Nutmeg and Clove from the Fabled Spice Islands
If you have been following my blog for a while, you must have noticed that on July 1 this year I embarked on an extended trip – longer than any I had ever done – across South and Southeast Asia to follow the ancient Spice Route. We are now in Mandalay on our last day in Myanmar before heading to India, to explore the spice trading ports on both the Malabar and Coromandel Coasts along with some other places in the country. We were in Indonesia for the first three months of this trip and for me it was such an eye-opening journey as I got to know my country better and encountered so many different cultures that make up this large and unbelievably diverse nation.
On July 1 James flew from Hong Kong to Jakarta and we were joined by two fellow bloggers, Bart and Badai, to start our two-week overland trip across Java. I was born on the island and had traveled quite extensively across its length before. But even on the world’s most populous island – more than half of Indonesia’s 250 million people live in Java – there are still many relatively hidden gems waiting to be discovered and explored. The following are some of the highlights of our three-month trip across the archipelago.
JAVA
We started in Jakarta and went eastward to Cirebon, an important port in West Java. In the city we explored the sultan’s palace and the old town district. Then we continued to Dieng Plateau in Central Java, a volcano-fringed highland at the center of the island – home to some of its oldest Hindu temples dating back to the 8th century AD. After Dieng we went to Jogja (Yogyakarta), considered the cultural heart of Java where impressive ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples abound. From Jogja we moved to Solo without Bart and Badai as they had to fly back to Jakarta. Solo is another hotspot for exploring Javanese culture as it boasts two Javanese royal palaces and a lively art scene that can only be rivaled by that of Jogja.
James and I then went to the north coast to visit Semarang, my city of birth and where my parents currently live. Food was the highlight of this part of the trip as nothing beats homemade Indonesian dishes. From Semarang we took a day-trip to Pati with short stops in Demak and Kudus to see some of Indonesia’s oldest mosques with hints of prevalent Hindu culture. After 10 days, we left Semarang for Surabaya in East Java to spend one night in the city before going further east. The following day we continued to Banyuwangi, Java’s easternmost city, also our base to visit Ijen Crater. At the end of our trip across Java we stayed in very basic accommodation at Baluran National Park and visited a beach called… Bama!
Prambanan Temple, A 9th Century Hindu Temple Complex
Hindu Deities, Prambanan
Mythical Creatures, Prambanan
Sunrise at Borobudur, A Ninth-Century Buddhist Temple
Plaosan, A Buddhist Temple Complex Near Prambanan
A Wayang Orang Performance in Solo
Java’s Volcanoes Seen from Mount Prau, Dieng
Masjid Menara Kudus, A 16th-Century Mosque with Apparent Hindu Elements
Blenduk Church, An 18th Century Dutch Colonial Church in Semarang
Reliefs at Gedong Songo, An Eighth-Century Hindu Temple Compound Near Semarang
My Mother’s Nasi Kuning with Side Dishes
SUMATRA
We started our two-week exploration of Sumatra from its northernmost province, Aceh. We stayed in the capital, Banda Aceh, before crossing the strait to get to Sabang, the country’s westernmost city. From Aceh we continued to North Sumatra to visit some of the province’s most famous historical, cultural and natural sites in Medan, Berastagi, Parapat, and Samosir Island at Lake Toba. We learned further details about the fascinating culture and history of the Batak people on Samosir, a predominantly Christian society in largely Muslim Sumatra.
After North Sumatra we went to West Sumatra, a province known for its cuisine and distinct Minangkabau culture. Not only the home of rendang, the province also has some of the most unique palaces and houses in Sumatra with curving roofs reaching for the sky. Bukittinggi, Payakumbuh, and Batusangkar form Minangkabau’s cultural triangle with Pagaruyung Palace as one of the highlights.
