Indonesia alone. Bukittinggi, sumatra, indonesia

You ask, why is it suddenly exactly Indonesia? After all, there is China, India, Japan, Nepal... I agree that there are many more interesting countries in Asia. But such as Indonesia is no more! A huge state with a length of 5,000 kilometers, has more than 17,500 (!!!) islands, which are home to 220 million people who speak hundreds of different languages.

Indonesia occupies a unique geographical position. It connects Asia with Australia, and separates two oceans - the Pacific and the Indian. This is the reason for the unique biological diversity. In no other country in the world do tree marsupial kangaroos and tigers live at the same time. Nobody's waters are teeming with such a variety of fish.

And finally, volcanoes ... Yes, it is because of them that the soil here is so fertile that the Indonesians harvest three crops a year, and the island of Java is the most densely populated place on the planet. The population density here is the same as if all Russians were settled in the Tver region. There are more than 150 volcanoes here, and they are even more! I think everyone has heard about Krakatoa! And finally, the emerald sea, sandy beaches, dinners for $5, and bungalows for $10. Do you agree that you SHOULD GO??

This trip was organized in a very unusual way for me - via the Internet. Preparing for my first trip as part of the planned BIG TRIP YEAR (the year of the Great Journey), I accidentally stumbled upon a cool photo story about a trip to the islands of Indonesia .. Photos of the azure clear sea, coconut trees, smiling children and the simplest fishing shacks, taken clearly not on digital, but not on film, forced me to leave respect to the traveler's LiveJournal. Almost immediately I received an answer: “This summer I am going again. Let's go together!". This is how I met Seryoga (http://sergeynovikov.com/). We agreed to write off after my return from a solo trip to Thailand and Laos.

August was approaching inexorably, and we still had not bought tickets. For a long time we waited for cheap "burning" offers, and as a result, tickets were bought three days before departure! Everything turned out the way we wanted. Tickets were bought "only" for 30 thousand. Serega said: "Now we have tickets to heaven!" And off we go...

After the first experience of swimming among the reefs (it was in Jordan), I realized that it was very cool. And now, due to hygiene reasons, I decided to buy my personal kit No. 1 (snorkel, mask and fins), as well as special shoes (reefs). In addition, there was a risk that not everywhere where you want to swim, there will be equipment rentals, and wasting time looking for them is blasphemy! I bought diving equipment in the Moscow State University dive center, I paid ... rubles for everything. Also from the "non-standard equipment" I took special boots of the "military series" for trekking through the jungle and a disposable film camera (I spared money on digital) for underwater shooting.

About the photo. On this trip, I took the "number". You can't save up any film for such exoticism, and the colors (my main complaint about digital) here are such that there is enough for digital.

"Starting data" for money on the date of the start of the trip:

• Cash - $654
• On the card - 27 723 rubles.
• On the phone - 3876r.

I divided a big photo story about this cool trip into three parts: a trip to the island of Java, the island of Bali and the islands of Loboc and Gili. Below, as usual, is some useful information for those who like this idea.

Sights of Indonesia (my view)

After almost a month of non-stop travel around the islands of "Central Indonesia", I would say that you need to go here to:

• Watch volcanoes
• Dive for fish
• learn to surf
• Meet orangutans and dragons

To say that Indonesia is rich in attractions is to say nothing. Having visited myself, leafing through guidebooks and talking with experienced people, I would single out the following, the most interesting places in the country:

Volcanoes:
- Krakatau. The greatest catastrophe in the history of mankind
- Rinjani. A beautiful volcano with a lake in the caldera. Close to Bali
- Bromo. A group of volcanoes, a huge caldera, a temple inside the crater
- Kawa Ijen. Boiling, liquid sulfur. Extraction with the help of porters
- Kelimutu. Caldera with colored volcanic lakes

Snorkeling, diving:
- Pulau Veh. The greatest catastrophe in the history of mankind
- Banda islands. Absolute idyll
- Komodo. Super diver plus komodo dragons
- Gili Islands. Great place close to Bali

Natural national parks:
- Gunung Leuser. Orangutans
- Gunung Palung Park. Second Orangutan Reservation

