Why Travel to Indonesia:
The
world's largest archipelago [13,677 islands], Indonesia has a huge
variety of wonderful landscapes and strange islands, from the terraced
rice paddies of Bali to the forests of Sumatra, from bizarre, diverse
cultures and traditions of the primitive Dani folk [picture above
right] to the weird Torajah buildings and customs [picture above
left].
The people however strangely attired are calm and friendly; the
food is wonderful, the wildlife diverse and there is no shortage
of activities.
Finally, masses of gorgeous, stylish, little ethnic hotels offer
chic comfort at the right price.
Downside:
- Indonesia's star attraction, the previously sublime Bali is close to ruination due to corrupt over-development, traffic overload and crime.
- In some years, air pollution 'Haze' has been serious in summertime.
- Political instability may also be a problem, though not so much
in Bali, Sulawesi or Lombok.
- Travel from one island to another is time consuming and expensive.
- Because of its popularity, some places such as Kuta in Bali are
too touristy and the local people can be unusually mercenary.
Indonesia climate guide:
Best:
Apr-June, Sept, Oct
Worst: Dec and Jan [wet]; July, Aug [crowded, expensive, & possibly
dominated by a smoke/haze problem.
Length
of stay:
Min. worthwhile stay, not incl. flights: 4 days [Bali only].
Recommended: 1 week - 6 weeks
Main attractions:
Bali is struggling to maintain a rich and colourful Hindu
heritage under the weight of uncontrolled development and the excessive traffic and noise that come with it.
Ubud, once a relaxed and charming rural town with shabby-chic
hotels and rice terraces is fast - and tragically - becoming a 21stC high-rise nonentity, replacing exotic festivals and fine
crafts with big cars, swarms of motorcycles and opportunistic crime.
Candi Dasa is one of the best soft beaches nearby, or Kuta for huge
expanses of hard sand, frequently rough water, superb restaurants
and a wild night life.
For more Balinese isolation try travelling 3 hours from Denpasar
to northwest coast for black sands, turquoise water, grey rocky
outcrops and green paddy fields. There's a lot to do here, including
birdwatching in Bali Barat National Park, boating and fishing in
Gilimanuk Bay and diving or snorkelling 5 miles offshore at Deer
Island.
See Indonesia
Pictures I
Java: Yogyakarta is an attractive market town, good for local culture
and batik, while Pranmbanan, the world's 8th largest Hindu temple
complex is certainly worth a day.
Then there's Borobudur, one of the finest Buddhist monuments in
S.E Asia.
Jakarta, on the other hand, we'd prefer to be hanged than spend
another night in Java's unpleasant capital city.
Sulawesi
[Tana Toraja]: for some really unique and bizarre indigenous customs [especially
the funeral ceremonies], boat-shaped housing, lovely rural landscapes
and excellent trekking.
See Indonesia
Pictures II.
Irian
Jaya [Balim Valley]: strangest of all Indonesia's provinces where the Dani people still
retain an ancient culture and men wear penis gourds. Hiking here
is often damp and accommodation can be basic [e.g. sleeping on straw
next to a mummified body] but you won't forget this place. See Indonesia
Pictures II
Kalimantan [Borneo] wildlife: for Banjarmasin, floating markets and Dayak people or Pangkalanbun
as a base for Tnjung Puting National Park walks and boating.
Activities:
Trekking: especially interesting would be Balim Valley in
Irian Jaya [half of New Guinea island] for hiking hand-in-hand with
very primitive people wearing penis gourds, straw hut accommodation
and damp conditions or Tana Toraja on Sulawesi island for gorgeous
pastoral views, wacky housing and fascinating funeral ceremonies
August-October. Read the relevant travel articles: Balim or Torajah.
Wildlife: Monkeys, particularly macaques, are noisily visible and sometimes
troublesome in many places but to see the big guys who share 98%
of human DNA - Orangutan - you'll have to take a trip over to Tnjung
Puting National Park on Kalimantan island [Borneo].
Or travel to Komodo Island to see Komodo Dragons feasting on goats.
Jungle river boating: Tnjung Puting
National Park on Kalimantan island.
Motor biking and cycling: bike hire
is widely available but beware uncontrolled and erratic local driving
habits.
Water sports: the usual snorkelling
and windsurfing off Bali, Lombok and Gili, with some mini-surf off
Kuta beach and good scuba in varied locations.
Indonesia's
Main Festivals:
*March/Apr, Nyepi (Balinese New Year), Bali, a few days
August, Galungan,
Bali, 10 days.
May [Full-moon]Waisak, Borobudur, 1 day.
June/July, Usaba Sambah,Tenganan (Bali), 1 day.
August, Caci Whip Duels, Ruteng (Flores), 1 day.
Aug-Oct (Sept is the peak), Torajan Funeral Feasts, Tanatoraja (south
central Sulawesi), 1 week.
Bali Video | Indonesia Resources | Indonesia Tours
Torajah: Torajah Travel Story | Balim Valley: Indonesia
Travel Story
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