Don’t Skip: Labuan Bajo, Indonesia
Intro to Labuan Bajo Labuan Bajo lies on the westernmost coast of the island of Flores in Indonesia. Known best for its proximity to Komodo National Park, Labuan Bajo does see a fair number of tourists. At heart, it’s still a small fishing village, but the tourism industry is growing fast, and there is a wide […]
Don’t Skip: Yogyakarta, Indonesia
[mappress mapid=”13″] Intro to Yogyakarta, Indoniesia Jogjakarta (Yogyakarta, or, locally, Jogja) was our last stop in Indonesia after a month of exploring in Bali, diving in the Gilis and Flores, relaxing in Lombok and communing with dragons in Komodo National Park. We wanted to see some of the famous temples not far from here, and […]
5 Fun Southeast Asian Taxis
From the simple cyclo to the most decked-out, sparkly tuk tuk, getting a ride in Southeast Asia is an adventure. Having evolved from the need to navigate narrow streets quickly, efficiently and cheaply, these vehicles can whisk you from one side of town to the other, usually with ease. Just be sure to negotiate a […]
Travel Budget Indonesia: The Outflows in Indo
Activities
With beautiful beaches and untouched reefs, Indonesia is a dream for snorkelers and SCUBA divers alike. We both are SCUBA certified and took full advantage of the opportunity to get some bottom time. We dove on Gili Air, which was a great place, but the gem was Komodo National Park. Make it out that far and you will be rightly rewarded for your efforts. The whole area is a National Park, above and below the water, making some of the healthiest reefs we’ve had the privilege to enjoy. Diving is one of those activities, though, that will always be on the pricey side. This is not an activity you want to take a risk with old equipment or questionable staff. Our diving splurge in Indonesia, including Advanced Certification for Donny and Nitrox Certification for both, certainly counts for the bulk of the Activities category. It also surely increased the daily expense of being in Indonesia, though it is an optional expense.
Reflection: Indonesia
We used every day of our 30-day visa in Indonesia, and wish we’d had more. 17,000+ islands to explore, and we hit maybe seven!
My Ever Changing Name
After traveling in Asia for the last 9 months I’ve come up with an observation. I’m not sure if I’m the only person who feels this way or if other travelers share my same bit of humor about it. Here it is. In countries that are not native English speaking there is a common rhythm […]
2011 Photo Roundup
South Korea Knowing less about South Korea than either Japan or China made for some wonderful surprises. A rich, colorful culture and curious, helpful people made our visit here one of true discovery. China Size and numbers, that’s China. Too big to possibly ever know then whole country and more people than imaginable. With thousands […]
Jogja On My Mind
No trip to Indonesia would be complete without a visit to the island of Java: not just to sample the coffee but to see how a true Indonesian city feels. After a quick fifty minute flight from Bali, we arrived in the city of Yogyakarta, Jogjakarta or, locally, Jogja. Our best-laid plan for accommodation was […]
Uncovering Ubud
Return to Bali On our return to Bali, we wanted to see something beyond beautiful beaches. Ubud is the center of Balinese culture, ancient and modern, and travelers inevitably make it a stop on any Bali itinerary. There are temples around every corner, interspersed with art galleries and museums, shops featuring carved and sculpted handicrafts, […]
Here Be Dragons
Icon of Indonesia, their home a World Heritage Site, Komodo Dragons are the world’s largest lizard. They are only found on Komodo and Rinca islands in Komodo National Park, and in the north of Flores Island, just outside the boundaries. Dragons can grow up to about 9 feet (3 meters) and weigh over 300 lbs. […]