Besides BALI, which places in INDONESIA are REALLY WORTH to VISIT for an AMERICAN GIRL like me, ALONE?
I’ve made my mind to backpack allover Indonesia soon, just by myself. It’s highly recommended by my Singaporean friend. Still she only mentioned Bali worth to visit.
How about other places in Indon? Isn’t Indonesia a great country like USA? Any Indonesian here could recommend me something? Why do that places really worth to visit? Anyway, what would you recommend for my own safety and precaution here? Which places should I avoid? Which places should I NOT avoid?
PS: I’ve learned several practical conversation in Indonesian. Hopefully it’d come in handy!
Selamat malam semua, Good night all!!
Is Indonesia totally safe to visit nowadays? How do they treat an American now, especially a young American girl like me? Is Indonesia going to have a war in this recent time?
Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore-Australia for instance?
As you said Indonesia is a great country just like US. but not like US, Indonesia consist of a lot of islands. the major island would be Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua. whilst Bali is a very small island compared to the mentioned islands. but the major islands for tourists to visit beside bali should be Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi.
for example in Java island there are so many spot for tourists. may be it takes more than a week to visit all those tourists attraction.
In Java Island you can find modern life culture in Jakarta or Bandung or Surabaya. you can find the ancient Borobudur Temple (a huge Budhist temple) and other Budhist and Hindu Temple around Central java and East java
In Sumatra you can find the beauty of nature, because there are still a lot of forest there. The main attraction in Sumatra are Lake Toba at North Sumatra province. in West Sumatra we have the city of Bukittinggi and several lakes there.
in Sulawesi you can find ancient village of Tana Toraja in south Sulawesi, or you can take a diving session at Bunaken in North Sulawesi.
but do not go to Poso ( Central Sulawesi )if you are planning to go to sulawesi, there is still some security problem there.
most of part of Indonesia is save to visit except Poso, Maluku Islands, and Papua.
My advise, you would be safer if you travel with a group, even most of Indonesian is very friendly and very easy to give you smile.
War…? here in Indonesia..? No way.
Q:How about other places in Indon?
A:Indo please.. not Indon…. Try
Mount Bromo on East Java, Padang city (which has nice beaches called Mentawai) on west Sumatra , Manado (has Bunaken Coral park.. Great Diving place) on North Sulawesi,
Borobudur Temple (Largest Buddhist Temple on Earth) Yogyakarta (Friendly city, Cradle of Javanese Culture Batiks & Wayangs galore), Green Canyon (rich in flora & fauna)
Q:Why do that places really worth to visit?
A: places such as Bromo & Borobudur Temple are not seen anywhere else in the world. Yogyakarta has soooo friendly people it makes you want to cry, and also the home of Batik and wayang, while Bandung has lots of food and clothing for you to spend. asking directions in bandung will make you happy
Q: Isn’t Indonesia a great country like USA?
A: yep
Q: Anyway, what would you recommend for my own safety and precaution here?
Just be cautious, be brave to say no or enggak if someone is offering you a product, Bargain is needed, foods in streets do not cost more than Rp.10,000 perbowl/perserving. Anything wrong happens just report to the police or ask for help….
Which places should I avoid?
Q:currently is Poso, but theres nothing good there anyways. Sidoarjo east Java, where there a mud volcano phenomena looks probably like death valley…
Q: Which places should I NOT avoid?
A:what kinda question is that ; p? anywhere in Indonesia
Q: Is Indonesia totally safe to visit nowadays?
A: yes, Indonesia is not a small country, if theres a conflict or something bad on 1 province (like poso town) then just simply do not go there.
Indonesia’s size is almost as large as the US. just like the Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans wouldn’t be felt in like Seattle or Miami in the US, places in conflict such as Poso (in Central Sulawesi) are not going to spread to other provinces/cities not even in the same island like Manado City(north Sulawesi).Simple…
Q: How do they treat an American now, especially a young American girl like me?
A: Indonesians would barely notice if your an American, Norwegian , Finlandian, Hungarian, Australia, Austrian etc unless if you say your an American. But I think the only American Indonesians hate is Bush not its people
Q: Is Indonesia going to have a war in this recent time?
Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore-A… for instance?
A: Indonesia and its neighbors and other countries are tied in a great relationship for more than 60 years. a war is not likely to happen….
Please re-think your plan to travel alone to Indonesia… I suggest you not to travel by yourself, find some friends or you can make friends in Bali then go to other part of Indonesia with them. Indonesia is pretty safe, but i don’t think a woman travel alone will be fine. No war in Indonesia. About terrorist attack, every part of the world can be attacked by terrorist.
