Indonesia is one of the magical places on earth where you can relax and recharge your batteries for a long time. Bali is very popular among tourists. There is a developed tourist infrastructure and there is an opportunity for both beach and active rest.
Beach, Indonesia
Many tourists believe that Bali has the best beaches and they are not mistaken. The most famous tourist area is Nusa Dua. It is located on east coast Bukit Peninsula in southern Bali. The main advantage of this place is an artificial beach, which was created by pulling a huge ditch along the coast. Due to the frequent tides in Bali, there are problems with swimming, thanks to the foundation pit on the beaches of Nusa Dua, you can swim at any time. The beauty of the beaches is complemented by the local landscape. Generally this closed area, where they come to rest mainly on tours. There are a large number of star hotels, an entertainment complex with shops, restaurants and cafes. This place is suitable for a quiet, relaxed holiday.
North of Nusa Dua is another of the best tourist areas - Tanjung Benoa. Benoa is a spit, less than a kilometer wide, where the village of fishermen used to be, now the territory is being built up with hotels. In the northernmost part of the resort are provided water activities for every taste, here vacationers can ride a scooter, banana, parasail, surf, as well as explore the nearest reef and Turtle Island. True, strong ebb tides do not sometimes make it possible for swimming.
It is difficult to name exactly the best beaches in Bali, each has its own merits, the choice depends on what kind of vacation you would like to get. The resort of Kuta is very popular among outdoor enthusiasts. Here you can find excellent surfing, and besides, there are many bars and clubs. Life in Kut is seething day and night, so a lot of young people come here, who, after riding boards during the day, have fun in nightclubs at night. In addition, there is inexpensive housing.
A slightly more respectable continuation of Kuta is Legian. There are more expensive housing and fewer tourists. The sea is also more suitable for surfing than for swimming, as the waves are big most of the time.
The most prestigious and expensive is Seminyak - a favorite place for European expats, owners of nearby bars, restaurants and designer clothing boutiques. There are many luxurious five-star hotels here and it is rare to meet a surfer, the audience is more respectable.
Other resorts are not inferior in quality and conditions of rest: Lovina, Sanur, Ubud, Tuban. Sanur is the oldest resort in Bali. This is a place for a quiet family vacation, because, unlike other places, here the big waves are cut by a huge breakwater, so they do not reach the shore. TO family resorts Lovina also has long, black volcanic sand beaches. There are no big waves here, but you can have a great rest for parents with children and lovers of snorkelling. In the vicinity of Lovina, there are many dolphins that tourists can communicate with from boats that regularly depart from the coast. Dolphins are accustomed to people and swim close, giving them the opportunity to stroke and feed themselves.
In Sumatra, Lampuk Beach is popular, which is well suited for family holidays, there are many cafes where you can eat inexpensively. Lhok Nga Beach is 10 minutes away and is very popular with surfers. Off the coast of northern Sumatra, Lagundri Bay is one of Indonesia's favorite surf spots with its gorgeous right-hand waves. It was opened in the 70s. The shore is lined with coconut palms, which are often hidden surfer campsites and equipment rental points. When swimming, you need to be careful, as the bottom of the bay is a shallow reef, so you need to wear rubber shoes.
All the beaches of Indonesia have one significant drawback - strong ebbs and flows, which sometimes makes it impossible to swim. Therefore, it is better to swim in pools located near hotels or in an area controlled by rescue services, and try to stay away from the rocks.
Amed is a secluded resort in the east of Bali, next to the impressive Agung volcano. Tourists are waiting for wonderful black sand beaches and magnificent coral reef located just five minutes from the beach. The warm and calm sea is ideal for swimming and diving. From Amed, it is easy to get to the sacred Besakih Temple, located on the slopes of the Agung volcano, and to the water palace of Tirta Ganga. The road from Denpasar airport to the hotel takes about 3 hours. Lombok is a calm resort island washed by two oceans at once: Indian and Pacific. Lombok is separated from the popular and sometimes too noisy Bali by a small strait. Tourists are attracted natural beauty islands, beautiful mountain rivers and waterfalls, volcanoes and picturesque coastline.
