What islands can you visit in Indonesia? The King of the Islands, Indonesia is more than just Bali

Indonesia is located in Southeast Asia, straddling the equator (12°S-7°N). Because more than 70% of its territory is located in the Southern Hemisphere, it is the only country in Asia that is in the Southern Hemisphere. It is more than 5,500 kilometers long from east to west, making it the largest country in Asia after China. Typical tropical rainforest climate, average annual temperature of 25-27℃, no four seasons. The north is influenced by the monsoon of the Northern Hemisphere, with abundant rainfall from March to September, while the south is influenced by the monsoon of the Southern Hemisphere, with abundant rainfall in December, January and February.

Indonesia, just Bali?

No, Indonesia is more than just Bali. Don’t forget, Indonesia is the largest country in Southeast Asia, a veritable “King of the Islands,” composed of 17,508 islands, large and small, between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the largest archipelago nation in the world, with more than 10,000 more than the Philippines, which ranks second.

What does that mean? Even if you “island-hopped” to a new island every day without repeating yourself, it would take 48 years. About 6,000 of these islands are inhabited, which means that most of the islands are uninhabited.

Indonesia has not only many islands, but also many volcanoes, with more than 400 volcanoes, including 150 active volcanoes, accounting for one sixth of the world’s total.

It’s too big, too fragmented, too complex, like 100 or so small countries on all continents put together, and yet it miraculously became one country.

When you’re in Indonesia, you’ll feel like you’re lost in a sweltering, humid kaleidoscope: dreamy islands, wild volcanoes; a land of abundant life, idyllic rice paddies; mysterious tribes, ancient religions; congested, noisy modern cities, heavy Southeast Asian cuisine…

Beauty comes from Indonesia’s thousands of unique islands and its rich ethnic culture, while evil comes from its various wild volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. The unsolvable contradiction between beauty and evil has created Indonesia, a contradictory country.

Bali

The island most familiar to Chinese people

Bali is as small as a cardamom, but has the highest international recognition. As early as 100 years ago, the Dutch, according to Western aesthetic standards, made it a luxurious resort island. Volcanoes, rice fields, white sand beaches, Hindu temples… international brand hotels are clustered together, with all kinds of luxury services. The “broken and poor Southeast Asia” in our impression seems to have nothing to do with it. “Bali is more famous than Indonesia’s national name! In fact, we have so many other different islands.” In 2017, Indonesian President Joko Widodo personally proposed the “10 New Bali” tourism plan, radiating across the country.

Of course, Bali still has many niche attractions that are worth exploring in detail.

Sky Gate

In Bali, you can often see sculptures and monuments along the way, but the most characteristic are these split-style gates. According to the information, this is a kind of “yin and yang gate” (also known as “heavenly gate,” “good and evil gate,” “welcome gate”). Locals believe that good and evil coexist in the world, check each other, and ultimately good triumphs over evil. It also reminds people to do more good deeds and avoid evil. Balinese people believe that the island is full of souls and believe that good and evil spirits are evenly matched, with no winner or loser. When people pass through the “yin and yang gate,” the good will be brought with them, and the bad will be filtered out.

The one in the picture is called Pura Lempuyang Luhur, a Hindu temple, and there is no exact Chinese translation yet, but the widely known name of this temple is “Sky Gate.” Pura Lempuyang Luhur is located on the mountainside of Mount Lempuyang, 1175 meters above sea level, in northeastern Bali. The temple is named after the mountain. If it were ancient Hindus, they would have to climb 1700 steps from the foot of the mountain to reach the top to make a pilgrimage. The temple does not have tickets, only signature donations. The gatekeeper at the ticket booth will put on a sarong for the tourists. Because this temple is almost never on any popular sightseeing routes, there are almost no tourists inside.

The gate faces Mount Agung and the sea. If you catch cloudy weather, the view on the opposite side is like a fairy tale, as if stepping over would enter another world. As the saying goes, an island at sea, a gate in the sky.