Sabang, Indonesia’s Westernmost City
Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh
Mie Aceh (Acehnese Noodles)
Verdant Samosir Island
A Toba Batak Traditional House
Traditional Dance in the Village of Simanindo, Samosir
Gorga Sculpture on A Batak House
Istano Basa Pagaruyung (Pagaruyung Palace) in Batusangkar
West Sumatra Grand Mosque in Padang, Still Under Construction
SULAWESI
I fell in love with this island.
We didn’t spend as much time on Sulawesi as we did on other islands since we planned this island only to be a stopover before going east to the Spice Islands – the raison d’être of this trip. We started in the capital, Makassar, and went north to Tana Toraja in the Torajan highlands, home to a Christian society where life revolves around death. No one does burial ceremonies as lavishly and elaborately as the Torajans do. We also went to Rammang-Rammang, home to one of the oldest cave paintings in the world dating back to some 40,000 years ago.
A Torajan Stone Burial at Lemo
Tampang Allo Cave with Centuries-Old Erong (Decorated Wooden Coffins)
The Village of Ke’te Kesu’
A Closer Look at A Tongkonan (Torajan Traditional House)
Tongkonans amid Rice Terraces
Endless Rice Terraces at the Torajan Highlands
Rammang-Rammang Karst Hills Near Makassar
Home to One of the Oldest Cave Paintings in the World
Es Pisang Ijo, A Dessert from Makassar
MALUKU (THE MOLUCCAS)
Maluku consists of a group of small islands spread over the vast seas east of Sulawesi, northeast of Nusa Tenggara, and west of the island of New Guinea. It is where nutmeg and clove are originally from. It was the reason for Chinese, Indian, and Arab traders to sail all the way to this part of the world to buy spices and sell them to the international market. It was also the catalyst for Europeans to embark on the Age of Exploration and Discovery which led to European colonization of much of the world in the following centuries.
Nutmeg could only be found on the Banda Islands, a group of islets in a remote part of Indonesia surrounded by the deepest sea in the country, while clove came from the islands of Ternate, Tidore, and other small islands in North Maluku. As the price of both spices skyrocketed in European markets, it promised unprecedented wealth especially to the Dutch and British merchants, fueling fierce competition between the two in Asia. Retracing parts of the old Spice Route was the main reason why James and I planned this trip three years ago.
Nutmeg, Originally from the Banda Islands
Mace, Thin Bright Red Layer that Covers the Nutmeg
Clove, Originally from Ternate, Tidore and Nearby Islands in North Maluku
Fort Belgica in Banda, Overlooked by Gunung Api, An Active Volcano
The View of Banda Neira from Gunung Api
Hatta Island in Banda, Where We Had Our Best Snorkeling Experience to Date
On the Way to the Islands of Ai and Run, the Latter was England’s First Ever Overseas Colony
Looking Towards the Small Island of Nailaka with Gunung Api in the Background
Cheerful Boys of Banda
And the Girls
Fried Eggplant in Kenari (Wild Almond) Sauce
Fort Tolukko in Ternate
The View of Tidore from Fort Kalamata, Ternate
Lake Tolire Besar in Ternate, Purportedly Infested with Crocodiles
A Complete Set of Popeda (Also Called Papeda), Ternate
What about the other islands?
With more than 17,000 islands (13,500 according to another calculation) it is always hard for me to answer the question “How much time should I spend traveling in Indonesia?” since the distance between Sabang in the far west to Merauke in the far east is further than the distance between Lisbon and Moscow, or Seattle and Orlando. Even for me as a born and bred Indonesian, I have not explored even half of this vast archipelago.
However for this trip we decided to omit Bali (both of us have been so many times) and Nusa Tenggara, including Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara (we climbed Rinjani and went to the island’s southern beaches in 2013) and Flores in East Nusa Tenggara (we took an overland trip from Maumere to Labuhan Bajo in 2014). We have to skip Kalimantan (Borneo) and Papua this time for neither of them played a major role in the spice trade. We also have to put other smaller islands on our wishlist for now, waiting for other opportunities to visit them in the future. Also bear in mind that we didn’t even visit half of Sumatra on this trip and only a fraction of Sulawesi.
