Indonesia offers more than Bali

Tourists take photos in front of Borobudur temple in Central Java, Indonesia. / Korea Times photos by Baek Byung-yeul

By Baek Byung-yeul

YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia ― Bali is probably the best known place in Indonesia, an archipelagic nation of 17,508 islands. The island, blessed with great beaches and a slew of recreational offerings, is almost synonymous with the Southeast Asian country.

The resort island has long been the first option for people traveling to Indonesia, but the country has more to offer than just Bali as everything they want to do on vacation is available there ranging from experiencing idyllic life to snorkeling and speed boating.

Tourists pray at Borobudur temple.

To attract more travelers, the Indonesian government approved 30-day visa-free travel for 162 foreign nations, including Korea, last year. So if any tourist is trying to find a place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy the tranquility of nature, Indonesia is a perfect choice to pack for a trip.

Bandung, a good departure point to enjoy Indonesia

To enjoy Indonesia in different ways, Bandung in West Java would be a good starting point.

About three hours away by bus from the capital city of Jakarta, the city attracts travelers with its cooler climate due to its elevation.

A Buddha statue at the top platform of Borobudur temple

The country’s third-largest city is dubbed “Paris of Java” as it is decorated with Dutch colonial architecture and European-style hotels, restaurants and boutiques centered on Braga Street.

The unique 1900s European-style architectures will grab attention of visitors, but they can also enjoy picturesque scenes at Tangkuban Perahu, an active volcano located some 30 kilometers north of Bandung.

After driving up to the very rim of the crater site, there is an overturned-boat-shaped crater. The 2,084-meter-tall mountain erupts regularly, most recently in 2013.

A tourist poses with a Komodo dragon at Komodo National Park. / Korea Times photos by Baek Byung-yeul

In Bandung, there is also a place offering a brief cultural experience of traditional Indonesian music.

At Saung Angklung Udjo, tourists can enjoy a performance on an “angklung,” a musical instrument made of two to four bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame. There, visitors can also enjoy a live Indonesian puppet performance called “wayang golek” and learn how to play the instrument as well.

Tourists take a carriage tour in Yogyakarta.

Tradition is alive and well in Yogyakarta

Travelers may not be able to avoid the scorching sun and soaring temperatures while traveling in Indonesia, especially during the dry season (usually April to October), but at the temples in the central Java city of Yogyakarta, they are allowed to put down their every care and sorrow and soothe their souls.

Yogyakarta is a city with a preserved historic center and the second-most-visited destination in Indonesia, following Bali. It is also known for Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple built in the ninth century.

A tourist shops at a local market in Labuan Bajo.

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the temple is built in three tiers of circular platforms. The layout of the temple has a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and a monumental hemispherical stupa at the top.

The temple was once used as a place of worship and pilgrimage. To protect the dignity of the temple, visitors wearing shorts or miniskirts are not allowed to enter and are asked to wear a sarong provided by the temple’s management office.

Traveling West Java by train is a great opportunity to enjoy Indonesia’s rural life.

A tourist taking part in an Indonesian cooking class in Yogyakarta decorates her food.

Near the temple site, they may experience the village life of local residents of Yogyakarta, getting around by “andong” (horse-drawn carriage) or motorcycle to get a glimpse of rustic culture, ranging from making pottery to traditional Indonesian tofu.

For those who want an off-road journey, visiting Mount Merapi is also recommended.

Literally meaning “fire,” Mount Merapi is known as the most active volcano in the country and has erupted periodically since 1548. The latest eruption occurred in late October 2010, killing 353 people and forcing over 350,000 residents to evacuate.

But with its height of 2,930 meters, the mountain has become a tourist spot. Now, one of the damaged areas is open to the public and accessible by SUV. Visitors may easily find jeep communities providing adventurous off-road trips to the eruption site.

Tourists wear sarongs at the entrance of Borobudur. Visitors wearing shorts or miniskirts are asked to wear a sarong, a piece of traditional Indonesian fabric wrapped around the waist over the pants, to honor the dignity of the temple.

Enjoy hiking and marine sports near Komodo Island

Outside Bali, tourists can also enjoy recreational activities on Komodo Island. The sea around Komodo Island in the province of East Nusa Tenggara offers visitors a unique opportunity to enjoy marine sports, such as diving, snorkeling and speed boating.

Besides the stunning beaches, Komodo Island is also well known for its dragon-like creature ― the Komodo dragon.

At Komodo National Park, visitors can choose four different trekking courses to meet the gigantic dragons that weigh about 90 kilograms on average.

It is known that at least 2,500 Komodo dragons inhabit the island. Though they are not active hunters, they are maneaters. Thus, trekkers on the course should keep safety in mind and follow the lead of local guides.

A view of the volcanic crater at Mt. Tangkuban Perahu