Indonesia...

i havent been but i bet the food is dank

i heard sulawesi is very cool

I spent about 2.5 weeks in Java and Bali. 

So I guess it does depend on what you want to do, but I wasn't a huge fan of Bali - or at least Kuta Beach, the main tourist beach on the south side.  Bali as a whole is so touristy, but that place takes the cake.  Much of the culture there has been replaced by shitty American / American style fast food restaurants and tourist bars.  That being said, if you want to party, then that is your place.  Bali is predominantly Hindu and hence shall we say, more conducive to that kind of thing. 

Java on the other hand, is not.  Java is much more raw.  Java is the home of Jakarta, easily one of the craziest cities I've ever been to.  I can really only think of Cairo as being crazier.  Anyway, spend some time there and explore.  I somehow found myself on top of their one commuter train because it was so absolutely incredibly jam-packed with people.  I'd seriously never seen something like that.  Riding on top of a train is always interesting.

Java also is home to most of Indonesia's largest volcanoes.  See front cover ofnational geographic about 2.5 years ago.  You can climb them at night and watch the sun come up in the morning.  I spend some time in Yojakarta as that is the city closest to two of the more famous ancient temples in the worlds (Borobudor and Prambanan) overlooked by Gunung Merapi, a massive and active volcanoe. 

Do not miss, and I mean do not miss Gunung Bromo.  It is quite possibly the most amazing place on earth.  I personally think it's a little sad that all the tourists from Bali come for the day, get in the damn Jeeps and get driven up the peak(s) as opposed to earning something so amazing, but that's generally what happens at very amazing places.  It is rather close to Bali, so that is why that largely occurs.

Back in Bali, I found the north to be rather pleasant and even the interior.  Although still far more tourists than Java, it was ok.  Good diving and some surfing on that side too.  The surfing, if I remember right was  mostly on the south sides of Bali and also Java.  The beaches in Java, however, being much less accessible. 

I didn't have the chance to go to Lombok or further east, nor Sulawesi or Sumatra.  I was told be people that did though, that also went to Java, that (Sulawesi) made Java look pretty tame. 

I've been to quite a few countries and Indonesia is probably my favourite. 

Let me know if you have other questions.

^Thanks, I added that to my compilation of information.

I was also wondering if it's worth bringing camping gear and just finding some random place in the forrest, or even a beach to sleep.  I know that it isn't illegal but is frowned upon, but we are all pretty adventurous people and have camped in some gnarly places and it would be tons of fun.

My dad used to run an LNG tanker ship between Indonesia and Japan for four months at a time (he was the Capt)... He said just kinda be careful which towns you go to. Some are currently having government overthrows and crap going on but there are a ton of really nice places there too.

He said to try and go boar hunting if you can find someone to take you.

I spent a month traveling aroung  Indonesia last year... And boy it was without a doubt one of the highlight of my trip. If you like traveling, meeting people, nature and culture, you're going to have a blast dude ! The only place a bit sketchy is the very north of Sumatra, around Banda Aceh.

As for Bali, like it's been said above, Kuta is fun for a night or 2. We can say what we want, we're young and we usually like to party :) . But your should definetly check Ubud (stay there at least a few night), and navigate around the island from there. Last time I rent a car, but some motorcycle are fine too, and just go get lost :) .
One thing, you should absolutly check the coast road that goes from Amlapura to Amed... It's breathtaking. Find a guesthouse around amed and spend a night there, you won't regrett it.

And now Java, wich is the good part, there is so much to see there. Gunung Bromo is nice, the view is exceptional but it's full of tourist. Beside that, you have to stay for a few night in Jogyakarta, it's the the heart of the whole country. Borobudur and Prambanan are two of the world most amazing temples, be sure to check them out. The train ride between Jakarta and Bandung is a must aswell, it last 2hours if I remember right, and you'll get a grasp of some of the prettiest indonesian sights. And on top of that, Bandung is a pretty nice place, student town in the mountains, I liked it.

But boy, if there is one thing you shouldn't miss in Java, it's the Dieng Plateau. You can take a train to Purwokerto, find a local bus or something, and travel to Wonosobo. There if it's not already night time, take the last bus to Dieng and find a ghuesthouse there (there are 2). If it's night time, sleep one night in Wonosobo, the road to dieng will be close, you'll understand why when you'll take it :p. Spent the rest 2 3 days exploring the platau, its the most amazing place in Java. It's cut from the world, at like 2000meters high, with volcanoes, rice terrasses, the oldest temple of Java and so on. This is the real Indonesia.

There you go, hope that helps !

^thanks!  you guys have real karma headed your way.

raja ampat islands

dont get killed by terrorists...

if you likes to surf, you will love it over here. it is hard to find time to do anything else. local food is great too, as far as you don't mind a bit of chili here and there. being afraid of terrorism is just stupid

thats really sick you are going there, I am hoping to head to Indonesia by myself a little less than a year from now. Fucking stoked.

purty pikshure

bump?

jacob wester is down there right now i think, you could check out his blog, maybe you could find some additional information in there. http://www.freeride.se/jacobwester/

Whatever you do, take care of your shoes....

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I went there a couple of times to java bali lombok and sulawesi.  kuta lombok is better than kuta bali and great surfing.  i woudl go to sumatra if i went back.  the inland town of ubud on bali is sweet, and hike mt rinjani or ganung agung on lombok and bali.

I have nothing that hasn't been said to contribute to this thread except for stories.

1. when I was a little girl, my parents lost my in an elevator in Jakarta. I was, like, 4 and holding my Babar stuffed animal, probably singing to myself or something equally weird. Luckily the police saw a little lost haole girl and somehow I got returned to my parents. I still imagine my life if my parents had never found me and I grew up in Jakarta.

2. When I was in Bali, we went to the Kuta monkey forest. I was sitting on our guides lap. Jugit turned to be and said "Roni, the monkey behind us has somehting to say to you!" I eagerly turned around and the fucking monkey LURCHED at me, biting into my forhead, taking a chunk of skin with it. Lucky for me, I had my rabies shots. Moral of the story: don't trust monkeys.

3. If you decide to get your ears pierced in Java, probably don't. Mine don't line up and one earring is always sticking out all crazy-like.

4. FISH MARKETS. In Jakarta, there are massive warehouses full of fish. You go in, grab a cart, pick a fish, and they'll cook it any way you want right there. Delicious.

5. Try the fruit. Rambutan in particular.

6. Check out the Legian Garden Cottage in Bali. It's the place of some of the earliest memories of my life. I particularly remember sitting under a massive leaf, being sheltered from the pouring rain, playing with the frogs that live in the rice paddies.

7. Eat scorpion from street vendors. Sounds sketchy but whatever.


Have fun! Post up pictures when you get back!

pm BEARS. he was just in Bali for 3 weeks

thanks for the info guys! (and girl)

keep it comming!

bump!

let kill em all.

leaving on Friday!
anyone else with additional info?

been there alot. used to live in singapore so literally would take weekend trips there to go party. youre gonna have a great time as long as youre not flaunting your hot shit all over the place and being a loud asshole in public. adapt to the culture and you'll be welcomed warmly. just try not to be ignorant as balls is basically what im saying. learn on the fly, use common sense.

Did a volunteering stunt in Bali/Java two years ago for the summer. A life changing experience for me for sure, but NSG isn't the place to put that trip down. PM me if you want any advice or anything along those lines.