Time
Toraja is in the UTC +8 time zone, the same as Bali, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hongkong, Western Australia and one hour ahead of Jakarta.
For your information, Indonesia has 3 (three) time zones.
TIME ZONE 1
WIB (Waktu Indonesia Barat or Western Indonesian Time) belongs to Sumatera, Java, West and Central Borneo (Kalimantan) with GMT +7 and usually all important activities are scheduled based on this GMT due to its proximity to Indonesia’s major cities, such as Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Medan and Surabaya.
TIME ZONE 2
WITA (Waktu Indonesia Tengah or Central Indonesian Time) belongs to South and East Borneo, Bali, South East Nusa (Nusa Tenggara), and Sulawesi with GMT +8.
TIME ZONE 3
WIT (Waktu Indonesia Timur or Eastern Indonesian Time) belongs to Maluku and Papua with GMT +9.
Business Hours
Indonesian work in the morning to avoid the heat of the day. If you need to visit a government office, please arrive between 08.00 AM to 01:00 PM, so you can get fast service and avoid the long queues. This also apply to banks and private businesses. Government offices close early on Fridays and Saturdays. Generally offices are open 07:30 AM – 03.00 PM, Monday to Thursday, and 07:00 AM – 11.30 AM on Friday. Banks and Government Offices are closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Means of Trade
In Toraja, only Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) is accepted for cash payments. In general, transactions in Toraja are cash-based. Credit cards are not commonly used for payment, unless if you see Master or Visa logo on the cashier of hotels or restaurants. There ara Banks and ATMs in Makale and Rantepao where you can change your foreign currency into Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).
Visa Requirement
The visa requirement depents on the length of your stay and on your home country’s regulations. Indonesian visa provision is prone to change. Before starting your journey, it’s very important to check the respective requirements at the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate Office in your home country.
