Islands of Indonesia from the Nineteenth-Century Discoverie of Alfred Russel Wallace to the Fate of Forests and Reefs in the Twenty-First Century. California University Press. A simply stunning coffee table book. Will make you want to go everywhere in Indonesia! 

Diamond, J. M. Guns, Germs and Steel. 1997.W. W. Norton& Company, New York. This is the famous Pulitzer prize-winning book that should be compulsory reading for every man, woman and child on our planet. 

Delahunty, B., Greenway, P., Lyon, J., Taylor, C., Turner, J., and D Willett. 2007. Lonely Planet Travel Guides: Indonesia: Lonely Planet, Edition 8. 

Flannery, T. Mammals of New Guinea. Rev. ed. Cornell University Press, 1995. Update of the 1990 edition from Robert Brown & Associates, Queensland, Australia. 

Frith, C. & B. Beehler. The Birds of Paradise: Paradisaeidae (Bird Families of the World Series, Vol. 6). Oxford University Press, 1998. A spectacularly detailed account of everything that is known about the birds-of- paradise. One of the finest bird books of its genre. 

Laman, Tim amd Edwin Scholes. 201? Birds of Paradise – Revealing the world’s most extraordinary birds. National Geographic. This is arguably one of the most beautiful photographic books on birds ever produced. 

Conservation International. 2009. The Raja Ampat. Conservation International. A magnificent exposition of the singly richest marine/coral reef site on our planet.  

McKay, R.D. New Guinea. Amsterdam: Time-Life International, 1976. Lots of good general information on Papua New Guinea. 

McNeely, Jeffrey A. and Paul Spencer Sochaczewski. 1995. Soul of the Tiger: Searching for Nature's Answers in Exotic Southeast Asia. University of Hawaii Press. 

Paijimans, K. New Guinea Vegetation. Australia: C.S.I.R.O. in association with the Australian National University Press, 1976. An excellent introduction to the vegetation communities of Papua New Guinea. 

Turner, Peter. 1998. Lonely Planet Travel Guides: Indonesia's Eastern Islands. Lonely Planet Publications. 

Richards, P.W. 1981. The Tropical Rain Forest. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 

Rubeli, K. 1987. Tropical Rain Forest in South-East Asia: A Pictorial Journey. Malaysia: Tropical Press. 

Wallace, A.R. 1962. The Malay Archipelago. Revised edition. New York: Dover Publications, 1962. This is still the best book written on the natural history of this region and a fascinating account of Wallace’s explorations. 

Whitmore, T.C. 1984. Tropical Rain Forests of the Far East. London: Oxford University Press. 

RESPONSIBILITY: David Bishop Bird Tours and/or its Agents act only as agents for the passenger in regard to travel, whether by railroad, motorcar, motor coach, boat, or airplane and assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or for any reason whatsoever, or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour. David Bishop Bird Tours and its agents can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. The right is reserved to substitute hotels of similar category for those indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary where deemed necessary or caused by changes in air schedules. The right is reserved to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case full refund will constitute full settlement to the passenger. The right is reserved to substitute leaders on any tour. Where this is necessary, notification will be given to tour members. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. The right is reserved to decline to accept or to retain any person as a member of any tour. Baggage is at owner's risk entirely. The airlines concerned and their agents and affiliates are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not on board their aircraft. The passenger ticket in use by said airlines, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airlines and the purchaser of these tickets and/or passenger.