Exploring the Cities of Indonesia
My first job had me spend most of my time at an office
building in South Jakarta. On most weekends, I went to Bandung to visit my
family. After a while, I realized I had no idea about other parts of the
country. The last time I went to a city in a different province was Malang on my
junior year of college and in another major island was Padang during elementary
school. Indonesia’s economy has been rapidly growing since mid-2000s, but it
felt frustrating to only witness it in two cities. My frustrations were
answered when I was offered a job as a marketing analyst at a new fast-growing
company that required travelling. Taking it was one of the best decisions I’ve
made because I really got to explore so many other cities across the country.
From this
experience, I realized that Indonesia really has huge potential for
development. Each city has its uniqueness. So in this blog, I would like to
write about what I love about every major city I’ve visited or even lived in
these past 2 years starting from cities in Java, then Sumatra, Kalimantan,
Sulawesi and ending with the paradises of Bali and Nusa Tenggara.
Java
Jakarta
 |
| Jakarta's financial district: SCBD |
This is not just
the capital city of Indonesia; it is the place people from all over the country
come to pursue their financial dreams. All foreign companies have their
Indonesian HQ here which makes it a soon to be global city. Jakarta has almost
everything for shoppers and foodies. There are so many uniquely designed
shopping malls that serve as a landmark for each district. You can also find
several neighborhoods like Senopati and Kemang that are filled with chic coffee
shops and international restaurants. There are also nice tourism spots like the
well-preserved Old Town which kind of brings you to Amsterdam, Indonesia’s
miniature park that gives a preview of the whole country and the Thousand Islands
for a quick beach getaway.
Of course,
Jakarta has downsides despite being the most developed city. People keep moving
in the metropolitan every year that even the suburbans in Bogor, Depok,
Tangerang and Bekasi are overly crowded. Traffic jams and pollution have become
part of the metropolitan’s identity. However, the urban infrastructure is under
massive development and public transportation is continuously improving. The
City River and parks are getting cleaner. If you come to Jakarta every 5 years,
it will always feel like a totally new city. This is what I love about Jakarta,
it keeps getting better. Hopefully it will become the global city it aspires to
be.
Bandung
 |
| Cikapundung Riverwalk, used to be just a dirty river |
Whoever lived in
this city; whether it was growing up, going to college or a work placement; it
will be their home. There is something about Bandung that really brings everyone
comfort. For me; it’s the combination of cool weather, laid-back people,
pedestrian friendly roads with tall shady trees, and creativity. If you walk
around the city, you really see that people are enjoying themselves, whether
their taking selfies in front of urban artwork, playing with their children in
the park or enjoying local delicacies from the food stalls. Maybe I’m just
saying this because I grew up here, but fact is Bandung high school students
rarely go to college outside the city after graduation. It’s just too
comfortable to leave (well it is home to the best universities but still).
My favorite
thing to do in Bandung is simply just walking around the city. I love the
feeling of passing by a new hip café, a recently rejuvenated park, or a new
city feature like a self-service bike rental. If you want to go somewhere
touristy, you can enjoy the mountainsides of Lembang and Cihideung. It is where
you can enjoy themed restaurants, stunning views and lush forests. If you want
the non-mainstream, you can go to Cimenyan which offers a similar nature experience.
You can also just go to the upper side of Dago which is much closer and easy to
access for such forest and city views.
The mayor,
Ridwan Kamil, is one of my inspirations. He is a friend of my Dad so I’ve known
him before his term. It was at my dad’s office dinner party where I first
encountered his brilliance. He made a presentation on his current activities,
which was the initiation of Bandung Creative City Forum. Previously he was
working in the US and living a great life. However, he couldn’t enjoy it
because of the thought of the people in Bandung were facing opposite
situations. So he came back to help build the city. Currently he is planning to
build cable cars, LRTs and an economic zone for promising IT startups. Hopefully
these projects will run as intended and bring prosperity for the people.
Cirebon
 |
| Cirebon Station |
This is one of
the cities I’ve visited for business trips. It wasn’t really accessible until
the recently built Cipali toll road which also helped its economy. The journey
to Cirebon is really enjoyable; you will pass beautiful green mountains and
rice fields under the bright blue sky. Once you get there, you’ll be greeted by
an artistic arch and water tower. I also went there by train, which is actually
faster yet more expensive. The train station still has the classic colonial
architecture and interiors.
The best part of
Cirebon for me is the food! The staple dishes are Empal Gentong (a sort of beef
curry stew), Empal Asem (beef stew with more acidity) and Tahu Gejrot (fried
tofu in mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, shallots and
chilis). The new road has made Cirebon a weekend getaway alternative for
Jakartans; and strengthens its role as a transit hub for distribution to
Central Java. There are several modern hotels and malls have been built after
the project. I stayed at Aston Cirebon, which was among the best I’ve stayed
in. It had a family recreation center with a mini golf course, pool tables and
soccer fields.
Cirebon does
have lots of development potential for the future. There is plenty of land
ready to be utilized. Surrounding nearby towns like Kuningan and Indramayu can also
contribute its tourism as it provides the same rice-paddy dining views as in
Ubud, Bali. Many new local businesses have recently emerged. I truly am excited
to see how this city will be in the near future.
Tasikmalaya
 |
| Grand Mosque of Tasikmalaya |
Simply known as
Tasik, is the main city of the Priangan Timur regency of West Java. About 2.5
hours from Bandung, the city offers a nice tranquil environment. The retro
commercial district is maintained as the main business hub. Pedicabs or becaks are still a reliable mode of
transport. The city park has just been revitalized and it the colorful
lightings brighten ups the city at night. Tasik is also connected with vacation
towns like Garut and Ciamis which gives it potential as a tourism hub. It is
also really easy to feel true nature, just take 15 minute motorcycle ride and
you’ll witness magnificent forests, streams and rice fields.
The food in
Tasik is also amazing. My favorites are Mie Bakso, which uses thick noodles and
Soto Ayam, uses coconut milk and ayam
kampong. Many people consider the city as a rural area but for me this is
more of a well-preserved classic urban settlement. It is also the center for
wood craftsmanship, a creative industry that is deemed to have much potential. The
government is planning to build a new toll road from Bandung, so hopefully it
will soon be able to develop further in the near future.
Semarang
 |
| Pancasila Square at Simpang Lima |
There are so
many things that make you find comfort in this city. You can go to the hillside to dine in cozy
restaurants with beautiful views of the city. The streets there are filled with
tall green shady trees. Many of the places have artistic interiors and antique
furniture. There are many local dishes to try; one of my favorites is mangut kepala ikan manyung which is a
smoky fish head curry.