Architectural monuments:
- Borobudur. The greatest Buddhist monument
- Prambanan. Hindu temples
- Tanah Lot. Balinese temple in the sea

Ethnography:
- Papuans in New Guinea
- the culture of the people in Sulawesi
- cannibal Christians in Sumatra
- Sumba culture

Relax:
- Kuta. Huge beach and waves for surfing
- Gili Islands. Three small islands for complete relaxation

Pros of Indonesia

• huge natural diversity (volcanoes, jungles, underwater world)
• cheap housing and food

Cons of Indonesia

• Weak transport infrastructure (almost complete lack of public transport, slow road speed (dense traffic, frequent stops). The average final speed is 15-20 km / h.
• Long, expensive and tiring road (unless, of course, a direct charter)
• Lack of fresh water on truly wild and interesting islands
• Not very interesting cuisine, rice with vegetables and chicken and juices, that's all your menu!
• Not 100% stable political situation. Potentially possible even terrorist attacks! Before departure, be sure to study the media (of course, English-speaking)
• Indonesia stands exactly on the Pacific "belt of fire", and therefore volcanic eruptions and all kinds of tsunamis occur here with enviable regularity. But... who does not take risks, he does not drink champagne will not see the world!

Visa to Indonesia

Visa to Indonesia is obtained without problems. Upon arrival, at the airport you pay $25 for a monthly visa or $10 for a seven-day one. On this question is closed.

When to go to Indonesia

In Indonesia, as in any tropical country, there are two seasons - wet and dry. The best time is the dry season from May to October. The peak season is August. The weather is good, but there are a lot of tourists. During our trip most of the hotels were "full", ie. did not have vacancies. To avoid difficulties in finding accommodation, and most importantly, crowds of tourists in the most interesting places, I advise you to go in September, when traveling European students will go home.

Basic facts about the country

The capital is Jakarta (Java Island), 9 million people. The population of all Indonesia is 230 million people. (fourth place in the world after China, India and the USA). Of which 88% are Muslims. The system of government is a presidential republic. Independence Day - 17 August. Natural resources: oil, tin, gas, nickel, timber. Main crops: rice, peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee. Main trade and economic partners: Japan, Singapore, USA, China, South Korea, Australia.

Safety issues when traveling alone

In principle, we can safely say that traveling in Indonesia is safe. The people of Southeast Asia are calm, peaceful and smiling. In tourist cities, Europeans are addressed as "mister", or flatteringly "boss", and on the beaches "my friend" or generally "brother" (brother). Cases of attacks or robberies of independently traveling tourists are not known to me. During our trip, we met a lot of young girls, mostly Americans, traveling in twos (no guys), or even alone. One girl from Canada, who has traveled to many countries of the world, said in a conversation that Indonesia is "very safe, compared to many countries in the world, such as Latin America and Africa." It seems that this is indeed the case.

The only thing you need to keep an eye on is the desire to cash in on you as much as possible, which is especially pronounced in tourist areas. For example, the concept of "price tag" is present only in supermarkets. In other cases, the price is called from the ceiling, and usually two or three or even five times higher than how much this thing (souvenir) or service (transport) costs. Feel free to offer your price, reducing the declared by half! Always agree on the price of the trip before you get on the transport and have small bills to give the amount without change. Otherwise, they will tell you that "unfortunately, there is no surrender" :) Many people are afraid of the tropics, thinking that everything is teeming with snakes, crocodiles and leeches. I can state with full responsibility that this is a delusion. During the three weeks of travel I did not meet any of those creatures that are listed above. I think there may be problems during the wet season, but in the summer, during the dry season, there are even fewer mosquitoes here than in Moscow.

Someone heard something about malaria, a difficult infection, the disease of which is not easy to cure. In fact, this is not a reason not to go to Indonesia to see the most basic and popular places. Yes, malaria still remained "in the backyard of the empire", but it is practically non-existent either in Bali or in Java. The probability of getting malaria in these places is no higher than the risk of catching tick-borne encephalitis in Russia.

And finally, the food. Probably, someone is afraid of the problems caused by the insufficient level of hygiene in the countries of Southeast Asia. To be honest, I once, before my first trip to Asia (Thailand), was afraid of problems caused by dysfunction of the digestive tract. But I will tell you one remarkable thing: in the 50 days that I spent in the countries of Southeast Asia, I never had a stomach ache. Draw your own conclusions!

