Indonesia Tourism

The staple food of Indonesia mainly consists of steamed rice and vegetables or meat. However, it is the spices and ingredients used to make these curries that make their local dishes. Famous Indonesian foods are Nasi Padang, Nasi Goreng, Bakso, Soto, Gado-Gado and many more. Best places to try these foods are:

• Street vendors – with the street vendors, you will be able to taste the authenticity of the local food.
• Restaurant Lara Djonggrang in Jakarta – serves typical Indonesian food
• Restaurant Locavore in Bali

There are various modes of public transport to get around Indonesia. Some of them are:

• Taxis – more expensive than other public transports. If meter isn’t available, passengers can bargain for better fares.
• Buses – on the go in large cities like Jakarta. Relatively cheap. Can be cramped.
• Ojeks – motorcycle riders for solo passengers, unique experience.
• Minibus – cheap, moves around almost all nooks and corners of the city.

Being a place where tourists flock in large numbers, it is always safe to take certain vaccinations before you go. The general tetanus shot or any other general vaccination program should be taken before your travel. Other vaccines recommended are: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Cholera, etc.

The local language spoken in Indonesia is Indonesian. Here are some common phrases that you can use during your visit:

• Hello - Halo
• Thank you – Terima Kasih
• Good morning – Selamat Pagi
• What is the price of – berapa harga
• How far is – seberapa jauh
• How are you – Apa Kabar?

Indonesia has tons of shopping experience to witness. From upmarket malls to street shopping, you can find all that you are looking for over there. Some best places for shopping in Indonesia are:

• Grand Indonesia Mall in Jakarta – for all top class brands
• Kuta Beachwalk in Bali – for souvenir and local pieces of handicrafts
• Sukawati Art market – for local and traditional handicrafts
• Ubud Art Market - for local and traditional handicraft and art pieces.

• Try Local food joints or vendors for meals – local food authenticity and cheaper.
• Pre-book your ferries for better rates when travelling to other islands
• Bargain! – There is definitely scope for bargaining with all local vendors in Indonesia.
• Try water sports and activities – beaches and resorts offer water activities and this could be the cheapest place to try these.
• Relax – Do not miss the spa’s available there. The good and decent spas have really talented masseuses and are is very cheap.

Indonesia has plenty of magnificent views and hills to trek at. Some really good treks are:

• Mount Agung, Bali – 3142 metres tall, medium trek of 6-7 hours.
• Mount Batur, Bali – 1700 metres tall, short trek of 2 hours, overlooks Lake Batur and rural landscapes.
• Mount Kerinci, Sumatra – highest volcano in Indonesia, takes 3 days to complete this trek.
• Kawah ljen, Java – crater with crystal clear sulphur water.
• Mount Rinjani, Lombok – 3726 metres tall, second tallest volcano in Indonesia. Not so easy hike of about 3-4 days. Beautiful scenery through and up the hike.

Indonesia has numerous national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to visit that make it a great place for nature lovers. Some of the best ones to visit are:

• Komodo National Park – UNESCO world heritage site, home to the world's largest reptile- Komodo Dragon.
• Ujung Kulon National Park – has the rare species of one horned Rhino and many other rare species.
• Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park – low key wildlife conservation society nesting Maleo birds.
• Kerinci Seblat National Park – one of Indonesia’s largest reserves.

Indonesia is widely known for its beaches, the activities and events that take place there. Some of the best beaches of Indonesia are:

• Nusa Dua Beach, Bali – top rated beach.
• Kuta Beach, Bali – Great beach for surfing
• Padang-Padang Beach, Bali – picturesque beach with hills, steep reefs and clear water.
• Senggigi Beach, Lombok – good for snorkelling
• Sanur beach, Bali
• Dreamland Beach, Bali
• Balangan Beach, Uluwatu Bali
• Pink Beach, Komodo, Lombok – one of the seven beaches with pink sand in the world.

With a lot of beaches in Indonesia, each beach is special by the kind of nature it supports and the activities it can offer. Some of the water sports that can be enjoyed in Indonesia are:

• Snorkelling
• Scuba diving
• Fly fish
• Parasailing
• Deep sea walking
• Banana boat
• Jet-skiing
• Diving
• White water rafting

The best ways to spend your Indonesian holiday is to go island hopping. However, with over 17,000 small and big islands in the Indonesian archipelago, it is difficult to decide which one to go to. Here is a list of some of the popular islands in Indonesia:

• Bali
• Lombok
• Flores Island
• Gili Islands
• Sulawesi
• Java
• Komodo
• Borneo
• Nusa Penida
• Bintan
• Misool

Indonesia is a great place for your honeymoon as it has something to do for everyone and you need to take in consideration your interests as well as your spouses. While you can explore and enjoy plenty of adrenaline rushing activities over here, there are also lots of places to help you rejuvenate from your stressful life and schedule. A couple of romantic things that you can do in Indonesia during your honeymoon are:

• Relax at white sandy beaches
• Book and enjoy a couple spa treatment
• Enjoy the beautiful views and have a picnic at the Lake side – Lake Toba
• Go on a spiritual yoga retreat
• Walk/ hike amongst the green trekking trails enjoying a beautiful view

The most famous destination for Yoga in Indonesia is undoubtedly Bali. A lot of people visit Bali just for the various Yoga retreats that take places over there. Among the numerous ways to relax the mind, body and spirit, Yoga is seemingly popular. Some of the best places to try a yoga retreat in Bali are:

• Fivelements, Puri Ahimsa
• Zen Resort Bali
• The Yoga Barn
• Desa Seni Yoga Retreat

Cruising in Indonesia is getting popular by the day with many yachts being pulled in to keep up with the demand. The government is also supporting the development of the marine sector to keep up. There are already several cruise routes in the archipelago. Some of them are: Bali, Phuket, Bay or Benoa Harbour, Java, etc.

As happening and buzzing Indonesia is, so is it calm and spiritual. Indonesia still sticks to its roots and has preserved its culture as seen by the numerous temples it withholds. Some popular temples of Indonesia are:

• Tanah Lot temple in Bali
• Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta
• Borobudur temple in Jawa Tengah
• Pura Besakih in Bali
• Pura Gunung Kawi in Bali
• Tirta Empul in Bali
• Goa Gajah in Bali

Indonesia has some of the best mountains to hike with great views and volcano trekking just gets even more exciting than the usual ones. Some of the best volcano treks that you can take during your visit to Indonesia are:

• Mount Bromo in Java
• Mount Kerinci – tallest volcano and highest peak, 3 days trek.
• Mount Batur – 2 hours trek, 1700m high.
• Mount Agung – 3142 m tall, 6-7 hours of trek.
• Mount Rinjani – 3726 m, 2 days of difficult trek.

While Indonesia is known for its fun packed activities and nature retreats, it also has some great nightlife to offer. Some famous nightlife destinations in Indonesia are:

• Jakarta – Jakarta has many upmarket and trendy pubs/clubs that you could visit.
• Kuta in Bali – the road along the beach is filled with many happening clubs, such as HardRock, and also the Kuta beach parties are quite happening.
• Gili Islands- this laid back island is known to have great beach parties that happen through day and night.

Indonesia has quite a number of UNESCO world heritage sites to be listed. Some of the inscribed sites are:

• Komodo National Park
• Lorentz National Park
• Sangiran Early Man Site
• Prambanan Temple Compounds
• Ujung Kulon National Park