For food lovers,
there is the famous simpang lima (an
intersection in the city center) where you can find the best street food. Semarang is famous for its delicious egg
rolls or lumpia filled with bamboo
shoots and shrimp served with a sweet sticky sauce, sweet and spicy tripe fried
rice, and tahu gimbal which is a
fried tofu, prawn fritters and rice cakes served with peanut sauce. You need to
be careful because there are so many similar stalls so it’s tricky to know
which is best. My local coworkers helped me with this. There is also a snack
and souvenir shops where you can buy smoked milkfish and soft baked chocolate
chip cookies from Dyriana. The first time visiting here, I bought so much food
for my family and co-workers. In the middle of the intersection is a nice field
and jogging track where you can rent glow-in-the-dark bikes at night.
Semarang has
done a great job in preserving its heritage. There is a nice old colonial
district with the famous red dome church and Dutch buildings turned into restaurants.
The most popular landmark is Lawang Sewu
with a fusion of European and Javanese architecture which used to the
headquarters for the Dutch railway company. Now it is a site for “paranormal
tourism” where people test their guts at night.
Besides the
colonial architecture, Semarang also maintains its Chinese influence. Islam was
actually brought to the region by Chinese Muslim admiral Zheng He. He
established the Sam Poo Kong temple in the early 15th century. A
giant statue of the admiral was also installed to honor him. Visiting this
temple really makes you feel like you’re in China.
The great mosque
of Central Java is also worth visiting. Its architecture has Javanese influence
with its wood lath ceiling and pyramid shaped roofing. There are also large
umbrellas like Masjid Nabiawi in Madinah.
Solo
 |
| Chinese New Year at the Grand Market |
My first
impression of Solo was it's a city of culture and artistry. The moment that
caught me was when I passed Sri Wedari Park. It’s located on a street filled
with Javanese influence architecture and a tram railway. The signature landmark
is the large traditional masks on the corner that marks the theatre in the
center. It is known for the regular performance of wayang orang, Javanese plays that are usually based on Ramayana or
Mahabarata stories. I eventually attended a show on a following business trip.
The tickets are super cheap, only IDR 10,000. When the lights came on, I was
astounded by the magnificence of the stage. The stage was glowing in gold to
represent royalty. The backgrounds were
realistic paintings of the forests and palaces. The dialog was fully in
nobleman level Javanese but I kept feeling in awe of the beauty of every scene
until the end of the show.
Solo is one of
the cities that give me the same comfort as Bandung. The people are friendly
and passionate for creativity. There are several cafes with traditional, modern
or fusion designs known for wedangan.
It is where you can choose a variety of snacks to be fried, grilled or steam
and local beverages like wedang jahe (ginger
water mixed with brown sugar). If you’re an adventurous foodie, you should try
stuff like chicken intestine skewers and cattle skin.
The best time to
visit Solo is during Chinese New Year. The main street is decorated with large luminous
lanterns of each Shio animal. The traditional market, known as Pasar Gede (Big Market) which is
backdated since colonial times, is illuminated with red Chinese lanterns and a
giant one in the center. People from all over the country come at night for
instagrammable selfies.
President Jokowi
rose to fame when he was still the mayor of this city. My first business trip
here really helped me see why. Since his term, Solo has grown into a large
metropolitan with the development of a new economic area called Solo Baru or New Solo. It has a large
modern shopping mall and several lines of retail space. There is even a double
decker bus service. The infrastructure development improves the connectivity of
surrounding cities such as Boyolali, Sragen and Wonogiri. Solo is also a truly
green city. There are so many open green areas and countless trees along
sidewalks. There are many parks, the best is Bale Kambang. It is a huge and
complete with an amphitheater, fountains and a pedal boat area. You can also
find turkey flocks and deer herds running freely. Leaving your hotel at 5.30 am
for a morning walk is totally worth it.
Purwokerto
 |
| Fountains in downtown Purwokerto |
One of my former
co-workers is from this city and I used to make fun of her for it for some
reason. I really never had an idea of it before I went there, always thought it
was rural. She kept saying it’s one of the nicest cities in the country. She
has proven me wrong when I had my first business trip there. It took about 4.5
hours by train from Jakarta. One cool thing I found out is you can order Pizza
Hut from your seat. The stewardess took my order and had my pizza ready from
the stop at Cirebon.
Having spent
most of my childhood at Madison, Wisconsin; I do have a thing for small cities
with complete urban facilities. Purwokerto is one of them. After my business
meeting, I went to the downtown area. There is a large green field where
families and young people come to do all sorts of activities , where it is
playing catch with their kids, have group discussions or simply hanging out
over nearby street food. In front of the field is a popular photo spot: a 3D
writing of Purwokerto highlighted by spotlights that change color with vertical
fountains along the pavement. Across this is the largest mall which is much
like the ones in Jakarta, complete with a cinema and all. There is also a quite
fancy restaurant nearby called “All Rich” serving authentic Japanese ramen.
Just by circulating this area, it’s easy to tell that everyone is happy.
On my way back
to my hotel, I past two other hotels that showed elegance I didn’t expect to
see, Aston and Java Heritage. Both were about 7 stories with splendid
architecture. The next morning before work, I visited the nearby park. It used
to be an old unused bus terminal but you would never expect it. This is an
example of the city government’s creativity.
Yogyakarta (Jogja)
 |
| Joga Monument |
After visiting
the city multiple times and hearing comments from people who studied here,
Jogja has the same effect of Bandung: it easily becomes your second home. The
city is like Indonesia’s Kyoto, it’s so rich in culture and home to world
heritage sites. It is the country’s second most popular tourist destination after
Bali. One thing that I love about this city is how convenient it is. Tourist
sites like Borobudur and Prambanan temple is accessible by public
transportation. There is not much traffic on weekdays. The city is medium sized
and well planned so it’s easy to meet up with friends at popular hangout spots.
One of my
favorite things to do in Jogja is simply walk around Malioboro Street. I know
it is a quite mainstream area but it is the heart of the city. You can enjoy
tasty street food and find great deals for souvenirs here. It is a fun spot for
people watching, where you can see young locals expressing their creativity and
foreign tourists curious of everything. You can also walk to the historic
palace or Keraton, see the European
architecture of the banks and post office, and the children science center.
There are also themed restaurants nearby, a popular one is House of Raminten
where you can drink hot ginger milk in a mug shaped like the source (if you
know what I mean).
Jogja is also
known as an academic city. At first I thought because it’s home to one of the
best universities. I got a better perspective when I went for a walk in the
area where there is a Gramedia (bookstore franchise). Not far from the
bookstore, I saw a nice two story building with many young people working on
their laptops in the outdoor areas. Turns out it’s the local library, something
Indonesian cities are lacking. I decided to come in to finish my work. The
first floor is full of high school students preparing for university with their
personal tutors. There is also a complete collection of notable Indonesian
literature. The second floor is for children and there is a special spot for
read-a-longs. It’s really nice to see youth passion for learning.
