The Things You Need to Do To Create a Good Impression When You Are Travelling to Indonesia
If you are
With that in mind, let us now jump into the rules, shall we?
Back then, using your left hand to give or to shake other people’s hand is a slight
Indonesians do not understand the notion of wiping their bottom with tissues after they took to the crapper. They mostly use running water and their left hand to clean their butts. Knowing that, you would certainly understand why Indonesians do not like it when they have to receive things from people who use their left hand, right? Some Indonesians still think it as an offensive gesture, with some would outright reject items given to them if the giver is using their left hand.
The fact that the majority of Indonesians are muslims also makes it worse (because they say that Satan eats with its left hand), so you are better off using your right hand when you are giving to or receiving something from Indonesians.
We said back then because most people are fine with using their left hands these days. That being said, you can never tell which person is fine with your use of left hand, so it is better for you to play it safe.
If you move in front of Indonesians without saying ‘permisi’ (which is ‘excuse me’ in Indonesian), you will be nonverbally despised
This is MUCH more prevalent if you are travelling to the countryside. Most country folks are used to seeing someone from their village, and they mostly greet each other by saying ‘permisi’. If you are not doing this kind of thing, not only you will be the talk of the town, the talk itself will generally be about the bad things that you did when you are travelling to the village. Indonesians are generally people who will form a (sometimes) lifelong perception based on the first impression that other people make. So if you made a good impression on an Indonesian, said Indonesian will see you as a good person. If you made a bad impression, you will definitely be on that Indonesia’s crap list for a LONG time.
To avoid getting added to the crap list, you need to be courteous with Indonesians. You can first do so by doing the two things we listed you. Those two things will go a long way in creating a good first impression when you are travelling to Indonesia.