Alternative Travel: Sumbawa by Motorbike

By: Ed Caffin

Apart from the legendary surfspots at Maluk and Lakey Peak, few see more of Sumbawa. Mostly, it is only observed from behind the window of a bus, speeding over the trans-island highway to the eastern side, just in time to catch the ferry to Flores. The odd traveler that spends more time to explore the island, finds himself lucky enough to enjoy it’sbeauty in relative solitude. His sole companion might preferably be a motorbike.

Public transportation isn’t very good on Sumbawa, which is probably the main reason why most travelers never make it here. Thus, renting a motorbike seems a great way to explore Sumbawa. A sepeda motor is never hard to find anywhere in Indonesia. On Sumbawa, rental bikes tend to be more expensive (around 75.000 Rupiah per day), so if you’re on a tight budget, get one on Bali (around 35.000) or Lombok (usually around 50.000) and take it across with the ferry.

Pulau Pari @ Pulau Seribu: The Island of the Refugees

By: Putri Fitria

Pulau Pari is one of the islands of the Pulau Seribu archipelago, located a stone's throw away from Jakarta. Pulau Pari is one of the more quiet islands, which made it my first option for a visit. Although the kapal kayu (a wooden fisherman's boat) I rode on the way there was full, the amount of tourists on Pari Island seemed sparse compared to other more popular islands of Pulau Seribu.

Pari, the Island of the Refugees

The boat ride from Jakarta's Muara Angke harbor took an hour and a half. The boat dock at Pari Island, which was recently expanded, was nothing out of ordinary. But walking a little bit to the east, the white shore of Perawan Beach did look mesmerizing. This beach has only been a tourist destination for a year. It is called Perawan (meaning virgin), they say because the native people had to work very hard to open the route to get there. “The plants were high and sharp. It was so difficult to ‘get in’, thus the name Perawan,” shared a woman who sold coconuts, with a grin.

Introduction to West Java

By: Emma Kwee

West Java is the most populated province in Indonesia, with over 43 million inhabitants. The capital Bandung is the third largest city in the archipelago and home to a whopping 8 million people. West Java offers stunning vistas, smoking volcanoes, tea plantations, historical (often colonial) architecture and great food and shopping. Sundanese culture and language are an intricate web of traditions and customs. Great food and open-minded friendly people will make you feel at home at once in West Java.

Hello Bandung

Bandung is the capital of the Sundanese, the main culture of the provinces West Java and Banten. Within this cultural hemisphere, only Jakarta is excluded. The Sundanese have their own cultural legacy and language, which is truly unique and can be experienced in no place better than Bandung.

Best Time to Travel to Indonesia

By: Emma Kwee

Indonesia is a tropical country and has two main seasons: the dry season that runs roughly from April to October and the wet season from November to March. That doesn't mean it never rains outside of the wet season, but the heavy monsoon rains mostly fall in the wet season (with possible floods, mudslides and so on).

Best time to visit Indonesia is during dry season between April and October. The humidity is slightly less and weather is pleasant at this time of the year. Even though generally speaking the dry season is hotter, the climate differs from island to island (which makes sense if you consider that there are more than 18.000 of them). The average temperature is 28°C and the humidity ranges from 70 and 90%. Don't be fooled however, up in the mountains it gets fairly chilly!

How to Party Like Pirates in Tobelo

By: Labodalih Sembiring

A group of women stand in a moving boat, dancing to traditional beats from a distant loudspeaker. They are all over 40 years old — one is in her late 60s. Every once in a while, they cry the distinct changa shriek: “Aheeheeheeheey!”

I met them many times in Tobelo, the capital of North Halmahera District in North Maluku Province. Every time I saw them, they were dancing and shouting energetically, only to stop when the music died. The ladies are part of a traditional art performance group named Gumi Guraci, whose headquarters are called Dabiloha and located near Tanjung Pilawang Beach. During my stay in town, nights of partying took place at this beachside venue.