There are
several hidden wonders around Jogja that recently rose to popularity thanks to
social media. Besides the famous temples and artsy streets, you can find
breathtaking nature in the outskirts. I spent a weekend with my college friends
to explore this side. We went to Pindul Cave, where you can float in the waters
and admire the stalactites. We continued to Baron Beach, which is much cleaner
than when I last visited on my middle school field trip. It’s a blue water
beach with a lagoon in front and surrounded by towering green cliffs. The next
day we went to see Kalibiru Lake. Here, you can experience a breathtaking view
from a simple tree house the hillside. Just sitting there alone for 5 minutes
and absorbing all the beauty was a precious moment.
Surabaya
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| Gramedia Bookstore near Tunjungan |
Now this is a
city I considered to settle down in. As the country’s second largest city, Surabaya
is a mixture of Jakarta’s metropolitan and comfort of other Javanese cities.
You can find tall skyscrapers in the business district around the Tunjungan
area and enjoy the parks and cafes in Darmo Street. In my opinion, it’s
probably the most ideal city in Indonesia: it has the modernity and vast work
opportunities like Jakarta yet it’s not as congested and there is a strong
sense of culture.
My first visit
to Surabaya was on a business trip just two weeks after my first day of my job.
It was during Bu Risma’s regime, a role model for all city leaders. She is
responsible for the city’s transformation into a green and more livable city. She
had the courage to fight the city mob by closing down the notorious brothel
localization. Many parks were established and well-maintained under her term. I’ve
also passed one with the famous alligator and shark statue in front of a
submarine turn into the museum and café. Speaking of that statue, Surabaya has
the coolest name. It comes from the words suro
(shark) and baya (alligator) as
it is based on a legend of these two animals. So, English word for the city is
literally SharkGator. Sounds like a mystical badass creature with the head of a
shark and the body of a gator or vice versa.
The economy of
Surabaya certainly is highly promising. Like Jakarta, Surabaya is well
connected to its satellite cities Sidoarjo amd Gresik. The first provides nice
housing settlements while the latter is a special zone for manufacturing. For
upper class housing in Surabaya, I’ve been to a premium housing complex own by
the developer Ciputra. The prestigious houses, private schools, and the
presence of the US Consulate makes you feel you’re in a small utopic town that
makes you forget the fact that you’re in a developing country. The malls in
Surabaya are exactly like Jakarta and some are even better. Entrepreneurship is
also growing, and it is the government’s top priority to build more startups. On
the way to the airport, you’ll pass a bright neon lit carnival land that seems
great for families. So yes, I really could settle in this city if necessary.
Sumatra
Medan
 |
| National Post Office naer Merdeka Square |
Despite all the
jokes about the hot weather and rude people that I’ve heard, this city really
exceeded my expectations. The airport, Kualanamu, was the best at that time
(before Terminal 3 Ultimate of Soekarno-Hatta International, Jakarta). The
building is super modern and complete with popular global brands. The best part
of it is the super clean and comfortable airport train that will send you to
the city center in only 40 minutes. I always enjoy the beautiful views of large
green fields and classic architecture from the window.
The city center
is the best place to be. Not far from the train station is Merdeka Walk, a
large public promenade that has nice hangout spots and favorite fast food
chains like McDonalds and Starbucks. A large field surrounded by a nice jogging
track and even fitness equipment is placed in the middle. There are plenty of
trees to compensate the cities heat. Nearby this promenade is a giant shopping
mall called Centrepoint. This is a good place for more high-end shopping and
dining or just to get some AC when needed.
A beautiful
aspect of Medan is the preservation of colonial architecture. I saw so many
magnificent buildings designed by the Dutch in the 19th century that
are still being used today. Just around Merdeka Walk are the city hall, post
office building, Bank of Indonesia provincial office, and the regional office
of London Sumatra Plantations. It must feel cool to work in such classy
buildings, but make sure there will be no late night hours. My favorite
landmarks are Grand Mosque and Maimun Palace that were built in the modern
colonial era or early 20th century. It has a mixture of Middle
Eastern and European design.
Medan is a
multicultural city. Aside from the natives or Batak people, there are people of Malay, Indian and Chinese
descent. Unlike other parts of Indonesia, the latter have much stronger
traditions and even use their own dialect called hokkien. There are nice old Chinatowns with temples from the 19th
century. I also enjoyed the Indian area which kind of felt like Singapore for a
second because of similar designs of malls and apartments. In my opinion, I
don’t think Medanians are rude at all. I think they are really genuine open
people that speak what’s on their minds. Once you blend in, you really
understand that they truly are among the friendliest people of Indonesia.
Pematang Siantar
 |
| Buddhist shrine in Siantar |
I got a chance
to explore other cities besides Greater Medan when my previous employer decided
to expand its North Sumatera market. The first stop was Pematang Siantar, or
just Siantar for short. It’s a 3-hour drive from Kualanamu, passing beautiful
rubber and tea plantations on the way there. I also stopped by Tebing Tinggi, a
small-town overlooking Mount Sinabung with a well-kept market from the colonial
era.
My first
impression of Siantar is it has rich culture. The government buildings are
designed with Batak architecture with the pointed pyramidal-prism shaped roof
(really don’t know a better way to describe it) and murals painted in maroon,
white and black. The traditional transportation is becak which is a small carriage attached to a motorcycle, similar
to the ones you find in Medan. The difference is they use Harleys in Siantar.
There is even a big statue of this kind of becak
in front of city hall. Another cool place to visit is the Buddhist shrine
which has a magnificent statue showcasing awesome sculpture work. There are
also human size statues of each Shio.
Siantar is only
a less than an hour drive to the breathtaking Lake Toba. And the end of my
trip, I was so fortunate to stay at Samosir, the island in the middle of the
lake. Staying at a lakeside boutique hotel, I woke up at 5am to one of the most
stunning views in my lifetime. I just sat in the balcony, admiring the still
blue lake surrounded by green hills and Batak architecture of the hotels and
cottages. After sunrise, guys on jet-skis and banana boats come to offer rides
for hotel guests. I also got to see other parts of the lake from the town Parapat
where there is an amphitheater that hosts concerts with a stage floating on the
lake. This was initiated by President Jokowi’s team as it is named a strategic
tourism area. Lake Toba is a must-see place that should be on everyone’s bucket
list.
Pekanbaru
 |
| Pekanbaru Skyline (source: Google) |
The modern buildings,
premium restaurants lined-up on Soekarno-Hatta Street and developed
neighborhoods shows this is the capital city of one of the most prosperous
provinces in Indonesia (Riau). Pekanbaru has some of the best modern
architecture that I never expected to see outside Jakarta and Surabaya. There
is the provincial library that is a six-story building shaped as an opened book
which glows in blue and gold at night. There is also Bank of Riau-Kepri’s tower
and the new governor’s office which is designed to seem like the ceiling is
floating over the building. The grand mosque of Pekanbaru really looks like the
Taj Mahal so people will think you’re in India if you post in on Instagram.
