Introducing Indonesia
Adventure looms large in this vast and steamy archipelago, where the best of Southeast Asia’s spicy melange simmers tantalisingly. Heady scents, vivid colours, dramatic vistas and diverse cultures spin and multiply to the point of exhaustion, their potent brew leaving your senses reeling.
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Rippling across the equator for nearly 5000km, Indonesia encompasses more than 17,000 islands, two-thirds of which are inhabited and richly layered with character. On Sulawesi, the elaborate funeral ceremonies and timeless traditions of Tana Toraja are light years from the surfing culture of Lombok. But so too are the mighty saddle-backed Batak mansions of Danua Toba and the volcanic lakes of Sumatra from the mummies and deeply etched gorges of Papua’s Baliem Valley. The resorts and restaurants of Bali pamper precocious style cats, while at the same moment threadbare backpackers are adopted by homestays in Kalimantan.
Indonesia’s cities are in a constant state of urban evolution, where dense populations, technology and construction live in hectic symbiosis. But most of the archipelago’s territory remains unexplored, concealing a wealth of cultures and a myriad of landscapes. Oceanic rice fields and ancient sultanates in Java are humbled by haunting volcanic cones. Maluku’s alabaster beaches and desert islands remain pristine while the tourist trail heads elsewhere. The jungles of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua are zoological wonders, revealing impish monkeys, stoic sun bears, leopards, orang-utans and remarkable marsupials.
And then there are the micromoments, equally exquisite but entirely unexpected; impromptu English lessons with school children, instant friendships in crammed bemos, lending an ear to your becak rider… In Indonesia there is plenty of cause to pause, except when dodging hurtling traffic – but that’s all part of the adventure.
Ready to go? These recommended partners make it easy:
- Explore beautiful Bali
- Blend adventure and relaxation with a trip through the Indonesian archipelago
- Join in a Bali reef cruise
Last updated: Mar 29, 2012
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Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Prices in Indonesia
by John555 28 May 2012
Even Raja Empat is not that expensive. Rephrase your question.
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Re: 25 days in Indonesia: which islands?
by rroobbeerrtt 28 May 2012
Skip East Java and do Rinca - Flores - Adonara - Pantar - Alor - West Timor. Find some info on this route [here|http://beang.webs.com].…
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SEA cycling tour - experiences and recommendations?
by Erefin 28 May 2012
Hello everybody, my name's Felix, I'm 20 years old and I just finished 9 months of volunteering in Indonesia. But I guess I'll go back…
Hotels & Hostels
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Indonesia
Things to do
- All things to do (1,219)
- Activities (178)
- Entertainment (155)
- Restaurants (431)
- Shopping (191)
- Sights (255)
- Tours (9)
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Our Top Picks For Indonesia
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1 Kelimutu
Multihued crater lakes set atop an ancient volcano
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2 Sumba
Fascinating and isolated island with unique tribal traditions and a rich weaving heritage
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3 Pulau Weh
Undisturbed beaches, visiting whale sharks and sublime diving
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4 Danau Toba
Gracious Batak hospitality and Southeast Asia’s largest volcanic lake
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5 Banda Islands
Sublime snorkelling and pristine coral gardens in history’s fabled Spice Islands
Fast Facts about Indonesia
- Currency:
what's the Indonesian rupiah worth today?
- Population:
240 million
- Head of state:
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
- Border countries:
- Number of islands:
17,508
- Number of active volcanoes:
129
- Number of airports:
683
- Guinness World Records:
largest scuba diving lesson (2465 participants); most people scuba diving simultaneously (2486 divers)
- Sembako:
Indonesia’s nine essential culinary ingredients – rice, sugar, eggs, meat, flour, corn, fuel, cooking oil and salt
Our favourite Indonesia Blogs (beta)
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Different Worlds: Two Perspectives on Borrower Privacy from Indonesia and Ukraine
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 25 May 2012
Heather Sullivan | KF17 | Indonesia Chris Paci | KF16 & KF17 | Ukraine When not sampling local delicacies or fording swollen rivers to visit borrowers, Kiva Fellows occasionally find themselves stuck in the office, chatting on Skype and sharing experiences (both raucous and ruminative) from the field. In one recent conversation, the two of [...]
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Travel Photo – A Bali Holiday… Someday
Blog: Two Backpackers - 27 April 2012
2 Backpackers - Travel Photo – A Bali Holiday… Someday Subscribe Now -> http://feeds.feedburner.com/TwoBackpackers
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Kutai NP Educational Campaign Features our Orangutan Content
Blog: ContemporaryNomad - 26 April 2012
We are thrilled to write that our posts on Kutai National Park have caught the attention of national park authorities in Indonesia. We were contacted by representatives from Kutai NP who asked to use our photos in educational materials that they will be distributing to schools and government offices across the country. How exciting! My [...]
