Indonesia has over 17,000 islands, Bali is one of the most visited Islands in Indonesia with stretches of pristine sand and rice paddies. I spent four days travelling around Bail the place I enjoyed in Bali the most was Ubud the gorgeous rice paddies, vegan restaurants and beautiful temples made it an ideal place to relax and meditate. Ten days in Indonesia was only enough time to visit three islands, Ubud, Java and Jakarta. I look forward to going back and visiting more Islands in this beautiful country. I hope this short summary of Indonesia will help you plan your trip.
Best Time to Visit
Indonesia is a tropical summer destination; best time to visit will depend on the region you are visiting, between April and October prices are higher as the weather is ideal for island hopping, snorkelling and taking in the beautiful beaches. November to March are the rainy months particularly in the south. During The rainy months it is an ideal time to visit Indonesia’s collection of temples, as they are less busy this time of year.
Things to do and see
- The Gili Islands: Are a group of three Islands, Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno. These Islands have blue waters white sands and palm trees, great for enjoying water sports and Island partys.
- Lempuyang Gates of Heaven: The Lempuyang gates are in the east of Bali, sitting on Mount Lempuyang, there are seven temples surrounding the area. You must climb 1,700 steps to get to the top to see the gates. The walk is believed to be spiritual.
- Komodo National Park: Landscapes make it a unique destination for nature lovers. It is a marine reserve that has 12 wild Islands inhabited by animals such as the Komodo Dragon.
- Scuba Diving in Nusa Penida: Nusa Penida is in the southeast of Bali. The island has countless beautiful dive sites. A great place for experienced divers.
- Climb a Volcano: There are many Volcanoes spread over the Indonesian landscape, that can be trekked. Mount Bromo is one of the most popular volcanos to climb.
Food
In tourist areas like Bali you will find more food variety. The staple diet in Indonesia is rice or Noodles depending on what island you’re on, the rice or Noodle is served with meat and vegetables. Corn cassava and sweet potatoes are also very popular, with Coconut milk used in several soups and stews. Many Indonesia dishes are highly spiced with lime, tamarind, chilli, lemongrass and garlic cloves. Sea food is also a very popular feature in Indonesia food. Although most of the country is Muslim alcohol is readily available in most towns, the drinking age is 21.
Transportation
Air: Indonesia has good domestic flights connecting all the major tourist destinations. There are no direct flights from London to Indonesia.
Roads: Depending on which Island you are, the roads can be in poor condition. Within Java, Bali and Sumatra the road networks are paved and well maintained. Drivers drive on the Left side of the road.
Taxi: Motorcycle taxis are commonly used in cities and towns. Majority Motorcycle taxis will not have a helmet for you to wear. Always agree a price before starting your journey.
Bus: There are three classes for buses, economy, express and luxury. The economy Bus picks up passengers on the road between towns. These buses are cheap but over grounded and hot. The express bus goes straight to the destination. The luxury buses are air-conditioned and have reclining seats, movies and snacks.
Ferry: Cruises operate in various tourist destinations around Indonesia. The main ports in Indonesia are in Bali, Jakarta, Medan and Batam. There are boat services that transport tourist in between Islands.
Rail: PT Kereta Api is the operating rail service in Indonesia. You can book tickets online, but the website does not have an English version. There are three classes of travel business, economy and first class. There are many services connecting different parts of Indonesia.
Visa
Visas are required for all EU, U.S, Canadian and Australian nationals, you can get a visa on arrival for 35$ for a period of 30days. You can also apply for a Visa online with the e-visa system.
Language
The official language of Indonesia is Indonesian also known as Bahasa Indonesian. English is not spoken widely but people working in the tourism industry will speak a good standard of English. There are also over 500 other languages spoken.
Money
The currency Indonesia is the Rupiah (RP) Automatic cash dispensers are available everywhere but the maximum you can withdraw is Rp1,000,000. Most machines take all credit cards,Visa and MasterCard. Indonesia is an inexpensive destination, except Bali where the prices are slightly higher due to tourism.
Tipping
When you eat at a restaurant your bill may include a service charge between 5-10%.
Social etiquette
Indonesia is predominately a Muslim country with 90% of the population Muslim. Attitudes in Bali are
Racism/Sexism/Discrimination
Adaptor
Indonesia has two associated plugs, the two round pins and the two round pins with two earth clips on the side.
Wifi
Internet cafes can be found in most cities and tourist destinations. Free Wi-Fi is available from most restaurants, hotels and guess houses.
Ruth’s Lonely Planet 