Admittedly, I haven’t been able to travel much at all this year and I am not going to dwell on it. That has just led to another bout of researching trips to put in my bucketlist and my wanderlust landed me in the current trendy part of the world, Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia might be a popular travel destination, especially with backpackers and those looking for some fun in the far-flung sun that doesn’t cost a fortune, but Indonesia isn’t exactly the first place people think of visiting in the area -Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia they all seem to be far more popular. This is such a shame because there are so many great reasons to take a trip to Indonesia…

Indonesia Is Really Cheap

If you want to go further afield, but you don’t want to spend a lot of money doing it, you could do way worse than visiting Indonesia. As you can see at https://rumahdijual.com/yogyakarta/perumahan-murah, accommodation in the country is pretty cheap, but so is the food, the transport and the entertainment.  In fact, all of these things are amongst the cheapest you’ll find anywhere in the world, which means you can either spend much more time there, or you can live it up a bit, or a lot actually!

Jakarta is Amazing

If you like the bustling, exotic cities where there’s always something going on, then Jakarta is the perfect place to spend some time. Live music, sprawling shopping malls, restaurants serving up some of the most amazing Indonesian food and endless energetic nightclubs – Jakarta has it all.

You Can See Komodo Dragons

If you’re a nature lover, and you like lizards in particular, then heading off to Indonesia is a no-brainer. Why? Because Komodo Dragons – the biggest lizards on the planet – can be found in their natural habitat on five separate Indonesian islands. You might not want to get too close to them though because they have a toxic bite!

The Wilds of Sumatra is a Must-See

If you’re a nature lover, you’ll also want to get in on a visit to Sumatra where you’ll be able to see all manner of exotic animals, including orangutans, Sumatran Rhinos and tigers in the thick, dense forests of national parks like Kerinci Seblat. You might even be lucky enough to make friends with one of the many beautiful and friendly elephants that you’ll undoubtedly come across in Indonesia.

 

Get Your Yoga On

If you’re into yoga, or you want to learn more about the exercise that is said to condition mind, body, and spirit, then Indonesia is certainly one of the best places to do it, not only because it is one of the cheapest possible places to do a yoga retreat, like the one at https://www.bookyogaretreats.com/shanti-toya/8-days-wellness-yoga-retreat-in-bali-1, but also because some of the best yoga teachers around can be found there, and of course, the surroundings are beautiful.

Dive In

If yoga isn’t really your thing, perhaps you’re more of a diver? Well, Indonesia is great for that too. There are few places in the world that could even hope to compete with the diving on offer at the Coral Triangle – a part of the Pacific Ocean that can be accessed off the coast of Indonesia and various other countries including the Philippines and Malaysia. Take a liveaboard boat around the West Papua area of the country, and you’ll enjoy stunning waters, and you’ll see three-quarters of the planet’s coral species as well as many amazing tropical fish and some pretty impressive aquatic mammals.

Java Impresses

Java is the island with the largest population on the planet, but despite being home to over 140 million people, it is a surprisingly good place to chill out. That’s because it is home to no less than 12 national parks, including one UNESCO World Heritage Site – Ujung Kulon – and a number of volcanoes, which you can actually hike to the top of. That will make for some great selfies!

Another great thing about Java is Borobudur – a huge temple that is characterized by its extremely intricate stupas, and which is surrounded by stunning paddy fields. If you want to get your Zen on, it’s definitely the place to do it.

It’s Not Too Hot

This might not be a selling point for some of you, but if you like the heat, but you don’t like it too intense, Indonesia is a great choice because it isn’t quite so oppressively hot as other destinations in Southeast Asia.

Bali is a Backpacker’s Dream

If you happen to know any backpackers, then chances are they have spent at least a little time in Bali. The city is a veritable haven for people who are looking to travel on the cheap, but more than that it is the place where people who are looking for a spiritual connection, great surf and a good place to party to find all three things. Home to some of the most pristine beaches, affordable accommodations and impressive festivals, not to mention bouncing bars, it has something for everyone, and you really don’t need to have much money to have a great time. If partying isn’t your thing, Bali Barat National Park is a great place to retreat and watch the macaques and boar go about their business.

There’s Wilderness to Explore

If you’re interested in living life on the wild side and learning more about indigenous people is your thing, then the Indonesian island of Borneo is a dream come true. Not only has it stayed pretty true to it’s wild and tropical beginnings, although it has been a little touristified, it still has its own indigenous tribe, the Kalimantan living there amongst the orangutans in  the rainforests of Tanjung Puting National Park, and getting to spend time in proximity to them is extremely interesting and exciting.

Lorentz is Mind-Blowingly Beautiful

Lorentz is the biggest national park and a Unesco World Heritage Site. Situated on the island of Papua, it comprises of around 9,674 square miles of equatorial glaciers, rainforests, and alpine tundra. You’ll not only find some exotic plant specimens and exotic animals there, but you may also come across Puncak Jaya, which is the biggest mountain in between the Andes and Himalayas.

 

As you can see, Indonesia really is amazing! Have you ever visited? Is there something else that I should add to my list to see when I finally do go? My fingers are crossed and my passport is ready. I’m still over here just wanderlust-ing waiting to hear about your stories, so let me know all about it in the comments below. I’m waiting impatiently… Oh, oh, by the way in between rendezvous you can keep up with me on Instagram and subscribe while you are here.

Until our next rendezvous…

XOXO

Trudy

 

This post was a collaboration.