At 11.525 kilometers from home...
Heeeeeeello everyone! I'm back and ready to share new stories, photos, and recommendations with you. How does Southeast Asia and Oceania sound? :)
Hidden gems of Indonesia
As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm going to dig into my memories and write about some of the trips I've done in recent years. And I'll start with Indonesia, a journey that took a long time to happen but was so incredible that it was worth the wait because it happened at the right moment.
How the trip came about
This Indonesian trip began with a dream - I don't remember the exact day, but back in late 2019, I had a dream about traveling around Indonesia. It was the kind of dream that sticks in your head, one you can't forget as soon as you wake up. The idea of going and trying to recreate it started to take shape and grow.
And so it was, shortly afterward, I booked the flights to embark on an adventure on an interesting date, March 2020 (ooooops). An adventure that didn't happen until three years later. I remember that two weeks before my trip, they canceled my flight, and I got a bit upset without knowing what was about to come - COVID times.
Now I think it had to be that way. I finally made the trip in October 2022 with my best travel buddy and partner in adventures. A journey that exceeded all my expectations (which were quite high). In between and to fulfill part of my dream, I took a solo trip to Sri Lanka, which I'll tell you about soon. Although it was completely different (solo, in the midst of a pandemic, different culture, people, places), I gained many insights that made Indonesia an unforgettable memory. Sri Lanka was also unforgettable ♡
Since it was a month-long trip, I'll divide the posts into 5 different entries: the Java itinerary, a week in Bali, the beautiful and tourist-free Nusa Penida island, the Gili Islands by bike, and finally, Lombok. In this blog post, I'll provide a more general overview of how we organized the trip, the itinerary, my thoughts on the culture, nature, food, and some general recommendations for some of the Indonesia's hidden gems.
Organisation of the trip
I don't have much to add here, because when it comes to organisation, we barely organized anything. I understand that most people need to plan almost every detail, and in fact I used to be like that. And even more on big trips like this one. But going with Josh who is almost more chill than me (for this kind of things), we decided to go for the adventure and plan the important things (flights, paperwork, , , , , , the first two nights of accommodation). In our minds we also wanted to plan the places to work. But that didn't happen.
One thing I learned from Sri Lanka is that if you can afford to improvise a little, do it. Just as many people are stressed by not knowing what's coming, in my case it's the opposite: the premeditated and stipulated sometimes blocks me. And although we didn't organise much, there are things we did take into account when booking, such as how long to go, season, islands to visit (open for change) and some health, visa, risk, etc. checks.
Flights: We booked 4 months in advance and flights from Berlin round trip with stopover in Doha (Qatar Airways) were around 800 euros each. Expensive in my opinion, but we didn't book early enough.
Accommodation: Yes, we only booked the first two nights at the same Airbnb in a small village in the middle of nowhere in Java. We booked the rest of the nights as we went along. It is true that we went in low season and that gave us a lot of ease and flexibility when it came to booking at the last minute.
Paperwork: Visa on arrival, no PCR required, Passport valid for +6 months
Itinerary: We knew we wanted to get to Lombok but we preferred to enjoy the journey rather than stress about getting to a destination and speeding things up. So we left the final destination open, but yes :) we made it to Lombok. And what a wonderful place.
Budget: In terms of budget we wanted a mix of local tourism vs. a few days of whims such as sleeping in 'luxury' balinese places (although we realised that even for that, the prices are quite low if you do some research and don't pick up the first option), meals in good restaurants or doing my favourite hobby (apart from photography) which is scuba diving. Curiosity: at the end of the trip we spent less than a normal month in Berlin (not including flights and taking into account that I rented my flat in Berlin that month).
One-month tour of Indonesia
Java > Pulau Menjangan > Bali > Nusa Penida > Gili Trawangan > Gili Air > Lombok > Java
Indonesia - what you should know
Indonesia is quite unique for its impressive diversity, with over 17000 islands and more than 300 ethnic groups. Its rich culture, fused by historical influences, makes it unparalleled. It boasts lush nature, from tropical rainforests to active volcanoes and amazing marine biodiversity. It is a special destination that combines ancient traditions with natural beauty and adventure.
When to travel to Indonesia?
There are millions of websites that tell you the best months to travel because of the weather. The climate varies a lot from one island to another and unless you want to stay on just one, I wouldn't take it into account. The rainy months, although they say they go from October to March, tend to vary quite a lot, especially now with climate change.
