A good friend of mine (38 y.o) is off to Indonesia in a week or two. He's going off the cuff - so to speak - with no set plans - the way I often travel.

I am asking my fellow bedlamites to share their wealth of knowledge and experience in tips, travel advice, places to go, also links to helpful websites etc...

How would you help a friend plan a trip to Indo.

I think he's starting with one month in mind.

He likes a drink, he likes to do outdoorsy things, but not too heavy going. Maybe a trek, a volcano, etc...

He likes a drink, did I mention that? And a good time.

Ready?

GO!

It's a shame he doesn't like to drink.

It's a big country and there are places that don't take to people who like a drink. I'd strongly recommend he starts in Bali, where drinks and good times are to be had in abundance, and get more local information there.

Golf ?

Ill come back to this maybe later in the night......if I can think of more specifics or links......but to start:

Bali has all of what he would enjoy!

........its got lots of night life in Kuta (beach centre, a bit too much like Patong in Phuket), but near enough is Seminyak, Legion. Seminyak has more of the sophisticated restaurants and shopping and also some very nice bars. I went to Hu'u Bar there (they have a branch in Bangkok..but the one in Bali was sooooooooo much more fun!! -- maybe that should give you some idea)

further away is the more pristine beaches like Sanur....you go deeper into the island theres a volcano he can trek up...on the way are rice paddies, and hindu style temples. theres a village with art and craft Ubud

and theres also places where he can enjoy spectacular view of the ocean and enjoy a cultural performance

i reckon he can do a week in Bali

and ohh the night life is GREAT!! lots of fun places and the crowd very friendly. people on the island also very friendly.

another island is Medan. compared to Bali this is much more subdued...but very very beautiful. I went to Lake Toba, which a friend who was with me said is very much like being in Switzerland (might not have much appeal for your friend...but for us asians...this says its very beautiful), the island also is home to the man-eating tribe...well they dont anymore...but when i went it was only around our father's generation time that they were still eating human meat! i joined a traditional dancing routine with this tribe (sorry cant remember name)

im sure theres lots of other islands and cultures and much more to indonesia......each region is very very different, and hence many of my friends that have lived there for years find it very interesting.

thanks for the replies guys. Keep 'em coming! Please please pewrty please with cherries ontop and on the sides!!

bump?

pleeeeeease!

Yeah, like what Mig16 said....

Definitely Bali, to start. Prices there are a fraction of what they used to be, due to low occupancy. Friends of mine were there last year and stayed in a 5 star place on the beach in Sanur- $40 USD/night (formerly $200+). Does your friend like to scuba dive? Snorkel? Sail? Fish? Watersports are excellent in Bali. And there are jungle treks, myriad festivals, exotic scenery and wildlife. Just thinking about it, I want to book a trip.....

Although I have been in Lake Toba/Samosir Island in Sumatra, I would not recommend this as the transit time and cost would not be beneficial, IMHO.

Bali pretty much does it all....

McG

Lake Toba is a much more subdued place compared to Bali. and I went on separate trips to these 2 places...so not sure if it makes sense to get from one to other....as I assume this would involve going back and forth via Jakarta.

there are lots of other islands...with different cultures in Indonesia...but Im not familiar enough with them...but given that hes going to spend one month...Im sure he has enough time to see more than Bali.

Ill check with a friend whos almost a local...but he spends most of his time in either Bali or Aceh.

thanks McG and MiG.

I look forward to hearing what your friend says too!

im off to bali soon too! yay!

ok, in a month, he could do the following:

bali. i recommend Su's Cottage 2 to stay at. clean, comfy, lovely staff and a not too bad location. google it. get some night life in, restaurants, beach, etc. head up to Ubud, the cultural 'capital' and get some rest (ubud closes early). from there head to kintamani, but not for the silly market on the mountainside...stay there overnight and get up at about 3am to climb Mt Batur. the views at sunrise are stunning (yes, ive done it - twice i think). go to Amed for some diving. up to Lovina for some fun, and over to Menjangan Island for some great snorkeling and diving. he can then head to Lombok. over to the Gili Islands which are nice, but im not sure how touristy they are now.

back through bali again (or he could have done Lombok first i guess) and up through java. climb another volcano, Mt Bromo, on the eastern end of Java. up through - god, ive forgotten some of the areas here, but he should spend some time in Yogyakarta on the way through....go to Borobodur of course, get arty. over to Pangandaran for some more beach, up to .... oh god whats it called....starts with B....nup, ..... oh, thanks blackle - bandung!

he will then have spent a good month there and can finish up in jakarta - but tell him to book a room in advance so he doesnt run out of money as its worth having decent accom in jakarta....

there ya go...10 baht only.

hey thats a good tour route suggested by Donna.

