Indonesia with Vanora

Visiting a destination (in this case, country) you’ve never been to before is extra exciting, isn’t it?

The Indonesian archipelago is made up of over 17,000 islands, of which about 6,000 are inhabited. The major ones are Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, New Guinea, and the island I recently had the pleasure of exploring - JAVA.

My journey began with a 1-stop flight on EVA (pronounced E.V.A.) Airways - my first time flying the Taiwanese airline (one of the country’s 2 major carriers). Great service overall, but what stood out for me was the meal service. I don’t know where they all came from, but it felt like a troop of flight attendants magically appeared in the aisles, serving food & beverages with such precision (almost in unison) it almost felt like a performance. The food selection & quality was very good. Both my connections in Taipei went smoothly, and I was amused that each gate (in my area anyway) had different themes. Sitting beside a Bambi statue, I waited for my flight in a forest area called “Wooderful Land,” while the next-door passengers sat in the Hello Kitty lounge. (The Japanese characters must be very popular in Taiwan, given that some EVA flights feature Sanrio cutlery!)

When I visited Vietnam, I booked a small-group tour company called G ADVENTURES. That experience having been a positive one, and this holiday also involving multiple cities, I signed up! G Adventures offers numerous Travel Styles to suit every type of traveller - Classic Tours, The Geluxe Collection, Solo-ish Adventures, National Geographic (and Jane Goodall) Journeys, Marine Tours, 18-to-Thirtysomethings, Roamies by Hostelworld, Active Tours, Wellness Tours, Local Living Tours, Family Tours, as well as Private Tours. I opted for the Classic style again - ideal for those seeking a hybrid of independent & group travel, allowing guests to enjoy a mix of solo & social time - and without the hassle of figuring out safe, comfortable accommodation & transfers! There’s usually one organized tour a day, followed by free time, which may be spent at your leisure or by joining one of their optional paid tours. Aside from its strong focus on sustainability, G Adventures considerately offers solo travellers the rare option to waive the (often steep) single supplement if willing to share with another (same sex) group member. (Most of the time, you’re just in the hotel room to sleep. If you’re lucky, you hit it off and become travel buddies!)

Travel Style: Classic

All the highlights, culture, access, and “I-can’t-believe-we-did-that” moments, all at a great price.

Service Level: Standard

Comfortable tourist-class accommodations with character; mix of public and private transport.

Physical Rating: 2 - Light

Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.

Trip Type: Small Group

Small group experience; Avg 12, Max 16.

JAKARTA:

On day one, you meet your G tour guide & travel companions. This only takes place later in the day, with the group usually going out for a get-to-know-you dinner.

I spent the earlier part of the day walking around the modern city of Jakarta. It isn’t very pedestrian-friendly (most people move around in cars or on motorcycles). Crossing the roads was risky business; the otherwise warm and polite Indonesians somehow turn into monsters behind the wheel…lol…glad I survived!

I had forgotten that Indonesia is mostly Muslim, so many women were covered up. Guidebooks recommend dressing on the conservative side, but it’s not a problem to show skin, so you do see some non-Muslim locals & tourists wearing short sleeves & shorts.

Even though rainy season (November to March) had begun, we were blessed with more dry days than not. But when it rains, it POURS. It takes but minutes for the water to be ankle deep.

After visiting some of the main tourist sites and impressive malls (being on foot also allowed me to wander through some pleasant residential areas), I treated myself to what was to be the first of many super affordable and wonderful massages. The food was cheap too! I was amazed that one could get a decent meal in a casual eatery for $2-$5 ($5-$9 in an average or even better-than-average restaurant). While Indonesian food is tasty, I personally prefer the flavors I’ve experienced in some other parts of Asia.

The sad reality in many developing countries is that the people are either obscenely rich or painfully and often needlessly poor. I witnessed both. My airport Uber drove by some poverty-stricken areas…always a heartbreaking sight. It couldn’t have been a starker contrast from the view I later admired from a 5-million-dollar penthouse (owned by a friend).

BANDUNG:

The capital city of West Java, surrounded by volcanic peaks and tea plantations. We mostly spent our time on Braga Street, which is the happening area (food, shopping, arts, nightlife).

YOGYAKARTA:

The train ride from Bandung to Yogyakarta is on my list of favorite travel experiences. It was 8 hours long, but beautifully scenic from start to finish! (I recommend sitting on the left side.)

We visited the Prambanan Hindu temple complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the grandest and most magnificent I have ever seen.

My awe continued as we moved on to Borobudur, the largest Buddhist sanctuary in the world and another UNESCO World Heritage Site; a pyramid-like complex with intricate carvings that I could not stop admiring. (To preserve the stones, visitors are given special sandals to wear and keep.)

We also got to experience a rickshaw ride - where the passengers sit in front of the driver! It can be fun and scary (especially in the middle of traffic) at the same time.

NGADAS:

We continued our journey to Ngadas in the Mt Bromo region. This was the tour’s “G for Good Moment” - a G Adventures-supported community homestay (one night). It’s the highest village in Java (a farming one with the main crops being corn & potatoes). It was a treat to “get away from it all” and admire the amazing views of the farmland and orchards. One of G Adventures’ missions is to help villagers sustain their livelihoods (with climate change, crops might not always be healthy). Although the company’s noble intentions are admirable (and it was interesting to interact with locals and see how they live), my hope is that introducing tourism will help and not ruin these authentic villages in the long run...

We had a 1.30am(!) wake-up call for a sunrise viewing. The view of the volcano and surrounding peaks was truly breathtaking. We then made the surreal trek across the “sea of sand” to Mount Bromo - my first time at an active crater.

MALANG:

This pleasant city is known for its Dutch colonial architecture. With over 60 universities & colleges, it has also earned the nickname “City of Students.”

SANUR (BALI):

For our final stop, we flew from Java Island to Sanur, a serene seaside town on the island of Bali. Older demographic (I’d say retirement age), but I appreciated that it was away from the madding crowd. The main religion in Bali is Hinduism, so definitely no Islamic cover-ups (just tiny ones otherwise known as bikinis!); and gone are the beautiful and moving Islamic call to prayers... What you can find here is alcohol (meaning lots of drunk tourists in the most popular spots). As I walked along the quaint beach path, I was surprised to discover a huge deluxe mall known as Icon Mall. (The attractive modern structure is apparently one of the largest entertainment complexes in Southeast Asia.)

As much as I love relaxing & swimming, I couldn’t visit Bali without checking out it’s culture capital, UBUD. I booked a private driver for one day and visited the highlights - UNESCO-listed Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Tirta Empul temple (holy springs), Satria coffee plantation (I’m not much of a coffee/tea drinker but enjoyed trying their flight sampler), Tegenungan Waterfall (also home of the Bali Glass Suspension Bridge, but no time), and last but not least - the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary! Used to people, these tropical monkeys don’t hide or run away (however, if the animals approach, visitors are warned to avoid eye contact, as it could be perceived as threatening behavior). It was fun and interesting observing these creatures (with their almost human traits) in their natural habitat, and an enchanting one at that. A happy place for them, a happy place for me.

Bali is full of shrines, temples & statues. They’re everywhere! From small to medium to large to towering! From normal figures to bizarro! You see them on sidewalks, at intersections & roundabouts… Attractive offerings for the gods (small woven bamboo baskets, filled with flowers, incense, sweets, fruits & spices) are also all over the place…sometimes even on the ground in the middle of the walkways. Fascinating.

I am missing waking up to bowls of fresh, colourful, mouthwatering tropical fruits every morning - and still adjusting going from feels-like-40° to much less.