First-time traveler to Indonesia (first time in East Asia, period!) (best, country)
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I have never been to East Asia before, having been born in North America and traveled/lived in Europe and (now) the Middle East.
I leave Sunday morning for 13 days in Indonesia, and I have the fortune of visiting friends, but even with their help and desire to arrange a good program for me (which will likely be Jakarta then Yogyakarta then Bali), I would love to get input from people who might be able to suggest things that make my trip even better.
Here's the best I can do for now to list what I like/what I might be looking for:
I'm a late 20s male. I am definitely big into fashion, and even though I am not looking to drop lots of money, I would like to find some cool stuff while in Indonesia. Specifically, I need a nice pair of black dress pants (not sure if going to a tailor or buying something off the rack is more advised in Jakarta or elsewhere), a stylish messenger bag (almost definitely black), and perhaps some other things I happen upon (dress shirts, t-shirts, a pair of dark blue jeans, shoes, some fun stuff). I tend to go for European/Turkish styles and cuts over an American look. I would greatly appreciate recommendations for shopping in Indonesia (specifically, those 3 cities mentioned above, but other places just in case I go there). Which stores are available in Indonesia but not in the Gulf or the U.S.? Are prices for certain items cheaper than in the Gulf/the U.S.? Which types of things? For anyone who is really knowledgeable with prices and selection, I will soon be in Beirut (mid-July) and I work in Riyadh, so any comparisons relating to what I can access in those cities are much appreciated.
Which bookstore would have the biggest selection of books on sociology/cultural studies/history/current events?
I love going to cultural events. Are there concerts/dance shows/festivals/things you recommend?
I am a definite city person, but I would love to take advantage of "unique to Indonesia" experiences which may be away from the urban landscape. Which places are geographically interesting and different from what I may have seen in the U.S./Europe/the Gulf? What do you consider the most beautiful places in Indonesia?
Which spots in Jakarta do you recommend in terms of beauty (a park perhaps), uniqueness (a restaurant, a museum, anything), or any other feature? Which eateries and food/drinks from supermarkets should I try? I love sweets (ice cream, candy, chocolate, bakeries); any suggestions based on your experiences? I love tennis, so if there is any cool shop or anything at all related to it, please fill me in.
I prefer walking around places, not taking taxis all the time (though public transportation that gets me where I want is fine). Which areas in Jakarta/Yogyakarta/Bali are great for walking and exploring?
Finally, what are some not-too-expensive gifts I could get in Indonesia for a) the students I teach in Saudi Arabia and b) my family in North America? No t-shirts, mugs, or related suggestions, but perhaps some nonperishable food item/gift that is unique to Indonesia.
That's interesting. Sounds like basically you're taking it as a big shopping trip looking for fashion, malls, bookstores, etc.
Well, Jarkata has a lot of malls. Most of the same stuff that's in any mall anywhere in the world.
Yogjkarta and Bali are filled with Indonesian culture. But, for malls, Jakarta is tops for that. I've spent a month in Indonesia, but malls and shopping were low priority, so not sure the prices for those types of things. As a general rule, cheap quality local stuff will be cheap, and high quality western stuff will be even more expensive than the west.
Hmm...books on sociology/cultural studies/history/current events. There are certainly bookstores throughout the world. But, generally speaking, they'll be cheaper in the U.S., especially as I imagine you want English books. Usually in other countries, they increase the prices due to import taxes and such.
Cultural Events. I hope you like Indonesian ones! Sounds like you are looking for mostly western ones. But Yogjakarta is absolutely filled with them. All Indonesian! Beautiful too. Bali has a ton as well. Just open up any tour guide book, and you'll read about all of them. I'd go to your nearby bookstore and open up a Lonely Planet guide. I'd have to resort to it myself right now, just to try to remember all the different types and names.
Regarding walking around. Well, Yogjakarta and Bali are hugely popular tourist areas where people walk around all the time. Jakarta, you can also walk around there easily. You might have to take a taxi at times too though. The U.S. is designed around a car. Once you get out of the U.S., you'll see other countries are very designed for practicality and strolling and such. It'll be hot though.
Gifts. Probably batik wood.
I'd highly recommend going to the bookstore, buying a Lonely Planet guide, and read up on Bali and Yogjakarta. Both are highly popular places with so many Indonesian things. I think you'll certainly enjoy them. I'd describe them more in detail, but I could only scratch the surface with what's available, and I'd have to open up other webpages to remember them all. All of the information is certainly available all over the internet.