Pekanbaru is one
of the cities where I never experienced a traffic jam. Most of the roads are
wide and clear. The province has really benefited well from palm plantation and
the oil and gas industry. You can see several Chevron ads and sponsorships
everywhere. This can be the reason why the urban infrastructure is sufficient. Hopefully
there will be more creative entrepreneurs to maintain it as it is risky to rely
on natural resources.
I think with the
right development, Pekanbaru can be the ideal city to live in. It is already
prosperous with plenty of empty land to develop. There are several nice
restaurants for casual hangouts or dining. Local food is absolutely amazing! It
is near Padang and Malaysia so there is authentic delicious cuisine. The city
is spread evenly; buildings have the right amount of space gaps and not crammed
in one area. With the right direction and diverse job creation, I believe
people will really be motivated to move here.
Batam
 |
| The city's landmark (Source: Google) |
When I see this
city, I reminisce of Singapore. Not because it is an island which is only an
hour ferry ride away, but I feel like I’m in a much more developed country. Everything
seems so neat and well-managed. The roads and pavements are clean with
countless tall trees on the side. I never have seen a pile of litter here. The
shophouses in commercial areas are designed more elegantly compared to the busy
districts in other parts of Indonesia. The malls and shopping centers blend in
with the area instead of stand-out from its surroundings. It makes sense that
this is a popular weekend getaway and real estate investment destination for
Singaporeans.
I have memorable
dining experiences in the city. The cuisine here is mainly focused on fish and
seafood dishes with Chinese influence. For breakfast, I had a tasty noodle dish
with a sweet sticky sauce that is called mie
lengket which sells out in 2
hours. At night, local neighborhoods are transformed in to culinary centers.
Folded tables and plastic chairs are set up. Glowing lanterns and colorful
lanterns are lit up. Food stalls serving delicious local dishes such as the
famous fish soup and steam sea snails are served. I also had dinner on the
piers at Harbor Bay. Here, I enjoyed fresh crab while looking at Singapore from
a distance. The most unique seafood I had was at Golden Prawn 993 which has
tanks of the most bizarre looking sea creatures. I tried a shellfish that looks
like a lobster but just the tail and a giant crawfish. There is also a sea
turtle but it’s just for display (and I would never have the heart to eat a
turtle). The best drink to wash down all this food is ice black coffee or what
they call es kopi-o.
I think Batam is
one of the nicest cities to live in Indonesia. There are beautiful landmarks
such as the pyramid shaped grand mosque overlooking the Hollywood style
“Welcome to Batam” sign. There is also a large shrine with a giant happy Buddha
statue in front. Shopping here is cheap especially for imported goods since
it’s in the no-tax zone. I spent about two hours accompanying my colleague
search for cheap perfume. A shopping mall I like is Nagoya Hills because it has
some unique and rustic design to it. Real estate development in Batam is really
growing and there are projects with such beautiful houses with private pools.
Hopefully I could afford a vacation home there one day.
Padang
 |
| City view from Ibis Hotel Padang |
I have a strong personal connection with this city because it is where my parents grew up. This city makes feel at home, even more than Jakarta where I’ve been living for over 5 years. Maybe it’s because I have many relatives here. But I think it’s because I was raised with the same local culture as my Mom and Dad. It felt so easy to connect with local people here. This is why your parents’ hometown is also your own.
Probably I’m
just saying this because of my heritage, but Padang is one of the most beautiful
cities that have lots of room for development. First of all, it’s a beach town!
There is the beautiful Aia Manih beach, where the journey gives
breathtaking hilltop views. You can ride ATVs or walk across the ocean to a
small island for a fresh coconut water. Secondly,
it is rich in culture as seen from the use of Minangkabau (local ethnic group, usually just Minang) architecture in its buildings. And most importantly, it has
the best food in the world! There really is so much to see and do here. The
main problem here is the people have the tradition of seeking fortune in other
provinces which is called merantau.
Because of this, they forgot to build their own city. Fortunately, social media
has helped promote its tourism that motivated several successful native
businessmen aiming to build and invest in it.
Padang Beach has
potential to be like Bali’s Kuta Beach. It’s wavy and right by the city. There
are many snacks and coconut vendors, you can also rent bikes. Large 3D writings
are used for Instagram photo-shoots. Local coffee shops are within walking
distance. Only one major hotel is located on the beach side, Quest Hotel. With
the right policies, I can see people building much more nice hotels and
restaurants like Pullman Hotel and Hard Rock Café Bali.
Minangkabau means victorious
buffalo taken from the tale about the villagers win over tyrants through a
buffalo fight. This is the philosophy behind its signature architecture: the
roofs are shape like buffalo horns. For me, it is one of the most magnificent
architecture styles in the world. It symbolizes strength and toughness. Almost
all governmental buildings and local restaurants use this style. My favorites
are the Bank of Indonesia provincial office, Adityawarman Museum (culture and
history), Landmark of Imam Bonjol Park and the Grand Mosque which takes a
modern twist to it.
Besides Minang architecture, there is an old
town area which preserves colonial architecture. It is located near a small
harbor that rents boats and even planes to Mentawai, a world renown surfing
destination. There are lots of Dutch buildings and some are converted to restaurants.
The landmark of this area is the Siti Nurbaya Bridge which is a symbol from a
classic literature piece with a title of the same name. It’s a nice place for a
night out to enjoy grilled corn from food stalls next to European style street
lights. Right next to the old town is a Chinatown where you can see temples and
traditional shops. Touring this area makes me feel like going to three
different parts of the world at once.
You can find
Padang food anywhere in the country but the best and most authentic is here and
surrounding cities in West Sumatra. Restaurant owners in outside the province,
particularly in West and Central Java, tend to modify the flavors for the local
palate making it either too salty or weirdly sweet. Here, you will definitely
have the real deal! The curries have just the right balance of spices and
creaminess of the coconut milk. The satay is really tender with such thick and
tasty sauce. It’s also easy to find a favorite dish of mine that is quite rare
in Java: cow intestine curry stuffed with scrambled egg (I call it Padang
Sausage). I always forget about my diet whenever I come here.
Bukittinggi
 |
| Jam Gadang (Grand Clock) |
When I came to
Bukittinggi for the first time after 18 years, I simply felt happy. Everything
about this city is just heartwarming. It’s the kind of feeling you get when
you’re walking in a place that you’ve forgotten to have fallen in love with. My
journey there was also memorable. I took a shuttle bus and sat behind a kid and
his mother. The kid was really cheerful and we spent most of the trip playing
thumb war. The view from the window was spectacular as I saw waterfalls, clean
rivers and parts of my mom’s birthplace: Padang Panjang.