However, there are two factors that create a potential danger of traveling in Indonesia: a) a theoretically unstable political system with the possibility of terrorist attacks and natural disasters (volcanoes, tsunamis). But, of course, the chances of getting into such a “trouble” are extremely low, so I decided for myself that it’s not worth giving up a trip to Indonesia because of this.

transport and logistic

In large cities (Jakarta, Yogyakarta) there are modern city buses (3 thousand rupees or $ 0.3 for a trip around the city) or cycle rickshaws ("bechak", 5000 rupees for a 10-minute trip). But the fastest and cheapest option for moving over short distances (3-5 km) is a motorcycle (jack). The driver puts your bag (backpack) between his legs and you rush along the roads the way the Indonesians do. Fast, but still potentially unsafe. A ten-minute ride for 5-10 km costs 10,000 rupees ($1).

Intercity public transport is poorly developed. There is a railway connection only on the island of Java (there are only seats on the trains), and we did not find a municipal bus service between cities. All transportation is carried out by private traders on different types of transport - from large buses to "minibuses" like our "Gazelles", called here "bemo" (bemo). The easiest way to find them is near the city markets. The worst thing is that no one will sell you a ticket and you will not find a schedule anywhere. Transport leaves as it fills up, and the fare for tourists is taken from the ceiling. The only way to pay the "correct" price is to know in advance how much this particular move should cost. For reference, I can say that the price in 2008 was around 20 thousand rupees for a 2 hour drive. You can travel between the islands by ferry (very cheap and very long) or by plane (convenient, fast, about $35-40 for a Bali-Lombok flight). Flights within the country are carried out by more than ten airlines, the planes are small, and flights are often canceled or delayed. Don't plan multiple back-to-back connecting flights with no margin for complications.

Road travel

I advise you to abandon the idea of ​​moving around Indonesia on a rented motorcycle or scooter ($5 per day). Left-hand traffic, wild Asian traffic, all this is a serious danger. Maybe a car is safer, but it's harder to find. Personally, I found for myself the best option for exploring the immediate surroundings - a bicycle. You can ride it on the sidewalks, climb into the very wilderness, where you can tie it with a special cable lock, which is always included in the kit, and you can find rental bikes everywhere. The price is about $2 per day.

Food, nutrition issues

Cuisine in Indonesia is simple and unobtrusive. The main products are rice, chicken, eggs, fruits. The main "folk" dishes are Nosi Goreng (rice fried with vegetables) and Sate Ayam (rice with small chicken skewers on skewers). For breakfast, a banana pancake (banana pancake), beer - Bintang. An average lunch - rice with meat and vegetables, soup, juice and tea with a banana pancake - in an inexpensive cafe will cost you 50-60 thousand rupees ($5-$6).

Religion

Despite the fact that almost all of Indonesia, with the exception of Bali, is Muslim, this does not cause problems. Religiosity here is manifested for the most part only in the fact that you can’t order pork for dinner, and women walk around in headscarves. Beer, for example, is sold everywhere, and the morning calls of the muezzin, which were so annoying in Jordan, are barely audible, and then only in large cities. Men don't wear dresses, women don't wear veils. Bali is a separate issue altogether. Historically, back in the 14th century, Hindus fled to this small island from Muslim expansion. And now there is a completely different Indonesia. With a cult of monkey worship and a mega-tourist infrastructure.

A Brief History of Indonesia

From 1st to 5th c. AD under the influence of India, Indonesia became Hindu-Buddhist. Then, in the 13th century, Islam entered the country through Arab traders, which forced the Hindu elite to the island of Bali.
The first Europeans (Portuguese) sailed to Indonesia in 1509 and started the spice trade in the Moluccas. While the British explored Malaysia and the Spaniards the Philippines, the Dutch set about Indonesia. Within 10 years, 65 ships with spices were sent to Europe, which made a splash in Europe. The Dutch held out in Indonesia right up to 1953, when the country, led by Sukarno, gained independence. The movement he founded under the slogan "One people one Language One Nation" finally united the nation.