Nusa Penida Island

Nusa Penida Island is located in the Lombok Strait between Bali and Lombok Island. It is one of the islands of Bali together with Nusa Lembongan, but tourism here has not been fully developed, retaining its pristine state, making it one of the niche secrets of Bali. The water here is very transparent, the surface is not deep from the seabed, and underwater scenes are clearly visible. There are also magnificent coastlines, exciting diving activities, and so on. Moreover, the beaches on the island are all white sand beaches, and you can occasionally see huge manta rays.

⑴ Kelingking Beach – Cliff of the Elves

This must be the best place to overlook the sea in Bali. The winding, towering cliffs, the secluded location, and the deep blue water from shallow to deep are enough to shock travelers who come here. The vegetation here is very dense, extending from the mountain to the sea. In addition, the color of the sea here is clearly layered, and we can climb down the cliff by a simple walkway. There is also a pure white sand beach below the cliff.

⑵ Angel’s Billabong

Angel’s Billabong is a natural infinity pool hidden behind volcanic rock. The volcanic rock, through years of erosion by the waves, has formed this unique rock-in-the-pool wonder. The water inside the pool is emerald green and clear, and outside the pool is the vast and boundless sea, which also provides travelers with a 360-degree no-dead-angle Instagram-worthy photo spot.

The pool is filled with surging waves at high tide, reaching a height of over 20 meters, only accessible at low tide.

⑶ Broken Beach

There are not many natural sea arches left in the world today, and Broken Beach is one of them. This wonder, formed by the movement of the volcanic crust, has created a natural entrance to the sea at the edge of the cliff, like an archway. In fact, the area where Broken Beach is located is a circular cliff. You can not only take iconic Instagram-worthy photos opposite the archway, but also step on the archway to observe this amazing natural wonder up close.

Java

The most populous island in the world

This is the center of Indonesia. Java is the fourth largest island in the Republic of Indonesia. It is home to 140 million people, more than half of the country’s population, and is also politically and economically dominant. The most important cities in Indonesia, such as Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta, are all located on this island.

If you are traveling in Java, the city you must mention is Yogyakarta. Yogyakarta is one of the oldest cities in Java. It is the most important university city in Indonesia today. From ancient times to the present, it has been the center of Javanese culture and art. Various civilizations have continuously clashed and merged in Yogyakarta. During the independence war of 1945-1949, Yogyakarta served as the capital of Indonesia. Today, it is also the only province in Indonesia ruled by a Sultan. Yogyakarta attracts over a million tourists each year, and it is the only city in Indonesia that can compete with Bali in terms of appeal. It is considered a niche destination among Chinese tourists.

How to get to Yogyakarta

In fact, it is not too difficult to get to Yogyakarta, although there are currently no direct flights from China to Yogyakarta. Garuda Indonesia has flights to Yogyakarta via Jakarta and Bali. AirAsia also has flights to Yogyakarta via Kuala Lumpur. There are a large number of flights from Bali to Yogyakarta every day, with flights at all times of the day and affordable prices. One-way tickets only cost about 300 yuan.

In Yogyakarta, tourists have to visit two attractions.

⑴ Borobudur

Borobudur is located about 40 kilometers northwest of Yogyakarta. It is the largest Buddhist architectural complex ruins in the world, and has been listed as a World Heritage Site. It is considered one of the four great wonders of the ancient East, along with the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal of India, and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Another saying is that Borobudur, Angkor Wat, and Bagan in Myanmar are considered the three great Buddhist relics of Southeast Asia. If you have been to Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Bagan in Myanmar, then Yogyakarta in Indonesia will surely be your next ideal destination.

