I live in Australia and want to travel in Eastern Indonesia (Flores, Timor, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Ambon, Papua). Some sources say that in order to get around there, you need to be able to rent and ride a scooter. Other sources say there you can easily get around on public transport, guides, etc.
In Australia, to ride a scooter you need a motorcycle license (not a drivers license for cars). Should I try to get a motorcycle license in Australia before going to Eastern Indonesia? Or not bother?
(This was going to be a comment, but decided it is an answer)
If you don't have experience riding a scooter/motorbike and then jump on one in an Asian country, then you are opening yourself up to a whole lot more to risks of accidents.
So while obtaining a motorcycle license in Oz may assists you in renting something in Indonesia, I feel that the process will also help you minimize the risk of injury by giving you actual riding experience before tackling something in an unfamiliar locale.
As anecdata, I used to ride, and on one holiday I was riding a scooter in the Greek islands when I had an argument with the road. My previous riding experience helped minimize what could have been a serious accident and instead turned it into a minor accident.