What’s next?
Starting in January 2016 I will publish the stories from each place I visited on this extended trip, beginning with places in Indonesia all the way to the ones in Malaysia, Myanmar, and South Asia. Thank you for reading and leaving comments on the posts from my previous trips, and for patiently waiting for the ones from this Spice Odyssey.
What an Amazing World! 
Wow … I did not know that you are having a Spice Odyssey!
Looking forward for the stories, and have a safe and wonderful trip in India and Nepal! 🙂
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We’ve been traveling for about four months now. Thank you, Timothy! 🙂
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Wow. Your posts are nothing short of pieces of art. Love every one of them.
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Thank you very much for your really kind comment. I’m glad you enjoyed my photos.
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I’m happy, because I could join in the first leg of your journey guys. Can not wait to read the details of every episode of your trip. I believe it will be envious stories, and inspiring as well.
Have a pleasant and safe trip in India and Nepal, for both of you 🙂
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Thank you very much for joining us, Bart. We wish you could ‘ngintil’ longer. 😀
Oh by the way I think you would love Myanmar for its ancient temples and food. The way people serve food here is quite comparable to what Minang people do.
Makasih Bart. For Nepal we will retrace the places you visited. 🙂
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We wish too Bam 😀
Yes, I think I would love Myanmar for sure. It’s already become my wish-list since years ago. I hope I could make it someday. Amiin …
Oooh selamat menikmati Nepal di musim dingin Bam, it would be another adventure to sleep without any proper heater in winter 🙂
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Let me know when you plan to go to Myanmar. I have a list of dishes for you to try. 🙂
Ah iya, musim dingin, gak ada proper heater, langsung kebayang bakal makan banyak di sana untuk menghangatkan badan. *alasan*
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Sure, I will hire you -pro bono- as my travel consultant, for visiting Myanmar. Ah daftar masakan? Kusukaaaa 🙂
I knew it. I knew you will say that! Jangan khawatir, porsi normalnya orang Nepal sama dengan porsi dua orang plus plus di Indonesia, plus lagi harganya pun murah! 😀
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Ah langsung umpetin lagi daftarnya kalo gitu. :p
Lol, bagian yang paling aku suka adalah ‘harganya pun murah’. 😀
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Ih pamrihan! *serahin dompet, biar ambil sendiri fee yang dimau*
Dan kalian akan lebih suka lagi, kalau udah cicipin rasanya. Menurutku yaa, masakan Nepal jarang yg gak enak. Dhal Bhat nya sedaaaaap 🙂
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Dompetnya harus ada kartu ATM sama PIN-nya. 😀
Dan aku sangat gak sabar nyobain Juju Dhau secara aku suka susu dan yogurt.
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Dompetku isinya dinar emas dan dirham perak! 😀
Juju Dhau is a must, dan jangan lupakan pula Masala Tea nya. Mereka campurkan susu kerbau ke dalamnya. Sedap!
Ok kamu suka susu yaaaa? *tebalkan, cetak bawah dan cetak miring di bagian susu* 😀
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Aku suka susu dan teh! *banyak maunya*
Di Sri Lanka ada sejenis dessert yang terbuat dari buffalo curd (susu kerbau yang dimasak dan jadi mengental), dimakannya pake semacam gula aren cair. Dan teh susu di sana enak banget, teh susu paling enak yang pernah aku minum. Ah jadi kangen kan…
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Normalnya aku gak terlalu suka sama susu, kadang merasa eneg. Tapi ceritamu ini bikin kabita ih!
Cieeh cieeh yang kangen sama Sri Lanka. Baper! Hahaha #apasih
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Beneran enak Bart. Sri Lanka memang ngangenin: banyak burung cantik, pengendara kendaraan bermotor menghormati pejalan kaki, makanannya relatif sehat, dan suara tupai!
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Ternyata negeri sang Rahwana (Lanka/Alengka) itu lebih menyenangkan daripada negara tetangganya ya. Benar-benar beda.
