Blogs from Indonesia, Asia - page 14

Gosh...I realised it had been ages since I updated my seven wonders of the world series. Yes, some hiccups here and there causing the delay and busy is not the word I like to use even if this is the case. BALI... This beautiful island holds a special place in my heart, not because of my Indonesian heritage, but because it's a fantastic place. It was the best place where I relaxed from my recent trips to 3 long-distance counties within three weeks. Something about Bali that calls for relaxation, which my brain could not say no to. I couldn't resist the vibrations of its beautiful nature, the friendliness of its people and the finest cuisines. I find myself in complete relaxation mode, unwinding from my hectic Amsterdam routines whenever I am in Bali. Whether it's ... read more

Surabaya is the second larger city in Indonesia. The town where I was born and spent a quarter of my life has changed enormously since I was last there. Everything changed so fast that I needed time to adjust. I didn't recognise my home and my neighbourhood. The home I grew up in was in a massive area surrounded by only a few neighbours with loads of greens. Sadly, that turned into a packed neighbourhood where houses are attached (just like houses built in The Netherlands), and tiny alleyways have separated some in between. Dad designed and built our house himself (with the help of a few constructors), which was cool, but it no longer looked the same. Everything had changed. Despite the massive changes in town, I am pleased that Surabaya city has become more ... read more

In the search of the traditional side of Bali, we have been quite succesful by visiting Sudaji in the North and staying in the ricefields in Tampaksiring. So our last stop in Bali was planned in the south, well, in the south-east that means. Because the south-west (being the centre of the mass tourism industry) was a no-go area for us. For whatever reason we found the widespread village of Seraya on the rocky coast in the very east. We had a private driver (the owner of "our" treehouse in Tampaksiring) who took us to Seraya. It was a beautiful drive across the countryside from Tampaksiring via Gianyar, Sideman and Amlapura. We passed very nice villages. Our driver was supernervous as it was extremly windy that day. So a lot of branches from coconut trees fell ... read more

Two weeks diving in Komodo National Park. Wonderful to see healthy coral again, many beautiful dives. Didn't realise that December was the end of the dive season from labuan Bajo, but we had good dives on all days. Did a day trip to Padar Island (3 beaches of different colours, great views - and Timor Deer on the beach!), Pink Beach (it really was pink!), Komodo Island - to see the dragons and Manta Point (yes to see manta rays and snorkel). Padar Island is beautiful and that made the trip worthwhile. It was a full day from 5:30am to 5pm. During our diving days we went one day to Rinca Island rather than do the 3rd dive and this was a much better experience than Komdo Island for seeing the dragons. We were lucky and ... read more

Today we leave for home, which is always bittersweet after a great vacation. We are both excited to be back in our own beds, watching for Charlie the seal, enjoying our awesome home and seeing our friends and family . However, leaving the sun, smiling locals, healthy/tasty food and the chill vibe is also sad. Some take-aways from our time in Bali: The people of Bali are so welcoming and gracious. They are always ready with a smile and a greeting, no matter the time of day. It never feels contrived and you do feel like a very valued guest. The food is amazing. It is fresh, flavorful and varied, with options from grilled meats/vegis to noodles to rice to smoothies. We have been careful over the past two weeks to not drink the water (even ... read more