Lombok Island is worth it! Next to Bali, you just need 5 or 6 hours by ferry to Lombok. Hike to Mount Rinjani and you’ll be amazed by it’s crater lake, Segara Anak. Then you have to visit Gili Islands, there are 3 tiny islands in Northwest of Lombok, Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili Trawangan. No motorised vehicles there, transportation by horse car. The islands are amazing! The beach not crowded like Kuta Beach, Bali. Feel you are the owner of the beach!!
Beach in Southern Lombok also great.
Avoid people in bus terminal or ferry terminal offering a ride to you. Search the legal locket to buy your ticket. These people are sometime rude and will push you to have a ride with them.
I am Indonesian! I’m proud of it…Well, my personal best holiday is called Belitung. It’s a small island off Sumatra and to get there, you need to take another local flight from Indonesian airport.
Belitung is like Bali, clear sea and loving people, only that it is less developed. What best is that the beach is so pristine and secluded, swimming there feels entirely like in a private beach. You can stay in my Villa, well, my dad built is a hotel in the 1st place, but decided not to.
Anyway, another place that is fun is Bandung- you can do loads of shopping there, it is in Java and to travel there, you just need a driver.
One thing to take note, even though Indonesia is safer now, you still have to be cautious, do not wear revealing clothes, expensive jewelery and always be on full guard with your personal belongings.
when are you going? I can be your tour-guide if you want and i charge no fee..haha =D
Selamat datang ke Indonesia. “Welcome to Indonesia” =)
id be careful if your travelling alone, try to hook up with some surfers, and travel with them, surfers know all the good places, and as long as your with a group you will be safe.
you can get a boat from sanua to the island of noosa lambongan thats fun. i did that on my own but hooked up with people on the island that were waiting for me.
Indonesia is pretty safe to visit and the people are really kind and good.
Had gone there for travel writing and some of the other places in Indonesia worth visiting include Manokwari in Irian Jaya, Batam- from where you can see Singapore across the strait, Padang and Bukittinggi, Jakarta of course, Surabaya and nearby Medura, Bandung, Yogyakarta.
Found all these places really interesting. One word…avoid their budget carriers. They fly poorly maintained and old aircraft.
Indonesians, contrary to what was printed in certain sections of the Western media, are not Moslem fanatics. Instead, they are peaceful and fun-loving people, though a bit conservative due to their religious beliefs.
Land wise, Indonesia is not as great as USA but it has a great history, culture and traditions.
I had taken no safety precautions there and nor did I feel threatened or worried or scared in any part of Indonesia during my 40-day stay there. In fact, I was warmly recieved in predominantly staunch Moslem areas as well.
Yes, there are certain kinds of crime against tourists but nothing really serious provided you take reasonable care as you would back in the US.
There are literally thousands of great places to see in Indonesia besides Bali (6,000+ other islands). I haven’t seen them all yet, but I’ve spent years there trying. But since you’re a single American (like me) female (I’m a guy) you should really rethink you’re solo backpacking plans. Indonesians can be some of the most friendly and fun people on the planet, but crimes against women, especially rape, are more rampant there than any of the dozens of other countries I’ve visited.
Bali is different. It’s Hindu (as opposed Muslim) there and they have way more respect for women, westerners, and western women in particular. My advice is go to Bali first, hook up with a group of fellow travelers or a cool local guy (Twice Bar on Poppies2 in Kuta would be a good place to look) to travel with you if you want to see the rest of the country (Java has some nice temples, Borobudur and Prambahnan, and crazy volcanoes like Bromo). But really unless you have more than a couple months you’ll have plenty to check out on Bali and the surrounding islands Nusa Lombongan, Lombok, and the famous (for no police and great “parties”) Gili islands. They have all the crazy culture, volcanoes, butterflies, flowers, sunsets, beaches and temples you could ever want to see, and some of the least dangerous locals (including police and army).
Oh, and your question about war. Indo isn’t at war with any of it’s neighbors but it does have a few internal conflicts. Papua has been in a state of civil war for years and most of it is off limits to travelers, Central Sulawesi has alot of religeous violence and is also off limits. The tsunami seems to have drowned the civil war in Sumatera, but I still would avoid the Northern part of that island. And there are still small conflicts on hundreds of other islands. Remember this is a third word country that was a military dictatorship less than a decade ago and the army still holds most of the power. Actually it’s easier just to tell you the places that are safe, email me for more info.
go to Dufan, Ancol, Taman Safari, Pulau Bidadari, Senayan (lol)..
i am an american and just got back from indo. people are extremely friendly. You have nothing to worry about, but there are always the occasional few that you need to be on the watch for.
