Indonesia – The Emerald of The Equator
Indonesia is a special country that will take hold of you like very few others. What makes it so special? It could be one of many things. The food, the rice paddies, the volcanoes, the islands, the beaches. Indonesia has it all. Travelling through this country brings a new and different experience every day. Whether you spend your whole time in Bali or Java or travel from A to B seeing all there is in between, you will still leave wanting more. The cities are chaotic, the beaches are amazing, what’s not to love? This Indonesia Travel Guide will hopefully help you in some way to get the most out of your time there. I hope it will also help you to decide where is best to spend your time. Wherever you eventually choose, I am sure you will have a great time in this awesome country!
Currency Converter – 20,000 IDR = €1.20/£1.07/$1.40
Weather
Indonesia’s dry season spans from May – September, making this high season for tourists visiting. Wet Season is from October until April. Rainfall tends to occur in these months in short, heavy bursts. There is very little variation in temperature throughout the year. Most regions average at 28°C. Certain regions, such as Bali and Kalimantan, don’t tend to be affected too much by the changing of the seasons.
Visa Policy
Passport holders from 170 nations are entitled to visa-free entry into Indonesia for stays of up to 30 days. It is only nationals from Central Africa and the Middle East that must apply for a visa before entering. For more information on the Visa Policy of Indonesia, click here
Things to See and Do in Indonesia
Jakarta – The capital city of Indonesia and one of the biggest cities in the world. Jakarta can be overwhelming at times. With so many people and traffic constantly at a standstill, it can take some time to adjust to life here. If you look a bit harder though, the good comes to the fore. The Dutch Quarter is a well-kept and relaxing area. The National Monument and its surroundings are architecturally beautiful. There is good food readily available and the people, like everywhere in Indonesia, are friendly. I don’t think many people leave having fallen in love with Jakarta, but it is the capital after all. To get a truer appreciation of a country you should always visit its capital city. Jakarta is no different.
Yogyakarta – Jogya is a beautiful city situated in Central Java. Although large in size, it has managed to maintain a charm usually found in a much smaller city. With its small peaceful streets in the centre, it is a great place to take a walk and get lost. The busy Malioboro Street is a great place to shop or people watch. Taman Sari, The Water Palace, is another favourite for travellers here and is well worth a visit. Like everywhere in Indonesia, the surrounding area is incredible. With temples and waterfalls not too far away, using Jogya as your base for exploring this part of the country is a no-brainer.
Borobodur Temple – An hour away from Jogya is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Borobudur, the largest Buddhist Temple in the world. This wonderful sight dates back to the 9th Century and it is spectacular. Walk around the different levels on your way up to the top, admiring the fascinating stone carvings. Then when you reach the top, you will see some superb views of the area. The stupas make for amazing photo opportunities, which is evident when you see every second person having a personal photo shoot. It is true that a lot of temples look the same, but not Borobudur. I feel that it rivals Angkor Wat in terms of its beauty and imposing stature. It does cost $25 to visit, but public transport to the site is readily available. There is no need to book a tour and make it even more expensive than it already is.
Surabaya – The second largest city in Indonesia is an intriguing one. Although huge in size, it doesn’t give off the impression of being a big city. With plenty to see and do there, you definitely won’t be bored. The main attraction is the House of Sapoerna, a museum and working factory for the largest cigarette company in Indonesia. They offer free tours at 1pm and 3 pm. Most travellers visit Surabaya for its convenient location, either as a stopover on the way to or from Bali or as a base to visit Mount Bromo. The city itself is worth a few days though, to me it felt like a nicer, prettier version of Jakarta.
Bali – This magical island feels like a country in itself. From the countryside of Ubud to the beaches of Kuta, Bali offers a different experience everywhere you go. A short taxi ride to another part of the island and you will feel like you are in a different world from the one you left behind. A popular and well known holiday destination, Bali can be expensive in places. Although I found Ubud to be great value for money, an hour down the road in Canggu, prices had nearly doubled. Bali is on pretty much every traveller’s itinerary in Indonesia. You could spend your entire time on this island and not run out of things to do.
Places to Visit in Bali
Lombok – Unfortunately due to frequent earthquakes, I was unable to make it to Lombok. An island east of Bali, Lombok was once a surfing paradise. Now it is much more than that. With its trekking and beautiful beaches, it is a favourite for travellers in Indonesia. With easy access to the Gili Islands, Lombok is a must visit in Indonesia, safety permitting of course.
Bandung – Three hours south of Jakarta is a city that helped me fall in love with Indonesia. Bandung, although busy, has a really nice feel about it. The food was incredible and some of the buildings, like the Masjid Raya Bandung, were amazing. Bandung can also be used as a great base to explore the surrounding area. Close to here is the unique and very beautiful Kawah Putih, more commonly known as The White Crater. Here you will find a lake inside a volcanic crater that changes colour depending on the level of sulphur in the water. It can be anything from green to really bright blue and is an amazing sight to see. There are also strawberry plantations and hot springs nearby. You would never be stuck for things to do here and that is what makes Bandung a must visit.
Sumatra – This island to the north of Indonesia does not get the tourism that other parts may get. The untouched lands here are great for jungle trekking and seeing wildlife, such as Orangutans, in their natural environment. It may be out of the way and off the beaten track, but don’t let that stop you. Unfortunately, time constraints meant that I didn’t get to see this beautiful island. However, if I ever return to Indonesia, which I hope to do, Sumatra will certainly be on my itinerary. Anyone I met who had made the trip there felt that it was totally worth it.