The two main resorts of the island are Kuta and Senggigi. And if Kuta is a fairly economical paradise for surfers, then Senggigi is resort town with hotels for every taste and budget, perfect for a relaxing beach holiday.
One of the main attractions of Lombok is the Rijani volcano, which you can climb. The Gili archipelago, located off the northwest coast of the island, is very popular with divers. Candidasa - small resort in the east of Bali. This place is ideal for lovers of a secluded and relaxing holiday. It has everything for tourists to have a comfortable rest: small hotels, bungalows and excellent restaurants, shops and cafes.
The beaches of the Candidasa resort are made of dark volcanic sand, and swimming due to strong waves is possible only at low tide. You can get to the white sandy beach in 15 minutes, for example, to White Sand Beach or hire a boat and ride to the Blue Lagoon. Jimbaran - the resort is located next to Kuta Beach, but is fundamentally different from the noisy party neighbor. calm beach, stretching for four kilometers, a few hotels, coastal restaurants with a huge selection of seafood. Tourists come to Jimbaran in the evenings and locals to have dinner and watch the beautiful sunset. At nightfall, everyone leaves, because the center of nightlife is the resort of Kuta, and Jimbaran is immersed in silence.
The sea here is much calmer than in Kuta, and low tides begin after 16:00, so the resort is suitable for families with children. Fans of snorkeling and diving will enjoy the beautiful coral reefs.
Jimbaran has several luxury hotels and a separate area with exclusive villas. The airport is 15 minutes away. Kuta is a popular beach resort with excellent developed infrastructure, good wide beach and noisy nightlife. Democratic prices and a great party attract young people here. In addition, Kuta has excellent conditions for surfing and many schools where any tourist can conquer the wave for the first time. Large chain hotels, numerous cafes, restaurants, massage parlors maintain an atmosphere of fun and celebration in the resort. Kuta has a water park, and fans of inexpensive shopping will enjoy a large selection of clothes and souvenirs. There is even a special night market here. Before international airport from Kuta can be reached in 15 minutes. Lovina is a resort in the north of Bali. Long beaches with dark volcanic sand and calm seas attract tourists who dream of solitude and a leisurely, measured flow of life. Rest here will appeal to lovers of scuba diving and snorkeling, as well as those who would like to watch dolphins. The journey from the international airport to the resort takes about three hours. Nusa Dua - luxury resort, located on the Bukit Peninsula, with magnificent, wide sandy beaches and calm seas. Here, surrounded by palm trees and mango groves lined up luxury hotels With own beaches and parks. There is a special walking area with cafes, boutiques and restaurants.
Due to the ebb and flow of the tides, you can swim in Nusa Dua either early in the morning until 9:00, or after 15:00, the water leaves during the day. The resort for outdoor enthusiasts will find a lot of entertainment, there are excellent dive centers and water sports centers. There is an 18 hole golf course. The resort is very popular with Russian tourists. Sanur is one of the best beach resorts for a family holiday on the island. Kilometers of wide beaches of light gray sand, a gentle entry into the water and a calm sea provide perfect vacation for swimmers and families with small children. The resort has everything you need for activities. water sports sports: windsurfing, wakeboarding and popular among our tourists skiing for "banana". The resort has a large dive center where beginners can get an official certificate, and experienced divers can book a dive safari.
Excellent hotels, luxury villas, expensive restaurants with excellent cuisine, nightclubs - Sanur has everything to make your vacation not only comfortable, but also prestigious. The resort has an entertainment center "Taman Festival Park". Seminyak is a respectable glamorous resort built in a European way. Well-groomed boulevards, luxury hotels, fine restaurants, art galleries and boutiques are all located nearby. Great sand beach will please the waves of surfers. For those who come to rest in Seminyak with their families, there are two children's parks.