Read my blog for details on my recent trip.
http://andrewtojakarta.blogspot.com
If you depart from Singapore, I suggest the following itinerary for you:
1. Lake Toba in North Sumatra
Take a short flight from Singapore to Medan, then take the bus to Lake Toba. Spend a few days explore the biggest lake in Indonesia. Enjoy the climate and friendly people over there.
2. West Sumatra
Take a bus to Padang (West Sumatra capital city). You can stay at backpackers youth hostel in Padang and meet fellow travelers too. A lot of interesting places in West Sumatra, i.e. Bukittinggi, Mentawai islands, etc. Don’t forget to visit the twin lakes in northern Padang. An american friend of mine told me that the twin lakes is the most beautiful lake in the world.
3. Take a flight from Padang to Jakarta.
Feel the busiest city in Indonesia. Stay in Kemang suburb, the favorite place for westerners to hangout.
4. Take an executive train from Jakarta to Bandung.
Bandung is city of fashion in Indonesia. Enjoy shopping some fashion items with cheap price in Bandung.
5. Take a train or bus from Bandung to Yogyakarta.
Yogyakarta is the city with old javanese culture. Visit the palace where the Sultan live in. Enjoy night life in Malioboro.
6. Take a flight from Yogyakarta to Bali
Every body knows Bali. No need to tell more
7. Take a ferry to Lombok.
Enjoy the beach in Lombok.
8. Back to Bali and if you still have budget you can go to Manado (northern Sulawesi).
Don’t worry, it’s completely safe in Indonesia.
Bon voyage.
Hi there,
Places worth to visit:
1. Lombok (very close to bali, you must go there if you plan to go to Bali)
2. Menado. If you love beach and diving …this is a must-go-place. Bunaken is agreat place for scuba diving
3. Jakarta and surroundings. Jakarta is the capital city and you can visit the surrounding such as: Bogor, Bandung….great food, cheap stuff, great shoppings
4. Yogyakarta….the old Java Kingdom…great culture exploration, batik (typical garment), handycraft, and people
There are few other places but I wouldnt recommend if you go there alone (without local).
Must avoid…small cities or village…a lot of them…i cant mentioned it here….
Enjoy your trip!!!!
You should also try visiting Surabaya. I’m Filipino and I’ve lived here for over two years now. Surabaya is a big, convenient city like Jakarta… only less stressful. The traffic jam is not as bad. The crime rate is relatively low. I walk around the streets even at night. The city is safe.
I like living here. The shopping malls are big. The nightlife is colorful. Five star hotels. Golf courses. International schools. Ciputra Waterpark, the largest waterpark in Indonesia.
There’s also a lot of historical and cultural stuff to do. Sampoerna Museum. Museum Mpu Tantular. The first Indonesian flag ever to be raised was in Majapahit Hotel.
You can go to Kya Kya for Chinese and Indonesian food at night. Or go shopping in the Arab District. Surabaya is a haven for delicious Indonesian food. Try Rawon.
Surabaya is also your gateway to other sites in East Java like Mount Bromo. You can trek to the top of the mountains to catch the sunrise. It’s breathtaking.
Enjoy your holiday!
i am an american, i have lived here for 2 years now inBali.i have never heard one rude comment,or anyone argue..i have been all over bali and lombok island area.also to Jakarta and Bandung.. Jakarta was not a good feeling for me..the people are usually very friendly to tourist fromany country..of course the prices are automatically doubled as soon as you try to bargain..always have an indonesian accompany you for shopping any where. street vendors will noy let up if they see you are interested in any thing they sell.they are most persistant to the point of being a pain in the rump..no matter where you go, do not travel alone..thats rule #1.. i love Bali and indonesia, but like anywhere in the world ,there are 2 sides to people..but on the average, indonesians are the friendliest people i have ever met in my life..be sure to purchase a electronic language translator,”english to indonesian” from wal mart..dont buy one in indonesia.. so listen to all the advice people give you here, every bit of it helps..good luck..hat-hati dan selamat sukses..sampai jumpa
Indonesia consists of 17.667 islands. So much places to visit.
Java
1. Jogjakarta – lots of cultural places to visits. Tourists love to go here. Don’t forget to visit Prambanan Temples, Borobudur Temples (world’s biggest), and Malioboro.
2. Solo – same as above. only fewer places.
3. Jakarta – the capital city.
4. Bandung – this town is called Paris van Java, this is an exciting town with a lot of night-life entertainment.
5. Aceh – take a look at ruins after 2006 tsunamis, maybe?
6. Bangka + Belitung
7. Bunaken : this is an underwater tourism resorts. very cool. it is located on the eastern part of Indonesia.
I don’t recommend you to go alone. ^^
More information can be read on the book Lonely Planet Indonesia by Peter Turner
dont forget to visit raja ampat in irian jaya, its beautiful place,,
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