Feel Free to Visit Me (A Thank You Note from Indonesia)

September is almost come to an end. I hope I could stay longer, but I am pretty sure there are plenty of students who are lining up to be "blogger of the month". I just want to say thank you for visiting this blog and leaving all the encouraging comments on for me. It has been such a wonderful experience, and I have learned so much (thanks to Nuala.You're an awesome teacher!)

Well, if one day you decide to visit South East Asia, please don't hesitate to stop by in Indonesia. I have to say that there are many perspectives about my country; you can say it is the world's biggest Moslem country (although there are 5 acknowledged religions), you can say it is a dangerous country (true, there were several bomb terrors in Bali and Jakarta), you can say it is an exotic tropical country (amongst the top 10 destinations for divers and surfers), you can also say it is a friendly country (everyone would try to speak in English with tourists). Here is the list of some destinations that you should go to (there might be more, but the list is based on my personal experience alone- I wouldn't recommend things that I haven't tried myself):

1. Bromo mountain, East Java
This site is probably the most convenient and well-known mountain area in Indonesia (especially for photographers). No need to backpack or camp at the area, because there will be hotels and decent cement stairs all the way to the top.

2. Ijen crater, East Java
The best hiking experience I've ever had. The beauty of the crater was captured in one Indonesian movie, "King". It's kind of tricky to get there, but it is definitely worth the hike. Enjoy the quiet and simple life (with limited access to electricity).

3. Ubud, Bali
Needless to say, it is a beautiful place to unwind and relax, because the environment is just different. You can find so many art galleries, rice fields, and good places to eat. The book "Eat, Pray, Love" had described the spiritual benefit that the writer experienced from this place.

4. Pelabuhan Ratu (Queen's Harbor), West Java



This is the closest beach area that is worth to visit if you are looking for a weekend getaway from the hectic capital. Always keep in mind not to swim carelessly at the beach, because the wave is dangerous and has its own urban legend.

5. Borobudur, Central Java



One of the greatest Buddhist temples that got nominated as 7 Wonders of the World. It's about 2 hours drive from Yogyakarta, and especially great at dawn.

6. Yogyakarta, Central Java
The only province in Indonesia that is still governed by that area's precolonial monarchy. The Sultan of Yogyakarta serves as the elected governor of the province. Visit Malioboro, the traditional open market, by taking a traditional three-cycle vehicle called "Becak"

7. Jakarta, the capital



Need I say more? This is a metropolitan city that provide almost everything. You have to spend months to explore all 5 districts of Jakarta to be able to get the grasp of the uniqueness. But for a start, you can just call me when you're in town :)

On that note, I would like to take off and say "Sampai jumpa" ("untill we meet again"). I will still come back and give comments on this community blog from time to time. Please don't hesitate to visit me at anytime. Have fun, October blogger!

The Last Comments Reply:
Cristina from Italy- I couldn't agree more. The catchy lyrics, however, tend to linger in our head. A clever way to make children remember, I guess :) Thx for your comment.

Mateja from Slovenia- Thanks. I am still far from wise, but I always try to see things in different perspectives. Elvis and Mother Teresa are probably not such a good example, but my point is they both are well-known for their contributions. But, personally, I think someone who often needs anti-depressant or sleeping pills must be restless or feeling somewhat less content about his life. What do you think?

Ramilton from Brazil- True. I personally would like to be known as someone who is thoughtful, rather than wealthy. There is so much you can give to others (and that's not just money). But we do need money to survive and live decent.

Mizan from Dubai- Thx. God bless you, too.

James Wu from Taiwan- Thanks for your comment. I'm glad to hear your opinion. Sometimes it is best not to choose, ya? I can understand that. This is a report about Elvis, and how he died. So sad that such an inspiration like him had to end like that, don't you think? At one point, we should ask ourselves what makes us content, and stop thinking about what the world think about us. Take care, everybody. God bless.

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