This is the first time I have had an offer to give thought to writing 52 reasons why people over the globe should visit Indonesia and I can’t find the correct words since it’s home to 250 million people and has 18,306 islands. 8,844 of the islands have names so it’s too huge for only 52 reasons to go to this jewel of equator. But I will try my best, so here is the top 52 reasons why you should pack your bag and come here, to visit us in Indonesia :
Imagine yourself in a very amazing sunrise in Bromo mountain in East Java. The sunrise is so spectacular, so you need to hold your breathe when you see the sun coming slowly and start to shine the world.
My favorite sunset is in Gili Meno, Lombok and Karimun island in North Java. That’s if you want a total red sky when the sun sets down.
Give yourself a spiritual walk in Borobudur temple in Central Java, an Unesco World Heritage and part of 7 wonders of the world. After that, still in Central Java, simply heading to the beautiful Prambanan temple, it’s a Hindu temple with special feminine architecture. Don’t just walk home immediately, enjoy the Rama-Sinta performance in Prambanan, the best time is when full moon. Mystically amazing!
Indonesians are creative, we have around 3000 original traditional dance. You can enjoy (or learn) the Saman dancer performance from Aceh, Jaipong dance from Java, Kecak dance from Bali and many more.
Indonesia is full with sound, rhythm and music. You might want to listen to Gamelan, a traditional essemble music from Java and Bali. You also can learn to play it!
Listening to Angklung, a Sundanese musical instrument from bamboo, declared by Unesco as Indonesian Heritage in 2010 at Saung Mang Udjo, Bandung.
Enjoying the traditional puppet performance called Wayang in Keraton Jogjakarta, Central Java.
Wanna see the mystical performance? Try to see Kuda Lumping, Banten, when people can eat glasses and fire. Or Tari Piring (Plate dancing) from Bukittinggi, when the dancer dance happily while stepping the broken plates without hurt!
Attending the festival of dead in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi. A funeral celebration called Rambu Solo.
Consider to check and buy our traditional fabric called Batik. Not just Javanese Batik, but each area in Indonesia has different pattern of fabric which is so awesome! For instance, go to see Tenun fabric called Songket in Palembang, the Sasak people handmade fabric in Lombok, full of color fabric made by Dayak people in Kalimantan. You will not get it anywhere except here.
One of thing people fall in love with Indonesia because of our food! Try the real nasi goreng here for less than 1 USD, the sweet peanut sauce salad called Gado-Gado, spicy beef stew called Rendang, Madura Chicken Satay with special herbs, lots of sambal and soto! Soto Ayam, Soto Betawi, Soto Tangkar, Soto Mie. You named it – savor your tongue with our delicious food.
If you are hungry in the middle of the night, don’t worry, mostly in Indonesia big cities, street food open until late! Many mall also open until 10 pm. In some weekend, they open until 12 pm. Yes, Indonesians love to be active even at late. Jakarta city never sleeps!
Are you a coffee lover? Bet you only want to find fine tasty excellent coffee beans. Here, you can get so many, from Toraja coffee, Aceh Gayo coffee, Lampung coffee, Java coffee. Try it, and you won’t tolerate shit coffee anymore. Take a sip of gross but expensive Luwak coffee too. Tastes excellent, originally comes from Sumatera, Indonesia.
The home of lots of tropical fruits that only available in Indonesia, such as Duku, Salak, the honey sweet tasted potato called Ubi Cilembu, Matoa fruit from Papua, strong smell Durian, fruit that has powder called Kesemek and lots.
Our instant noodle is famous throughout people around the world. Try Indomie, you will want it more and more and more. Just make sure to limit the consumption of instant noodle. But it’s so Indonesia, all people in Indonesia love Indomie.
Try our favorite local food, tempe. It made by soybean and already goes through out the world. Missed by so many people once they out from Indonesia.
You can try beer in Indonesia which not make you drunk, it called Bir Pletok, a traditional drink from Betawi, Jakarta.
Indonesia has so many kind of herbal drinks. Our ancestor believed that herbal drinks able to heal people than modern medicine. Until now, people still choose Temulawak, Kunyit Asam, Beras Kencur to drink. You might want to try as well.
If America has Grand Canyon, we have beautiful Canyon that so green in May – June every year, that’s why we call it Green Canyon. Located in Pangandaran, Java. Try the body rafting here.
