In Reply to: available maps posted by Tedu on Sunday, 10. December 2006 at 14:16 Bali Time:
when your in Bali go to a bookstore and by a map of java (they will sell it..east,central,west and the maps are HUGE).. or what we did, is bought a local indonesian school altas and followed the roads marked in there !! and we never got lost !!! you can get the atlas in the bookstore as well... we've use the atlas for several road trips from Jakarta to Yogyakarta... and had no problems.
The road signs are pretty good along the main roads.. its when you get more into the real isolated areas you might have a bit of trouble.... if you speak a little bahasa you'll get by easily.. the locals are friendly..take no notice of the BAD JAVANESE stereotype alot of people use in here.. (waits for the abuse) if your desprate follow the "overnight" buses to Jakarta.. cuz then you'll know your heading in the right direction away from bali...
How are you travelling? Becareful, some of the roads arent very good quality and full of potholes... or in some of the mountainous areas, usually in the wet season they have a few landslides and the roads like to dissapear... if your driving a motorbike/car ...
PLEASE be careful when going around corners, and overtaking... the overnight buses and large trucks drive like maniacs..be aware at all times what they are doing...
if as you say your travelling along the north coast of Java... the term the indonesians use for this is JALAN PANTAI UTARA ..or the north beach road... it runs along/through the main towns along the north coast.
if you need anymore info email me
christine