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Kata seorang Australia yang tinggal di Colombo Sri Lanka itu ibarat India on Prozac (Prozac kan dikenal sebagai obat anti stress). 🙂
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Hahaha boleh juga analogi-nya. So, selamat menikmati India yang sesungguhanya ya Bam.
Hmmm, kalau sempat ke India Utara, aku rasa kalian akan benar-benar butuh Prozac! 😀
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Hahaha, makanya kami ke Selatan dulu. Thank you, Bart. Kalau aku ada rencana ke Utara nanti aku tanya-tanya kamu ya.
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Siap Bam! 🙂
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Bama, 3 months or 1 year across Indonesia always not enough, with its beautiful gems comes out everyday. I always enjoy your stories as usual. I wish both of you enjoy Bagan, Mandalay and Myanmar as I did 3 years ago. How I miss Shwedagon after reading James’ post.
Please take care both of you, enjoy your trip in India. And when will you reach Nepal? December? Argh… you will find lots of joyful happiness there. Have a great spice journey…
PS perhaps you have to challenge yourself to make a post as a chef in India. Cant wait for that Bama…
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Maybe even 10 years is not enough. I was pleasantly surprised that even Java still has sooo many places to explored, some are relatively unknown to most people.
The weather was really nice when we were in Bagan and we really enjoyed our four-day stay there. Each of us took more than 3,000 photos from Bagan alone. 😀
Lol, a chef in India. Never thought of that but we’ll see. 🙂 Thank you very much!
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Wonderful trip, nice story and beuatiful pictures. Thank you for sharing your sharing your experience. Hope I can go to Maluku dan Toraja someday. Never been to those two exotic places.
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And these are just the highlights. Many people go to Maluku for its beautiful beaches and wonderful marine life. But it is in fact a very fascinating place to learn not only the history of Indonesia but also the world. Hope you can make it there soon.
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Great pics, great reading. Thanks a lot for sharing your travel experiences.
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Thank you for reading and for leaving such a kind comment, Julio.
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Hey bro..i live in solo, if u next time have chance coming here again.tell me.. 🙂
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Hallo, salam kenal. Wah nambah temen dari Solo nih. Thank you for reading my blog.
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Sama sama kak bama..ditunggu kunj balikny
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Wah PR nya banyak ya Bam, looking fwd for ur articles then !
Btw, banner dan logo nya cakep pisan, love it !
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Banget! 😀 Nanti setelah balik PR nih nyusun urutan post mana dulu yang mau ditulis.
Thank you ya. Itu bannernya dibikinin sama temen, gw cuma kasih ide. 🙂
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Amazing trip, Bama! Ini bakal dijabarin satu-persatu nggak? Nunggu yang seri Banda Neira buat contekan kalau ke sana kelak hehehe. Ternyata sempat mampir Solo ya? Wahh nggak kabar-kabari nih hehehe.
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It really is, Halim. Sebagian besar sih bakal ditulis satu-satu, tapi ada juga yang rencananya mau aku tulis barengan di satu post.
Iya pas aku ke Solo kami lagi kurang sehat. Dan pas malam nonton wayang orang James lagi sakit tapi aku maksa nonton, yang pada akhirnya aku gak ngerti juga. Lol.
Nanti ya kalo ada waktu ke Solo lagi.
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What an Amazing trip, Bama! You made me jealous, i hope some day i can visit all those awesome places 🙂
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Thank you. It all started with making a plan. So, make your plan now. 🙂
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Waaaa seru banget!! Penasaran keliling Indonesia timur nih mas. Stay tune ama cerita-ceritanya deh ini
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Indonesia timur itu pantai-pantainya cantik, tempat-tempat snorkelingnya bagus banget, orang-orangnya ramah, dan makanannya enak-enak. Semakin saya menjelajah Maluku semakin saya penasaran dengan pulau-pulau di Maluku yang jumlahnya banyak sekali dan sebagian besar belum banyak dieksplor.