List of things for the trip

Your own sheets and covers. In cheap bungalows, linen is not changed, and there are no bedspreads and blankets in principle. Despite the hot climate, it gets cool in the morning.
- reef slippers. Very often, approaches to reefs are hindered by small stones and destroyed corals. The best way to overcome such shallow water is to buy special neoprene slippers, which are sold in dive shops. If you have limited luggage, you can get by with ordinary sandals. Just pay attention that the heel is fixed in them, otherwise you risk losing them in the water.

Our travel itinerary

Java Island

Java is the main island of the country and wildly populated. The capital of the island (and country) is Jakarta. A city of contrasts, like all Asian cities. In my opinion, there is nothing to do in Jakarta, except for shopping in the city center, where there are modern shopping centers.
We left Jakarta as soon as we flew into it. Since we were driving to Yogyakarta (near this city is the famous Borobudur), we went straight from the airport to the railway station. Comfortable buses run every half hour from the airport to the station. The ticket price is only $2.
Trains to Joju leave in the evening, after eight o'clock. We arrived at the station at five o'clock, stood in a huge queue and bought tickets for a seated car (they don't have compartments and reserved seats, in our understanding).
The train arrives in Yogyakarta around five o'clock in the morning. Yogyakarta itself is a decent city. Everything is there - both shops and the Internet. I even managed to find a good Nikon lens there in a couple of hours.
Excursions to Borobudur usually start early in the morning to meet the dawn there.
In the evening, you can go to the Bromo volcano - this is the most interesting thing in Java. The easiest way to buy a tour is at the tour office in Yogyakarta. Then you and other tourists will be taken to the volcano during the day, and the first half of the next day you will be on Bromo. In the evening you can get to another interesting volcano - Kawa Ijen. Watch it in the morning, and in the evening you get to the ferry to Bali, an hour on the ferry and that's it, you are in Bali!

Bali island

To be honest, I liked Bali the least of the places where we were. Diving here is worse than on Gili. In my opinion, Bali, compared to the rest of Indonesia, has only two pluses - cheap and waves. Cheap, because you can buy a "ticket" with a direct charter and in Kuta (Bali's main beach) cheap food and accommodation. Waves - because the Indian Ocean. They say this is one of the best places to learn to surf. But be careful. The waves are very dangerous for simple swimming. Very! In Bali, we visited four towns - Lavina, Amed (Jimilyuk), Kuta and Ubud. You can read more about each place in the Lonely Planet, you can't do without it. I will only note interesting places and proven inexpensive bungalows.

Kuta, Bali
Cheap overnight stay:
Suka Beach Inn
Coordinates: S08°42"57" E115°10"20"

Cheap food:
$3 for a hearty lunch
Coordinates: S08°43"10" E115°10"25"

Avalanche
There are three main attractions in the vicinity - a sea excursion to the dolphins, warm springs (with bars and cafes, everything is civilized) and a waterfall (dries up in summer). In general, in my opinion, there is not much to do here, especially with a limited amount of time. The beach is black volcanic sand, there are no reefs, corals and fish.

Amed and Dzhimiluk
The place is located on the northeast coast of Bali. The guidebook says that here is one of the best "coral gardens" for snorkeling. In fact, so-so. The Gili Islands are much better. But for a change, you can go.
For housing, I recommend the Good Karma bungalow with an awesome beach surrounded by rocks and Blue Divers in Dzhimiluk (the best corals), where you can take a diving trip (one day - $40)

Ubud
I advise one super place surrounded by rice fields and with very tasty cuisine:
Lala&Lili Hotel
Coordinates: S08°30.194" E115°15.089"

Lombok island, Rinjani volcano

There are two ways to get to Lombok Island - by plane from Kuta (Bali) or Jakarta or by ferry from Bali. The plane from Kuta flies only 20 minutes and costs $40. This is the fastest way. If you want to save thirty dollars, but lose a day of time, you can take the ferry. We flew by plane. And I think it's right.

