Bringing Keris with you to Indonesia and back

[jagabuwana]

Originally Posted by Anthony G.

Apparently we are not allow to bring keris out of Indonesia unless there is a form of certification as what I was told by local native in the past. Keris is still consider a weapon and for sure do not hand carry but check in with baggage.

I've not encountered this before Anthony. I've brought back an old badik from Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta airport in 2018 and a new keris from Denpasar Ngurah Rai in 2019.
I wasn't quizzed at all about either of them by the customs guy at either Indo airport.

I'm an Aus citizen, but I probably had a much easier time seeing as I'm of full Indonesian heritage and I speak Bahasa Indonesia well enough. ​

The guy at Jakarta did ask me about the badik but I told him it was a "warisan", an inheritance. We chitchatted warmly and off I went.

I don't recall having my check-in luggage opened and checked at all at Denpasar.

I was WAY more worried about what they'd do with my stuff upon arrival at Sydney airport. I declared both items as "wooden articles" , but not as weapons. I was worried about the badik because its old and I didn't want them to think the timber dress was a biosecurity risk. They took a look at both. No issues.

If I were to do it again I'd declare wooden articles and weapon just to be safe.

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Declare. Be patient. Be unfailingly polite. Do not on any account lose either your cool or or your temper. You'll probably be OK.

This is very much worth emphasising. Be polite bordering deferent. Takes you a long way in Indonesian cultures, as a foreigner.

Showing frustration, impatience or exasperation will result in a bad time for you.