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Manchester Airport, United Kingdom
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Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
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Hikkaduwa Beach, Sri Lanka
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Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Singapore, Singapore
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Jakarta, Indonesia
Starting your Indonesian adventure in Jakarta is more akin to being thrown into
the middle of the Pacific Ocean than the deep end of a swimming pool but it does
have some charms. As the capital, there are many important museums where you can
educate yourself on Indonesian history and culture. Unlike some other
destinations on the route, locals vastly outnumber tourists which means you are
likely to be something of a fascination to local residents. As well as its
cultural attractions, Jakarta also boasts possibly the most raucous nightlife
scene in the Islamic world with giant 24 hour night clubs and bars, some of
which are packed with ecstasy-fuelled ravers. The best tactic is to accept the
madness of the place and try to understand the day to day lives of local people
who for the most part are friendly and eager to engage with you. However like
most big cities, Jakarta does have its share of dangers, so take good care of
yourself and your belongings.
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Dieng Plateau, Indonesia
As your train or bus heads east from Jakarta, you begin to get a better feel for
the real Java. The island is home to roughly 65% of Indonesia’s 275 million
population but is still dwarfed in size by the neighbouring islands of Sumatra
and Borneo. However it is not too difficult to get away from the hot modern
cities and the Dieng Plateau couldn’t feel more different than the bustling
capital.
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Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Jogja, as locals call it, is in many ways the cultural capital of Java. A lively
city in its own right with a thriving arts scene and a busy little district that
caters for the hordes of travellers that come through these parts. The vast
palace known as the Kraton Complex is home to the fabulously named Sri Sultan
Hamengkubuwono and is the main attraction in the town.
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Mount Bromo, Indonesia
A popular stopping point on the lengthy trip from Yogyakarta to Bali. Java is an
island full of highly active volcanoes and Mounts Bromo and Semeru are two of
the most accessible. Both volcanoes constantly spew out steam and smoke with
major eruptions not an uncommon occurrence. The surrounding landscape is
spectacular and at times truly unworldly. There’s plenty of budget accommodation
available around the park and it’s probably best to base yourself in a village
such as Cemoro Lawang or Wonokitri. Camping is possible inside the park but it
does get rather cold at night.
- Mount Bromo (Gunung Bromo)
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Bali, Indonesia
Bali is a relatively small island and you can reach any point in the space of
two or three hours, however you can easily end up spending weeks on the island.
Most travellers base themselves in the South with Kuta Beach the most popular
and liveliest choice, although it may be some time still before the really party
atmosphere of old returns. For many visitors to the country, Bali is all they
see and if you only have one week in indonesia, you may just want to head
straight here.
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Gili Trawangan, Indonesia
The Gilis are small and extremely laid back and a contrast to the mass tourism
witnessed in parts of Bali. Gili Trawangan has been a huge hit with backpackers
since the early 1990’s and continues to attract a steady flow of budget
travellers. Diving is popular in the Gilis and Trawangan is your best bet for
this. Of the three, this is the main party island and is somewhat notorious for
the absence of a permanent police presence which has led to it attracting many
travellers looking for weed, mushrooms and other drugs. Be warned though, that
if you misbehave on the Gilis, you may be forced to take the Walk of Shame and
paraded as a criminal in the island’s unique and controversial form of justice.
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Senaru, Indonesia
Senaru is a pleasant village on the fringe of the Mount Rinjani National Park
and has probably the best choice of budget accommodation in the area. Here you
can learn about the unique cultural beliefs on the island of Lombok. Close by
are beautiful waterfalls and for the brave you can take on the challenge of
hiking up Mount Rinjani which, as the second highest volcano in Indonesia, looms
large over the entire island.
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Kuta, Indonesia
The quiet beaches and bays of South Lombok are the perfect retreat after an
active few days on the North of the island. Surfing is popular here and you
won’t have to battle with anything like the crowds you find on Bali. Kuta and
Tanjung Aan are decent places to base yourself but budget accommodation may be
hard to find as even during busier times, the area doesn’t attract that much of
a backpacking crowd.
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Komodo Island, Indonesia
The Komodo national park consists of three islands just west of the main island
of Flores and is home to an abundance of animal life. As well as the famous
dragons, the area is home to wild horses, boar, deer, water buffalos, monkeys
and some very dangerous snakes. The tropical waters are inhabited by whales,
dolphins and various other forms of marine life so diving, kayaking and
snorkelling trips are also popular. The nearby town of Labuan Bajo is probably
your best bet for budget accommodation from where you can easily reach the
islands that make up the Komodo National Park.
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Ende, Indonesia
Ende is the biggest city on Flores and has a fair bit of history both in town
and in the surrounding areas. Nearby there are various caves, hot water pools
and lakes, many of which hold bizarre ancient myths and beliefs. The highlight
of a visit to these parts is Mount Kelimutu and its incredible crater lakes
which regularly change colour and apparently can appear anything from bright
turquoise to red and even chocolatey looking brown. Nobody is quite sure why
this natural phenomenon takes place but it is likely to have something to do
with volcanic activity.
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Maumere, Indonesia
This is the main transport hub on Flores and isn’t far from Ende. There are some
decent restaurants and the opportunity to do water-sports but there isn’t much
to hang around for. The airport has regular flights to other parts of Indonesia
including flights to Denpasar on Bali which is likely to be your best bet for
flying home or continuing your travels in a different part of Asia.
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I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Indonesia