5 Reasons Why Indonesia is a Dream Come True

Indonesia

Indonesia

Indonesia

Have you ever dreamt of a place with exotic islands, silvery sands stretching as far as the eye can see, transparent ocean waters beckoning you to dive into a fascinating world? Then you have surely dreamt of Indonesia, the largest archipelago in the world. Indonesia consists of more than 17,500 islands out of which more than half may not be found on any map, for the simple reason that they are unnamed.

While the sheer natural beauty of Indonesia is awe inspiring, there are many more reasons why one must visit Indonesia and this includes its rich local cuisine, its vibrant culture, unique wildlife and biodiversity.

Here are 5 compelling reasons  to pack your bags and take off to Indonesia now!

The Seductive Beaches

Indonesia

Indonesia boasts a coastline of 54,716 Kilometers and hence it is no wonder that it is home to some of the most serene and beautiful beaches in the world. Here you can just take off your shoes and walk on large stretches of silvery sands and gaze at the crystal waters of the ocean or you can discover the amazing underwater world by snorkeling and scuba diving. Some of the popular beaches are on the island of Bali and include Kuta, Seminyak and Jimbaran among others. Read Backstreet Nomad’s post about cruising along Komodo National Park here.

Borobudur

Indonesia

Borobudur is a UNESCO world heritage site which is situated in Central Java, Indonesia. It is supposed to be the largest Buddhist temple in the world and stands majestically against the backdrop of mountains as a paean in stone to the spirit of Buddhism. The temple is embellished by 2,672 reliefs and 504 Buddha statues.

Indonesia

It was constructed sometime in the 9th century and is a place of pilgrimage for the Buddhists who congregate there once a year to celebrate Vesak, a Buddhist festival that commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of The Buddha. Another Indonesian island of Java known for its traditional arts and cultural heritage is Yogyakarta. Check out the things to do in Yogyakarta.

Indonesia

Komodo National Park

This park is a UNESCO world heritage site and consists of 29 islands including the Komodo island. The Park was instituted to protect the Komodo dragon, which is the world’s largest lizard. The waters around the island are rich in marine biodiversity and this has led to the Park being selected as one of the ” New 7 wonders of Nature”.

Indonesia

The Komodo dragon is the largest living species of Lizard known to mankind, some of them are known to grow up to a size of 10 feet and weigh 70 Kilograms. The Komodo National Park is the only place in the world where you will find this rare and exotic species of lizard. 

Dances of Indonesia

The dances of Indonesia are a mirror of its rich diversity of culture and ethnicity. Indonesia is home to more than 700 ethnic groups and all these groups have their own dances which are in turn influenced by different regions and cultures over time. The richness and diversity is evident in over 3,000 original, colourful and vibrant dances of Indonesia.

Indonesia

The Saman dance from the Gayo ethnic group in Sumatra is one of the most popular and visually appealing dance forms from Indonesia. The perfect harmony and synchronization of the dancers and the speed of their movements combined with lively music makes the Saman Dance an unforgettable visual experience.

Food of Indonesia

The rich diversity of Indonesia can be found in the flavors and aromas of its cuisine too. The cuisine includes over 5,300 traditional recipes that have traveled down across generations, spanning the chasms of time. Indonesian cuisine varies across its regions and the influences of Indian, Chinese and Polynesian cuisines is evident. Java is the region where the cuisine is indigenous. The top dishes of Indonesia that you must taste while you are there are:

  • Rendang, a spicy meat dish that is cooked and served during ceremonial occassions
  • Nasi Goreng, Fried rice mixed with various spices and accompanied by ingredients like prawns, shrimp, chicken, eggs
  • Satay is a dish made of skewered and grilled meat seasoned with spices and sauce

Indonesia

If these reasons have prompted you to pack your bags and head off to Indonesia, do check out the following information that I hope shall be useful.

Airports

Depending on where you want to head out to first you may chose your entry airport, check out this link for a list of the airports.

Flight and Hotel Booking

You can book your international flights and domestic Indonesian flights as well as Hotels on this link.

Best time to head to Indonesia

The best time to travel across Indonesia would be between May and September.

So are you ready to wake up from the realms of dreams and head to a real DREAM destination called Indonesia? After reading our fellow travel blogger – Janet’s post on 50 Unique Things To Do In Vietnam, we now plan to explore Vietnam. 

Recommended read:

34 Amazing Southeast Asia Adventure Experiences.

Indonesia

 

Indonesia

 

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153 thoughts on “5 Reasons Why Indonesia is a Dream Come True”

  1. Oh man, Borobudur & Mt Rinjani are two Indonesian highlights I am still yet to get to (how amazing is Komodo National Park however?)