The road from the airport in Denpasar to Seminyak takes 25 minutes. Tanjung Benoa is located in the southern part of Bali, here beautiful beach with light sand and magnificent parks. The absence of strong waves will delight tourists accustomed to a relaxing beach holiday. Benoa hotels offer tourists a wide range of services, including thalassotherapy, and water sports can be enjoyed on the beach. Benoa is located quite far from the airport (about half an hour drive), but the city has a port from which you can get to the islands of Lombok, Gili and Nusa Lemborgan. Ubud is a mountain town located in the center of Bali. Tourists come here to infiltrate amazing secrets art crafts, purchase incredibly beautiful souvenirs and admire the picturesque landscapes of the mountainous part of the island. The resort's boutique hotels are very popular with celebrities and the creative elite as they provide services High Quality and all the conditions for complete privacy.
In Ubud, tourists can visit the museum and temple complexes of the resort, art galleries, as well as the Monkey Forest Reserve. Gili Meno is the most small island Gili archipelago, with wonderful beaches of light sand. An ideal place for lovers of a secluded and relaxing holiday. Smooth entrance to the sea, a coral reef that protects the beaches from waves, and warm water make a resort good place for family holidays. The rest of the islands of the Gili archipelago, or Lombok and Bali can be reached by ferry. Most large island in the Gili archipelago, consisting of three small islands, off the northwestern coast of Lombok. Here the tourist infrastructure is most developed, most of all there are hotels, clubs and bars. The owners of the only Irish pub on the island claim that it is the smallest island in the world serving Irish ale.
Cars and any other motorized vehicles are prohibited on all Gili Islands. The main transport here is bicycles and horse-drawn carts. Gili Trawangan, like its two smaller cousins, is a diver's paradise. The marine fauna near its shores is very diverse, and corals form amazing underwater gardens. Tabanan County is famous for its magnificent scenery with rice terraces and is great for travelers who prefer relaxing holiday Outdoors. Rice fields, irrigated by the traditional Bali subak system, are extraordinarily beautiful and are on the list world heritage UNESCO. The famous Tanah Lot temple is also located in the Tabanan district. Changu is young and popular resort in Bali which is great for surfers. Beaches made of gray volcanic sand, high-quality infrastructure, a large number of restaurants attract outdoor enthusiasts to Canggu. At the same time, there are no such large crowds as in Kuta at the resort. But you can get to a noisy neighbor or to the Seminyak resort in twenty minutes.
Big sport Club and the Horse Riding Club add variety to Canggu's leisurely flow. Here you can find many ways to have a great day, and in the evening admire the magnificent sunset, sitting at a table in one of the restaurants on the beach. Uluwatu is a resort located in the southern part of the Bukit peninsula. The resort's beach is quite small, but tourists do not go to Uluwatu in order to calmly swim, this place is considered one of the best in the world for surfing. The resort has everything you need to have a great time after skiing: quality hotels, spas, great restaurants with great views. Surfers will find shops and workshops, surf schools and board and equipment rentals here. Important point– the waves on Uluwatu are strong, and Kuta resort is more suitable for beginners.
On a rock, at a height of 100 meters above the sea, there is the Uluwatu temple, which is dedicated to the god of the sea. The temple was founded in the XI century. This is one of the most beautiful places in Bali to watch the sunsets.
Amed is a secluded resort in the east of Bali, next to the impressive Agung volcano. Tourists are waiting for wonderful black sand beaches and a magnificent coral reef, located just five minutes from the coast. The warm and calm sea is ideal for swimming and diving. From Amed, it is easy to get to the sacred Besakih Temple, located on the slopes of the Agung volcano, and to the water palace of Tirta Ganga. The road from Denpasar airport to the hotel takes about 3 hours. Lombok is a calm resort island washed by two oceans at once: Indian and Pacific. Lombok is separated from the popular and sometimes too noisy Bali by a small strait. Tourists are attracted by the natural beauty of the island, beautiful mountain rivers and waterfalls, volcanoes and picturesque coastline.