What To Eat in Indonesia
Soto Betawi – Commonly found in Jakarta, this coconut milk soup is full of herbs and spices and packed with flavour. It is usually served with rice.
Bakso – This common street food consists of beef meatballs and noodles. The noodles may come dry with a meatball soup on the side or all in one bowl. You can find Bakso all over Indonesia, just look for street carts with a large number of meatballs on show.
Nasi Goreng – Indonesian Fried Rice is another popular street food across the country. It is more flavoursome than your usual fried rice due to a large amount of caramelized sweet soy sauce used. This gives it a nice smoky flavour.
Beef Rendang – This very rich beef dish was once voted number one in a poll of the Worlds Most Delicious Foods by CNN. It is spicy, packed with flavour and just delicious. A must try in Indonesia.
Tempe – I loved eating this during my time in Indonesia. Made from fermented soybeans into what looks like a cake, sliced up and fried. It accompanied almost every dish perfectly.
Babi Guling – Known as Suckling Pig, you won’t find this dish outside of Bali. For the best one, go to Ubud. It consists of pork, roasted above a pit, rice and a combination of many other ingredients. It’s wonderfully spicy and tasty.
Helpful Phrases
Hello = Hi
Do you speak English? = Anda bisa bicara bahasa inggris?
Excuse me = Maaf Permisi
Please = Tolong
Thank You = Terima Kasih
How much is this? = Berapa harganya?
Rice = Nasi
Chicken = Ayam
Duck = Bebek
Fried = Goreng
Soto = Soup
Mie = Noodles
Kopi = Coffee
Typical Costs in Indonesia
Accommodation – Typically, a dorm room will be priced at 120,000IDR per night. This would usually include free breakfast. For a double or twin room, prices work out nearly the same as two beds in a dorm room. This makes it a great place to travel as a couple. Outside of Bali, there are more than enough budget hotels that offer rooms for as little as 170,000IDR per night. However, for higher-end chain hotels, expect to pay 4 or 5 times that price.
Food – Food in Indonesia is inexpensive. An average priced meal from a local restaurant or street stall should cost you 17,500IDR. This small fee will get you a good sized portion of delicious food. In restaurants, obviously, you can expect to pay more. You could be paying nearly 100,000IDR for a sit-down meal. Western Food, as always, is more expensive again. Fast Food Chains offer up decent alternatives to western food with prices typically around 40,000IDR for a meal.
Transportation – Trains are the transport of choice in Indonesia. Expect to pay somewhere close to 130,000IDR for a 6/7 hour journey. Of course, shorter trips are cheaper, Jakarta to Bandung, for example, costs only 70,000IDR for a 3-hour train ride. Buses are slightly cheaper, but Indonesia has crazy traffic and worse roads. It is in your interest and safety to take the train.
Excursions – Inside the cities, entrance fees are very low. Most museums are either free or charge a small fee close to 15,000IDR. For the must-see sights further out you will pay considerably more. The White Crater costs 95,000IDR, Borobudur, 362,500IDR. Mount Bromo costs 217,500IDR on weekdays and 317,500IDR on weekends. Add to that the price of getting to and from these attractions and you could shortly find a low budget struggling. Avoid tours if money is tight, but these are amazing sights that will make your time in the country even more special.
How To Save Money in Indonesia
GoJek – Similar to Grab and Uber, GoJek is a lifesaver in Indonesia. On this app, you can order anything from a taxi to a massage. It is slightly cheaper than Grab for taxis and motorbikes, but its best feature is the food. The app gives you recommendations for food in your area that can be delivered to your hostel. Usually, it’s very local food and very cheap. With a small delivery charge, you can get great food delivered right to your door. I used this in bigger cities, like Bandung, and paid no more than 25,000IDR per meal.
Get A Sim Card – This helps so much with ordering transport. Arriving at a bus or train station is made so much easier knowing you can order transport quickly. No need to deal with taxi drivers hoping to charge you three or four times as much as your GoJek driver will. This is one thing I didn’t do on my trip but I absolutely should have!
Avoid Tours – This may not always be possible but try and do your day trips using public transport. It might not be the comfiest or the quickest way, but using local buses to leave the city and explore surrounding areas instead of a tour will always be considerably cheaper. If going as part of a tour is the only option then needs must, but avoid them when possible.
Free Breakfast – It seemed like the majority of hostels and guesthouses offer free breakfast. Don’t even consider staying in one that doesn’t and be sure to make use of free food when it is there. It might not be much but it saves you the price of a meal every day.
Plan Ahead, Book Online – Indonesia is one of the few countries that gives you the opportunity to book transport online. Www.traveloka.com gives you timetables and prices, then the option of paying by card or cash at nearby newsagents. Trains do sell out in advance though, so I advise that you plan ahead. Failure to do so could mean having to pay for a higher class to travel on a specific date, costing more money.
Fill Up Your Bottle – Hostels in Indonesia lead the way in allowing you to refill your water bottle. It is very rare that every hostel in a country offers this. I managed to go the whole month refilling the same water bottle. Not only is this good for your pocket, not buying a few bottles of water a day, it’s also great for the environment.
Maybe you will eventually leave, maybe like others before you, you won’t. Indonesia has the ability to never let go of you. If you do leave, I guarantee you will want to return. In very few countries, could you return to the same places, see totally different things and have a completely different experience. I hope this guide will help you along the way to love this country like most people do as I do! Whether you are coming on holiday or as part of a long term trip, Indonesia is perfect for you!
To check out my full list of Indonesia blogs, click here.
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