I went between October and November (monsoon or rainy season) and we didn't have any problems, it rained a lot but as it wasn't cold at all, we got used to it pretty quickly. If you don't know which months to go, I would make the decision based on tourism, the high season is usually between June and September, and also December. But that's a personal decision and it's up to you.
Essentials when travelling to Indonesia
Valid passport with at least six months validity and a blank page, together with a tourist visa valid for one month.
Lightweight, warm clothing for varied climates, including swimwear, long-sleeved clothing for protection from the sun and comfortable walking shoes.
Broad-spectrum sunscreen and insect repellent, as Indonesia can have mosquitoes and strong solar radiation.
A first aid kit of basic medicines and prescriptions, plus travel insurance to cover medical emergencies and evacuations.
Power adapter for C and F type plugs, as well as an external battery and chargers for electronic devices.
Cash in Indonesian rupiah that you can get at arrival on the airport.
How long is it recommended to travel around Indonesia?
My recommendation is that the longer the better. The country has many, many islands and it's a very personal question. I'd say at least 3 weeks to enjoy yourself, get into the culture and have the possibility to see different islands. If your plan is to stay in the same place, two weeks would be enough :)
We travelled for a month, where we were working the first two weeks and on holiday the last two weeks. I can tell you that teleworking in Indonesia was an adventure but at the same time a very positive experience, the signal is 200 times better than in Germany! In every city there are coworkings where you can spend the day, eat and meet people. I would really go to telecommute from there if I could. In the Bali area, I had to start at 3pm (9 in Berlin/Madrid) and in the morning I would go scuba diving, or go to see a volcano, or explore waterfalls... a dream. And better than the one I had ;)
Sports and activities in Indonesia
Indonesia is the perfect place if you like nature and extreme sports. Although I only did trekking, diving, rafting and surfing, here are some possibilities:
Diving: The best. Swimming with manta rays was one of the most special and pure experiences I have ever had in my life. Indonesia is full of amazing coral reefs and marine life in places like the Gili Islands, Raja Ampat and Komodo. If you don't have a diving course, snorkelling works as many of the animals and plants can be seen close to the surface.
Hiking and trekking: Climb active volcanoes such as Mount Rinjani in Lombok or Mount Bromo in Java, or explore the waterfalls of Tumpak Sewu in Java. Rinjani was another rewarding and challenging experience that I will tell you about in future posts. The waterfalls are amazing and in my opinion, much more beautiful than the ones in Bali.
Rafting: We went rafting near Ubud in Bali. The experience was fun. What I will never forget about this experience was the Ayung river and the rock carvings on the river banks. These carvings are supposedly the creation of talented Balinese artists. The Ramayana, one of the world's great epic stories, is illustrated in the artwork.
Caving: In Lombok we went to a very impressive cave, but full of bats on the ceiling and cockroaches on the floor. If you want to know more details, feel free to ask me ;)
Surfing: This experience was not so much fun - we were taken to a reef where there were very big waves breaking very hard and I literally almost got stuck there. It was dangerous, but it was all just an anecdote.
Food in Indonesia
Nasi Goreng (fried rice) - Essentially just wok-stir-fried rice with lots of savoury seasonings, this simple, hot and freshly cooked popular street food is cheap and delicious. Be sure to order the "Nasi Goreng Special" if you want to add a fried egg to your dish.
Mie Goreng (Noodles) - My favourite dish along with Nasi Goreng is a dish of thin yellow noodles sautéed in cooking oil with garlic, onion or shallots, fried prawns, sliced chicken, beef or bakso, chilli, Chinese cabbage, sprouts, tomatoes, egg and other vegetables. And good chilliiiii
Sate Ayam (chicken satay) - Skewers of meat, usually chicken, pork or fish, marinated and grilled, served with a tasty peanut sauce.
Nasi Campur: A rice dish mixed with small portions of various side dishes, such as chicken, pork, egg, vegetables and sambal.
Nasi Padang: Originating in Sumatra, but common throughout Indonesia, this is a rice feast with a variety of spicy side dishes, such as beef rendang, chicken, fish and vegetables in rich sauces.