The two main resorts of the island are Kuta and Senggigi. And if Kuta is a fairly economical paradise for surfers, then Senggigi is a resort town with hotels for every taste and budget, perfect for a relaxed beach holiday.
One of the main attractions of Lombok is the Rijani volcano, which you can climb. The Gili archipelago, located off the northwest coast of the island, is very popular with divers. Candidasa is a small resort in the east of Bali. This place is ideal for lovers of a secluded and relaxing holiday. It has everything for tourists to have a comfortable rest: small hotels, bungalows and excellent restaurants, shops and cafes.
The beaches of the Candidasa resort are made of dark volcanic sand, and swimming due to strong waves is possible only at low tide. You can get to the white sandy beach in 15 minutes, for example, to White Sand Beach or hire a boat and ride to the Blue Lagoon. Jimbaran - the resort is located next to Kuta Beach, but is fundamentally different from the noisy party neighbor. A calm beach stretching for four kilometers, a few hotels, coastal restaurants with a huge selection of seafood. In the evenings, tourists and locals come to Jimbaran to dine and enjoy the beautiful sunset. At nightfall, everyone leaves, because the center of nightlife is the resort of Kuta, and Jimbaran is immersed in silence.
The sea here is much calmer than in Kuta, and low tides begin after 16:00, so the resort is suitable for families with children. Fans of snorkeling and diving will enjoy the beautiful coral reefs.
Jimbaran has several luxury hotels and a separate area with exclusive villas. The airport is 15 minutes away. Kuta is a popular beach resort with excellent infrastructure, a good wide beach and a bustling nightlife. Democratic prices and a great party attract young people here. In addition, Kuta has excellent conditions for surfing and many schools where any tourist can conquer the wave for the first time. Large chain hotels, numerous cafes, restaurants, massage parlors maintain an atmosphere of fun and celebration in the resort. Kuta has a water park, and fans of inexpensive shopping will enjoy a large selection of clothes and souvenirs. There is even a special night market here. The international airport from Kuta can be reached within 15 minutes. Lovina is a resort in the north of Bali. Long beaches with dark volcanic sand and calm seas attract tourists who dream of solitude and a leisurely, measured flow of life. Rest here will appeal to lovers of scuba diving and snorkeling, as well as those who would like to watch dolphins. The journey from the international airport to the resort takes about three hours. Nusa Dua is an elite resort located on the Bukit Peninsula, with magnificent, wide sandy beaches and calm seas. Here, surrounded by palm trees and mango groves, luxurious hotels lined up with their own beaches and parks. There is a special walking area with cafes, boutiques and restaurants.
Due to the ebb and flow of the tides, you can swim in Nusa Dua either early in the morning until 9:00, or after 15:00, the water leaves during the day. The resort for outdoor enthusiasts will find a lot of entertainment, there are excellent dive centers and water sports centers. There is an 18 hole golf course. The resort is very popular with Russian tourists. Sanur is one of the best beach resorts for families on the island. Kilometers of wide beaches of light gray sand, gently sloping waters and calm seas provide an ideal holiday for swimmers and families with small children. The resort also has everything you need for water sports: windsurfing, wakeboarding and popular among our tourists riding for "banana". The resort has a large dive center where beginners can get an official certificate, and experienced divers can book a dive safari.
Excellent hotels, luxury villas, expensive restaurants with excellent cuisine, nightclubs - Sanur has everything to make your vacation not only comfortable, but also prestigious. The resort has an entertainment center "Taman Festival Park". Seminyak is a respectable glamorous resort built in a European way. Well-groomed boulevards, luxury hotels, fine restaurants, art galleries and boutiques are all located nearby. An excellent sandy beach will delight surfers with waves. For those who come to rest in Seminyak with their families, there are two children's parks.