The capital of Lombok - the city of Mataram - is a terrible hole. There is absolutely nothing to do. It is better to immediately blow either to the Gili Islands (an hour from the ferry and 15 minutes by boat to the paradise islands) or take a taxi (or go by public transport) to the village of Senaru, which is located at the foot of the Rinjani volcano. You have two ways to go to Rinjani - buy a tour or go on your own. Tours are expensive. The official price is $100 for a two-day trek with porters. We walked by ourselves. The trail is good there, and for safety I had the coordinates of the five main points on the trail. Here they are:

Tourist office - S08°18.189" E116°24.056
Gateway to the national park - S08°19.180 E116°24.133"
Parking 1 - S08°19.705" E116°24.113"
Parking lot 2 - S08°20.936" E116°23.721"
Parking lot 3 - S08°22.155" E116°23.960"
Crater rim - S08°22.742 E116°24.081"

Mataram, Lombok
Puri Indah Hotel. There is fresh water, air conditioning, TV and a nice swimming pool. A very decent place.
Coordinates: S08°35.623" E116°07.184"

Gili Air Island

Tiny islands with sandy beaches and coral reefs are located near the island of Lombok, directly adjacent to Bali. The chip of the islands is that gasoline transport is prohibited on them. Moving (only to bring heavy bags to the hotel) is possible only on horse-drawn carts. Gili can be reached either directly from Kuta by speedboat ($70, 2 hours from the port) or by plane or ferry to Lombok Island ($40), and then 15 minutes by boat.

A cheap boat (public boat) departs from the pier on about. Lombok only twice a day - in the morning and in the afternoon. But it costs only $1, instead of $20 for an individual "charter" to the island. Be careful! On the approaches to the pier from the side of Lombok, there are several scammers who sell fake tickets !! Buy a ticket in a civil building of the port, which is located on the very shore!

The most serious disadvantage of the Gili Islands is that they do not have fresh water. Of course, bottled water is for sale, but the shower in the bungalow is made of sea water. In principle, they defend the water, and rinsing it is quite normal. It just lathers badly.

The Gili Islands themselves consist of three islands - Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan. The last one is noisier and has the most beautiful corals, the second one is a real hole. I advise you the quiet and in its own way unique Gili Air. The place is very quiet, diving from the beach, there is a dive club, internet and a stall with basic household goods.

You can stop at Lombok Indan. Inexpensive, quiet, calm bungalow 10 minutes walk from the central beach. In August 2008 we found a bungalow with two beds, fan (didn't use) and mandi for $12 per day (negotiated from $15 originally advertised).
Coordinates: S08°21.048" E116°05.056"

For those who need a higher service, I can recommend the only place that really class hotel. It is located right next to the central beach, there is a swimming pool, etc.
Hotel Sun Rise, tel. 0370 642370
Coordinates: S08°21.775" E116°05.246"

Diving, snorkeling:
"Blue Marlin Dive" is the main dive site. Equipment rental (fins, mask and snorkel for $2.5 per day), diving and snorkeling tours ($8 for half a day, four dives in all three Gili Islands), training (including in the pool), European (English-speaking) instructors. There are no Russian speakers.
Coordinates: S08°21.207" E116°05.205"

Of the many cafes on the coast, we liked the "Wiwin Cafe" at the northern end of the central beach the most. Medium dish with fish, vegetables and rice - $4, nosy goreng special - $3, beer 05L - $2, juice - $1.
Coordinates: S08°21.606" E116°05.244"

Well, with Indonesia, perhaps everything!

You may be interested in my other travels in Asia. In addition to Indonesia, my friends and I traveled around Nepal for more than a month, passed the tracks to the Everest base camp and Annapurna, and even ended up in the mysterious kingdom of Bhutan for four days! In general, my acquaintance with Southeast Asia began with

Category: Indonesia

20 articles with photos about my independent travels in Indonesia. Traveled by public transport on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, Flores, around the island of Kalimantan and Sulawesi. About 40 locations in Indonesia. Sights, culture, volcanoes and nature - the highlights

It's done. I made it to the Kelimutu volcano! Itself, across the country, having made an unforgettable journey through Indonesia by public transport. After the village of Ben, I left for Ende and the next day for Moni, from there it is convenient to go to the volcano. I tell about my visit to this masterpiece of nature and one of the best places on Earth,…

Traveling on my own in Indonesia, I came to the small town of Berastagi from Lake Toba, to look at volcanoes, which I had never seen alive before in my life, did not come close and, moreover, did not climb to the top. I went to one of them, very interesting and accessible, on the second day (this story, as well as information ...

