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by
Cecilia dos Guimaraes Bastos
Indonesia used to be a very touristy place. Lately, with some violent incidents such as the bomb in a disco in Bali and guerrillas in the north of Sumatra, tourists seem to have abandoned the country.
This also reflects in the economy: hostels in amazing sceneries for 1 or 2 dollars a night, really friendly people who want the tourists to enjoy and come back, places that used to be crowded with tourists, now with four or five of them, which can reveal a huge attraction for those who search for amazing places with hardly a soul from the outside in sight.
Arriving through
Thailand and on to Indonesia is easy by land, first by bus to Malaysia, and then by ferry boat to Sumatra (the biggest of the islands).
Sumatra is covered with an immense tropical forest where you can even find yourself
feeding orangutans. There are active volcanoes, lakes that have been formed on extinct volcanoes, with incredible scenery. Its population is very receptive and willing to talk to tourists. |
The next island, Java, is also accessible by ferry boat and has really beautiful Buddhist ruins dating from the VII century: Borobudur and Prambanan, considered two of the most important ruins of South East Asia. They can both be reached from Yogyakarta, the cultural centre of the island which has a lot to offer, from musical and theatre presentations to the largest handicraft market in the country.
Java has also a national park protected by four volcanoes in a very large area, standing side by side. Bromo, one of the still active volcanoes, accessible right up its crater: a good place to reflect on the power of nature. This is something one might find hard to forget.
Java volcano picture by Cecilia dos Guimaraes Bastos
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Bali is the next island and is also accessible by ferry boat. Over there you can find the most beautiful performances of Indonesia, with daily and diverse exotic dance and music performances. It’s also a place of great culture diversity composed by many religious tendencies: the
Hindu
mix with the
Muslins and
Buddhists
and by doing so create a unique and mystic atmosphere.
Pictures of
Indonesia
Travel articles &
pictures
by Cecilia dos Guimaraes Bastos
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