The road from the airport in Denpasar to Seminyak takes 25 minutes. Tanjung Benoa is located in the southern part of Bali, it has a beautiful beach with light sand and magnificent parks. The absence of strong waves will delight tourists accustomed to a relaxing beach holiday. Benoa hotels offer tourists a wide range of services, including thalassotherapy, and water sports can be enjoyed on the beach. Benoa is located quite far from the airport (about half an hour drive), but the city has a port from which you can get to the islands of Lombok, Gili and Nusa Lemborgan. Ubud is a mountain town located in the center of Bali. Tourists come here to delve into the amazing secrets of artistic crafts, purchase incredibly beautiful souvenirs and admire the picturesque landscapes of the mountainous part of the island. The resort's boutique hotels are very popular with celebrities and the creative elite, as they provide high quality services and all conditions for complete privacy.
In Ubud, tourists can visit the museum and temple complexes of the resort, art galleries, as well as the Monkey Forest Reserve. Gili Meno is the smallest island of the Gili archipelago, with wonderful beaches of light sand. An ideal place for lovers of a secluded and relaxing holiday. A smooth entrance to the sea, a coral reef that protects the beaches from waves, and warm water make the resort a good place for a family holiday. The rest of the islands of the Gili archipelago, or Lombok and Bali can be reached by ferry. The largest island in the Gili archipelago, consisting of three small islands, off the northwest coast of Lombok. Here the tourist infrastructure is most developed, most of all there are hotels, clubs and bars. The owners of the only Irish pub on the island claim that it is the smallest island in the world serving Irish ale.
Cars and any other motorized vehicles are prohibited on all Gili Islands. The main transport here is bicycles and horse-drawn carts. Gili Trawangan, like its two smaller cousins, is a diver's paradise. The marine fauna near its shores is very diverse, and corals form amazing underwater gardens. Tabanan County is famous for its magnificent scenery with rice terraces and is perfect for travelers who prefer a relaxing holiday in nature. The rice fields, irrigated according to the traditional Bali subak system, are extraordinarily beautiful and are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The famous Tanah Lot temple is also located in the Tabanan district. Canggu is a young and popular resort in Bali, which is great for surfers. Beaches made of gray volcanic sand, high-quality infrastructure, a large number of restaurants attract outdoor enthusiasts to Canggu. At the same time, there are no such large crowds as in Kuta at the resort. But you can get to a noisy neighbor or to the Seminyak resort in twenty minutes.
A large sports club and a riding club add variety to Canggu's leisurely flow. Here you can find many ways to have a great day, and in the evening admire the magnificent sunset, sitting at a table in one of the restaurants on the beach. Uluwatu is a resort located in the southern part of the Bukit peninsula. The resort's beach is quite small, but tourists do not go to Uluwatu in order to calmly swim, this place is considered one of the best in the world for surfing. The resort has everything you need to have a great time after skiing: quality hotels, spas, great restaurants with great views. Surfers will find shops and workshops, surf schools and board and equipment rentals here. An important point is that the waves on Uluwatu are strong, and the Kuta resort is more suitable for beginners.
On a rock, at a height of 100 meters above the sea, there is the Uluwatu temple, which is dedicated to the god of the sea. The temple was founded in the XI century. This is one of the most beautiful places in Bali to watch sunsets.
The beaches of Lombok is very similar to Bali - with big waves, ideal for surfing, not very conducive to swimming.
From the pluses that on about. Lombok is much less touristy and they are usually surrounded by green mountains, long stretches. Reminds me of Sri Lanka!
I visited about. Lombok in May and will tell you below about the best beaches on the island, both for swimming and surfing. There are also hotels with their own beaches.
Selong Belanak Beach
Perhaps this is the coolest beach on the island and this is not only my opinion. The Lonely Planet guide writes about it as number one in all of Lombok.
It's really amazingly beautiful here! In reality, this beach is ideal for both beginner surfers and swimming.
