Indonesia

Indonesia is an unique country with more than 13.000 islands. Only 6000 islands are inhabited. Therefore Indonesia is the largest archipelago on earth. The Greater Sunda Islands are divided in four islands: Borneo, Java, Sulawesi and Sumatra. The islands are under the jurisdiction of different countries. Borneo is divided between Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia (Kalimantan). Timor is divided between East Timor and Indonesia. Smaller Sunda Islands are Bali, Lombok, Timor and other islands.

Java is the smallest island of the Greater Sunda Islands but the most densely populated. The capital city Jakarta is located on the island of Java. Besides the metropolitan cities on Java there are many fishing villages where they still haul the fish in from the beach with nets and where farmers grow rice.

Some of the Indonesian islands are in many ways each other’s opposites. Java is the densely populated cultural and economic centre of the country and most inhabitants are Muslim. Bali is a bit different with the Balinese version of Hinduism and it’s own culture. Lombok is populated by the indigenous Sasak and they follow a form of Islam that only exists on this island. The Christian Batak live in northern Sumatra while in west Sumatra the Islamic Minangkabau live.

Interesting places to visit

A first sight Jakarta is chaotic and a concrete jungle. Nevertheless it’s worth exploring Jakarta and to admire the many historical monuments in the old neighbourhood of Kota. Or visit Sunda Kelapa to see the picturesque sailing ships. Go to central Java to visit the historical monuments of the Hindu-Java civilization. From here it is easy to travel further to Yogakarta and Surakarta. East Java is the place to be for nature lovers where you can admire crater lakes, volcanoes and national reserves.

Bali is a famous tourist destination with white sandy beach, mountain views, rice fields and the amazing Balinese architecture. Is Bali to crowded for you? Visit the smaller islands Gili Air or Gili Meno and enjoy the quiet local atmosphere. From the Gili Islands you can travel to Lombok. This relatively small island is dominated by the volcano Rinjani. A popular activity is to climb the volcano via the north side. In central Lombok you can visit traditional weaving and pottery villages.

Sumatra is mostly covered by tropical rainforest in which elephants and orang-outangs live. The Batak living in Sumatra are predominant Christian. Until the end of the 19^th century they were animists that worshipped spirits and engaged in cannibalism.

Festivals

In Indonesia they celebrate national holidays but also regional and local festivals. Besides these festivals there are many religious festivals; Islamic, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu and Chinese festivals. Some of the festivals have a set date but others follow the moon calendar and dates are different each year. The local tourist offices are the best place to ask the dates of festivals. I have selected a few festivals.

Java

Waisak: On this day they celebrate the birth and enlightenment of Buddha. Pilgrims and yellow-dressed monks go to Borobudur. The festival is in May during the full moon.

Sekaten: Celebrated on the occasion of the birth of Prophet Mohammed in the 15^th century. The festival is held between May and Juli in Surakarta. At the end of the festival week they organise a market at alun-alun.

Yogya Arts Festival: From June 7^th until July 7^th there are shows and art exhibitions in Fort Vredeburg in Yogyakarta.

Independence Day: On August 17^th Indonesia celebrates the anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence (since 1945). In Jakarta they celebrate the national holiday with large parades.

Bali

Nyepi: The Day of Silence is the Balinese New Year, held in March or April. The Balinese don’t go out, there is no traffic and all lights are turned off. On this day the Balinese are meditating and fasting. Tourists are supposed to stay in their hotels. The quietness and darkness should give the impression to evil spirits Bali doesn’t exist anymore.

Bali Arts Festival: The most important festival in Bali is celebrated between mid-June and mid-July. This month is known for the traditional dance and music shows. The Ramayana and Mahabharata Ballet organises legendary performances.

Ubud Writers and Readers Festival: In October writers from all parts of the world go to Ubud and share their ideas and stories about literature.

Personal Travel Guide

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Practical info

Currency: Indonesian rupiah (IDR)

Official language: Indonesian

Regional languages: Over 700 regional languages, such as High Balinese, Low Balinese and Middle Balinese.

Religion: Islam (87%), Christianity (11%), Hinduism (1%), other religions are Buddhism, Confucianism and Folk.

Capital city: Jakarta

Visa: Most visitors are allowed to enter Indonesia without visa. Read the article Visa Indonesia to know more about the requirements.

Local SIM Card: The easiest place to get a SIM-card is at the airport. They might be more expensive than buying a SIM- card in a shop in the city. The best coverage in Indonesia is offered by Telkomsel and XL. You need to bring your passport to register for a SIM-card as a foreigner.

Country Code: +62

Time: UTC + 7 to +9, depending on region and island

Official Tourism Website: Visit the official tourism website of Indonesia, Wonderful Indonesia, to know more about places to visit and where to go.

Practical info: Are you planning a trip and you need some practical info? Read the ultimate planning guide when you are going for a long term journey or download the packing list. I share tips about setting up a travel budget. Or find out the best travel apps to use.

Sustainable travel: I have written a few articles about sustainable travel. I give tips about how to make your trip more sustainable and how to fly more sustainable. I believe even the smallest effort can help.

Public Transport

Train

Java has a reliable railway system. Travelling by train is comfortable and the larger cities are connected by express trains. The railway network is extended to Merak in the west to Banyuwango in the east. At Banyuwango you can take the boat to Bali. The most important connection starts at Jakarta via Bogor to Bandung, Yogyakarta and Surakarta. From Surakarta trains depart to Semarang and Surabaya.

The luxury and most comfortable train departs from Jakarta. Between the cities drive the express trains with two classes: the executive-class with AC and the business-class with fans. The economy trains are the slow trains, they stop everywhere, are crowded and the only seats are a few wooden benches. It is possible to reserve tickets but only for the executive and business class seats. It’s best to reserve tickets a few days before, especially during holidays and weekends.

Bus

Almost all places are connected by bus. Travelling by bus is less comfortable than taking the train. The cheapest buses are the economy buses and they make a lot of stops. They usually leave when the bus is full (or overcrowded). Be careful with your belongings because these buses are the working ground of pickpockets. The economy buses drive are operational at short distances.

The faster buses are the patas-buses at Java. They drive from one bus station to another without making stops in-between. Some of these buses have AC. Seats are assigned when you reserve a ticket. Luxury buses are driving between larger cities at Java. They have AC and comfortable seats.

Tickets for the economy buses are sold on the bus. You can buy tickets for the patas- and luxury buses at the bus station, the bus company or at your hotel. Another option is taking the more expansive mini-bus. They pick you up at your hotel and drop you off at your hotel in the city of arrival.

Best time to go

The best time to visit Indonesia is from April until October. High season is in July and August when tourists from Europe are visiting Indonesia. The prices are higher in these months. From November until March it is monsoon. The landscape is green but compaired to other regions it does not rain often and the showers are refreshing. December and January are the months with the most rain.