In the past the only tourists visiting Indonesia were either global nomads, or eccentric artists. Today everyone from honeymooners to families are booking flights to Indonesia to discover what they've been missing out on all these years. And their first stop is usually the capital, Jakarta. Like most big, overpopulated cities Jakarta can be exhausting so a couple of days here is more than enough.
Made up of thousands of islands, Indonesia is a large and varied archipelago. Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, New Guinea and Sulawesi are the largest of the islands. Java, where Jakarta is situated, is the most developed of the islands and boasts some awe-inspiring volcanoes. Adventure seeking travellers booking flights to Indonesia should plan a climb up Gunung Bromo, the active volcano. Most of the tourism is concentrated in the tiny island of Bali, which has some of the best beaches and resorts in the country. Its cultural capital, Ubud, is renowned for its art galleries and festivals. Further east Lombok’s beaches and temples are becoming increasingly popular with travellers looking to get away from the crowds that Bali draws. For a real off-the-beaten-track holiday travellers should head to Sumba, where the annual pasola (ritual war) takes place and outsiders are encouraged to partake in a rite of passage-style ritual of sharing betel nut (a euphoric stimulant) with the village headman and his hosts.
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