Snapshots of Indonesia

A lot of people have asked us why we fell in love with Indonesia. Well, you know those moments when you are where you are supposed to be and everything feels just right? We had that feeling for the whole four weeks we were in Indonesia and for the first time in eleven months, we felt not just great, but truly at home. The moment we arrived in Jakarta we knew. Even though Jakarta is a raw, dirty and grey city, we knew this country was magic.
We left Jakarta as soon as we could, this is not a city where you want to spend too many days. We took a train to Yogyakarta, where we planned to stay for five days, before flying to Bali. Traveling in Indonesia is easy. Everyone speaks a little bit of English and if they don’t, someone else will. And like everywhere, everyone appreciates it if you try to speak at least a little of the local language (I can say hello, thank you and milk (which is the cutest word: susu).
We didn’t know much about Yogyakarta, just that everyone we met told us to go there. Yogyakarta did not disappoint at all. What a great city. We stayed at the city center, close to the main street. This made it easy for us to explore the city on foot but because of the insane heat, we opted to take a becak (a sort of tuktuk) most of the time.
From Yogyakarta we took a plane to Bali. The promised land. Shangri-La. This is where the magic happens. More clichés. And they’re true. Bali and Lembongan Island are amazing places. We spent some time in Ubud, where we drank a lot of healthy juices. In Padangbai we went snorkeling for the first time and loved it. Why didn’t anyone tell us it was this great? We would have done it months ago. In Canggu we spent some time with friends from Holland who live on Bali now, and have an amazing homestay, with the best breakfast in Asia.
We felt sad leaving Indonesia. But not too sad because we know we will be coming back here. As soon as we can.
Have you ever fallen in love with a country?
13 Comments
Aggy // // //
So glad you love my city (Yogyakarta), going home soon and it truly is a great place to be called home! Hope you come back soon 🙂
Angela // // //
I hope to be back soon, it really is a great city!
Franca // // //
Once more, such amazing shots here! Sometimes it seems like we can see through your ‘eyes’ exactly what we would have stopped to observe ourselves. LOVE THEM!
I’ve never felt the same way you did while in Indonesia. We traveled a bit but never felt completely home, I guess we have to keep going until that happens.
Such a shame we didn’t make to Indonesia, it looks like we might have liked it, plus Dale would love to work in a coffee plantation over there to pay back his love for coffee and learn more about the whole process. One day perhaps…
Angela // // //
Thanks Franca! It took us a long time to find a place where we felt at home.
I’m pretty sure you guys will love Indonesia. It’s pretty much the best country we have been to so far! We need to get in contact asap to see if we can meet up for coffee somewhere!
Steph (@ 20 Years Hence) // // //
Beautiful shots as usual, guys! Your posts and obvious love for Indonesia have made us SO excited for our own visit (just 10 days now!), though I am still so bummed that we won’t be able to meet up there. Sounds like we made the right move getting a 2-month visa as I have no doubt that we’ll want to stay as long as we can. We have been to some really gorgeous places on our trip, but the photos coming out of Indo always floor us.
It took us a while before we got into enough of a groove that we were really able to get comfortable enough to start to view places like home. Right now we’re hunkered down in this amazing little town in northern Thailand called Pai and we never want to leave; it just makes us so happy! We also think we could seriously live for a while in Vietnam and in Taiwan too.
Angela // // //
I’m so jealous you are in Pai. I don’t know why we didn’t go there when we lived in Chiang Mai.
Only 5 more days until Indonesia and yes, you will need that 2 months visa. There is just so much to see and do and everywhere you go is just so different. You are flying to Bali right? We know a great place to stay in Canggu, they have the best breakfast ever.
Wil @ Where's Wil // // //
I’ll be in Indonesia in a few months and I’m super excited to get there. I’m planning on visiting Borneo and Sumatra (with a little time in Bali) and am doing my best to learn the language before I go.
Angela // // //
Good for you! Next time we really want to spend some more time exploring a few of the other islands of Indonesia. Borneo sounds really great.
Alli Campbell // // //
I love all the animals sneaking in everywhere – and that shot of the mama monkey is divine. I will never understand the need for fluoro chickens though!!! We saw the same in China. I haven’t gotten to Indo yet but these shots are nudging it higher up the bucket list 🙂
Angela // // //
The mama monkey was so great, we could almost touch her. Which I didn’t because I’m super scared of monkeys. I should work for the Indonesia tourism board because I keep telling everyone to go there, it is really awesome.
denise // // //
I love love love the crispness of these images. It’s funny how different places make an impression on us – with you, it was Indonesia, which I don’t care much for, with someone else Sri Lanka, with me, South Korea….
Angela // // //
Thank you! South Korea is definitely on our to-visit list!
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