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It was so helpful to get an overview of what you and James have been up to. Of course, I’ve been following both of your posts the whole time (and before!), but it was great to track your travels as a whole. What a luxury to be able to spend weeks at a time in certain places, and I love that your whole trip has a theme. I may have to steal that idea some day!
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James is quite productive in writing posts during the trip, while I need more time to absorb things and find the writing perspective I’m most comfortable with. So this post acts not only as a summary of the highlights of our trip in Indonesia, but also a teaser of how extensive my posts on the country will be. 🙂
Getting a theme is actually a good thing, at least it works well for both of us. We both love eating and cooking, and since the theme of this trip is the Spice Route, it constantly reminds us to explore local dishes from the places we go — something we really enjoy doing.
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What an amazing trip! I look forward to reading all about it and seeing more wonderful photos!
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It is indeed, Tali. Thank you for keeping up with my blog! 🙂
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Looking forward to the posts on your spice odyssey Bama. And to visiting Indonesia one day!
Alison
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Thank you, Alison. I reckon that you’ve only been to Bali. Come again and see more of the country! 🙂
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Yes it’s true, only to Bali, but I keep reading all you and James have written and it makes me want to see a lot more of the country.
A.
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Drop me an email when you come again to Indonesia. 🙂
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Definitely will Bama. Thanks so much.
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Beautiful! How I want to take a trip back to Indonesia now!!
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Hey Lydia! It’s been a while since the last post on your blog. You know, part of the trip was actually retracing your trails in Indonesia. Toraja for example. 🙂
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Very cool! I know I have blogging to catch up with, trying to make the time soon 🙂
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Can’t wait for that! 🙂
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Nunggu cerita banda nya 🙂
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Silakan ditunggu kakak, tapi yang sabar ya. 🙂
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Bama what an adventure! All the best on your journey. I look forward to the stories that will follow.
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Hi Sue. Truly it was! We just arrived in Goa, India after a long trip from Mandalay in Myanmar to Bangkok then Chennai, Mumbai, and eventually Goa. All only in two days — thanks to some flight schedule change and the transit we had to make. We’re ready to explore India now. 🙂
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Just amazing pictures… so much loved the snaps and the foods looking so yumm and mouth watery… thanks for the excellent post 🙂
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Thank you so much for your kind comment! Do come to Indonesia to experience the country firsthand. 🙂
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I will for sure and will meet you also 🙂
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I. Can’t. Wait.
Ohiya, mau email.
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Mang.Ga.Di.An.Tos.
Udah baca emailnya barusan banget, tapi balesnya bentar ya. Baru nyampe Goa setelah long flight dua hari berturut-turut nih.
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very nice place … exotic cuisine … very nice!
is an experience lived through your photo
BIG Like for your pic!
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Thank you, Cristina! I hope the images give you a better idea of Indonesia. 🙂
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Yes! Yes! I really want. Tks!
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Wow! What a journey Bama! Sulawesi is the standout for me. Especially the decorated wooden coffins in the Tampang Allo cave. and the Torajan architecture. Followed by the food of course. Fab post. Indonesia tourism board would do well to hire you two! 🙂
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We only spent one week in Sulawesi and we instantly realized that the island really deserved a much longer time. It’s really fascinating and eye-opening to learn how important death is for the Torajans. Ha! Actually I told James a few times that Indonesia tourism board should hire him for all his beautiful posts on the country. By the way we arrived in Chennai last night, and reached Goa this afternoon after a stopover in Mumbai. It should have been a nonstop flight from Chennai to Goa, but Jet Airways changed the schedule so we had to make a detour a little bit.
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Welcome to India! And enjoy Goa! 🙂
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Hi Bama – I feel my comment wouldn’t be original.. Amazing pictures and Amazing stories! 🙂 Thank you,
– Ruta
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Ruta, I do really appreciate your kind comment. Consider this post a teaser as detailed stories will follow. 🙂
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WOW!!!
