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    Indonesia Travel Guide
    Indonesia Travel Guide
    Indonesia Travel Guide
    Ebook122 pages2 hours

    Indonesia Travel Guide

    By The Non Fiction Author

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    About this ebook

    A nation composed of over 18,000 islands spanning a distance equal to that between San Francisco and New York City, Indonesia is a world in itself. Bustling modern cities and tony beach resorts co-exist with ancient temples and iconic indigenous fauna such as Komodo Dragons, Java rhinos, and forest-dwelling orangutans. Indonesia is home to over 400 volcanoes, over 130 of which are considered active- the most active volcanoes of any country on earth. It's the fourth more populous country in the world and more than 200 ethnic groups are represented with the number of languages and dialects spoken nearing 600! No matter what experience you are looking for, it can surely be found in such a vast country as this.

    Indonesia sits centrally on the equator and is surrounded by Malaysia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, the Philippines, Australia, Palau, Vietnam, Thailand, and India. A plethora of cultures have added to Indonesia's history, going back to Chinese and Indian traders in the 1st century AD. Marco Polo was the first European to land at Sumatra, and later in their search for the legendary Spice Islands, Portuguese and Spanish explorers also learned of Indonesia. Starting in the late 1500's, the Dutch held the islands for three centuries and the islands were commonly termed the Dutch East Indies. In 1945, the Indonesian people declared independence and they officially achieved statehood in 1950. In many ways a young and forward looking country, Indonesia embraces all of its diverse population and traditions under the banner of 'One Country, One Nation'.

    Of Indonesia's multitude of islands, about 6,000 can be considered inhabited. The six main islands one is likely to visit are Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan (the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo), Bali, Sulawesi (formerly Celebes), and Papua (the western half of New Guinea Island). We also include information in this guide for the Maluku island group (also called the Moluccas, the original spice islands) and the Nusa Tengarra Islands. While many vacationers, especially those with limited time, might concentrate on an area developed for tourism such as Java or Bali, one could easily spend a month or more and barely begin to discover some of Indonesia's hidden corners and remote treasures.

    To visit Indonesia, one needs to let go of preconceptions and be open to discovering a place many know little about. Chances are you'll arrive into a modern airport and begin your adventures in a major city, such as Jakarta on Java or Denpasar on Bali. You'll then have choices to make, as to whether you prefer the mountains or forests, beaches or countryside; how off the beaten path you want to go is up to you. In a short stay, you can readily explore one island while you'll need more time to hop around and delve into the various regions that make up this large nation.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThe Non Fiction Author
    Release dateAug 22, 2017
    ISBN9781386838777
    Indonesia Travel Guide
    Author

    The Non Fiction Author

    A group of Authors, Graphic Designers and Technical Support Reps

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      Book preview

      Indonesia Travel Guide - The Non Fiction Author

      Introduction:

      Are You Ready For an Adventure?

      A nation composed of over 18,000 islands spanning a distance equal to that between San Francisco and New York City, Indonesia is a world in itself. Bustling modern cities and tony beach resorts co-exist with ancient temples and iconic indigenous fauna such as Komodo Dragons, Java rhinos, and forest-dwelling orangutans. Indonesia is home to over 400 volcanoes, over 130 of which are considered active- the most active volcanoes of any country on earth. It's the fourth more populous country in the world and more than 200 ethnic groups are represented with the number of languages and dialects spoken nearing 600! No matter what experience you are looking for, it can surely be found in such a vast country as this.

      Indonesia sits centrally on the equator and is surrounded by Malaysia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, the Philippines, Australia, Palau, Vietnam, Thailand, and India. A plethora of cultures have added to Indonesia's history, going back to Chinese and Indian traders in the 1st century AD. Marco Polo was the first European to land at Sumatra, and later in their search for the legendary Spice Islands, Portuguese and Spanish explorers also learned of Indonesia. Starting in the late 1500's, the Dutch held the islands for three centuries and the islands were commonly termed the Dutch East Indies. In 1945, the Indonesian people declared independence and they officially achieved statehood in 1950. In many ways a young and forward looking country, Indonesia embraces all of its diverse population and traditions under the banner of 'One Country, One Nation'.

      Of Indonesia's multitude of islands, about 6,000 can be considered inhabited. The six main islands one is likely to visit are Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan (the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo), Bali, Sulawesi (formerly Celebes), and Papua (the western half of New Guinea Island). We also include information in this guide for the Maluku island group (also called the Moluccas, the original spice islands) and the Nusa Tengarra Islands. While many vacationers, especially those with limited time, might concentrate on an area developed for tourism such as Java or Bali, one could easily spend a month or more and barely begin to discover some of Indonesia's hidden corners and remote treasures.

      To visit Indonesia, one needs to let go of preconceptions and be open to discovering a place many know little about. Chances are you'll arrive into a modern airport and begin your adventures in a major city, such as Jakarta on Java or Denpasar on Bali. You'll then have choices to make, as to whether you prefer the mountains or forests, beaches or countryside; how off the beaten path you want to go is up to you. In a short stay, you can readily explore one island while you'll need more time to hop around and delve into the various regions that make up this large nation.

