10 Things People Don’t Tell You About Indonesia

From epic waterfalls like Tumpak Sewu to beautiful and quiet temples in Bali, there is so much diversity to experience in Indonesia.

 

10 Things People Don’t Tell You About Indonesia

 

1. You Get More For Your Money

The current exchange rate (As of September 2018) is14,862.50 rupiahs for ever dollar. (You can check the current rate here). Which is super great for all of us in North America and the European Union!

Now, places like Bali will be more expensive than other islands, but as a whole, you will probably be saving tons of money regardless.

Examples: a regular meal (chicken, rice, veggies) roughly converts to about $2.00 per person. Hostels in Bali can be $10/night, transportation is easy, and activities are cheaper too!

Read More: 8 Clever Ways To Travel On A Budget

Read More: How To Save Money For Your Next Adventure

 

2. Indonesia Has Great Tropical Weather

If you are a fan of sunny days and the occasional huge thunderstorm (but mostly sunny days) Indonesia is your place. Indonesia is split by the equator, which means it’s an entirely tropical climate across all its islands.

There are two general seasons in Indonesia: Dry season goes from June – September and the rainy season goes from December to March. If you are searching for epic Indonesian waterfalls to explore and photograph, definitely visit during the dry season.

Make sure to pack a raincoat for the occasional surprise rain dump! The temperature averages in the 70s-80s making a comfortable warm all-year round.

Read More: The Ultimate Indonesia Packing List (with free download!)

 

3. Indonesian People Are Friendly

Indonesian people are known for their welcoming nature and accommodating attitude. Every person we met was so hospitable!

In the picture below, we stopped on the side of the road to take a picture of someone’s home – a grass hut. We shared some food with them, and ask permission to take some photos. They were so excited to have visitors they nearly begged us to stay for dinner too!

Also pictured below – Berty began to fly his drone on a secluded beach in Kupang. Kids came out from under the trees from all directions to see what was flying in the sky. We ended up playing on the beach for over an hour laughing and chasing the drone across the sand.

Locals can also be willing to take you to see their favorite places. On adventures far from large cities (like this adventure to Tumpak Sewu waterfall), we like going with local guides that know the area very well.

Read More: 8 Vital Reasons To Travel With Friends

 

4. Indonesian Food Is Delicious!

When you arrive in Indonesia your tastebuds will get a whole new experience too! Indonesia has a plethora of new food and drinks to try. If you are a foodie, Indonesia will not disappoint.

Here are some of the main Indonesian dishes you will come across:

  • Nasi Goreng – Fried Rice
  • Soto Ayam – Tumeric Chicken Soup
  • Rendang – Dark Beef Dish
  • Bakso – Clear Soup with Meatballs
  • Satay – Skewered Meat On A Stick (usually served with peanut sauce)
  • Kopi Luwak – Poop Coffee!

 

5. Indonesia is Very Religious

Because of its geographic location (set in-between several trade routes), Indonesia is a multi-religious country with active practices of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and local religions. This means you can find all kinds of beautiful temples across the country.

The biggest mosque in Indonesia, named Istiqlal Mosque is located in Jakarta. There are also several ancient Hindu/Balinese temples on the island of Bali.

The most well-known temple in Indonesia is called Borobudur and is located in Yogyakarta, Central Java. This temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and also the largest Buddhist temple in the world!

Your trip to Indonesia is not complete without experiencing at least one of these magnificent structures. Bonus points if you are able to go during a festival time, and respectfully watch a ceremony take place!

Read More: 6 Culturally Rich Things To Do In Bali

 

6. Exhilarating Adventure

Indonesia is a country full of exciting adventures to experience. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Indonesia:

 

7. Breathtaking Waterfalls

Indonesia is serious about its waterfalls. From walk-up platforms to deep jungle hikes, there are Indonesian waterfalls for all types of activity levels. Here are some of our favorite Indonesian waterfall adventures to try:

 

Read More: 10 Adventurous Instagram Spots in Bali, Indonesia

 

8. Pristine Beaches

With Indonesia consisting of ~18,000 islands, you can only imagine how many miles of sandy beachfront exist here!

When you leave the beachfront of Kuta, there are actually many wonderful places for solitude and peace! This particular beach required quite the drive, but if having a beach all to yourself is a priority, it’s worth every mile you drive.

READ MORE: World’s Most Underrated Beaches

 

9. Bustling Cities

If you want to get a large dose of modern Indonesian culture today, spend some time in any large city!

In the city of Jakarta alone, the population is 10 million residents. The second largest city is Surabaya with nearly 3 million people.

The cities of Indonesia are worth a visit because of the large number of monuments, history, and activities (like theme parks!) in the surrounding area. However, prepare yourself with a good book or playlist because traffic can get pretty bad!

 

10. The Indonesian Language Is Easy To Pick Up

Bahasa Indonesia is an easy language because there is no tense, which means you only describe things in the past, present or future by clarifying it.

Example sentences directly translated to English: Yesterday I eat bread. Today I eat bread. Tomorrow I eat bread. 

See? Easy to pick up, and fun to speak! We would encourage everyone to pick up a phrase book and practice small sayings like please and thank you to give the locals a pleasant surprise!

 

Have you been to Indonesia? What is your favorite thing about this country? Share in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!
Love,

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