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Uwouwow!!! 😀 *apasih*
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Hahahahaha. Kak Bama ih!!
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Wow, Bama. Your photos and experiences are just breathtaking. I’m seeing Indonesia from a whole new perspective — much deeper below the surface — thanks to you. No doubt I will return there someday, and take much of my inspiration from what you’ve shared and experienced. Thank you.
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Hi Kelly. Thank you! I’m glad this post gives you a better idea of what Indonesia has, and how diverse it really is. Anytime you plan to visit Indonesia do drop me an email.
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too many amazing places in Indonesia … keep adventure and keep sharing …
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Too many! I like that. 🙂
Thank you for your encouragement and for reading my blog.
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This part of the world is just so amazing, you must just be having a blast. The architecture and food all looks amazing.
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I really did. I can’t wait to take another extended trip across Indonesia some time in the future, hopefully. 🙂
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Indonesia’s always been on my list. And your photos are fantastic! I love how you captured the architecture of the original buidlings, with their angled roofs. Also, the food looks delicious. I’ll have to visit.
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Thank you, Andrea. Based on my observation a lot of Indonesian vernacular buildings are inspired by buffalo horn, thanks to the nation’s largely agricultural society. Yes, you definitely have to visit! 🙂
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Pas ke pantai Bama berasa milik pribadi ga Mas? 🙂
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Sayangnya enggak, soalnya harus berbagi tempat sama monyet-monyet. 😀
Tapi pas di sana agak aneh sih liat nama sendiri terpampang dimana-mana.
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Wauw! Your pictures are amazing!
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Thank you! Glad you enjoyed them.
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It looks like your travels are bringing in many treasures ~ and thank you for sharing the magic of nutmeg (the opening shot is great!!!). Cheers to you and many happy trails ahead!
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They certainly are, Randall. I can’t wait to go back to Indonesia and explore more. I’m in southern India now, and I’ve already decided that I need to return to the country in the future. I guess that’s what traveling does to us. 🙂
Thank you, Randall. Happy travels to you too!
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That is the beauty of travel. India hit me hard as well, it was work travel for me and within the first day I thought “maybe I’ll open an office here…” A feeling of magic and a great culture. Thanks Bama ~
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What a journey, thank you for sharing!
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Sama-sama. Thank you juga udah sharing mengenai Bagan. Dapet banyak info tambahan yang berguna. 🙂
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This is an incredible post. I followed your blog specifically because of this post. I am going to Indonesia in May and this was super helpful in the early stages of my planning. Since I love your blog so much, I nominated you for a Liebster Award. You can check out the post here: http://btravelsbetter.com/2015/11/10/leibster-award-nomination/
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Thank you very much, B! 🙂 May should be great as it is usually the beginning of dry season in most parts of Indonesia. I’m glad this post helps you plan out your itinerary. I hope you have a really wonderful time in the country!
Thanks for the nomination too. I really appreciate it!
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Reblogged this on World Health Innovation Summit.
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I’ve just discovered your bog – what an incredible life adventure you are on. Your photos are absolutely spectacular. Brings back wonderful memories. Keep enjoying and sharing the magic.
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Thank you, Miriam. I want to explore more of Indonesia every time I look at those photos. But that’s the feeling I always feel every time I travel to big countries — China and India, for example. One visit will never do the country justice.
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Wow!
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Your post clearly shows that you had an overwhelming experience at the calm places! The wonderful pictures in itself speaks about the beauty and life of these places. The story of your journey to Myanmar tempts me to plan my trip soon.
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I really love going to quiet places just because I have been living in a very big city that is Jakarta since 2008. Escaping to those places keep me sane. 🙂
Speaking of Myanmar, you should go soon because the country is changing so fast.
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Great post – I am completely transfixed by Indonesia – its a remarkable country so full of culture wonder and beauty… We went for our honeymoon there, and got to experience Bali, Lombox, The Gilli Islands, Flores, Rinca and Komodo Island – was INCREDIBLE… may even be my favourite location. Thank you for showing me some of the otehr parts – Java looks stunning… Your very lucky to be there – We at A wandering Memory are very jealous… Would love to hear more – if you wanna get in touch!