      Indonesia often rates as one of the world's happiest countries and you'll find people are quite friendly and eager to assist you. The major urban communities are easy to navigate and there are many experts available locally to assist you in accessing more remote areas. Being a tropical country, the weather and the ocean waters can always be described as warm. Compared to many Western countries, prices related to travel are quite reasonable and the quality received is high.

      This guide is designed to be a starting point and orient you to the regions of Indonesia such that you can best plan where you might like to visit and what you might like to be sure to see and do. Because travel plans often change midstream, this guide has been designed to serve as an overview and general reference to the various options available to you in Indonesia. Detailed information is always best found locally and once you are on the ground in Indonesia, you will be well prepared to find all that you need to continue your explorations in the direction you choose.

      Chapter 1:

      Welcome to Indonesia!

      Indonesia At a Glance

      Being an archipelago means one's first impression may be that Indonesia is an island county and the name does come from two Greek words: indos for Indian and nesos for islands. And while the country is indeed composed of a multitude of small islands and island clusters, Indonesia also encompasses large land masses such as Sumatra, Kalimantan (part of the island of Borneo), and Papua (part of the island of New Guinea). There are of course marvelous tropical beaches here but Indonesia is also home to the world's second largest tropical rainforest in Sumatra and Kalimantan which contains over 40,000 species of flowering plants including 5,000 types of orchids.

      Indonesia is part of the Pacific Ocean's ring of fire and 13% of the world's volcanoes are found here. The country is a leader in sheer number of active volcanoes, but also in density of volcanoes within the land area of Indonesia, number of historic eruptions, and also fatalities due to volcanic activities. Today, many visitors seek out the volcanoes for hiking and other recreational purposes. The Wallace line runs through Indonesia between Kalimantan and Sulawesi, making a division between land and life forms like Asia on the western side of the line and a similarity with Australia east of the dividing line.

      Today's Indonesia is the world's fourth largest Muslim country yet many visitors seek out ancient Hindu and Buddhist temples, some of which are the country's most visited tourist sites along with other historical monuments. Popular activities for visitors and locals alike include diving, shopping, surfing, and relaxation at world class spa facilities. From the cities to the beaches, the forests to the food, Indonesia has immeasurable options for visitors of all varieties and with many diverse interests.

      Because Indonesia is so vast and varied, your first step may be simply finding a starting place. Popular points of entry include Jakarta and Surabaya on Java, Denpasar on Bali, and Medan on the island of Sumatra. From there choices must be made whether to confine one's explorations to an individual island (each of which are certainly worthy of your attention) or travel onwards to other parts of the country by hopper flights or ferries. By reading the sections of this guide devoted to Indonesian's varied regions, you should be able to get an idea of what the country's corners hold, where you'd like to start your adventure, and perhaps where you might then proceed.

      Indonesian Highlights and Key Experiences

      A world in a one nation, Indonesia offers an incredibly wide range of possible experiences: cities and beaches, rainforests and mountains; these islands are home to numerous attractions both modern and ancient. There are some well beaten paths that may strike your fancy yet there are no certainly no shortage of ways to take yourself somewhere beautifully remote should you wish a more private adventure. Here we include a small sampling of some of our favorite key Indonesian experiences. Because of the geography inherent to such a widespread archipelago and the impracticality of hopping about amongst the islands to hit all of the 'must do' highlights, you may choose to consult our regional chapters of this guide and then pick from this list of key experiences based on what locales you may be visiting.

      • See Komodo Dragons in Nusa Tengarra's Komodo National Park, a short hopper flight and boat ride from Bali.

      • Hike one of Indonesia's many active volcanoes, such as Mt. Bromo on Java or Mt. Agung on Bali.

      • Attend an authentic Javanese shadow puppet show (wayang).

      • Eat local cuisine such as nasi goreng at a warang, a traditional local corner cafe.

      • Shop and bargain through Bali's market scene where may be found items to take home such as fine art, locally produced handicrafts, jewelery, paintings, wood and stone carvings, masks, and woven and dyed fabrics.

      • See endangered orangutans in the wild on Sumatra or Kalimantan; private trekking companies can take you on an up close and personal experience of a lifetime.

      • Marvel at, relax at, and/or enjoy recreation at Sumatra's Lake Toba, an immense caldera left from an ancient cataclysmic volcanic event.

      • Tour Central Java's popular Yogyakarta region for a view into the country's rich history, complete with ancient palaces and temples.

      How to Use This Guide

      This travel guide is composed of three parts, each of which contains essential information to aid in your preparations and explorations of Indonesia. Keep in mind always that things do change and that many details are best coordinated locally. If you treat this guide as a starting point, you'll be able to land in Indonesia ready to be in the driver's seat of your own adventure. Lodging and transportation options are numerous in Indonesia and local assistance is easily found, whether you prefer to take a map and strike out on your own or to be in the capable hands of a native tour guide.

      The goal in this guide is to provide to you the essentials for the major regions of Indonesia (and also some more remote corners of the country) and to give an insight into a variety of authentic experiences that you might wish to seek out. Included are many well-loved attractions and things you'd surely want to check out should you be

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