flying on jakarta - approx 2,5 weeks in Indonesia..
Replies: 7 - Last Post: Feb 5, 2013 8:54 AM Last Post By: Klemencja
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flying on jakarta - approx 2,5 weeks in Indonesia..
Hi there,Me and a colleague (possibly more will join!) have a dozen of free days or so to spend, our company urges us to use them swiftly (before the end of March)...the two of us haven´t visited Indonesia yet, so: why not:)?
We are planning to fly on Jakarta around Feb 21st and have approximately 2,5/ 3 weeks to see as much as we can. A bit of relaxation on the beaches would be nice, but the main focus is on adventure.
We are thinking about leaving Jakarta as soon as possible to see a bit of the Java hinterland (3-4 days), before taking a boat/ catching a plane to Sulawesi. The plan is to stay on Sulawesi for 7-9 days, before flying to Lombok or Bali for the beaches. After that we plan to fly back/ take a boat and bus back to Jakarta.
Two questions here: 1) is this itinerary realistic (since we have no benchmark), or a bit too ambitious, given the time we have?
2) i assume that it is advisable to take malaria medication for certain parts of Sulawesi. Does the same apply for the Java hinterland and parts of Bali/ Lombok?
Thanks in advance for replying,
Tim
1
Hi Tim,For enjoying J'karta, have a look at my to places I liked in J'karta. Fly out to Yogya and do Borobudur, which is the absolute highlight of Java. Bali is great for its culture, not so much for beaches. For beaches, check out Nusa Lembongan and Lombok. Sulawesi is pushing it too much in your time frame.
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Sorry ... at my handpicked links to places I liked in J'karta.3
Tim:I think your itinerary is fine, though I haven't been to Sulawesi. I've spent a lot of time in Java, Lombok, Bali and Sumbawa and have never taken anything for malaria and I can't think of anyone who has. I am not a doctor, however, and I would seek his/her advice on it. If you're going to be taking it for Sulawesi then you might as well just play on through. If that is the only medication you'll be taking fine, but I took a trip to Costa Rica many years ago and the doctor gave me too much preventive medicine and later indicated that all of it was likely the reason why I was sick the entire time. I haven't taken anything since.
Have fun. You'll love it!
Dino
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Your plan looks ok, but you have too little time for Java...you should plan a week at least. One week for Sulawesi (it's a huge area but also depends on if you want to do both diving and Toraja or whatever) . One week for Bali/Lombok. BTW, the reason to go to Bali is for the Balinese Hindu culture including temples, subak and rice fields, music and dance, etc and not beaches)And if you plan to go back overland from eastern Indonesia to Jakarta you will use up a huge amount of your short visit. Better to just fly.
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Thank you all for the extremely useful feedback, very kind! We are thinking now about spending only a day or so in Jakarta and flying straight to the north of Sulawesi (Manado), after which we'll spend a small week for some adventure (Tangkoko) and beaches (Pulau Bunaken). After that we'll head for Lombok, the Gili's, Bali and make our way back to Jakarta by train, stopping at must see places like Mt Bromo, Yogyakarta and/ or Pangadaran. Really excited about it!One final question: would it be advisable to pre-book plane tickets, or would it suffice to book them on the spot?
Cheers!
