When you work hard, you need to play harder. So why not recharge your batteries by travelling to Indonesia? It’s a place to relax your mind, reset your psyche and reconnect with your inner self.
Indonesia is the biggest archipelago in the world; it will take you 37 years if you visit one island a day. It is home to myriad arrays of flora and fauna, boasting cultures of people from more than 300 ethnic groups and an astonishing variety of landscapes — mountains and volcanoes, undulating hills, primeval rainforests, sandy beaches and serpentine rivers.
Here, I will give you a glimpse of places to visit in Indonesia and some insights on what to expect and do.
For nature lovers
Indonesia’s coastline of 54,716 kilometres is the second-longest in the world after Canada’s. An extensive length of the Indonesian coastline is laced with exquisite beaches in white, pink, cream and even black sand. The choices between mirror-like ocean waters or high waves will suit everyone, including extreme surfers.
Because Bali’s beaches are a magnet for tourists, Lombok, an island a 30-minute flight away from Bali, is my favourite beach destination. You may also have heard of the Gili Islands, a group of islets near Senggigi Beach. These gems are just off the west coast of Lombok and consist of the three picturesque islets of Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. They will soothe your eyes with glistening sands, festive coral reefs and turquoise water. Each has its own reputation: Gili Trawangan is dubbed the party island; Gili Meno, with its tranquil and romantic flair, makes it a haven for couples; and Gili Air is known for its developed local community.
At the Gili Islands, snorkelling and diving are highly recommended; however, lying on the beach or sunbathing is also rewarding. Because there are no cars or motorcycles to disturb the peace, it is easy to enjoy the serenity.
Meanwhile, if you go inland on Lombok, you’ll have the chance to hike up to Rinjani Mountain, which will give you a breathtaking view from its 3,726-metre elevation. Rinjani is the second-highest volcano in Indonesia after Gunung Kerinci in West Sumatra. There are options to lengthen or shorten your trek. A half-day hike will take you to two gorgeous waterfalls, and a two-day hike will take you up to the Rinjani crater, known as Segara Anak.
For thrill-seekers, hiking an active volcano is also an option. The island of Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Straits between the islands of Java and Sumatra, is accessible to the public. It dates back to 1927 when it emerged from the caldera of the renowned Krakatoa Volcano that erupted in August 1883.
Taking the trip to Anak Krakatau requires some preparation. You must first book a fast boat in advance and stay two days at Carita Beach, a two-hour drive from Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital city.
My family made this trip. We started early, taking a speed boat for a two-hour ride to reach the Anak Krakatau. Climbing the volcano looked easy as it was not very high, but our eyes fooled us. The thick black sand that covered the volcano made the hike slow and challenging. However, when we reached the top, near the volcano’s smoking crater, we had a spectacular view of the Sunda Strait. Some at the top put a positive spin on it by sand boarding and BMX bike riding down the volcano.
The Sunda Strait is an excellent spot for fishing. Boarding a wooden traditional boat or speedboat from Labuan, you can try droplining for wahoo, grouper and mahi-mahi. The usual main attraction is trolling for black marlin. The journey can be more lively if your aquatic friends, the dolphins, are in a playful mood.
From Carita Beach, the active Anak Krakatau sometimes emits sparks of red lava that compete with twinkling stars. If you catch it, it’s a worthwhile experience.
Ujung Kulon National Park, which stretches across parts of Java, Krakatoa, Peucang and the Panaitan islands, was listed as a UNESCO Natural Heritage site in February 1992. The national park is home to endangered one-horned Javan rhinoceros, Javan gibbons, Javan leaf monkeys, more than 270 species of birds and many species of endangered plants.
For the culture enthusiast
Indonesia is blessed by many ethnic groups, each with its own distinct culture. You can visit ancient kingdoms and historic temples and witness rituals and ceremonies. Bali Island and Yogyakarta are the most visited places for their unique cultures. Few will find a ceremony that is as rare as Pasola in Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara. Pasola is a competition that features spear throwers riding bareback on horses.
Yogyakarta is a province in Java born of an ancient kingdom. It is the only province in Indonesia led by a sultan. Yogya, for short, is a place where you can marvel at the art and culture of Java.
You can experience life in a palace at Kraton, the sultan’s home. Here, you’ll see the important ceremonies and cultural functions of the court. In the inner pavilion, you can see traditional dance performances, hear a gamelan orchestra, made up mostly of percussive instruments, and watch puppet shows and Javanese poetry readings.
Street food can be found in the evening along Malioboro Street, in the heart of Yogya. The typical food from this area is gudeg, a Yogya dish made of young jackfruit simmered in coconut milk and spices and cooked for several hours.
Nearby, in Yogyakarta, you can visit both the Hindu temple of Prambanan and the world’s largest Buddhist temple, Borobudur, a UNESCO cultural heritage site. Borobudur was built in the 9th Century, during the Syailendra dynasty. It is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The central dome is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues, caged inside perforated stupas or mound-shaped structures. The bas-reliefs depict the journey of Sidharta Gautama in search of enlightenment.
The Hindu temple, known as Candi Prambanan or Candi Rara Jonggrang, on the other hand, was dedicated to the three gods in Hindu cosmology: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Do not miss the Ramayana Ballet performance under the full moon while you are here.
Your journey is not complete without a visit to the capital city of Jakarta. More than skyscrapers and glamorous malls, it is the epitome of modern Indonesia. Spend a night or two in one of several five-star hotels on the historic Hotel Indonesia’s roundabout known as Bundaran HI. Seen as the heart of Jakarta, this area is the economic and government centre during weekdays and the social and community axis on weekends. Jakarta holds an annual jazz festival in March. Java Jazz is the biggest festival in the southern hemisphere, featuring local and international jazz stars.
Indonesia has so much more to share with travellers of the world, namely food. Two of our dishes — Rendang and Nasi goreng — are ranked No. 1 and 2 in CNN’s 50 best foods in the world. Rendang is a slow-cooked meat dish made with coconut milk and seasoned with such spices as chili, ginger and turmeric. Nasi goreng (fried rice) is made with meat, shrimp, eggs and chicken and flavoured with sweet soy sauce, garlic, shallots, tamarind, shrimp paste and chili.
Surf the waves of Nias beaches in North Sumatra. Encounter the Komodo dragon on Komodo Island and climb the Kelimutu to be amazed by the enigmatic tricolour crater lakes in East Nusa Tengggara. Cruise along the rivers in the heart of the tropical rainforest of Central Kalimantan to greet the gentle orangutan.
Finally, it’s an Indonesian custom to bring oleh-oleh or a gift to family and friends back home. There are unique choices of souvenirs, including silver arts and crafts, wooden or leather puppets, miniature angklung (bamboo musical instruments) and Batik textiles. In fact, Batik was named an intangible heritage treasure by UNESCO in 2009. Nonetheless, the most precious gift to take home is your memories of your unforgettable trip to Indonesia.
The rich and famous have been moved by my country. Singer David Bowie, actress Julia Roberts, actor Charlie Chaplin and German artist Walter Spies have all claimed to love Indonesia for all the above reasons and its warmth and wonder. The magic will still be here waiting to welcome you.
Teuku Faizasyah is the Indonesian
ambassador to Canada.
