Ten Reasons To Visit Indonesia

10 Reasons To Visit Indonesia

1. The Lands of Indonesia

Putting lost temples, ancient cultures and traditions aside for one moment. The land, the soil, the paddy fields, the hills, the valleys, the mountains, the volcanoes, the beaches, the rivers, the lakes, well so many things down to the flowers and fauna that grace this land. Point a camera in any direction and press that button. Standing on the slopes of the volcanoes around Mt Bromo watching smoke billow from the crater caught by the first light of sunrise, is chilling both with morning air and the sheer beauty. Crouching in the dense jungles of Kalimantan as your guide points at orangutans gliding through the treesabove, simply breathtaking. Wondering through the tea plantations in Puncak, down winding paths gazing silhouetted tea leaf pickers use the last moments of light to fill their baskets, tranquility personified.

2. The People

Indonesians are very friendly and welcoming people. In the majority of the places you travel to throughout the country, you will be met with some of the biggest smiles you have ever seen. They are also very proud of their history, culture, wildlife, food and more, and are passionate about sharing it with others.

3. Food and Coffee

Meals often start with an excellent soup, often a salty, vegetable broth but sometimes in a more spicy, Thai-style. Main dishes include barbecued fish - skewered and cooked over hot coals with chilli, satay chicken, or beef cooked in a vegetable stock and coconut milk. Green beans cooked in chilli and garlic is a mainstay vegetable dish. There is a link to Thai food but less in the way of curry as meat is often prepared with an almost dry sauce. You'll probably need to like chillies because there is some heat in most dishes, though it is not usually overpowering. 

Indonesia is also one of the largest coffee producers in the world – the phrase “a cup of Java” actually comes from Indonesia’s island of the same name, where the coffee comes from. They are also famous for Kopi Luwak, which is coffee made from the poop of the Luwak – aka civet cat – that has eaten coffee beans and pooped them out. Sounds gross but it is actually rare and quite expensive coffee.

4. Beaches

With over 17,000 islands it’s a sure bet that Indonesia has some gorgeous beaches to lay on. Whether you want to enjoy some water sports like learning to surf, go parasailing, ride a banana boat or just lay out and get a nice tan, Indonesia is definitely a place where all of this can happen. You can hang out on the popular Kuta beach in Bali, or the secluded Pink beach as part of the Komodo islands, just to name a few of the thousands of options.

5. Skuba, Diving, Snorkel

Indonesia is home to 20% of the world’s coral reefs and some of the best scuba diving and snorkelling you can find. There are many opportunities available for beginner and experienced divers, with lots of gear rental shops and liveaboard trips and more being offered. Indonesia also has a lot of shipwrecks off its shores, which make for interesting dives. It’s almost a shame to visit Indonesia and not get your feet wet. 

The island of Bunaken is rated in the top of best diving destinations on the earth. You can swim with dolphins, sharks, giant turtles and other colorful coral-reef fishes. Located in the Coral Triangle, the heart of the world’s coral reef biodiversity, the seas arounr Raja Ampat possibly hold the richest variety of species in the world. 

6. Bali

Bali is the largest tourist destination in the country and is renowned for its highly developed arts, including sculpture, dance, painting, music and metalworking. Balinese culture was strongly influenced by Indian and Chinese, and particularly Hindu culture.

7. Shopping in Jakarta

Whether you want Western designer goods at the plush Grand Indonesia mall in the city centre, or one of the more traditional mall-cum-markets dotted around the city, shoppers should be happy. Obvious targets for the credit card are Indonesian-made batik clothing and textiles, while you might just be able to find a new mobile phone at malls which have an entire floor of cellphone stalls one after the other. Some of the main shopping centres in the city are: Elite Plaza Indonesia, Plaza EX and the Plaza Semanggi in central Jakarta, Taman Anggrek Mall in the west, Kelapa Gading Mall in the east, WTC Mangga Dua in the north, Plaza Senayan and Pondok Indah Mall in the south.

8. Borobudur

Dating back to the 9th century, Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world and is found in Java, Indonesia. Made up of 2,000+ relief panels and over 500 Buddha statues, this temple is an amazing monument to see. Often crowded in the day, one of the best times to explore the temple is early in the morning when you can watch the sunrise while standing at the very top.

9. The Volcanoes

Indonesia is located in what is called “the Pacific ring of fire” which is one of the most active volcanic areas in the world. The country alone has 150 volcanoes. It also boasts some of the most gorgeous sunsets in the world with one of the best being seen from Mount Penanjakan overlooking the famous Mt Bromo Volcano. Although to get to the top, you must climb up steep streets and steps covered in tourists and horses really early in the morning in pitch-black darkness, it is definitely worth the effort and the climb.

10. Komodo

Indonesia is home to Komodo National Park, named after its celebrity residents, the Komodo Dragon. Currently the largest living lizard in the world and the closest thing we have to dinosaurs, these fierce dragons are quite the tourist attraction for the thrill seeker. Indonesia is the only place in the world where they can be found living in the wild on the four islands that make up Komodo National Park. Having been known to eat a human or two, if you visit make sure you do so with a few park rangers as protection to witness this deadly creature in the flesh. Komodo island is located between Sumbawa and Flores islands, a small island of 280 square km. The sea surrounding the island offers vistas of sea life, crystal clear waters, and white sandy beaches.