The waves here are very small. The water is perfectly clear. Around beautiful views to the mountains.
On this beach you can order food, drinks, coconut. There are also many locals around who are ready to teach surfing. You can rent a board, rent sunbeds.
Mawun Beach
This beach with azure water and white sand is ideal for swimming, sunbathing and watching underwater world- snort.
Beautiful blue bay here is closed on all sides by green mountains.Two high sheer cliffs protect the sandy shore from the ocean.
There are almost no strong waves here, in order to surf you will have to sail 200 meters from the coast.
Around this beach you can meet locals, order drinks, coconuts, peeled pineapple from them. On weekends, there are more locals in Mavun who go fishing on the beach.
Mawi beach (Mawi beach)
Mawi Beach is located about 40 minutes west of Kuta Beach, just before Selong Belanak Beach.
Deserted beach with beautiful nature, with white sand, stretching for several kilometers and there are practically no people here.
Tanjung Aan Beach
One of the most unusual beaches with its land and water swings and interesting views from the mountains to the entire lagoon.
This beach is a must visit when staying in Lombok!
Due to the fact that I was unlucky with the weather, the photos turned out not as bright and beautiful as if the sun were not covered by clouds.
The bay itself and the water off the coast are perfectly clean, azure.
Locals here will offer to rent a mask and snorkel to explore the underwater world.
Seger Beach (Seger Beach)
This beach is interesting primarily for its panorama, views and viewing surf tricks. Here you can see, ideally, sunset.
Kuta beach and surroundings. Probably, one way or another, you will not be able to avoid this beach if you visit the south of Lombok.
Shopping here is also good. Locals and foreigners swim, but as a rule, there are very few people swimming on the beaches of Lombok.
Mostly people fly or sail to Lombok for the sake of surfing! Also, I recommend the beach for relaxing Singgigi in the west of the island, which is closer to the Gili Islands.
And of course, if you have not been to the Gili Islands, you must visit them. In addition to the above, according to reviews, there are others here. interesting places– Senggigi and pink beach
The calmest and most virgin of them is Meno Island, the more crowded Air, the most partyy Travagan.
A boat ride to the Gili Islands from Bangsal Port Lombok will cost $2 (one way). Only buy tickets at the box office, and not from the hands or from intermediaries!
Safety first
It was on Lombok, it seems to me, that the young man Stas and I picked up local bacteria and we had some health problems for about a month (non-healing wounds), so I recommend not eating from local appliances (spoons, forks) and buying water in closed bottles.
Thoroughly rinse and towel dry food before use!
The uniqueness of this largest island country in the world consists of several indicators at once:
- there are no conflicts in tourist areas;
- foreigners are loved here if foreigners respect local traditions;
- cultures of 350 peoples are intertwined here;
- here you can relax in the mouth of an extinct volcano;
- here is the most comfortable climate for travelers from the north.
We could mention a free visa for Russians (up to 30 days of stay), low prices for housing and food, an abundance of free attractions and breathtaking natural beauty. Except for the expensive and troublesome flight, Indonesia can be called with all responsibility ideal for a budget and exotic vacation.
In flight!
There are no direct regular flights to Indonesia from Moscow or St. Petersburg. Hope for charters that cater to organized tourists is sluggish. Buy a tour? Expensive. The most modest tour package will cost almost two thousand euros. The way out is to use the services of those carriers that offer an inexpensive flight with one transfer.
Tickets from Moscow to Jakarta (or another major airport in the country) and back will cost no less than 400 euros. Similar prices are offered by ETIHAD or EMIRATES. The cheapest way to get to Indonesia from Vladivostok is by planes of CATHAY PACIFIC. In the first case, the transfer is supposed to be in Abu Dhabi or Dubai (the waiting time for the transfer is from 3 to 7 hours, on the road from 17 to 22 hours). In the second case, you will have to transfer in Hong Kong (waiting at the dock - from 2 to 3 hours, on the road - 11-13 hours).