    A great list that will hopefully inspire a few more visitors!

    Just watch out for drunken Australian tourists on the island of Bali, especially round Kuta!!

  2. Indonesia is an absolute dream, I’ve been there and loved it but haven’t been to the Komodo National Park before- I’ll make it a point to head there the next time I go!

  3. I have never been to Indonesia, but it’s definitely on my list.
    The pictures are beautiful and the info is really helpful.
    Thanks a lot for sharing.

    Cristina

  4. Looks like really interessting places to go. Maybe some day? I must admit there are many places that I want to explore before going to Indonesia. For one thing I presume it is a bit too hot for my taste 🙂

  5. I just came back from my visit to Bali, Lombok and Gili Trawangan in Indonesia. It is a phenomenal place with really adorable people. You covered all elements really well.

  6. The Borobudur seems quite interesting to visit. And the food…. I’m already drooling after seeing that picture of their local cuisine. Indonesia is a very interesting country and is so much more than their beaches. And oh my I had no idea that there are over a hundred ethnic groups in that country.

  7. Indonesia has never been that high on my list, but I also had NO idea how much it had to offer until now! Great post, really informative and seriously convincing 😉

  8. Everything about Indonesia is wonderful. I haven’t been but the culture and heritage is a big draw for me. I know it’s a cliché but I would love to visit Bali.

  9. I haven’t been to Indonesia but it’s on our list. I would love to see the beautiful beaches and try authentic Indonesian dishes.

  10. Great read and I have it on a wishlist, just waiting to see if the dream comes true for me aswell… hahahahah, Indonesia is truly a dream come true from all I have seen and heard.

  11. There is so much of Indonesia that we want to see and your article just made us Indo envy even more. There is so much beauty there and we have heard the people are just beautiful. One day we will get there. We will be heading to Komodo National Park first I think. Thanks for sharing.

  12. there are some great places in Indonesia. but I really love Bali island. there are many amazing tourist places in Bali. I think travelers should know a lot of hidden tourist attraction in Bali.

  13. I didn’t know that Indonesia has that many islands and a lot of them cannot be found on maps. Wow I bet there’s still a lot for travelers to discover in that country.

  14. Indonesia is a very rich country in terms of culture, tradition and beautiful sights. I would love to go back and spend some quality time at the Borobudur as well as watch the different musical achievements and activities they have learned and mastered for probably hundreds of years!

  15. I find the Komodos intimidating. Do they attack humans? Or, are they herbivores? The dancers looked glamorous in your photographs.
    How much does an Indian Rupee fetch in Indonesian rupaiyya?

  16. Indonesia is such a dream destination in South East Asia. I’d love to visit there someday in my life! Your pictures are surreal!

  17. Among the Southeast Asian countries, up til now I still haven’t had the urge to see Indonesia unlike the other countries. But I know that Indo and me will meet soon enough. Esp Borobodur and those coffee farms! Thanks for this, you’re making me want to see Indo sooner.

  18. The beaches, the food, the culture all seems amazing to me. I have yet to make it to Asia but this is certainly inspiring me to pack my bags and go. I would love to try some of the amazing dishes you described, the spices look like they give it such great flavor it is making my mouth water. A dream destination indeed. Happy Roving!!!

  19. Indonesia is very high on my bucket list. There are so many islands and so many cool things to see and do I am having a hard time putting together an itinerary. Definitely, komodo national park and Borobodur will need to stay on the list!

  20. This all sounds amazing, especially Borobudur and the Komodo dragons. I would really like to visit the world heritage sites of Indonesia particularly, but I have to say that the food looks pretty good too! Oh dear, my list of places to visit just gets longer and longer!

  21. I think Indonesia is going to be the next big destination in travel and it is totally justified. It was the first country I ever visited and on that trip we saw Borobodur and Prambanan. I am sure this experience was a pivotal moment in my life. Thanks for sharing

  22. Indonesia has always been high on my list. i have briefly been to Bali but that is tourist mega central. I would love to see some of the real Indonesia. There always seems to be a bit of a security cloud that hangs over this country though.

  23. Your post made me even more excited to go to Indonesia! I’ll be headed there next week. I didn’t know about the temple that commemorated Buddha’s life so I’ll definitely be heading there. I’d also like to check out a traditional dance!

  24. Ahhh this made me want to go back and explore Indonesia. I have only been to Bali and the Gili Islands. I would love to visit Jakarta and Komodo Island. Looks amazing. And the food is incredible! And very cheap. Great option for Australians, as it is a short flight too!