The happiest
moment came when I reached the city center. It was much different than the last
time I’ve been there, much cleaner and more organized. The air is so fresh and
water is cool since the city is located in the hilltops (Bukittinggi literally
means High Hill). The iconic clock tower called Jam Gadang (means Big Clock) is the city’s landmark. The countless
trees and well-maintained parks create such a tranquil environment. The shops
are lined up neatly selling electronics, clothing and other appliances. There
are cafes with views overlooking the city. There is also a Pizza Hut and KFC
designed to blend in with the landscape. But it would be a pity to eat there as
a tourist. The best food is in the market where you can have dishes that may be
even better than Padang. Unfortunately I didn’t have enough time to find the
right spot so I ended up eating at the original Simpang Raya (a national restaurant
franchise) and sat by the window with a view of Jam Gadang.
Bukittinggi has
tons of potential for tourism. It is a historic city being the birthplace of
one of Indonesia’s founding fathers, Mohammed Hatta, who was also the genius
behind the nation’s post-colonial development. I passed by a museum, statues
and his old house maintained by the government to honor him. You can visit
these places by horse carriage which is a main mode of transport there. I even
took one to get to my business meeting. Besides educational tourism, there are
plenty of natural gems not that known even by most Indonesians. My favorite
place is Lake Maninjau. I went there with my aunt, she drove us up a hill and
we saw a giant blue lake from the top. I’ve seen so many beautiful lakes before
but this is one of the best! There are several stops that are designed to
chill, take pictures and enjoy the view. Just standing on the hilltop and
embracing the beauty was a special moment. I got an inspiration to build a lake
resort designed like a large log cabin with an infinity pool and hot tub.
Hopefully I can actually make it come true someday.
Jambi
 |
Batanghari River (Source: Google) |
I really didn’t know what to expect from this city. It’s not really mentioned that often in the news or even at school. All I knew was that two of my college friends are from there and gas reserves is one of the economic drivers. It was a nice feeling to see that there is much more to a city than expected.
There is an area
that I really like in Jambi but I forgot its name. It has numerous roundabouts
and filled with trees. Along the roads are 99 signs of names of Allah to show
the government’s aim to become a religious city. That street is crowded at
night as several food stalls open for locals to enjoy get-togethers over hot
coffee or even grilled fish.
I believe the
landmark of this city is the Gentala Arasy pedestrian bridge to walk across the
large city river. It looks like a miniature silver version of the golden gate
bridge. I also noticed that there is an outbound center for families to enjoy
white water rafting and other kinds of recreation. Things like this make me
realize a city can be more interesting than you think.
Bengkulu
 |
| On top of Fort Marlborough |
Having rich
history and beautiful beaches, I would say Bengkulu is one of Indonesia’s most
underrated tourist destinations! Remnants from the 17th century
British colonists can be seen around the city center, such as Thomas Parr
Monument and Fort Marlborough. The latter is my favorite place in the city. A
magnificent fort on a hilltop, overlooking the Indian Ocean complemented
with old canons. Locals flock the hill before dusk to enjoy the sunset while
enjoying snacks from street vendors.
Nearby Fort
Marlborough is the Chinatown, a well-conserved heritage site filled with
centuries old shophouses. It becomes a pedestrian street at night where you can
find middle-age men playing card games on fold-up tables by the sidewalk. A
short walk away is Lapangan Merdeka, an open green space that is occasional
used for night markets. It is also the location of Bengkulu Tower where you can
get 360 views of the city.
Bengkulu is also
where President Soekarno went to exile. The house he shared with his wife,
Fatmawati, is now a museum. The curator did an excellent job in preserving
every room and even the furniture, so you feel like reliving the life of the
founding father. I left the house feeling inspired from learning about Soekarno’s
perseverance during is tough times.
A main feature
of Bengkulu is Pantai Panjang or Long Beach. Tall pine trees (yes, pine trees!)
grow along the sandy beach. Its length makes it a perfect place for a morning
jog. I witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets there, the sky turned to
shades of orange and indigo over the lush trees and vast ocean. Countless ideas
for seaside restaurants, cottage hotels and creative space came to my mind
while being here. There is so much development potential for this city,
especially along the beach. With proper management, I am sure Bengkulu will be
a popular international tourist destination.
Palembang
 |
| Ampera Bridge |
The best time to
enjoy this city is from dusk to night. The
city center lights up with an array of colors. Neon lights are rolled around
trees, spotlights are placed under the fountains and government buildings glow.
The best of all is seeing the city’s iconic Ampera Bridge: a red gate bridge
resembling Golden Gate that glows red, blue and gold at night. The bridge is
built to cross Musi River which is the longest in Sumatra. There is a promenade
where kids play and adults hang out in the evening. I enjoyed the view from a
nice boardwalk restaurant called Kampung Kapitan. It has something of a Florida
style design with patios facing the bridge. There is also live music. The band
asked me to sing but luckily I didn’t to save the eardrums of other diners.
Another part I
enjoyed from Palembang is the Jakabaring Stadium area. I didn’t actually attend
events but just intrigued by its international standard design that shows
worthy to host the 2018 Asian Games. There is also a man-made lake nearby that
has paddleboats for rent. I took a break with my colleagues at a coconut stand
there. It was relaxing indeed and the lake really seems natural.
Palembang is the
second largest economy of Sumatra after Medan so there are many modern shopping
malls and districts. There are also local businesses like Brasserie Bakery and
Pagi Sore that is rapidly expanding. Apartment buildings are in the works. The
future of this city does seem promising.
Palembang is a
great place for a culinary adventure. The most popular food is the nationally
popular pempek which is a fried fish
cake with sweet-spicy vinaigrette. Even though it can be found in Jakarta, its
city of origin has the perfect ratio of the fish and dough as well as the
balance of sweet, spicy and acidity of the sauce. I actually bought a whole frozen
box to bring back home. There are other tasty local dishes people don’t know
much about such as pindang patin (a
spicy catfish stew), mie celor (noodles
in coconut milk with a hardboiled egg and prawns) and model (a similar dish to pempek
but with curry sauce). Being the capital of South Sumatra, I would say this
is the island’s second best province for food after West Sumatra!
Bandar Lampung
 |
| View from Novotel |
One of the best
hotels I’ve ever stayed at in Indonesia is Novotel Lampung. Located in the
hillside of the city, it has an infinity pool that has a majestic view of the
ocean and green cliffs. This shows the beautiful landscape of Bandar Lampung.
While driving around the city, I enjoyed the green colors of the hills and blue
of the sea. There is also a convenience store with a rooftop area where you can
also appreciate such sceneries while sipping a can of ice coffee on a bean bag.
