Wow - It's 3rd world in places - that's a cracking assesment. It is true Singapore is an hour away but Singapore gets dull very very quickly.
To be honest if he is going for a year, feel free to enjoy the ex pat life - it can be fun (if a little tedious). But I'd encourage him to enjoy an Indonesian life tr4y and learn about the world from their eyes and try and speak more Indonessioan thant I can (which is limited to 'wait' please' 'thanks' and more!) and can order 2 more beers please!
It's a cracking city (worked there for a little while but my inlaws lived there for 4-5 years). IT is like any big city full of lovely people and full of crazy people.
Main advice is - be careful and have your wits about you, this rings true in any city.
Taxis are cheap and reliable but pre book (I found BLUEBIRD the best).
One rule that rings very true in this part of the world is the concept of saving 'face' don't be agressive or make a scene or laugh AT people or any thing that might make them lose 'FACE' this can lead to some very tricky reactions.
BUt generally being polite friendly and having city wits around you is all you need.
(as an aside attacks on religious buildings are quite common)
I could go on PM if you have any specfic Questions - happy to ask the In-laws
A little about taxis, bluebird are ok, and from the Airport they are the ones to use., once you are in your taxis, make sure your doors are locked, because I have had the beggers trying to open the door at traffic lights, and road junctions.
Local buses can be manic, as the locals rush too board before the passangers get out. and if you are like me tall and long in the leg the seats are hard to use.
The express trains are good and cheap, but the station is a mad house.
Like all big cities there are nice safe areas and not so nice, and bloody dangerous. Last year I walked out of my hotel to go to the local bar, got picked up by the police later when I was walking back to my Hotel, for my own safety they told me, then theygave the hotel staff a bollacking for allowing me to go out of the Hotel. That was the Jalan Slippy area.
Dont be surprised if you see the police being heavy handed when dealing with riots etc, and learn to keep one,s mouth shut if you see the barbaric way the police deal with the rioters, I watched one day when a group of teen boys were taking the piss out of the police and throwing stones, and the police just shot them dead. But apart from that it a nice dutch city, with lots of smog.