  25. I’m on a right timing, as I will be visiting Indonesia this coming October to November for 17 days. Absolutely bookmarked this for future reference. Thanks for sharing

  26. I think I have seen hundreds of pictures from Borobudur, and with each one of them I want to go there more. And I have heard that food is amazing too! My only concern would be how safe it would be to go there a a solo traveller and take the off-beaten path. How safe would you think that would be?

    1. Indonesia is definitely beautiful. Obviously we need to exercise caution and take precautions as in any other place. Carry less cash on hand while visiting places and do not stray far and alone late at beaches and lonely places.

  27. Blair Villanueva

    I haven’t been to Indonesia, and this is one of the place I would like to visit very soon. And experience the local life, good food, far from stressful life in the city.

  28. Indonesia is an absolute dream! I can’t believe it: 17,500 islands! WOW! Beaches are my things, but the temples are quite fascinating.

  29. Great teaser to get people interested in traveling to Indonesia. Loved the photo of the dancers and many others. The reasons to visit are definitely compelling.

  30. The one place that I have been to in Indonesia is Bali and it has all of the above (except heritage destination, but plenty of temples). I loved Bali for it.

  31. I haven’t been to Indonesia and I’ve always wanted to go. I want to see the komodo dragons in particular. They are scary and fascinating in my opinion. I’ve a friend who frequently visits Indonesia because she said it’s one of the best countries she’s been to.

  32. I would love to see the Saman Dance. I have heard only good things about holidays in Indonesia and how beautiful everything is. If only we could visit all the countries in the world. Indonesia is on my list of upcoming travel destinations.

  33. Borobudur is somewhere I’ve wanted to go for a long time. I haven’t spent as much time in Indonesia as I would have liked – we did Bali, Gili Islands and that’s about it. Would love to climb Rinjani too!

  34. This list is spot on! You also forgot the amazing hikes and scuba diving 🙂 It’s one incredible place! I really want nasi goreng now 🙂

  35. I think that Indonesia is an incredible country to visit. It holds many undiscovered secrets and Indonesian culture, from my point of view, is a very interesting one to learn about.

  36. Indonesia has long been on our wishlist. That Borobudur temple with more than 2000 reliefs and 500 buddha statue sounds remarkable. If we had to visit we will make sure we get to watch the Saman dance and try some of the traditional dishes. Thanks for sharing!

  37. Never been to Indonesia, but would love to one day. You post really highlights some attractive options, I think I would love the food, Nasi Goreng is one of my favourite dishes!

  38. Maybe not too soon. But our neighboring country Indonesia will surely be on my list. I feel like you’re describing the Philippines when reading this post we had a lot of similarities. I’m excited to visit Indonesia 🙂

  39. I would love to visit Indonesia. I actually have a friend who spent there a year studying the Indonesian culture. When she came back she showed me how to do Balinese dances and she also cooked for me Gado-Gado. She inspire me to go there too.

  40. Indonesia is so beautiful i was wanting to go there later this year but i have to put it off until April or May net year. Also want to visit Ubud! it looks so stunning! thanks for a fantastic article!

  41. Indonesia – Java and Bali – was my first solo trip in Asia! It was really fantastic. A few years later, I have been to the torajan part of Sulawesi. It was so fascinating to discover the culture, especially all the customs around Death.

  42. Many reasons seduce you to visit Indonesia, but definitely these are the top 5 reasons! Can’t agree more on these.

    Happy travels and keep sharing posts!

  43. Indonesia is such a beautiful place, filled with history and breathtaking architectural structures. I would love to learn and explore more of what you can see and experience there! Everything just so lovely!

  44. I didn’t remember Komodo being in Indonesia! For sure it won’t be THE reason to go there, even if I’d really like to see those cute lizards, but at least I know something more to see, between temples and good food! 😀

  45. I’m not a fan of Indonesian food and we also have seductive beaches, but I would love to see the Borobodur as you’ve mentioned that it’s a UNESCO heritage site. I also would like to see the Komodo even though it looks creepily scary. Finally, I would like to be entertained with an Indonesian cultural dance.

  46. what an amazing Indonesia. I love the presence of Komodo wandering across the bay. I’ve heard one of the richness of Indonesia will not only be found in their foods but also in their beaches. Hope to visit there soon.

  47. Indonesia is definitely very beautiful. Although it is so vast, we felt a single trip can’t do justice to it. So, to start with, we are planning one to Bali sometimes this or the next year. Will remember your recommendations

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