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Funny thing is despite its size, a lot of people are still not aware of how big Indonesia is. Here in India someone asked me if I was in Indonesia during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, without realizing how far Jakarta is from Aceh. Another person who used to work in a ship asked me the name of a small port in Indonesia, and I told him that they are many. Anyway, it sounds like you had a really nice time in Indonesia — Bali and Flores are some of my favorite islands. You should go back! 😀 It’s really nice to connect with you, but currently I’m still traveling in southern India and internet connection is not always reliable here. I should check your blog once I’m home. Thanks for reading and leaving such a nice comment!
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Not a problem at all mate, I look forward to your comments when your home… where are you based originally? would love to hear more from you and your Indian trip…
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I’m based in Jakarta, Indonesia, but currently I’m traveling for six months across Southeast and South Asia. What about you? Where are you based now?
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Ah I am in London England and grew up here but have travelled extensively. Lived in aus, nz, Germany, USA and Canada
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That’s really cool! The more we see the world, the more we want to explore it, right? 🙂 Happy travels!
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You too mate… Look forward to your feedback on more of my posts on the future
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Such a beautiful pictures and nice writing. There are really numerous great travel destinations around Asia, you may want to visit Philippines soon. 🙂
https://tetaventures.wordpress.com/destinations/philippines/trip-to-el-nido/
Thanks and safe travels!
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I really want to visit the Philippines again and do the country justice by exploring more. Thank you for dropping by and leaving such a kind comment!
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these pictures are amazing. i went to Bali in 2014 and it was wonderful, the weather was great too! really love your blog, following it now 🙂 you can check out my blog at http://www.araresyzygy.wordpress.com
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Thank you. Great weather in Bali surely guaranteed you a very memorable trip. Do come again to Indonesia to explore more of the country! 🙂
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Jadinya udah resign apa gimana mas?
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Masih kerja Cen…
Ya iyalah udah resign. Mana bisa dapet cuti 6 bulan. :p
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Pantesan aja kayaknya kamu aada dimana-mana gitu aaaaaaaaaa
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Kayak Indomie ya, ada dimana-mana. 🙂
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really nice adventur. I see a so nice pics from you 😀
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Thank you, Adriana.
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Your article is geat and the photo are beautiful, thank you 🙂 !
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I’m glad you enjoyed this post. Thank you.
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I have very little knowledge about Indonesia apart from Bali being one of the most sought after place among tourists. But your blog has helped me gain some more insight into this beautiful country.Thanks and Happy travelling.
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Hi Darshan. After traveling for almost a month in India, I learned that in general Indians have little knowledge about Indonesia, partly because Indian children don’t learn much about Southeast Asian countries at school. So I’m really glad this post helps you understand more about Indonesia. Thank you and happy travels too!
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If you really want to spice up your travel in Indonesia you should try their recipes and delicacies with a nutmeg ingredient on it.
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As usual, very interesting. I particularly like the photo of your mom’s rice.
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Badfish, I think you would love that dish. Rice cooked with turmeric, coconut milk, shallot, and bay leaves, and served with all those different side dishes. Oh now I really miss having that! 🙂
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Stop it…My mouth is water, dude!
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Sorry, I can’t help. 😀
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What a great collection of photos. I am struck at how similar the houses in Sumatra are to those in Tana Toraja. I think of all the places you went, I am most jealous of Banda and Myanmar. Can’t wait to read more from you and James when you get time to publish. Enjoy the rest of your journey.
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Thanks Jeff! That’s exactly what I thought when I saw those houses. You can clearly see similarities among Torajan, Batak, and Tao (in Taiwan’s Orchid Island) traditional houses. Or at least that’s what I felt. I know you would love Banda. Historical forts, volcanoes, great underwater life… it’s tiny and remote but it’s worth the journey. As for Myanmar, the country is changing fast. Really fast. Hopefully you’ll get to visit Myanmar sooner than later. We’re in Bhaktapur, Nepal now, and this place is so photogenic!
