[Valdoyes]

Indonesia is a good place to travel. By and large their people are very polite and helpful. Although it is one of the fastest growing economy and richest among ASEAN countries in terms of growth, there is still widespread poverty and rampant corrupt. Poverty and large families to feed has driven many a young damsel to leave their kampongs for popular tourist destinations where they are picked up by syndicates and made into prostitutes. Some of them are still very young.
The Indonesian Archipelago is riddled with corruption, Corrupt officials openly make demands, despite the presence of cameras at their areas of operation.
Their civil servants and tourism-related industry officials are a national disgrace. Their reputation and constant greed bring their country into disrepute. They are greedy an expect more from "orang-bule" (foreigners) like us. Give them what you may but sadly for them "money still no enuf".
When you disembark from the plane, the Immigrasi officer at the counter will continue scrutinising your travel document until you give him / her an "olek-olek" or gift. Only then you will be cleared.
As you collect your baggage prior to Customs clearance, you are bound to get someone who will want your bottle of duty-free whisky.
Then come the porter. He won't name his price but start troubling you later with a higher demand. Next the taxi touts. Still lot of trouble and heckling. Then the so-called beggars. Oh my God. The list goes on.......
If you encounter a problem and wish to have it reported to the police, you must know where to go - Polsek or Polres or Polda (sectoral police, resort police of district police, respectively).
Wherever it maybe, you will first be interviewed, then the report would be printed out. The reporting officer will only "tanda-tangan" (sign) after you have paid him "uang-rokok" or cigarette money.
Then come the investigator who will also ask you for "uang-administrasi" or administration fee. He needs the money as the Police does not set aside additional funds for him to conduct his investigations. Petrol costs, taxi costs, etc... all borne by him. Kesian (What a Pity)
Indonesia is fast coming up as a tourist destination. I hope the government will crack hard on these people. The Anti-Corruption Authority MUST come down hard on these corrupted officials. Those from the tourist-related industry must also be closely scrutinised.
Maybe, the poor civil servants MAY truly be poorly paid. If that is the case, a raise in their salaries is due.
The Police HQ should set aside enough money for the investigators to buy A-4 size paper for computers, conduct field investigations. Imagine a crime committed in Jakarta and the supect has ran to another Province. It is a mammoth job but one that has to be done. Indonesia has a very good future. It must do all it can to bring the current situation under control.
The Government in Jakarta should set the rules for the Governors and Wali-kotas of other Provinces to follow. The police should not push cases to other districts on the ground that is it not within their jurisdiction.
Immigrasi and Customs officials SHOULD NOT be allowed to be stationed in one area for a long time. They should be made to move so as to lessen their corrupt practices. The same with the police. Maybe, a truly dedicated "boss" can be placed at these places to keep an eye on his subordinates.
Indonesia will succeed then. I wish them the best.