Last edited by Tiger Beer; 06-17-2011 at 06:37 PM..
cant really help you when it comes to shopping. like tiger says jakarta has a lot of malls, but i don't go to them to shop, i go to them to um ppl watch
how do you plan on getting fro yogakarta to bali? if overland/ferry i would recommend a visit to mount bromo along the way. defo something you can't find in the middle east or north america. or anywhere except another planet maybe.
good day trip from yogakarta is borobodur or something.
where are you planning on staying in bali?
you dont really have enough time to do much by the looks of it. good luck in any case. hope you find what you're looking for.
Which bookstore would have the biggest selection of books on sociology/cultural studies/history/current events?
you can find it at Gramedia Book Store
Gajah Mada Street
Jl.Pintu Air 72 JAKARTA
Jl. Matraman Raya 46-48 JAKARTA
Jl. Melawai III/12-18 & Jl. Melawai IV/13
Blok M South Jakarta
Quote:
Originally Posted by Creo
I love going to cultural events. Are there concerts/dance shows/festivals/things you recommend?
1. Jakarta Fair 09 June to 10 July
2. 11 June 2011 to 9 July 2011 Bali Art Festival In Bali
Quote:
Originally Posted by Creo
the most beautiful places in Indonesia?
1. Samosir Island & Toba Lake at North Sumatera >> Original Ethnic
2. Lombok Island (Near to Bali)
3. Pulau Bintan & Batam, Riau >> best beach
4. Kaliurang, Yogyakarta
5. PUlau Moyo West Nusa Tenggara
6. Bunaken North Sulawesi best for dive
7. Kampung Sampireun, Garut, Jawa Barat best for cycling
8. Belitung
9. Tanjung Lesung Banten near Jakarta
10. Takabonerate Island best for dive
11. Kelimutu 3 colour lake
12. Bromo vulcanolog tour
13. Toraja South sulawesi alot of traditional womb and festival
14.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Creo
I prefer walking around places, not taking taxis all the time (though public transportation that gets me where I want is fine). Which areas in Jakarta/Yogyakarta/Bali are great for walking and exploring?
In Jakarta you can walk around Monas, sometimes Car Free day on Sunday in Sudirman & Thamrin Street
Quote:
Originally Posted by Creo
Finally, what are some not-too-expensive gifts I could get in Indonesia for a) the students I teach in Saudi Arabia and b) my family in North America? No t-shirts, mugs, or related suggestions, but perhaps some nonperishable food item/gift that is unique to Indonesia.
1. Batik (Java ethnic clothe)
2. Ulos (Batak ethnic clothe/shawl)
3. Various cheap accessories in pasar baru Jakarta
very interesting your article, many places in Indonesia are the best such as : temple Borobudur / Prambanan, Bunaken marine park, Jayawijaya and Carstensz Peak, Lake three color Flores, Komodo Island, Mount Bromo, Puncak Bogor you can do paragliding action over tea gardens
cant really help you when it comes to shopping. like tiger says jakarta has a lot of malls, but i don't go to them to shop, i go to them to um ppl watch
how do you plan on getting fro yogakarta to bali? if overland/ferry i would recommend a visit to mount bromo along the way. defo something you can't find in the middle east or north america. or anywhere except another planet maybe.
good day trip from yogakarta is borobodur or something.
where are you planning on staying in bali?
you dont really have enough time to do much by the looks of it. good luck in any case. hope you find what you're looking for.
Unless it's shopping for girls .
I recently returned from Bali. I posted another topic about it. Loved the hospitality, food and Ubud - the architecture, culture, as well as the countryside with the volcanoes and temples and stuff. Seminyak-Kuta, not my cuppa, good place for food and a cheap massage, and maybe watersports.
very interesting your article, many places in Indonesia are the best such as : temple Borobudur / Prambanan, Bunaken marine park, Jayawijaya and Carstensz Peak, Lake three color Flores, Komodo Island, Mount Bromo, Puncak Bogor you can do paragliding action over tea gardens
I think the clothes of batik is souvenir the very appropriate for you to take home, like foreign tourists do.
why do you dig up old threads?
in case you didn't now, the OP already went on this trip in 2011 it's 2014 now.
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, many places in Indonesia are the best such as : temple Borobudur / Prambanan, Bunaken marine park, Jayawijaya and Carstensz Peak, Lake three color Flores, Komodo Island, Mount Bromo, Puncak Bogor you can do paragliding action over tea gardens