Have you ever heard the book Ring of Fire? Yes, that’s book inspired by volcanoes in Indonesia. Hike to Merapi mountain in Central Java, Krakatao, Papandayan mountain in Garut to get incredible view once in your lifetime.
Absolute beautiful hiking and seeing the sulfur miners in Ijen crater, East Java. When you can see blue fire – the natural fire that burn the sulfur.
Caving is another fun outdoor activities. Try to go to Gua Jomblang in Jogjakarta. A 300 meters alley with such beautiful natural ornament inside and a place where you can see a fenomenal light from above.
So many beautiful beach to mention! Karimun Jawa in Semarang, Pink Beach in Flores, Gili islands, Amed beach in Bali, Tanjung Bira South Sulawesi, we have summer all years!
For surfing lovers, incredible waves are here. Go to G-Land in Banyuwangi for surf camp, go surfing with the wild waves of Nias and Rote island, Learn surfing in Kuta Bali, Padang-padang beach Bali, or Batu Karas beach in West Java.
Swimming with Manta Ray in Nusa Lembongan. You can’t swim? Just snorkeling with life jacket to meet the giant Manta.
Swimming with the jellyfish stingless in Kakaban Island, Derawan, Kalimantan.
East Indonesia is the best place for diving. Wakatobi in South East Sulawesi can be your best choice for diving.
Enjoying the full solitude with magical scenery in Raja Ampat, West Papua.
Book a flight to Ora beach, the hidden paradise in Central Maluku. Cheaper than Maldives!
Chill out in Lake Samosir, North Sumatera. The largest volcanic lake in the world.
The three colored lake in Kelimutu, Ende, East Nusa Tenggara will make you breathless in awe.
We have a beautiful savannah in Baluran National Park, East Java just like the little Africa! And amazing savannah in Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara.
Walk in awe around Lembah Harau, West Sumatera. You can make echoing scream because of the huge stones in both side of way.
Cycling trip in Sumatera. Try the kelok 44 road and following Tour de Singkarak. Annual global cycling competition.
Indonesia has lots of rice fields. The famous rice terraces to see is in Tegalalang, Ubud, Bali or go to see amazing spider web rice fields in Flores.
Wanna see the wild Komodo? Yes, come here, you can see Komodo island in East Nusa Tenggara. The only place in the world where you can see wild Komodo walking close to you. Also part of new wonders of the world.
Close to with the animals by enjoying Elephant playing with the water in Tangkahan, North Sumatera.
Meet up with the Orange Orang Utan in Bukit Lawang, Sumatera.
Adventure hunting the step of endagered one horned Rhino in Taman Nasional Bukit Barisan Selatan and Ujung Kulon.
Find the historical earlieast art in cave paintings in Rammang-Rammang, South Sulawesi.
Exploring the mystery of Gunung Padang – the incredible megalithic site for those who love archeology! A place where could be Machu Pichu from Asia!
We still have rare tribe when they against modern life and no electricity, no modern equipment in Baduy Dalam, Banten, Java.
The home of the largest individual endangered flower called Rafflesia Arnoldi in Sumatera and Kalimantan usually only blossom around August – November, once a year.
Fancy for fashion? Just like Brazil, we have annual colorful Jember Fashion Cestival every August in Jember, East Java.
Learning the martial arts for Indonesians called Pencak Silat – it’s the Indonesian fighting style.
See the making of Phinisi boat in Tana Beru, South Sulawesi.
Wanna fly? A real fly? Go paragliding in Puncak, West Java.
Weekend escape to Belitung island from Jakarta. It is possible. The island has blue crystal clear water and lovely area to snorkels and enjoy sotong (squid).
Don’t want to go outside Jakarta, enjoying Car Free Day when the main road closed for citizens in Jakarta able to run or cycling every weekend from 6 am until 11 am.
Enjoying the beautiful fine dining with lots of Indonesian antique ornaments in Loro Djonggrang Restaurant, Jakarta.
If you are in Jakarta and don’t have so much time, you can consider to go to Taman Mini Indonesia (TMII). A huge park where you can see traditional houses in Indonesia.
Last but not least, meet up with Indonesians people, the genuine, smiling, friendly people who will make you feel warm, once you step in to our country.
So, what are you waiting for? Give a chance to feel the love in Indonesia, I bet you will fall in love with this country. Indonesia is just simply wonderful.
Cheers,
Dea
Check out Dea’s adventures on her blog: http://deasihotang.wordpress.com