Bandar Lampung
is the capital city of Lampung, the most southern province of Sumatra making it
the entry gate for distribution from Java. It is only a 30-minute flight from
Jakarta so most of my travels felt kind of short. I think the fact it is in a
transit province and a transmigration destination made it a late bloomer in
terms of development. The commercial areas seem quite outdated but there is a
new mall called Boemi Kedaton which has a modern semi-outdoor concept. The mall
is owned by a company called Chandra which dominates the retail industry and
blocking newcomers from entering. Although it sounds like an obstacle, the mall
shows that the company is aiming to build its business to keep up with time.
I noticed there
is a signature aspect of the city’s architecture. Most buildings have a drawing
of a crown on above the entrance. I learn that it is called a siger, a traditional tiara and part of a
legend saying it contains magic that brings prosperity. There is even a giant
monument of a siger. Lampung is also
home to an elephant conservatory, so there the roundabouts are decorated with
statues of the largest land animal.
Belitung
 |
| On top of the lighthouse at Lengkuas Island |
This is the only
Sumatran city I’ve visited just for vacation. It’s quite affordable for a
weekend getaway from Jakarta. I spent less than IDR 2,000,000 for 3 days
including flight and accommodation. Tourism popularity rose in late 2000s after
the book Laskar Pelangi (Rainbow
Warriors) was published with a movie adaptation not long after it. It’s based
on the author’s life, Andrea Hirata, on the resilience of children to receive
education while living in underdeveloped conditions despite being in a beautiful
island rich in tin mining. Perhaps I should write a book someday that can
promote Indonesia’s tourism (of course this is not the main intention and
neither for Hirata).
What mark the
beauty of Belitung are the beaches with giant granite stones. I joined an open trip with my friends where
we were guided by locals and met interesting new people from the tour. The
guides took us to separate islands surrounded by those giant stones. It’s such
a view to see while swimming in warm turquoise ocean water. The islands we went
to were Batu Berlayar (that has giant
stones shaped as a sail) and Lengkuas which has a lighthouse built by the Dutch
where we experience spectacular views. At night, we hung out at a café by the
beach which had a bean bag sitting area in front. Someone was having their
sweet 17 party there and hired a DJ. We saw teenage girls wearing hijabs that
were hardcore dancing to Martin Garrix, which looked kind of a funny.
On the previous
day, the guides took us to the school and museum of Laskar Pelangi where we
could feel the struggles children faced for education. The school was a simple
wood panel building with only 5 classrooms that lacked lighting located far from
residential areas. I really gained respect for the children’s passion to learn.
This trip showed me the irony of a province rich in natural resources and
beautiful tourism areas cannot benefit its people economically. It felt sad and
unfair that the people were exploited and had no idea of their potential. It
could have been a place like Bali if promoted earlier. Luckily, the tourism
industry continues to grow, and the local people are guided by experts to
develop it further.
Kalimantan
Balikpapan
 |
| Balikpapan's coastline |
This city does
have an interesting name; it literally means Behind the Board. I thought the
natives put up a big billboard in their city to attract Harvest Gods or
something and then it was discovered by not-so-creative sailors that had no
other name for their discover. Turns out it’s based on a legend about a king
protecting his daughter from enemies by tying her up behind a board and
throwing her into the seas to be found by fishermen.
Balikpapan, like
Pekanbaru, is a city with high levels of prosperity driven by the oil and gas
industry. When I was in the taxi ride to my hotel, the driver pointed out the
oil street. It is a clean street with shady green trees on the left side and
huge oil tanks on the right. The sight of it was actually really beautiful.
Balikpapan is such a clean coastal city that has won environmental awards. It
is also very modern and experienced a rapid development. Along the Balikpapan
Bay are towering office buildings, apartments, hotels and shopping centers.
Nearby is a large park from after work runs and football games. There is also a
large dome arena which hosts exhibitions and events. It does seem like a happy
urban area.
I stayed at the
Aston Condotel where I got a free upgrade to the residential suite for some
lucky reason. My friends told me they always do that for promotion after I
uploaded a photo on social media. It was fun staying in a two bedroom and two bathrooms
plus kitchen condo by myself. The hotel is right by the beach with a nice
infinity pool and a special wedding area. The beach was quite clean with dark
blue water and white sand. I took a morning walk along the coast and saw scenic
views of the skyline. There will be much more future development there as I saw
plans for a superblock at Balikpapan Plaza which is next to Aston.
The creative
industry is also growing here. The government is well aware that it’s having
oil and gas as the main economic driver is not sustainable, so they are pushing
the youth to develop entrepreneurship. There are many local clothing brands and
outlets. The most interesting one I saw was a T-Shirt vending machine in the
airport. It was so cool that I actually bought one! I just put in the money and
chose the design and size. There is also a sample of the fabric. But yeah,
there was still a salesclerk in front to guide me with the machine (not that I
needed it). There are also many themed restaurants; I saw one that is shaped as
a castle on the way to the airport. It was a pity I didn’t have enough time to
visit one, hopefully I can come here again soon.
Samarinda
 |
| Samarinda Islamic Center |
There were no
airports in the capital of East Kalimantan, so I took a shuttle bus called
Kangaroo Premier from Balikpapan to continue my business trip. I was surprised
to find out that it was even better than the expensive shuttle I take from
Jakarta-Bandung. The pool is modern with complimentary durian bread (free
samples to be exact). There is a shuttle is a Toyota Hiace with a large LCD TV
and is scheduled for every 15 minutes. This is probably the best intercity
transport in Indonesia! I got to watch Minions (which was released about 6
months earlier) and the latest episode of Gotham. There are also plugs for
charging your phone. The view from the windows is also nice; since the toll
road just commenced construction, I passed a lush pine forest. It was a really
excited journey that only took 3,5 hours.
The entrance of
Samarinda is marked by the crossing of a steel gate bridge over Mahakam River
that has countless coal ships passing through it. The riverside area really
made a nice impression on me. There is a new mall with a Starbucks, government
buildings with traditional dayak (the
native tribe) architecture, playgrounds along the river. The most outstanding
building was the Islamic Center which is has a huge gold and green dome mosque
and towers. I did my Friday prayers there and the interiors are as remarkable.
I learned that it is among the biggest in SEA and hosts international scaled
events.
Samarinda does
have potential to be as nice as Balikpapan. There are restaurants and offices
that are located in the hills near the riverside. And these are beautiful green
hills. There are also places for nightlife that can be development further (and
in a more positive way, if you know what I mean). The people already have an
above average prosperity from the coal and oil industry. It might be a good
idea to start a chic café in one of those hilltops.
Tarakan
 |
| Kakaban Lake |
This is another
city that I only visited for vacation. I don’t really know if I can call a city
to be honest, because there is only one main road. There is one mall, a Swiss
Belhotel (probably the only good one) and a KFC under the 90s management.