Borobudur means “Buddhist stupa on a hill,” very mysterious, because there is no written record of who built Borobudur or why it was built. By comparing the reliefs and inscriptions on Borobudur, people estimate that the stupa was built in the 8th and 9th centuries AD. Borobudur may have been completed in 800 AD. According to the reliefs and royal inscriptions on the stupa, it was probably built by the ruler of the Sailendra Dynasty, which ruled Java at the time. Later, due to a volcanic eruption, the stupa sank and was hidden in the dense tropical jungle for thousands of years until it was excavated by Dutch explorers in the early 19th century.

This large stupa is built of local volcanic rock. The stupa is divided into 10 levels, consisting of 6 large square platforms, 3 circular platforms, and a central dome, with a base length of over 100 meters and a total height of over 40 meters, making it quite majestic. There are over 2,600 reliefs and over 500 Buddha statues on the stupa, with a variety of patterns. Some depict Buddhist scriptures, some reflect people’s daily life, and various livestock, as well as some birds, flowers, fish and insects. The Buddha statues, large and small, are also in different postures and expressions, and tourists can spend a lot of time looking at them.

Climbing to the top, you can see the central pointed dome, which is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated on openwork relic stupas. You can see the Buddha statues inside through the openwork relic stupas, and some Buddha statues are half exposed outside, taller than people, which are particularly eye-catching. On clear days, you can see Mount Merapi from the top of the stupa.

Borobudur is also a great place to watch the sunrise. Many people go there early in the morning, when it is quiet, to wait for the moment when the sun rises and the sunlight shines on the stupa and the Buddha statues, which is very moving. However, to see a beautiful sunrise, you need to leave Yogyakarta city before 4:00 AM, because if you go late, you won’t be able to get a good position. Also, you need to check the weather in advance and go on a clear day with no fog.

⑵ Prambanan

Prambanan is the most magnificent Hindu temple complex in Indonesia. It has been damaged by several volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. There are about 50 temple ruins still standing. Prambanan was built in the 8th-10th centuries AD. It is of the same era as Angkor Wat in Cambodia and shares many similarities in architectural form and sculptural themes. The temple complex has three courtyards. The outer two courtyards are mostly ruins, only the innermost courtyard preserves several temples. The three majestic main temples are dedicated to Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu, while the three smaller temples are dedicated to their mounts, the divine bull, the divine goose, and the divine eagle, respectively.

Like Borobudur, Prambanan Temple is also built of volcanic rock, and the walls are covered with exquisite reliefs, but the content is mostly taken from the Indian epic Ramayana. Compared with Angkor Wat, although it tells the same story, the artistic style and character images are quite different.

Prambanan Temple is also called Lorojonggrang Temple, which is the name of an ancient princess. Legend has it that a mighty hero wanted to marry the princess, but the princess refused, so she asked him to build 1,000 temples in one night. The mighty hero, with the help of his friends, built 999 temples before dawn. The princess used her divine powers to hasten the dawn. In a hurry, the mighty hero turned the princess into a temple, finally making 1,000 temples. From this legend, we can see how grand the scale of Prambanan Temple was in its heyday.

Komodo National Park

The perfect combination of romance and wildness

If Bear Grylls is the spokesperson for adventure, then Komodo Island is the spokesperson for charm and exploration. This island was once devastated by volcanoes and earthquakes, but time has made it unique. There are Komodo dragons that have scared American pilots, mysterious uninhabited islands that make your heart race, and a unique experience of living on a boat! Komodo Island has not been overdeveloped, and there are very few tourists who come here every year. According to official Indonesian statistics, only 61,250 people visited Komodo Island in 2015, mostly tourists from Europe, America, and Australia. Almost no Chinese tourists visit this earthly paradise.

⑴ Komodo Dragon

Of course, the reason to come to Komodo is to see the Komodo dragon.

