Guided Tour to the
KINGDOM of KAUPELAN
INTRODUCTION
Located in the Banda Sea, Eastern Indonesia, the Kingdom of Kaupelan is a tiny state, like those described in KIG - the Kaupelanese Institute of Geography. The country is a parliamentary monarchy ruled by a king, His Majesty Wasahi II. Visited yearly by thousands of tourists of different nationalities, the tropical archipelago (see photos) has a rich culture and history, beautiful cities, marvellous beaches and an excellent infrastructure of hotels and restaurants.
VISA
If travelling to Kaupelan for business or tourism, a valid passport will be necessary. For countries not belonging to UEBSI or FICTS, a visa will also be required. The visa can be requested at any Kaupelanese diplomatic mission or embassy or in one of the FICTS office all over the world.
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Many international airlines have regular flights to Kaupelan, arriving to the modern Portuguese-colonial style Nuno Kautamakuwa International Airport, in the district of Masar, close to the capital, Purikali. Cities in Kaupelan and in several other countries are served by the national Makuwa Kaupelanese Airlines.
The cheapest way to go from the airport to Purikali is by mean of the public transportation (bus and subway lines). There are also taxis and car rental services at the airport. A ferry line connects regularly the airport and Purikali downtown through the Masar Bay.
GENERAL INFORMATION
You can exchange your money into Kaupelanese currency, Huwa, at several bureaus of change, banks and hotels in Purikali. It's important to know the working hours: from noon to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday, for banks; from 9:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Saturday, for small shops; and from 10:00am to 10:00pm, 7 days a week, for shopping centres. Pay attention to the national holidays. Postal services are available at the Royal Kaupelanese Post, Telephone & Telegraph (RKPTT) offices.
LANGUAGES
Kaupelanese, the national language, is understood by virtually all the population, sometimes as the second language. Several dialects are spoken as first languages, especially in the less developed areas. In the eastern islands, Portuguese is understood, as a heritage of the colonial period and influenced by the Portuguese-speaking neighbour countries.
Although with the status of co-official language, it is difficult to find people fluent in English outside Purikali and the major cities. Nevertheless, everybody will do their best to understand you and to help you in whatever they can. Local Radio and TV broadcast programs are mostly in Kaupelanese and major dialects. Cable TV, however, has English as optional language. There are some newspapers in English also.
Any effort to communicate in the native tongue, even with a basic knowledge, will be promptly accepted and interpreted as a demonstration of sympathy and friendship. If you are interested, visit KILAN - the Kaupelanese Institute of Languages.
PRECAUTIONS
As a tropical archipelago, Kaupelan is always warm and the average temperature is 26oC all the year. The weather can be colder in the mountains and, when travelling to those distant regions, it is advisable to have a sweater and a quilt for the night. Although thunderstorms are frequent, the sun is always present and you can enjoy your stay. It is advisable however to use sun protector and mosquito repellent. Kaupelanese people pay much attention to the environment and any waste, especially of water or energy, should be avoided. Although properly purified, it is not recommended to drink tap water and only mineral water should be consumed.
CUSTOMS
The majority of population is Christian, although an important Muslim minority exists. Far from the big cities, animism is still observed, with old beliefs, witchcrafts and ancient rituals. The Kaupelanese are in general very tolerant to different nationalities and religious practices. Smile is a kind of national greeting, and should be understood as sincere and friendly.
Kaupelanese people love the sun, the sea and the open air life. During weekends and holidays, people love to practice sports - like trekking, sailing and scuba diving - but the national sport is football for sure.
Tipping is not so common and should be avoided. Offering money for a favour can often be considered dishonour especially by elder people.
Finally, the Kaupelanese is, in general, very friendly and happy. It's common to see people smiling, joking and laughing aloud when drinking beers in the walinu, small kioskies usually close to the beaches.