A–B
- All Indonesia arrival card: what it isYou are packing for Indonesia and an airport form is the last thing on your mind.
- Andong: Yogyakarta's horse-drawn carriageYou see a painted carriage waiting by the street and want to know what a ride really means.
- Angkot: Indonesia's shared city minibusYou see small colourful vans packed with locals and wonder whether visitors can ride one.
- Ayam taliwang: Lombok's fiery grilled chickenYour Lombok list says to order it, and you wonder how hot it will be.
- Babi guling: Bali's roast suckling pigYou keep seeing the name on Bali signs and want to know what it means.
- Bakpia: Yogyakarta's bean-filled pastryEvery Jogja shop shoves a box into your hands and you want to know what is inside.
- Banjar: Bali's neighbourhood communityYou hear the word from drivers and hosts and wonder what it means for your stay.
- Basic Bahasa Indonesia for MalaysiansYou can half-follow the language already and want a few useful phrases ready.
- Batik: wax-resist cloth of IndonesiaYou are about to shop for batik in Jogja and want to tell real from copy.
- Becak: Yogyakarta's pedal-powered trishawYou see riders waving you over on a Jogja street and wonder what a becak ride involves.
- Bemo: Bali's old-school shared minibusYou read that locals ride bemo and wonder if it is a sensible way to see Bali.
- BPJPH: Indonesia's halal certification agencyYou spotted a halal label on a menu and want to know who stands behind it.
C–G
- Canang sari: Bali's daily flower offeringYou spot small flower trays on the ground and want to walk past them respectfully.
- Candi: ancient temples of JavaEvery Yogyakarta itinerary has a candi on it and you want to know what you are visiting.
- Fast boat in Indonesia: what it meansYou see the term on every island itinerary and want to know what you are boarding.
- Free and easy (FIT) travel explainedYou like the freedom of planning your own days but are unsure how much to book in advance.
- Galungan: what the Bali festival meansYou noticed tall bamboo poles along the roads and want to know what the festival is.
- Gamelan: Indonesia's percussion orchestraYou hear bronze chimes at a hotel, temple or palace and want to know what they are.
- Grab and Gojek in Indonesia explainedYou know Grab from home and keep hearing about a second app in Indonesia.
- Gudeg: Yogyakarta's sweet jackfruit stewEveryone in Jogja tells you to eat it, and you want to know what you are ordering.
H–K
- Halal vs Muslim-friendly: what each meansA brochure says Muslim-friendly and you want to know if that means halal.
- Kebaya and sarong rules at Bali templesYou are packing for a temple day and want to know exactly what to wear.
- Kecak: Bali's chanting fire danceA sunset show keeps appearing on your Bali list and you wonder if it suits your family.
- Kelong: the Riau Islands sea platformThe word sounds familiar from home, yet in Bintan it can mean a very different stay.
- Kraton: the Yogyakarta royal palaceYou are told to see Jogja's palace and want to know what kind of visit it is.
- Kuningan: how Galungan ends in BaliYou saw yellow rice offerings on a Bali itinerary and want to know what day this is.
L–O
- Losmen and homestay: what they meanA listing says homestay and you wonder what the room and the bathroom will be like.
- Love Bali levy: what it isYou saw the name on a travel forum and want to know what it means for your wallet.
- MOTAC licence: what it means for your agencyYou are about to pay a deposit and want to know the agency is genuinely licensed.
- Nasi campur: what is on the plateA glass case of unfamiliar dishes is in front of you and the queue is moving.
- Nyepi: Bali's Day of SilenceYou spotted a date on the Bali calendar when the whole island seems to stop.
- Ogoh-ogoh: Bali's Nyepi Eve statuesYou heard Bali has giant monster statues paraded at night and want to know why.
- Ojek: the Indonesian motorbike taxiYou spot riders waiting at every corner and wonder if hopping on the back is a good idea.
P–S
- Pasar: the Indonesian marketYou pass a pasar on the way everywhere and wonder if it deserves a stop.
- Pura: what a Bali temple meansYou keep seeing the word on signs and itineraries and want to know what you are walking into.
- QRIS: Indonesia's QR payment standardYou see the same black-and-white square at every stall and wonder if your Malaysian app works.
- Rupiah (IDR): Indonesia's currency explainedYou are about to see long strings of zeros on every menu and price tag.
- Sambal: Indonesia's chilli sauce explainedYou love a little heat, but the children at the table may not.
- Service charge and pajak: the bill extrasThe menu price looks fine until the bill arrives with two more lines at the bottom.
- Speedboat vs ferry in Indonesia explainedYou are comparing two boat tickets and cannot tell which one fits your group.
- Subak: Bali's rice-water systemYou are heading to the rice terraces and wonder who actually keeps the water flowing.
T–W
- Tor-tor: the Batak dance of SamosirA welcome dance on Samosir invites you to join in and you want to know what it means.
- Ulos: the Batak woven clothYou are walking past cloth stalls around Lake Toba and want to know what the scarves mean.
- VoA: visa on arrival in IndonesiaYou see the letters VoA on a forum and wonder whether they apply to you.
- Warung: the everyday Indonesian eateryYou keep seeing the word on signs and want to know if it is a place for you.
- WIB, WITA and WIT: Indonesia's time zonesYou are booking a flight and a driver and the clocks may not match yours.