If not for it, perhaps Komodo would still be one of Indonesia’s countless anonymous islands. The discovery of the Komodo dragon has made this secluded island famous. Even National Geographic and Animal World have visited the island to track down its traces. In 1991, Komodo National Park was listed as a World Heritage Site. This is where the world’s largest extant lizard, the Komodo dragon, lives. Adult Komodo dragons are 3-4 meters long and can weigh up to 100 kilograms. They are ferocious carnivores with a lifespan of 40-50 years. Scientists believe that the Komodo dragon is a close relative of dinosaurs and is a living fossil in biological evolution research. No trace of them has been found anywhere else in the world. The Komodo dragon can eat food that weighs up to 80% of its own body weight at a time, and prefers to prey on large animals such as water buffalo. Then it will not eat for months. However, in the early years, feeding the Komodo dragon was a regular performance item, and the development of tourism and excessive protection have seriously degraded their survival ability. In 1991, there were about 5,700 Komodo dragons in the national park, but now the number has been reduced to a few hundred.

⑵ Pink Sand Beach

Everyone is attracted to the Komodo dragon, but they fall in love with the place because of the pink sand beach. Here, 80% of the beaches are more or less pink. Pink sand beaches are very popular around the world. Some people think they need to save a lot of money for a long time to fly to the Bahamas to see the pink sand beach, but the pink sand beach on Komodo Island is just as good as the pink sand beach in the Bahamas. Moreover, it is very secluded. Not to mention Asian people, even the human figure is hard to find. The reason why it has such a dreamy color is the remains of Indonesia’s national treasure, the red coral.

Backpackers’ Lost Paradise

The Gili Islands are Gili Air, Gili Tranwangan, and Gili Meno, which are the islands off the coast of Lombok. They are called the sparkling pearls scattered in the sea by locals.

Gili T is actually the most famous and the most lively, a party island, full of revelry night after night. Every night there are bands singing in bars on the beach, and the streets are very lively and unique. But accommodation and food and drink are relatively expensive. Gili Air and Gili Meno are relatively quiet, especially GILI MENO, which is perfect for relaxing and vacationing. Expensive resorts are located on Meno. As long as you walk a little further, you will have a beach all to yourself. The Gili Islands are great for cycling and strolling, like Gulangyu Island. Cars and motorized vehicles are prohibited on the island, so the preferred mode of transportation is cycling or horse-drawn carriages. There are bicycle rental services on the island. Here, the blue of the sea is indescribable. You can snorkel directly from the shore, and there are many sea turtles.

Indonesia has the largest and densest group of volcanoes in the world. There are over 400 volcanoes, with as many as 150 active volcanoes, accounting for 1/6 of the world’s total number of active volcanoes. Unfortunately, it is the most powerful part of the Pacific Ring of Fire! It far surpasses the Philippines and Japan. Indonesians are among the most “apocalyptic” people on Earth. Volcanoes, along with earthquakes and tsunamis, have become “time bombs” in Indonesian life. The two largest volcanic eruptions in human history took place in Indonesia.

In 1815, Mount Tambora erupted, killing tens of thousands of people in London, thousands of kilometers away. In 1883, Krakatoa erupted, with the power of 13,000 Hiroshima atomic bombs.

But both of these events are dwarfed by another “super eruption.” Scientists have found that 75,000 years ago, the largest volcanic eruption in Earth’s history occurred in Sumatra, Indonesia, forming the world’s largest volcanic lake, Lake Toba. This volcanic eruption directly caused a 1,000-year cooling period worldwide.

Volcanoes have turned Indonesia into a “hell on earth,” but they have also given it an inexhaustible gift.

Mount Agung

An active volcano in Bali, Indonesia. Also known as Mount Bali. 3140 meters above sea level, it is the highest peak in Bali, and is regarded as a sacred mountain by locals. The volcano is located in northeastern Bali, and has had a small eruption once in the 50 years following its eruption in 1842.

According to Balinese mythology, the gods take mountains as their thrones, placing the highest throne, Mount Agung, on Bali. There is another saying that the gods saw that Bali was shaking, so they pressed the Hindu sacred mountain Mahameru (Mahameru) on Bali to suppress it, later renamed Mount Agung. Balinese people believe that this mountain is the “center of the world,” and every temple in Bali has a shrine dedicated to the mountain god. Residents also make offerings to the temple and crematorium in the shape of Mount Agung to show their respect for the mountain.