However, this city is one of the starting points to go to Derawan Islands. I
also joined an Open Trip here with my best friend from college and his office
buddies. The first itinerary was a city tour of Tarakan where we got to see
interesting places like a huge traditional dayak
house and a proboscis monkey forest.
The latter was the best of the day because there we saw so many monkeys
that really look like small people with tails.
Derawan is one
of the most beautiful places I’ve been to. My favorite part was Kakaban Lake.
We sailed to an island that was covered with all sorts of trees. Then we
climbed a high set of stairs and once we reached the top, my jaw dropped at the
sight of the lake. Imagine going up to something you never expected and then
see a large blue lake surrounded by a lush forest and a dock that makes you
want to immediately jump to the water. What makes this lake even more special
is it filled with small stingless golden jellyfish. We spent hours snorkeling
and being careful not to kill any of them.
My second
favorite place in Derawan is a huge wall reef which until now is my best
snorkeling experience. It started with a normal reef and then I realized it is
like an underwater cliff with a deep gorge beneath. I also got to see sea
turtles which are the symbol of the islands. Before snorkeling, we got lucky to
visit the lagoon which you have to go through an underground tunnel that is
usually inaccessible due to the tide. It was a beautiful experience to enjoy
the swallow turquoise waters surrounded by large cliffs and green plants
growing on it.
Places like
Derawan weren’t that popular until it was exposed by social media. I think
cities like Tarakan need to understand the potential of tourism and how much
the economy can benefit from it.
Sulawesi
Makassar
 |
| Promenade at Losari Beach |
In my opinion,
this is Indonesia’s most prospective city. There is such rapid development that
I see new buildings in construction everywhere I go. The main factors for this
are Makassar is the gate to East Indonesia and it doesn’t rely on natural
resources. I passed by the harbor and saw towers of colorful containers under
the sunny blue sky which was definitely a beautiful sight. The myriad of sailboats
called phinisi that are used by local
fishermen adds to this beauty. Since business is growing, there are so many
international hotel chains and even high-rise apartments are in development.
Ciputra, the developer mentioned earlier, plans to build a reclamation land
shaped as a garuda (the mythical
eagle in Indonesia’s coat of arms). It looks really cool, but I’m not sure
about the social and environmental impact.
My favorite
place in Makassar is definitely Losari Beach which is near the harbor. It is a
city beach that is not for swimming but designed beautifully. There is a large
clean concrete promenade that is decorated with trees, artistic statues, stone
carvings and 3D writings. It’s a great place to gaze at the beautiful dark blue
ocean after a long day of sales visits, which is what I did. Several hotels and
restaurants are placed along the beach. There is also a beautiful blue dome
mosque that seems floating on the ocean and a perfect place to seek
tranquility.
I have seen some
of Indonesia’s best modern architecture in Makassar. There is a building in the
public university (UNM) that is shaped like a giant sail. The regional
headquarters of CT Corp; a conglomerate of media, retail and finance; consist
of three towers shaped like waves. There is also the Kalla Tower, owned by our
vice president that is a native, which is resembles a Toraja house. Another
interesting place is Karebosi Park, which is a public field that has an
underground mall making it fully covered with grass. These buildings really do
represent the city’s character.
I would say
Makassar has the best food after Padang! There is a variety of beef, fish and
seafood dishes and desserts as well at great prices! The best are: barbecued
beef ribs with peanut sauce called konro
baka; a stew called palu basa which
you can choose a variety of beef, innards and eggs; a nutty beef stew called coto which I always have 3 portions; a
weird hard scale fish called kudu-kudu with
meat perfect for fish and chips; and for dessert a banana wrapped in a green
pandan pancake smothered in vanilla cream. Good and authentic food is very
expensive outside the region so coming here was like foodie heaven!
Manado
 |
| Manado Bay |
This is the
furthest I’ve ever been for business and the most memorable as well. The
capital of North Sulawesi is such a beautiful place, a coastal city with a
well-developed modern shopping district by the sea and green hills leading to
its beautiful neighboring towns. It also has one of the coolest buildings in
Indonesia, the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) headquarters. The west wing has
cylinder-shape and the right is a sphere, both with white wall clads and
windows. Proximity to the Philippines and the rich corals of the nearby Bunaken
does make the city a good location for CTI.
A memorable
moment of this city is walking along the seafront at night. Its decorated with
city lights the Manado Town Square, hotels, and popular fast-food chains. Young
locals of both genders were practicing skateboard tricks in a nice open space.
The famous Soekarno Bridge could be seen glowing in golden colors. I was
fortunate to have stayed in this area and wake up to a beautiful ocean view.
Not far from
Manado is the floral hillside town of Tomohon. It is where you can find the
serene Lake Linow. The misty atmosphere covering the lake’s teal-colored water
and surrounding woods gives a mystic vibe to the area. I enjoyed a nice cup of
coffee on the boardwalk of an elegant cabin-like café.
The food of
Manado is absolutely delicious! My favorite meal was at a local chain
restaurant called the Tuna House. They serve all parts of the tuna, the region's prize product, cooked in several ways. I loved the deep-fried tuna
tendons the most, it has a fresh fatty flavor and texture of calamari. The
resto’s cozy wood interiors made lunch even more enjoyable. I also like the
local dish called woku, a spicy yellow tuna curry.
A funny moment
was finding lunch on a unique food street. Every restaurant there seem to
specialize in one menu: grilled dogs. I passed about five or six places until I
found a Muslim food joint that had my second favorite dish: Manado’s spicy
chicken stir-fried in basil!
Bali and Nusa Tenggara
Bali
 |
| Taman Ujung, Karang Asem |
Yes, Bali is not
a city but an island that makes up an entire province. But I cannot just write
about Denpasar because all the other regencies complement each other. Several
people I have met around the world only know Indonesia for Bali and I don’t
blame theme. It truly is a magical island that makes you grateful of life and forget
all of its pressures. I am fortunate to have lived here for a three-month work
assignment after visiting it countless times. This enabled me to explore the
uniqueness of each regency and experience the culture.
Let’s start with
Denpasar, the capital and only city. Aside from Sanur beach, it is not a
typical place to find foreign tourists. But it actually does have more to offer
than people expect. There is a lovely neighborhood of Renon, where I once
lived. Known as a posh area, you can find
many international chain restaurants along the road. The main feature is the
vast Renon Square known for the magnificent Bajra Sandi Monument. It’s a great
public space for a jog, game of basketball or football, yoga, playing fetch
with your dog and just chilling. There is the old town of Gajah Mada where you
can see the early modern architecture of Bali. For lunch, head to Warung Ongan
Sari where you can enjoy grilled fish over a splendid river view.
