INTRODUCTION
When I was backpacking around Southeast Asia in 2024, the third country on my route was Indonesia. Honestly, I was quite confused about what to explore because Indonesia is massive, with over 17,500 islands. Still, I was really excited to experience this incredibly diverse country. I took a cheap flight from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta for around ₹4500.
After landing, Jakarta was my first stop, and I wasn’t happy with the city at all. It felt huge, chaotic, and overwhelming, and I didn’t want to spend much time there.
So I immediately took a train to an underrated city called Yogyakarta and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I made. While I was on the train, I sent a Workaway stay request and got accepted instantly. Yogyakarta was stunning and completely won my heart. I’ll write about it separately in another blog. I stayed there for about 15 days and explored everything from grasslands and blue lagoons to volcanoes and mountains.
After such a long stay and also because my mom warned me, “You must go to this place or I won’t take you home” I decided to head to Bali with a friend from Workaway. We took a long bus and ferry ride to reach Bali.
Once we arrived, we found the cheapest stay possible (a hammock) and lived there for 3 days while exploring different parts of Bali, especially the south. After that, I decided to visit the gem of a place called Nusa Penida. I took a ferry, booked a hostel for 2 nights, and honestly, Nusa Penida became one of the best places I’ve ever seen. The entire experience was mesmerising.
I later returned to mainland Bali, stayed with a host in Denpasar for a couple of days, and also explored beautiful Ubud. Soon after, I decided to leave Bali and travel back to Java.
When planning my Indonesia trip, two places were always at the top of my list: Mount Ijen and Mount Bromo. I took a bus and ferry towards Ijen, but unfortunately, it was closed because the volcano had become active. Our plan was ruined, but my Tunisian friend and I quickly put up a Couchsurfing request in a city near Bromo and decided to visit it instead.
We reached our host’s place late at night and began our Mount Bromo journey early the next morning. We couldn’t get a regular deal because there weren’t many travellers, but we still managed to find a good option. I was thrilled to explore this active volcano and witness both the sunset and sunrise from Gorilla Mountain. It was incredibly adventurous.
The next day we returned to the city, and although I was extremely exhausted from not sleeping, I impulsively decided to take a bus to Jakarta and fly back to India. I reached Jakarta, met my friends from Yogyakarta, stayed with them for 3 days, and then finally took my flight to India.
Exploring Indonesia was truly unforgettable. I witnessed breathtaking views, natural wonders, and places blessed by Mother Nature. I met amazing people, made lifelong connections, and collected countless memories. The food and hospitality in Indonesia are unmatched. This country will always remain one of my favourites, and I’m grateful to everyone who made the experience so special.
I wrote this blog to share my journey, and I’ll soon write separate posts about each place I visited, along with tips and guidance.
Thank you for reading I hope this gave you a clear picture of my adventure.