17,000 islands make up Indonesia.
We made it to around 15 of them on a six week trip where we started in Sumatra trekking in the jungle with Orangutans, watching traditional ceremonies, scootering around lakes and drinking palm vines with the locals. Then we moved down to Java where we took 13hr train rides across country to Buddhist and Hindu temples, bird markets and two of the most incredible volcanoes. Next was a little island hopping from Bali (with a party pit stop in Kuta) to Flores and back, taking in stunning deserted beaches including a pink one, searching for Komodo dragons, sleeping on the deck of a boat, Full Moon parties in the heavenly Gili Islands and surviving angry monkeys in Bali.
Gunung Kawi Temple outside Ubud, Bali.
July, 2012
We came here as part of a day trip, visiting different temples & coffee plantations. This was the best, most impressive temple site for sure. Walking down a steep hill with 371 steps, through paddy fields into the valley where the hillsides are carved out into temples & monuments. Theres a beautiful river running through & the water is syphoned off to run through the temples which are now covered in vivid green moss. We walked up the hill into the forest to the more deserted shrines, where this photo was taken. Such a tranquil, incredibly beautiful place which almost makes you want to sit down with the monks and become a Balinese Hindu. The temple was also used in the film 'The Fall'.
Island off East Lombok.
June, 2012
We walked around this almost completely deserted island off Lombok in less than 10minutes and its only inhabitants were an old couple that farmed some sort of sweet potato. The island was the first stop on a five day boat trip we took from Lombok to Flores and back where we slept on the deck of the boat and stopped at different beaches and islands along the way. We went with Perama, who were amazing and the trip was probably our favourite part of our 6weeks travelling in Indonesia.
Mount Ijen, Java.
June, 2012
This was taken on the edge of Ijen's crater, an active volcano in Eastern Java still used for its sulphur mine. A three hour drive took us to a tiny mining village in the middle of no where and then after a steep walk up the dirt track, which took us just under an hour, we reached the top. From the crater edge you can look down into the volcano which has an enormous turquoise lake with the bright yellow sulphur mine on the edge and where really the only other people are the miners carrying baskets of sulphur. We went down into the crater guided by the local miners, many of whom only were flip flops to see the mine and lake. When we came back up the clouds had come over and completely covered the top of the volcano. Unfortunately what you can't see in the photo is the sheer cliff drop behind into the middle of the volcano.
This is an incredible place, so beautiful and untouristy and should definitely be on everyone's bucket list for Indonesia.
Mount Bromo, Java.
June, 2012
Heading to Mount Bromo at five in the morning was very exciting but after arriving at the look out point, we were more than a little disappointed. The sunrise was nearing non-existent and we needed a few hundred more layers as it was freezing! However once getting into the crater we were a little more impressed, but still feeling sceptical, as we walked with the other thousand tourists to the top of the volcano, looking in was pretty cool and I highly advise the 30minute walk around the edge of the crater. But the highlight of the trip was definitely sliding on our bum's down the dusty side of the barren volcano!
Gili Tragawan, Lombok
July, 2012
Gili T, a little bit of heaven. If you've heard about the Gili Islands you will have heard that being said... its true. Tiny islands, no cars or scooters, beach bars, amazing parties & really good food. We stayed in a little bungalow close to the harbour & spent a week bar & restaurant hopping, going to full moon parties, snorkelling with turtles, experiencing the legal magic mushrooms, getting to know the sometimes quite intense locals & generally lazing. Pretty much the photo that began this blog, this shot was taken on the north of the island outside Karma Kayak where we spent the day lazing by the pool eating tapas (yes you really can live like that on £20 a day here) then we moved to the beach to watch this incredible sunset on beanbags which the restaurant sets out. In the background you can just make out Bali & its largest volcano.
Kuta Beach, Bali.
July, 2012
Kuta...what a unique and incredible place. Initially our plan was to by pass Kuta completely due to negative comments from other travellers. But we ended up staying (& coming back), & despite all the bad things (being hassled by the locals, roads that collapse, crazy Aussies) we had the best time here. We learnt to surf, drank 'double doubles' at the infamous Alleycats, had a private room in a hotel with pool & breakfast for $12 a night, partied in Sky Bar, shopped at the cheap markets, ate the best nasi goreng ever & didn't even fall down a pot hole. Our view of Kuta is that yes its crazy and loud and a party town but its great fun too with a beautiful long beach and maybe you shouldn't knock Kuta untill you try it!
Ceking Rice Terraces outside Ubud, Bali.
July, 2012
These are some absolutely gorgeous rice terraces, well known and slightly touristy for a reason. Unfortunately it wasn't as green when we visited as seen in the photos but the view is still beautiful with the hundreds of platforms and levels terracing the steep hills and the locals farming the rice. Driving around Bali and Indonesia there are paddy fields everywhere but seeing them up the hillside like this is amazing.