Badung is my
favorite of all regencies, home to world-famous beaches! Kuta is always a must
for first timers, no matter what people say. There is just so much going on beyond
of its famous Balinese entrance, especially shopping and partying. Along the
coast is Seminyak, for late-night eats and drinks, and Canggu to enjoy an
incredible sunset. For me, the best beaches are in southern coast. Top picks
are Nyang-Nyang, Tegal Wangi and Green Bowl. Until now, I miss spending
weekends driving up to the limestone cliffs, getting jaw-dropping views of secluded
white-sand beaches meeting turquoise waters, and the excitement of walking down
for a swim.
Gianyar is the regency
to experience culture. The traditional architecture, tranquil temples and green
landscape of Ubud neighborhood makes me understand its international
attraction. I also like the town center that is decorated with magnificent
statues of mythological creatures. Tabanan Regency has similar green features
of Gianyar and home to the breathtaking cliffside temples over the ocean: Tanah
Lot.
The most underrated
regency for me is Karang Asem. It is home to the beautiful Taman Ujung,
formerly the royal gardens of the ancient kingdom. There is Tirta Gangga
temple, which has a natural swimming pool and a pond with stones to make you
walk on water. Beach goers will love Virgin Beach that resembles a secluded
version of Phuket. A great view of this beach is seen from the hills of Bukit
Asah, which is also a nice camping spot.
Those that prefer
mountains can visit Mount Batur in Bangli Regency. Within the mountains is a
crater lake with a number of hot springs, the perfect combo for relaxation. Up
north is Buleleng, where you can visit Sekumpul Waterfalls. The vibe is so epic
that the theme song for Jurassic Park suddenly played in my head while climbing
down the steps towards the water.
The people of
Bali are one of a kind. They are committed to keep the island safe and
welcoming. Crime is low because nobody wants to scare off tourists. Locals even
greet domestic travelers in English since it is the default tourism language.
Balinese people have strong values and sense of community. Traditional
ceremonies are a higher priority than day jobs, because of what it represents.
These are principles everyone should learn from.
Lombok
 |
| Sunset at Bukit Merese |
Like Bali,
Lombok is an Island where its cities and regencies complement each other. Its
natural beauty is simply breathtaking: a green hilly landscape surrounded by
pristine water. My favorite way to enjoy it is swimming by Tanjung Aan beach
and then watch the sunset from Bukit Merese. There is also the legendary Mount
Rinjani which I am yet to climb someday.
Most locals are
strongly religious so you can find beautiful mosque in almost every street
corner. Some think their conservative nature is a constraint to gain more
international tourists. I say as they should be open-minded, this is an
advantage to attract Muslim travelers from around the world. Hopefully having
special attention from the national government will build the capacity to
maximize their potential.
The best part of
Lombok for me is the Gilis, the small islands across the west coast. The
must-visit is the free spirited Gili Trawangan where rules do not apply. Everyone
is free to express themselves without worrying about conservatism. Some people
from various parts of the worlds have stayed to open a beachside restaurant or
dive center. Walking and cycling are the only mobility options, there are bike
rentals everywhere for convenience. Simply strolling around the island while
gazing at the turquoise waters and green nearby islands is the best thing you
can do! For something more natural, go to Gili Nanggu and Gili Kedis where the
only man-made structures are toilet stalls and gazebos. Go snorkeling and see
vast colorful schools of fish racing across the corals.
Lombok has so
much potential to reach the same level of Bali. With smart cultural adjustments
and infrastructure investment, I’m sure it will have great development.
Labuan Bajo
 |
| Padar Island |
When I went to
Labuan Bajo, I found my image of paradise. The various shades of blue, glorious
green mountainous islands, pink sand beaches, and the few harboring yachts will
just make you feel nothing but pure joy. Located on the southern tip of Flores
Island, it’s the gateway for taking the most epic sail to the Komodo Islands. The
locals are the most genuinely nice people with the purest smiles of all
Indonesia. This city is the future of Indonesia’s tourism. Sustainability must
be kept protecting its immaculate beauty. I could imagine myself spending the
rest of my life, working remotely in a house on the hilltop with the best sea
view you can imagine.
The sail trip is
amazing itself. I spent 3 days and 2 nights with a former officemate on one of
those simple motorboats, not fancy but cozy. There were three members of the
crew: the navigator, the cook and the guide. All of them are Bugis, the ethnic
group of Southern Sulawesi, like most domestic migrants in Flores. The meals
were served with fresh seafood and vegetables. The outdoor views are breathtaking:
the sun shining over the vast blue sea and wonderful green islands. We spent
the peaceful nights harboring island piers and woke up to fantastic sunrises.
The first island
to see is Rinca. It has a Komodo Dragon sanctuary, the largest and most elegant
lizard on earth. A certified guide greeted us and explained all about the
animal. I learned that they hunt annually because their stomachs can maintain
food for months. This makes it less likely to attack humans. The guide took us
up the hills and my jaw just dropped to the view: the beach, clear blue sea and
a number of yachts all surrounded by the island’s green cliffs. He told me
there are more fantastic views to come.
Next island was
Padar, the main reason I came here because of social media posts. I realized
pictures cannot be trusted, because the real thing is much more stunning. The
mountainous island is kind of shaped like the body of a Komodo Dragon. You need
to take a 20-minute hike up the highest point to see this. I felt quite terrified
at the beginning, but the views were amazing! Reaching the top, I just sat down
and gazed at the mesmerizing scenery. A family caught up to us, I heard the dad
ask his teenage daughter, “So, Indonesia or the US?”
The crew then
took us to Komodo Island, where I got to see and learn more about the dragon.
Turns out they are really quick and have venomous saliva to slowdown their
prey. The island has the famous Pink Beach, which gets its color after the
waves hit the sand. We continued on to Gili Lawa and were greeted by the super
chilling soundtrack from the boat next to us. The island turned out to be great spot for
snorkeling! Although there wasn’t much fish and most corals were dried out,
just swimming with the spectacular view of being between islands is magical. The
island is made of two green hills, which I climbed twice to enjoy the sunset
and sunrise.
The grand finale
of the sail trip was at Kanawa. Run by Spanish owners, boats are not allowed to
harbor at the pier without paying the price. So, I swam over to the beach to
make it free. This is the moment I saw my vision of paradise after years of
imagination. The rule created shades of blue water beyond my imagination!
Colorful fish and corals danced gracefully as I passed by. I climbed up the
shore to find people simply laying at the beach and enjoying life. The massive
green hill and clusters of trees gave a special feature. There were small
cottages with European design for overnight travelers. Ever since that moment,
whenever I feel tense or down, I think of Kanawa.
Labuan Bajo
really is the next Bali! There is plenty of available land for construction. Hope
whoever is chosen to develop it will keep the nature as it is.
So that was a brief summary of all the major cities I have visited within the past 5 years! I do wish to explore more cities, been wanting to see Banda Aceh, Banjarmasin, Ambon and Jayapura.
Hope this post gave you a better picture of Indonesia! If you're a local, hope I paid a proper tribute to your city!
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