Mount Bromo

Mount Bromo (Bromo) is the most photogenic volcano in Indonesia. It is the most mysterious and most volatile volcano in the minds of Indonesian people.

It is located in eastern Java and is named Bromo. It is an active volcano with a constantly smoking chimney and steam, and it erupts from time to time. The volcano is not very high, only 2392 meters above sea level. At the same time, the volcano is very easy to reach. You can take a car to the foot of the mountain and then climb the steps to reach the viewing platform at the crater. Thousands of tourists visit here every day. Locals have built a Hindu temple at the foot of Mount Bromo. There are 250 steps leading from the temple to the top of the mountain. This temple is quite simple, you could say it is a temple of asceticism. Every year, the temple holds a month-long sacrificial ceremony, during which people throw rice, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and even poultry into the crater to appease the sleeping volcano. However, the volcano still wakes up every few years.

In fact, in addition to Mount Bromo, there are many other volcanoes in this area, but Bromo is the only active volcano. Mount Semeru is the highest volcano in Java, at 4676 meters above sea level. To reach Mount Bromo, you must first cross the giant Tengger Crater. The crater is 10 kilometers in diameter, and steep mountains stand straight up on the vast lava sand plain. This desolate place feels like the end of the world, or on the moon’s surface. Especially at sunrise. The bottom of the crater is covered with volcanic ash, with no plants. The black ash forms sand dunes, called “sea of sand” by locals.

Kawah Ijen

Blue flames from the depths of hell

Mount Ijen is over 2600 meters high. As an active volcano, the gases it emits form sulfur through vents in the crater. At night, the burning sulfur forms a whole expanse of blue flames, beautiful and enchanting. The crater has a blue-green volcanic lake about one kilometer wide, the largest acidic lake in the world, which can also emit swathes of blue flames. To see the full picture of the lake, you need good luck, as smoke can obscure it at any time, making it mysterious and attractive.

Along the way, you can see local miners who make a living by mining this sulfur. These miners work in complete lack of protection, risking their lives. Each load of sulfur weighs 70-80 kilograms. It is said that these miners are only paid 800 Indonesian rupiah per kilogram, which is less than 40 cents in Chinese currency. This means that each load of sulfur only earns 30 yuan in Chinese currency. The physically fit miners can carry two loads a day. Indeed, it is the volcano that has created the most dangerous and arduous industry in the world.

Mount Rinjani

A haven for outdoor enthusiasts worldwide

Mount Rinjani (Rinjani), also known as “Mount Lombok,” is located in the north of Lombok Island, Indonesia. At 3,726 meters above sea level, Mount Rinjani is still an active volcano, comparable in height to Mount Fuji in Japan, and is the second highest volcano in Indonesia. Its most distinguishing feature is that within a circular volcanic mountain range, a volcanic lake was formed due to crustal movement, with a small volcano forming in the middle of the lake.

Mount Rinjani attracts tens of thousands of climbers from around the world every year. The Mount Rinjani adventure route has been highly recommended by Lonely Planet as a must-see destination, and is considered one of the top ten most beautiful volcanic hiking routes in the world.

Indonesia’s evil is not only manifested in its unstable volcanoes, but also in the earthquakes and tsunamis that occur from time to time. However, this evil bestowed by nature has brought the whole country together. You may still remember that in 2004, the Aceh tsunami claimed the lives of more than 200,000 people. Aceh was in the midst of a separatist movement at the time, and the rebels and the government were at a stalemate. It was the disaster that ended the separatist war, bringing both sides to their senses and exchanging peace talks for lasting peace. In the face of disaster, Indonesians can only accept fate with equanimity. People can only live with resignation. LET IT GO, “Just let it be”, has become the character of Indonesian people.