Most cheap tickets can be found in September, and the biggest travel expenses await those who decide to visit Indonesia in January.
Despite the long journey, it will not tire you. All carrier companies are distinguished by their special care for the comfort of passengers and a lot of additional pleasant services!
Looking for a roof over your head
Hotels in Indonesia are cheap if you do not stay in five-star luxury hotels, widely advertised by tour operators. You need to choose small family pensions or hotels with a comfort level of 2 * or 3 *. In this case, it is quite easy to find a double room for 13-15 euros (you need to book 4-6 months before the trip).
Taking into account discounts and special offers that constantly appear on hotel booking sites, you can get a double room in a 3 * hotel for 18-22 euros.
Guest houses offering accommodation in a cozy room with a small terrace and a kitchenette cost customers no more than 15 euros per day. Spacious apartments, suitable for a large family or travelers with children, cost from 22 to 27 euros per day.
A place in a hostel in a large city in Indonesia costs no more than 6-7 euros per night.
Food in Indonesia: what, where, how much?
Eating in local cafes, not disdaining delicious local dishes from street stalls, a tourist will not spend more than 3-4 euros per day on food. Meat-eaters will have to fork out, but the daily budget does not increase much - 5-6 euros per day. V resort areas it makes sense to look for establishments away from the beaches, in major cities you should choose a cafe or eatery away from tourist places.
Lunch in a restaurant for tourists costs up to 10 euros; restaurants with Chinese or Chinese are popular in Indonesia. Indian cuisine. The most expensive pleasure here is alcohol. It is worth remembering that the majority of the population of the country are Muslims. A bottle of strong alcohol costs 18-20 euros, beer - 2-4 euros.
Features of local cuisine: what you need to try?
For many tourists, Indonesian dishes will remind you of visiting India or Thailand, but there are some peculiarities:
- The number of spices in the dishes is less, here the complex aroma of a bouquet of various herbs and roots is preferred to the total sharpness, but chili or black pepper is used very sparingly;
- Nuts - on the islands of the country they are added to most dishes: from soups to desserts. Peanut butter is actively used, and nut sauces give dishes a special charm and unique taste;
- Tofu cheese is a spicy addition to salads, meat and vegetable dishes;
- An abundance of meat dishes - beef, chicken, pork (not everywhere) combined with rice and vegetables guarantee a hearty and inexpensive lunch in any restaurant;
- Freshly squeezed juices - here they are diluted with water or sugar is added. To drink natural juice, you need to inform the waiter about your whim in particular;
- Delicious coffee and not very tasty tea (that's why they add too much condensed milk and sugar to it, the swill turns out so sweet that it reduces the cheekbones).
A real tourist is always interested in the food that is the most familiar to the Indonesians themselves, so the dishes below can be tried in any market, buy the freshest dish from a street stall. All this is extremely tasty and quite inexpensive:
- Satey - small skewers, in fact - meat in spicy sprinkling, cooked on coals, as a bonus - a delicious sauce, as usual, with nuts;
- Rendang - tender beef in sauce, with rice or vegetable garnish;
- Siomei - dumplings stuffed with steamed fish, walnut sauce right there;
- Nasi uduk - fried chicken with rice in coconut milk, served with omelette pieces and soy cheese;
- Pempek - fish meatballs with tapioca. My favorite topping is an egg. The best sauce is soy;
- Pisang goreng - in fact - banana in dough, fried in in large numbers oils. Depending on the variety of banana, this is either an appetizer or a dessert;
- Gado-gado - stewed vegetables in a spicy nut sauce, will appeal to vegetarians and those who appreciate healthy food;
- Martabak is a layer cake with filling and sauce. Cheaper with vegetables, more expensive with scrambled eggs or meat. In any case, it doesn't cost more than 2 euros;
- Krupuk - chips, but they are made from shrimp or rice flour, a variety of sauces give them a special taste;
- Ginger rice is the cheapest, but very nutritious, healthy and tasty dish.