Transport in Indonesia
Train: In Indonesia, Java's cities are well connected by train: Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Probolinggo (to Mount Bromo) and Banyuwangi (the ferry terminal to Bali). Economy class from Jakarta to Surabaya takes 10.5 hours and costs about IDR 190,000, while an 8-hour trip in business class can cost from IDR 620,000. Surabaya to Probolinggo (via Mt Bromo) takes 2-3 hours and costs IDR 27,000 in economy class or IDR 240,000 in business class. Surabaya to Banyuwangi (Bali) takes 6-7 hours and costs IDR 56,000 in economy class or IDR 235,000 in business class. You can book your tickets at tiket.com
Motorbike: one of the most fun ways to travel. Recommended on all but the Gili Islands, where there is no motorised transport.
Plane: Garuda Indonesia is the country's main airline, offering international and domestic flights. Lion Air and AirAsia also offer many domestic routes, though Lion Air's safety record is spotty and I wouldn't advise flying with them. Flights between Jakarta and Bali start at IDR 900,000 each way, while Jakarta to Lombok is around IDR 1,200,000. Lombok to Bali is IDR 1,100,000. However, it's not the cheapest way to travel and is only recommended if you're short on time.
Bike: Only on the Gili's, I recommend taking a bike even if it's just for a day to feel like you're flying over an almost deserted island.
Bus: Buses are the main mode of transport for Indonesians and tourists. It's a good idea to book long-distance tickets in advance, especially if you want air-conditioned travel. You can buy your ticket at a travel agency or at the bus terminal. Your accommodation may also be able to arrange transport. A 12-hour bus trip costs about IDR 170,000. A short trip, such as from Kuta Beach to Ubud, costs less than IDR 80,000 and takes an hour.
Hitchhiking: Although we didn't try it and it's not very common in the country, we met many people who travelled the country this way.
Taxi: An easy and comfortable option. If you take an organised trip, the safest way is to take a private taxi with a driver who speaks your language. If the trip is organised by you, there are options where I would recommend a taxi to get to areas that are not well communicated and save time.
Boat/Ferry: For inter-island travel, ferries start at IDR15,000 for a ticket from East Java to West Bali, and fares go up from there for other routes. Bali to the Gili Islands costs IDR 175,000 (one way) by speedboat. Although you don't need to book in advance, it's best to book in high season or on the most popular routes. Tickets can be purchased on the company's website or through an agency such as 12go.asia
Where to stay in Indonesia
From 4 euro hostels to 100 euro hotels, Indonesia has a huge variety of accommodation options. Bali has the best variety, as tourism is at its peak here. Rural areas tend to offer simpler accommodation options, such as basic guesthouses.
Is Indonesia a safe country?
Indonesia is a safe place for backpackers and travellers. Violent crime is rare. Petty theft (including bag snatching) is more common. It's most common on public transport, as it's easy for thieves to grab your wallet or purse when you're distracted by all the chaos around you. Staying alert and securing valuables is the best way to avoid petty theft.
In general, women travelling alone should feel safe, but take the usual precautions (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, don't go home alone when intoxicated, etc.). The country is large and, while generally safe, there are certain places where you should be more vigilant. There are countless travel blogs for single women that can give you specific information on how to stay safe.
Earthquakes are frequent in Indonesia, due to its location on the Ring of Fire (it experiences more earthquakes than any other country). Make sure you know where the exits are in case of emergency. Also, download an offline map and language translation in case you need it in an emergency situation.
The most important advice I can give you is to take out good travel insurance (which I didn't do and luckily didn't have to use). Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft and cancellation. It is complete protection in case something goes wrong.
Which island would you recommend in Indonesia?
A question I was asked by many people when I returned from the trip. They all had their charm, their unique part. I wanted to spend more time in Lombok because I had the feeling that I had not enjoyed it to the fullest. Java seemed to me the purest island and Nusa Penida along with Gili Air the ones I enjoyed the most.
If you can only choose one, for travellers who want to avoid mass tourism, Lombok is a good choice. Lombok offers a quieter experience than Bali. Here are some reasons for its less crowded beaches, its unspoilt nature, its authentic culture with local communities practising Islam and preserving their traditions.
And this is the end of my little story for today. Stay tuned because soon I will publish a post about my experience in each of the islands. I hope it has been of some positive use to you if you are going to travel soon, that it has inspired you to think about making a similar trip or that you have travelled with me for a little while.
Terima kasih 🙏
Pati
🌍🌟✈️