With
its alluring mix of beaches, volcanoes, temples, stunning scenery,
artistic and cultural wealth, the island has long been the jewel in the
Indonesian tourism crown. Nail is the enclave of a unique and colorful
form of Hinduism, and of its thousands of temples Besakih, Tanah Lot and
Uluwatu are the three most impressive. The festivals celebrated at all
these shrines are a colorful and vibrant celebration of the devout
traditional lifestyle that has drawn tourists to the island for decades
most visitors also go to the southern beach resorts Kuta, a heady,
hedonistic mix of hotels, shops, restaurants and nightlife, but there
are plenty of quieter resorts around the coast, and a few secluded spots
remain for total relaxation. Those interested in art, crafts, music and
dance usually head for Ubud, a cool, laid-back town with galleries,
studios, performances and classes galore and plenty of local walks among
the rice-terraces to engage the more energetic. The still smoking
Gunung Batur, in the volcanic centre of the island, is a popular climb,
usually done in the pitch dark so as to arrive at the top in time to
admire the glowing sunrise.
The
obligatory sunrise views of this mountain in east Java, with the peak
and its equally stunning neighbours rising from an almost other worldly
sea of sand, are simply spell binding. There are also plenty of wails to
enjoy in this cool, attractive region.
Java's
number-one tourist attraction, this colossal, multi-tiered temple is
the world's largest Buddhist stupa. Over a thousand years old, the
temple, though now ruined, is still surprisingly evocative, with over
three thousand reliefs detailing scenes from everyday life and the path
followed by the soul to enlightenment, along with ancient tales
illustrated the journey.
In
northern Sumatra, this is Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake. Its
central island, Samosir, is the heartland of the Toba Batak people and
offers great scenery, trekking and relaxation, with the option of
visiting megalithic stone complexes, local villages and hot springs.
The
animals at the orangutan rehabilitation centre at Bukit Lawang in
Sumatra are arguably the most famous example of Indonesia's wildlife.
The centre aims to reintroduce into the wild orangutans that have been
rescued from captivity; visitors here are welcome to watch the
twice-daily feeding sessions.
Komodo Dragons
An
apparent throwback to the age of dinosaurs, these creatures, actually
the world's largest lizards, live on Komodo in Nusa Tenggara, the chain
of islands stretching between Bali and West Papua. The largest ever
recorded was more than 3m long and weighed in at 150kg, though most of
the dragons aren't quite so enormous.
The
highlight of many visits, Indonesia's marine life is startling in its
diversity. Current centres for diving are Bali, Gili Islands off Lombok,
and Sulawesi
This
region of Sulawesi is home to the Torajan people, who have a wealth of
traditional architecture and ceremonies, most famously funerals. Also on
offer are plenty of opportunities for trekking in the scenic highlands
The
city is the heartland of Javanese arts; exhibitions of art and batik,
and performances of music, drama, puppetry and dance abound, with
courses available for visitors. The Kraton, the old walled city, is well
preserved for architecture buffs, and Yogyakarta is ideally placed for
excursions into the surrounding countryside and - if it hasn't blown its
lid recently - treks up Gunung Merapi, Indonesia's most volatile
volcano.
The
most westerly of this string of islands, Lombok, is a great antidote to
its more developed neighbors, Bali. Its highlights include Gunung
Merapi, Indonesia's second highest mountain, with a huge crater lake;
the tiny Gili Islands off its north-west coast; and the unspoilt
south-coast beaches. The further east you go Nusa Tenggara, the less
tourist infrastructure there is, so the more time you'll need;
highlights here include Sumba's unspoilt beaches and traditional ikat
weaving and the three-coloured lake of Keli Mutu on Flores
It's
time-consuming and expensive to get here, and to really explore the
area you'll need trek long distances and often sleep extremely rough.
But the scenery is dramatic and splendid, and the tribes of the area are
managing to retain an age old lifestyle and culture, often despite
considerable pressure from outsiders.
G-land
off the south coast of Java and Desert Point off the southwest coast of
Lombok at Bangko. Bangko are just two of many legendary Indonesian surf
spots.
The
indigenous Dyak peoples in the interior of Kalimantan have retained
their traditional beliefs and ways of life to varying degrees. Their
communal longhouse dwellings - long wooden structures raised on stilts -
have survived and are being restored, and many welcome visitors
The
Hindu temples here, accessed from Yogyakarta in Java, are soaring,
intricately carved structures dating from the ninth century AD. Visits
at dawn and dusk are especially atmospheric.
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