Yogya and Borobudur are meant to be really nice cultural towns. Bandung -- I just remembered I have a friend who lives there!! shes not much good at emails though....so cant ask her for any info

written to my other friend for suggestions....lets see what he has to say...but with Donna's input I think your friend should have all his wants covered already

As Donna recommended, a sunrise on the rim of Bromo with the sulpher and lava bubbling below is a special experience I'll never forget.

nice pic old croc.

I only know Sumatra well.

Lake Toba is one place to visit.

Bukit Tinggi. Also the villages near there - one specialising in silver ornaments - one in silk weaving.

Between Lake Toba and BT you can stop on the equator - there's a line on the road. Have a foot in each hemisphere.

Climb Merapi (the one in Sumatera Barat), but not if it's raining.

Visit the Minangkabau area, esp. the Royal Palace.

Spend a couple of days around Padang - nice restaurants - very friendly service from some of the waitresses. VERY friendly.

Go out to the islands and see the stone-age people living there.

But it's more than ten years since I worked there and we have had a tsunami since. So I would anticipate changes.

Kayo...

some suggestions from the friend who practically lives there....

very briefly: For party Jakarta is best, can go to dragon fly first, then stadium. he shouldnt´t miss Java, the borobudur is beautiful and there is the marapi vulcano to climb. other vulcanos with guides tours is bromo (but Bali too has these things.) for diving lombok and sulawesi and the komodo islands are great. for bali i would suggest ubud for cultural things and rice field walks

PS> the rice field walks is on the way to Kintamani

hope this helps.

my friend is a man of few words...total opposite of me obviously

Earthquake watching, it's great.

Sorry, I have never been there.

guys and gals, you are awesome!!!

Thank you soooo much. Feel free to keep contributing if any of you fancy a trip down memory lane. My mate doesn't leave til tuesday, so any all info is welcome.

I've just sent him a first email with the info so far pretty much copied and pasted (info only, of course;no personal details)

and he's well chuffed.

Crockers beautiful pic. Donna, your tour makes me want to go too!!! MiG, ny friend did mention he wants to go to sulawesi. Do we have any more info on that?

Just in case your friend is "wet behind the ears" - you should warn him of the scams. From personal experience Indonesia is the only country that I can honestly say is a lot worse than Thailand in this respect.

You could almost write a book titled "A Scam a Minute" based on a tourists travels through Bali.

Went volcano watching on Bali, however, management must have forgoten to turn it on. Nothing at all.

good point soundman!

Can you be any more specific, types of scams, examples, etc... ?

what to look out for? And what is sometimes worth tolerating?

no worries for me to think up itineraries, i used to do that for a job and thats exactly what i am working on at the moment on a short job - copywriting for an adventure travel company.

as he only has a month, i would suggest Bali first - to get used to the place - then Lombok as its close to Bali, then Java. If he has time he could head up to Sumatra, but i think he will run out as i spent three months doing it one time and barely scratched the surface. traveling times are long if buses are taken (as i did when i was a stingy backpacker - 36 hours from jakarta to padang in one bus where the driver honked the horn all night to the music playing on the stereo).

the volcanos are better if you climb them for sunrise. much better. looking from afar is not much fun in my opinion. '

scams to watch for? thieving - dont leave anything of value in the room. thats the main thing for me.

good point soundman!

Can you be any more specific, types of scams, examples, etc... ?

what to look out for? And what is sometimes worth tolerating?

Apart from the usual checking of your currency exchange monies etc. and One item for $50 bargain down to 50 items for a $ stuff...

Two that got us were.

Taking a taxi to a remote area. I normally check there are a few taxis in attendance before getting out of the first one. In Bali, the moment we left the restaurant where we had dinner, three or four taxis suddenly "dissappeared" leaving only one. On checking the price, they wanted nearly 50 times the price it cost to go to the restaurant in the first place. Waited ages & no more taxis came. Walked nearly a kilometre to the nearest main road.

A dozen little kids & teenagers coming up to you at the same time, physically pushing there sales items in your face. While you are trying to move them aside, one will be busy trying to retrieve items from your pockets. If it is a couple walking together, they will physically move the couple apart with there annoyance tactic & generally try to pick the females pocket or handbag.

For a first timer with more money than time - putting up with the very high prices of the local tour type companies would be recommended. Saves a lot of hassle. Even if the volcano is not working the day you go!

I was warned about making sure to count money when doing exchange....but me being the silly (but trusting) me...I still made the mistake of not counting. Luckily...this was at a shop not too far from my hotel...and I had the owner's number..called him....and within less than half hour later he had his staff deliver the missing amount to my hotel.

was pretty impressed with that...partly cos when I called was kinda half expecting them to say no they gave me all the money and Id been ripped off intentionally....

worked out ok in the end

to avoid being ripped off by money changers, use atm's. they are everywhere.

yay....im off to bali in three more sleeps.

yay....im off to bali in three more sleeps.

Have fun! Send some pics.