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This is incredible!!!!
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I just spent a full month in India and it’s surprising to know how little Indians know about Indonesia considering the long relations between the two countries. You should come! 🙂
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I think you should make a book Kak. :_
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Wah, makasih makasih. Akan dipertimbangkan secara serius. 🙂
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My mouth drolling looking at those pic slruuuuuuuppp
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Make sure you have a napkin! 🙂
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I love it! This article is amazing and the pictures are stunning! I definitely want to visit!
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Hi K & C! Indonesia is half the world away from the US, but it’s definitely worth a visit. 🙂 Thanks for your kind comment.
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Wow what an awesome adventure Bama!
How do you save money for your travels? 🙂
Is there any space for me on your baggage? 😀
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It really was, Marjorie! I planned this trip three years ago and started saving really hard two years ago. I will soon publish a post where I will explain what I did in those two years to reach my saving goal. 🙂
Ha! You have to fit in my not-so-big backpack though. 🙂
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Bama, This spice journey definitely adds spice, to the life of every person, who reads it. It’s a beautiful world and there is so much more to discover. Thanks for your effort in finding and presenting these hidden jewels to the rest of the world. Happy Exploring !!!
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That is very kind of you, Darshan. I’m glad if the journey I took actually inspires others to go out of their comfort zones and explore the world — by doing so we create better understanding among people from different countries. Happy exploring too!
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Great captures!
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Thank you, Vonnie!
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I would looove to go to Indonesia one day! Your pictures look great!
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Thank you. And I would love to go to Russia, especially St Petersburg and Moscow.
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I think you would love it. Just go in summer when it is not that cold 😉
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Wow! Seems like an amazing trip! Adding Indonesia to my travel bucket list 🙂
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You should! 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Remarkable trip. Hopefully you will complete the visit to the rest of the islands in the future. Perhaps for different travel mission.
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Oh I surely hope so. But Indonesia is just so huge — every time I complete a trip I always learn new places in the country and the list keeps going on! A different travel mission is actually one of the ideas I’ve been pondering for quite some time now.
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You have single handedly made me fall in love with Indonesia with this series of pictures, so stunning
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Hi Emily. I’m really glad this post did just that — Indonesia is still relatively less known to tourists compared to Malaysia or Thailand. Hope you make it one day to the country! Thanks for reading.
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keren bangat kk. singgah juga di Pulau Buru, salah satu pulau di maluku, tempat tahanan politik orde baru dan pramoedya dibuang. Ada banyak pantai-pantai dan spot-spot cantik penyejuk mata dan kamera. kejar sunset terbaik di wamsait atau bara. hirup aroma wangi minyak kayu putih asli dari pucuk-pucuk daun kayu putih dan tempat penyulingan tradisional. pasti banyak cerita dari sana.
salam hangat dari orang pulau buru.
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Saya ingin sekali ke Pulau Buru, karena beberapa artikel yang saya baca di Internet, acara yang saya tonton di TV, dan buku yang pernah saya baca, khususnya the Malay Archipelago karangan Alfred Russell Wallace. Mudah-mudahan suatu hari nanti saya bisa menginjakkan kaki di sana. Terima kasih banyak atas informasinya dan salam hangat dari Jakarta.
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We have almost come to an end of our own 2 month trip through Indonesia. Lake Toba was certainly a highlight, the Batak people are wonderful hosts. 2 months is nowhere near enough to see the delights of this country though!
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Hi Sinead. I’m glad to know that you spent a considerable amount exploring Indonesia since it is very sprawling. Which parts of the country did you and Jimmy explore? I was actually a bit disappointed when I went to Lake Toba for the second time last year because there was more noise than in my first visit three years earlier. Was the island and the lake tranquil at the time of your visit?
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