Thailand has long claimed the title of the ‘Land of Smiles’. But if the Thais are world champs, then the 278 million gracious, smiling, and welcoming people of Indonesia must rank as the number one title contenders. Because they are among the most hospitable people on earth.…
UPDATE as at early AUGUST 2022 Before the Pandemic Indonesia was one of the world’s easier countries for holiday makers to visit. That all changed with the 2020 arrival of COVID-19 and for two years from March of 2020 the borders were effectively shut. Thankfully,…
We are told by those who are supposed to know that the journey is more fulfilling than the destination. If your destination happens to be beautiful Bandung in the West Java Highlands, you will experience the exception – getting there and being there are both…
You really don’t need to carry wads of cash to travel in Indonesia – in fact, apart from some rural areas, travelling with cash can be a dammed nuisance. Like the rest of the world, the main islands of the archipelago have well and truly…
International visitors often try to avoid Jakarta. They have heard of the difficulties of fighting through horrendous traffic snarls and about the smog, periodic flooding, seasonal heat and humidity, and construction works that can make many activities and just getting from Point A to Point…
Many Westerners find the idea of public bargaining for goods and services uncomfortable, even a little distasteful. Unlike the societies of Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, it’s just not in our DNA … the sad reality is that we have been culturally deprived.…
Once upon a time visitors used to flock to Singapore and Hong Kong for shopping bargains. Those days are long gone with those two cities now up there with Paris and Osaka among the world’s most expensive. But glory be, Jakarta and Indonesia have emerged…
Jakarta is big, crowded, ugly, beautiful, messy, rich, poor, hot, hazy, crazy, enlightened, old, new, inspiring, depressing and more … all at the same time. But it is one of the handful of unique cities of the world that we should try to visit at…
If you have visited Singapore, you will know why it is famous for its food. You may be surprised to know that Jakarta is a foodies’ paradise too – but in Jakarta there are more cuisines and dining options to choose from, and they cost…
A word you will hear often around Lake Toba is “HORAS” It is the traditional catch-all Batak word of greeting loosely meaning ‘hello and welcome.’ But it is also used to toast ‘good health’ when having a drink with a friend, or ‘goodbye’ (and ‘bless…
Lake Toba in North Sumatra is stunningly beautiful and ranks as one of the world’s great natural wonders. But it comes with a bonus as the heartland of Indonesia’s uniquely different Batak people – you will get to see and appreciate their fascinating traditions and…
As you descend through calm beauty and spellbinding views into the small township of Parapat, it’s hard to imagine this was the epicentre of a violent upheaval that literally rocked the world around 74,000 years ago. Some scientists believe it even threatened the beginnings of…
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