Indonesians offer tourists their traditional delicacies, which they themselves do not really like: shark fin soup, cuttlefish, locust in dough, etc. These dishes do not differ in exquisite taste, they are more expensive than ordinary dishes, and the reaction of the European organism to them is different. To take risks, or to remain calm and well-fed with more familiar dishes? The decision is for everyone.
Not by bread alone: what to see and where to visit?
Wealthy tourists spend on the islands of Indonesia for several months a year, moving from island to island. Cultural attractions and natural parks will suffice here for many years of travel.
Budget tourists are often limited to a two-week period, so it is important to choose the brightest and most interesting from all the variety:
- Prambanan (Java Island) - temple complex X century, a treasure of world culture under the protection of UNESCO, a breathtaking spectacle - a ballet based on Indian sacred texts, is given during the full moon (ticket - 12 euros, performance duration - 2 hours);
- Goa Lavah (Bali) - ancient temple and a cave full of bats (in the country they are considered small dragons, which means they are sacred). cultural and natural object at the same time, black stones and golden decoration of temple details. The tour will take 3 to 5 hours. The object must be included in sightseeing tour around the island (from 20 euros per person, including entrance tickets);
- Yopu (Fr. Flores) is a village of artisans. Tourists have the opportunity to purchase national clothes and thin handmade scarves. Hot springs are nearby observation deck offers a view of the "black" lake in the crater of the volcano. It is on this island that the most delicious and strong moonshine is made from palm juice (2.5 euros per liter bottle);
- Krakatau (Sumatra) - the most famous and restless volcano archipelago. You can inspect this object in some detail if you hire motor boat(the trip takes 1.5-2 hours, the issue price is 25 euros per person);
- Kalimantan Island - floating markets, ancient temples, mosques, natural parks. The most interesting thing is a visit to the village of the Dayaks, who live in harmony with the jungle, like all people during the Stone Age. Hospitality, delicious lunch and unusual show, especially for tourists. Not the cheapest pleasure, but a unique cultural experience and vivid memories are guaranteed (the tour is organized by a local company, from 50 euros per person, 2 days, meals included);
- Komodo Island - welcome to the real dragons and the last dinosaurs on the planet. Nature Park the islands must be seen, the famous monitor lizards can die out at any moment;
- Lombok is quiet beach holiday, craft shops, great surf and great ocean views.
It is best to move from island to island on speedboats, but you need to be prepared for the fact that a two-week vacation is enough to visit 2-3 islands, unless of course you have a platinum bank card and a round amount in the account. Then you could move around the country with the help of local aviation, and you would have managed much more.
Attention - traditions!
Traditions in Indonesia are very diverse (300 peoples, 4 religions, a complex mixture of local and imported customs), but more than 80% of the population is Muslim. Based on this, every tourist should know some features:
- You should not touch a person in the head, even a simple stroking of a child's head can be perceived as an insult or unforgivable rudeness;
- Make sure not to use your left hand to transfer money and items, using an “unclean” hand to communicate with strangers will not cause shock, but you can easily pass for an ignoramus and a savage;
- When visiting temples, shrines, it is best to purchase a national dress - a sarong (10-12 euros). Mixing with the local population, you will see much more, and any local resident will be your most sincere assistant in finding the most interesting artifacts, objects, rituals;
- When shopping in the markets or from hawkers on the street - haggle! As a result, you will pay a little more than the locals, but significantly reduce the initial price and gain the reputation of an upscale and interesting buyer in the eyes of local merchants.
It is worth taking a closer look at currency exchange. The amounts are astronomical (for one euro you get 15 or 16 thousand local rupees), and money changers like to “mix up” banknotes of 50 and 5 thousand, there are other tricks.
Petty thieves operate mainly in the place of accumulation of wealthy tourists. On many islands there is no crime at all.
Indonesia guarantees the strongest and most enjoyable experience, great vacation, a unique cultural experience for very little money.
