Indonesia

Shopping

Because Indonesia has so many beautiful handcrafts, it is an exciting shopping destination like no other. Visit the famous ARA boutique in Jakarta for trendy local fashion labels, or visit the Threads of Life Indonesian Textile Arts Center in Ubud to shop for handmade fabrics. If you are in Mataram, do not miss the bustling market of Pasar Mandalika.

Sleeping

While in Indonesia, tourists can stay at swank urban resorts, serene beachside resorts, and imaginative rustic hotels featuring traditional architecture. Whatever your travel style, whatever ambiance you are seeking, you will find magical accommodations to cater to your every desire.

Eating

Indonesian food is an vague term covering a wide variety of local cuisines found across the nation, but more often, it refers to the cuisine of Java – the most populated island. Javanese gátronomy is a collection of simply seasoned dishes with the predominant favor being peanuts, chillies and sugar. But overall, Indonesian food is known for its bold flavors and colorful presentation:

Nasi Goreng: is Indonesian most common fried rice.

Papeda: made from sago palm tree starch, it has a texture and consistency similar to glue and is usually served with a yellow fish soup.

Rendang daging: This meat dish may be made with beef, goat meat, or mutton cooked in coconut milk.

Tauge goreng: This fried bean sprout dish is a great option for vegetarians.  Along with the sprouts, it includes tofu, rice cake, yellow noodle, and a spicy sauce.  You will find it all over Bogor and Jakarta.  

Ketoprak: Another dish for vegetarians in Indonesia is ketoprak, which includes tofu, veggies, rice vermicelli, and rice cake with peanut sauce.

In Indonesia eating with your hand (instead of utensils) is very common. There’s one basic rule of etiquette to observe: use only your right hand to eat, and the left hand is to clean yourself later.

In Indonesia, nature scenery is as diverse as the people living here. In a nation of 18,000 islands, the beach options are almost endless. Hopping from island to island is like hopping from world to world.  And with literally thousands of islands to explore, both inhabited and otherwise, Indonesia is like a universe of travel unto itself. Here are some destinations for those who’s planning a trip to Indonesia.

Java is the most populous and also the cultural hub of Indonesia. Much of Indonesian history took place on this ancient center of powerful Hindu-Buddhist empires, the Islamic sultanates, and the core of the colonial Dutch East Indies in the past.

Flores has the most famous park in Indonesia – the Komodo National Park. Considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, this park incorporates 26 small islands as well as the nearby reefs. It was established specifically to protect the exotic Komodo dragon and man.

Bali

With its long history of Hindu and Buddhist influences rooted in local religious practices – is an intriguing destination: the whole island is adorned by beautifully kept temples (pura). Visitors to Bali should never miss the charismatic Balinese dance performances, or the iconic gastronomy here.

Ubud is a town in the uplands of Bali, is known as a center for traditional crafts and dance. Surrounding Ubud are rainforest and terraced rice paddies, dotted with Hindu temples and shrines, which makes it one of Bali’s most famous landscapes.

Nusa Dua is is a hive of world-class hotels with golden-white beaches. Being the most developed area in Bali, it can still preserves various temples, museum, and many cultural attractions. It is an idyllic place for honeymooners or the entire family.

Kerobokan is located in Bali’s southwest, more urbanized than neighboring areas with some of the island’s best restaurants and shopping areas. Most visitors know Kerobokan due to the black sand beach and popular surf breaks at Berawa. Still you can find patches of rice fields, and rural traditional Balinese villages in some areas interwoven with commercial buildings.

Karangasem district comprises the majority of East Bali. There you will find the holy mountain Gunung Agung. On its slopes is the Besakih temple complex or the ‘mother’ temple which is the most important temple of Bali.

Tulamben is a little village in the northeast coast of Bali with black sand beach covered by small rocks. Especially, US Liberty shipwreck ite is among the best and most popular dive sites in Bali and has publicize many more diving sites of this village.

There are three ways of entering Indonesia:

• Visa waiver (non-extendable). Show your passport, get stamped, that’s it. Applies to citizens of 169 countries.
• Visa on arrival (extendable). Pay 35 USD on arrival, get a visa in your passport and get it stamped.
• Visa in advance. Obtain a visa at an Indonesian embassy before arrival.

A minimum of 6 months validity must be available in your passport and it must contain at least one or more blank pages. This same rule applies to any visa extension that may be sought whilst in the country.