Indonesia

Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world. It is also the fourth most populated country. The landscape and language are quite similar to Malaysia's but the culture is completely different. It is also very diverse and there are over 300 ethnic groups within its borders.

 

Jakarta

Gunkarta



Jakarta is the Indonesian capital and has grown quicker than Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok and is the 17th biggest city in the world. It is known for being quite polluted and chaotic so I won't talk too much about it.

A lot of interesting buildings can be seen which were built by the Dutch when they controlled Indonesia such as the former town hall on the top right.

Aceh

paxsimius

What makes Aceh interesting is that it's the only place outside of Saudi Arabia/Iran where Sharia Islamic Law applies in full. This means that the women have to cover up outside the house and the Islamic faith is the only religion allowed. Outside of Aceh, people can choose if they want to follow Sharia Law or not.

Surabaya

baskoro f19

Surabaya is the easiest place to see orangutans without having to venture into wild, tribal Borneo. Since they are a protected species, they are often very hard to see. It is also a smaller, cleaner alternative to Jakarta and contains a lot of Dutch colonial buildings.
According to The Guardian, a recent scandal has emerged about the treatment of the animals. A number have died, including orangutans because the zoo hasn't got enough funding and also there are suspicions that some staff may be involved in animal trafficking.

theguardian.com

Bali

Jos Dielis

The one place in Indonesia that everyone knows! This island is a popular tourist destination due to its beautiful beaches and Indonesian cultural experience. Also, it is extremely near the equator so it has very good weather!

Also, people come to see the monkeys which can be found pretty much everywhere.

Bair175

Borobudur

Gunawan Kartapranata

Borobudur is a Buddhist temple that was built during the 9th century. It is located outside the city of Mangelang, 5 hours drive from Surabaya. It is covered in stone mounds called stupa which have Buddha statues inside them. This is a must see if you are in Indonesia.