Indonesia
Spectacular beaches, smoggy megacities, humid weather year-round, the smell of fried rice and durian... these are some of the first things that might come to mind.
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I didn't know where Indonesia was on the map until I moved there in 2021. It looks like a smaller country, but it is home to about 282 million people and is made up of over 17,000 islands.
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Explore and discover some of the wonderous places within this beautiful country.
Bali
Not just a tourist trap...but usually a tourist trap
Many people want to visit Bali, and rightfully so; however, they think it's its own country and they might be surprised to find themselves in Indonesia.
Bali is an island sitting just to the east of Java, and a mere 2-hour flight away from the capital of Jakarta.
I visited Bali three times during my two years living in Jakarta, not counting the many layovers there when I would be flying to different parts of Indonesia. Bali unsurprisingly has a large international airport. Once you’re out of the airport, you have the choice to go to one of the many beaches, explore the rice paddies in the north, hike a mountain before sunrise, or go surfing in the south.
It is an island worth visiting, most certainly, but be prepared to be surrounded by other tourists at many of the famous sites. Local people are friendly, but may also be trying to sell you things left and right. However, there is transportation abundant, choices of places to stay almost anywhere you look, and food of all kinds.
Lombok
An island directly to the east of Bali, Lombok has gradually become a more popular tourist destination for those looking to escape the crowds and venture somewhere a bit less developed.
Public transport (Grabs, Gojeks, etc.) are sometimes a bit more challenging to get here. I explored two areas on the south side of Lombok, and what stuck out to me was the rural roads, the stray dogs, the bright house colors, the vast beaches, the stray dogs, the beautiful sunsets, and the stray dogs. Really, you have to travel by motorbike past the dogs that bark on every side street or be extremely confident on foot as you hurry past them. If you visit Selong Belanak Beach in the morning, you might get a chance to see a group of cows being herded along (they’ll get very close to you!), and in the evening, you’ll see a beautiful changing sky set against the sharp peaks of the hills. Lombok is a quiet, peaceful place overall, and a wonderful refreshment after a busy, Westernized time in Jakarta or Bali.
Yogyakarta
This special region is absolutely worth visiting if you are on Java! Home to two of the most famous Buddhist and Hindu temples, Yogyakarta is full of contrasts, ancient culture, and beauty. Enjoy fresh guava juice in the city, trees surrounded by mist in the early morning, and spectacular sunsets at the temples in the evening.