Indonesia has a predominately tropical climate. Warm waters cover 81 percent of the area of Indonesia which means the temperatures vary little with the seasons. There is significant rainfall and the relative humidity ranges between 70 and 90 percent. There is a slight reduction in temperature at higher elevations, however. Indonesia does not have summer, winter, spring and fall. Instead, they have a rainy and dry season. The dry season ranges from April to October and the wet season is November to March.
There are four unconnected railway systems in Indonesia. One is in Java while the other three are in Sumatra. The Java railway is intercity and also offers long distance options. The trains are simple and can be crowded as well as dirty. They often run behind, but they are very inexpensive. There are female only cars at the front and end of the trains as well as air-conditioned cars.
Another transportation method in Indonesia is by boat. About 14 million passengers are transported by boat with remote islands having a higher percentage of boat travelers than inland. Ferries are usually point-to-point and travel short distances.
Taxis are plentiful in Indonesia where you can flag them down or find them at taxi queues at malls or hotels. You can also arrange for one to pick you up by calling a service, but sometimes it is faster to simply wave them down than call for a taxi. There are also rideshare options like Uber, Grab and Go-Jek. A taxi driver may ask you to pay your fare up front instead of using the meter. This is not required and if they insist, get out and find another taxi. This is a method used by the drivers to cheat their employer and pocket the full fare.
There are public buses in Indonesia with government-owned buses servicing the airport and some of the main islands. They have set routes and fares but not necessarily set schedules. Buses are the most popular among Indonesian residents and many are not in great condition. Protect your belongings as passengers are often targets of crime. Some buses have a female-only section at the front.
You can also use one of the public minibuses to get around some cities and towns. They operate on a standard route much like the public buses. Ojek, or motorcycle taxis, are also popular in Indonesia. Passengers must wear a helmet on the ojek. There are also three-wheeled carts known as becak and horse-drawn carts known as dokar that you can use for transportation.