Indonesia Planning a Trip
Five Great Reasons to Visit Indonesia
Indonesia is a vast archipelago with over 17,000 islands and rich not only in cultural treasures but also a country steeped in history. It is a country extending 5,120 kilometres from east to west and 1,760 kilometres from north to south and, it is the largest archipelago in the world straddling the Equator between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Amazingly, it has roughly 108,000 kilometres of beaches. The Indonesian climate is simple as it has no spring, summer, fall, or winter but only two seasons: rainy and dry. While there is significant regional variation, in most of the country the dry season is April to October, while the wet season is November to March. Put all that together with the varied plethora of bird and animal life then you have a fantastic place to visit, all year round.
Date: September 24th, 2008 |
No Comments
Getting Around in a Becak
Last night I was at a get-together of University colleagues and during a conversation about Java one man said “I’m going there next month. It will be my first time. I want to try a bisak” I mulled this over in my thought and eventually had to ask what he meant by ‘bisak’. Of course I laughed when I realised he in fact meant ‘becak’, the very popular and cheap form of transport on a lot of the islands in the archipelago. Becaks are a three-wheeled bicycle, two wheels in the front and one at the rear, and you sit quite uncomfortably on the padded wooden seats in the front. This form of transport is literally king-of-the-road and all other manner of transport is obliged to give way to them on the roads. Becak drivers are usually lean in stature with strong-muscled legs and area mine of information should you decide to use them to get around the city you are visiting, but, ensure you bargain the price for the journey well beforehand.
Date: September 4th, 2008 |
No Comments
Add your Indonesia budget hotel or guesthouse to the Hostel Directory
If you own or operate an Indonesia budget hotel, guesthouse, hostel, inn or any other budget accommodation - or you know someone who does - you (or they) should enter the information into the new worldwide Hostel Directory . This will be an extensive and global directory of hostels and other types of budget accommodation. You won’t get any spam from this, but you should get some extra bookings.
The site is new, but is part of a big travel network so it should be worth a couple …
Date: August 6th, 2008 |
No Comments
Museums in Bandung: West Java
Bandung is one of my favourite places in Java and is located in the cool of mountainous areas. It is the capital of West Java and is the fourth largest city in Indonesia and rated the fastest growing city in the country. Most of its residents are Sundanese and the Sundanese language is spoken a second language after Bahasa Indonesia and it is commonly used as an informal language for communication in streets and markets. Bandung has so many attractions and is colloquially known as ‘Jeans City’ for good reason. This is apparent with the cheaper fashion shops located in factory outlets along Jalan Cihampelas. The city is also known for its cultural and artistic aspects. Put that together with the friendliness of the local people and you know why I like this city so much. Bandung also has some interesting museums and galleries.
Date: August 2nd, 2008 |
No Comments
Be Careful Not to Offend Others
Being careful not to offend people on your travels is sometimes not as easy as it seems. Each country has different mores and the gestures and mannerisms you may think as normal in your home country could be offensive to the people of the country you travel in. Because Indonesia is a country where Islam is the predominant religion, there are certain mannerisms you should be aware of that could be deemed disrespectful. Most westerners really don’t give it a second thought and carry on just as they did at home and, so often I have noticed this in Bali on my many trips to that island. Fortunately, the Balinese are a liberal people and tend to disregard those westerners who behave and act atrociously and use mannerisms offensive to them. However, when you travel to the other islands within the archipelago where Islam is predominant then there are a few mannerisms you should be aware of that are considered offensive.
Date: July 22nd, 2008 |
No Comments
Five Good Reasons to Visit Solo (Surakarta): Central Java
Solo, or Surakarta as it is formerly known, is located about 60 kilometres to the east of Yogyakarta in Central Java and is one of the principal batik centres in Java. Bordered by the longest river in Java, Begawan Solo, Solo has much to offer the traveller although oddly enough, it is less visited that its sister counterpart of Yogyakarta. The city is home to many traditional and heritage sites as well as many cultural and historic places. There are interesting museums, palaces and centres of art and culture. There are numerous shops that offer a variety of products and specialty items as well as excellent restaurants and cafes. It is a fun city to explore by becak or on foot and if you don’t have a clue where you are going then there are no shortage of local guides willing to tag along for a fee of course to enlighten you with the delights of the city.
Date: September 23rd, 2008 |
No Comments
Some Good Reasons to Visit Pekanbaru: Riau, Sumatra
There are some stunning and interesting places in Sumatra and none more so than Pekanbaru in the Riau Islands. It is the capital city of the Riau province and has an estimated population of around 800,000 people. Pekanbaru was once a small city port located on the Siak River and now, it is a bustling trade centre with its proximity to Singapore and Malaysia. The city is divided into two by this magnificent river with the shops, hotels and banks located on the north side and on the south, most of the government buildings and offices. It is here you will also find the main bus terminal. Because Pekanbaru is a major gateway into Indonesia from Singapore, the city has become a favourite stop for travellers go further inland in Sumatra and of course the rest of Indonesia. Pekanbaru is one of the cleanest big cities in Indonesia and noted for its wide streets, which are in the city’s main centre. The city is connected by road to an oil refining and exporting port at Dumai and there are numerous facilities including an airport, three stadiums and a swimming pool.
Date: August 21st, 2008 |
No Comments
The Gangs of Indonesia
Guaranteed you thought I was going to write about bunches of hoodlums that are, occasionally, found in some of the streets in the big cities of Indonesia. Sorry to disappoint you. Rather, I was referring to the small laneways, alleys and narrow streets in Indonesia that are referred to as gangs in Bahasa Indonesia. In whatever city or town you are visiting, and, if you are the adventurous and explorer type, then these gangs often yield some delightful surprises and give you an insight into the normal daily life of the Indonesian people. It’s amazing how often I have struck up a conversation with one of the locals only to find out about a place that isn’t listed in any guidebooks. These include restaurants, warungs and even artisans that ply their trade in their own backyard producing high quality pieces of merchandise far better than you would buy in the main streets or shops. I can recall one very hot day in the Chinese quarter of Semarang when I came across a tailor (penjahit) sitting at his old Singer sewing machine on the front porch of his house. He noticed the beads of perspiration on my brow and beckoned me to sit in the shade with him, rest and talk. His wife even brought out food and water for me.
Date: August 4th, 2008 |
1 comment
Zipping around in Jakarta: West Java
As anyone one would know that has visited Indonesia’s capital city, Jakarta, it is absolute mayhem in the traffic not to mention the pollution being pumped out of all the exhaust pipes of cars, buses and motorbikes as well as Bajaj. Sometimes as a visitor it is a nightmare to get around the massive city, but, take heart. Starting next month, you will be able to hop on to a sleek Piaggio scooter equipped with GPS systems and wireless communication that will weave their way through the city’s continual …
Date: July 23rd, 2008 |
No Comments
News Weekending 13/07/08
Something that is been going on for decades is the abuse of Indonesian workers overseas. Working conditions for migrant domestic workers in Saudi Arabia — including thousands of Indonesian workers — sometimes amount to “slavery”, according to a global human rights watchdog. There really should be a body to oversee this inhumane treatment of Indonesian workers. Another case that has loomed in the headlines for quite a while was the murder of activist Munir. Fingers were pointed in every direction. However, a missing letter connecting the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) to the murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib may reappear as evidence against former BIN officer Muchdi Purwoprandjono. This is good news for the wife of Munir who has constantly campaigned to resolve her husband’s murder.
Date: July 12th, 2008 |
No Comments