Jakarta Delicacies for the Daring Diner

By: Hush Petersen, first published in Jakarta Expat

It’s hard to put your finger on what makes Ben Hil (short for Bendungan Hilir), right at the heart of the city, the go-to spot for street food. Maybe it’s the atmosphere—the perpetually wet streets, the howl of the bemo, the ubiquitous banci whose Adam’s apple bobs as she points her chin at you and asks for money with those do-the-right-thing-or-else eyes.

But like nowhere else in the city Ben Hil provides long-time residents and tourists alike with a long list of food haunts like nowhere else in Jakarta. So here, in no particular order, are a few impeachable favourites. Did yours make the list?

Ternate: Snacks, Drinks and Karaoke

By: Ed Caffin

Ternate, the small but busy island-capital of the North Moluccas, is not a place many travelers linger around for too long. Its remote location and conservative character have built its reputation as a dull city. I explored the island for a few days, and although it might indeed not fit all travelers, I soon discovered that there are a lot of nice things to see and do in Ternate. And, by no means a rock ‘n roll party-town, nightlife can be fun too. There are more than a dozen places to have good food ánd a good time - at least, if you like Karaoke.

Around noon, men with praying-carpets over their shoulders walk toward the new big mosque in the centre of town that watches over the Sultan’s city. Muezzins on the dozen or so minarets nearby take turns in singing,― some beautifully and some less so – their fellow believers to prayer. For those that might have missed it all, signs on major roads make sure all muslims do their duty: ‘Go and pray! Don’t be too late…’

Visiting Komodo National Park: into Dragon’s domain

By: Ed Caffin

The marvellous Komodo National Park is arguably one of the most interesting places to visit in Indonesia. Located on the edge of the Lesser Sunda islands, it consists of a number of phenomenal islands, surrounded by clearblue coral seas, abundant with marine life. But above all, the park is home to a truly remarkable creature, the Komodo dragon, worlds largest lizard. Spending a few days in the heart of dragon’s territory will prove to be unforgettable.

Komodo National Park comprises more than 1700 square kilometers and was established in 1980 in order to conserve the Komodo dragon. Currently there are still around 5000 of them, divided into smaller populations on Komodo, Rinca and two other islands in the park, and a small coastal strip on Flores. The national park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 and over the years it has been dedicated to protect the habitat of other land and marine species too.

Tree Top Restaurant in Labuan Bajo, Flores Food & Views to Die for!

Sometimes you come across a place you never want to leave again. Tree Top restaurant, set in the hills overlooking the bay of Labuan Bajo is one of these places. Labuan Bajo is the capital of Flores, part of the lesser Sunda islands. The island, and its capital, are most often used as a springboard to visit Komodo, home to the infamous Komodo lizards. Yet, as owner Mattheus Siagian knows, Flores has so much more to offer. In a single breath he mentions the Ulumbu hot water river, the white sand beach of Ketebe, the old towns of Bejawa and Ende, the fishing village Lembata where people hunt whales traditionally every October, Tiwu Lewu lake, filled with crocodiles and of course…Tree Top Restaurant.

Mattheus is half Swiss, half Indonesian. After studying hotel management in Switzerland, he worked for the department of tourism on Flores (hence his in-depth knowledge on what to see and do on Flores).

Beautiful Lombok and its rapid transformation

By: Ed Caffin

Lombok, nestled between Bali and Sumbawa, is a stunningly beautiful island. It consists of green mountains and highlands, lush and fertile lowlands and countless pristine beaches. Dubbed “the unspoiled Bali” by many travelers, development Lombok’s tourism industry over the past few years has been dazzling. With the new international airport recently opened and numerous new hotels, Lombok seems ready to become Indonesia’s next top tourist destination. I headed out there to check it out.

On my first trip to Lombok, some five years ago, the island certainly seemed unspoiled. At least to a large extent. Apart from the west coast, large scale tourism could not be found. Lombok’s interior, dotted by small villages and rice fields, was reminiscent of what Bali would have looked like 20 years ago. Although hardly comparable in culture and heritage, Lombok could indeed rival its neighbor’s beauty. But it didn’t have the crowds. As I found out on this trip, it’s quite a different story now.