Independent travel implies complete freedom in choosing accommodation, excursions, entertainment. Those who do not want to pay extra money to travel companies for a guide to take you literally by the hand to the most popular sights, but want to get to know the customs of the local population and just love free time, usually go to travel on their own, having bought plane tickets and packed everything they need in a suitcase. What to take with you to Indonesia? Indonesia is a country with a very developed infrastructure, with many shops and hypermarkets where you can buy what you forget to take with you from your homeland, such as a hat to protect your head from hot sun rays, a swimsuit, glasses and beach shoes. If you plan to visit the temples, then bring modest clothing that covers your knees. On excursions into the jungle, insect repellents may come in handy. It is irrational to take a wallet with a thick wad of cash: there are many ATMs and bank branches in the country. A thick bag with medicines for all types of diseases is not needed: in any locality, pharmacies are open, where they offer international-class patented drugs. How to get to Indonesia The best way to get to Indonesia is by plane. It is the fastest, safest and most convenient way. Direct flights from Russia are only charter, they fly rarely and not from all cities. You can fly with a connection using the services of Thai Airways, Transaero, Emirates Airlines. From the capitals of the states of Southeast Asia and the countries of the Persian Gulf, there are many daily flights to Jakarta (the capital of Indonesia) and the island of Bali. When planning a flight, you should make sure that the date of arrival at the Indonesian airport does not fall on the days when the country is Day of Silence, or Nyepi, (roads are closed, and airports only accept emergency landing aircraft).
Visa regime A nice aspect of independent travel to Indonesia is that a tourist visa is issued upon arrival at the airport. All you need to do is pay the twenty-five dollar fee, show your documents (passport with a validity of more than six months, tickets to your homeland or a third country, confirmation of a hotel reservation or proof of funds) and enjoy your vacation for thirty days. Children under nine years of age do not need a visa or fee. After the expiration of the visa, its one-time extension for another 30 days is allowed. To do this, you must contact the police (department for foreigners). The best time to relax All islands of Indonesia have an equatorial monsoon climate, which means a small temperature difference and the presence of only two seasons - dry and rainy. From May to the end of October, there is the least rainfall and the most sunny days. It was during this period that an influx of tourists is noted in Indonesia. The next peak of the tourist season is the New Year and Christmas holidays. However, even during the rainy season, precipitation does not bother around the clock, but periodically, in the afternoon. This does not interfere with sunbathing, swimming and walking along wet sandy beaches, surfing and diving.
Food and housing There are many inexpensive hotels and guesthouses both in the capital and on the islands. The simplest of them is a small room with a bed and a fan. For those who want to have a luxurious rest, hotels with the maximum level of comfort, swimming pools, restaurants and other services (baby sitter, massage parlors, SPA) are built. When checking in, pay attention to the availability of amenities and air conditioning (fan), wi-fi, cleanliness in the room. The food is quite varied, the local cuisine is dominated by rice, seafood, meat, fruits, a huge variety of desserts. A distinctive feature is the use of a large number of spices. Pork is practically not eaten, since the majority of the indigenous population are Muslims.
Transport All islands are interconnected by air and sea. Their transportation services are offered by private traders who work on any routes. In cities and between them, traffic is on the left. Renting a car is not recommended as the traffic is heavy, the road conditions often leave much to be desired and some road signs are written in Malay. It is much more pleasant to use the services of a taxi, bus or minibus. There are railway lines, but communication is poorly developed. In addition to cars, bicycles and motorcycles are available for rent. Entertainment in Indonesia Diving The most inquisitive tourists go to Indonesia specifically to admire the underwater beauties while diving. Divers from all over the world come here, both experienced and those who are just planning to learn diving with an instructor.
Surfing Indonesia, in particular the island of Bali, is very popular with surfers. It is believed that in these latitudes the best waves and schools for beginners. Fishing It is very pleasant to sit with a fishing rod on a comfortable yacht. On the hook come across tuna, marlin, snapper, barracuda, swordfish and other exotic marine life. Excursions At their choice, tourists can go to the jungle, conquer one of the mountain peaks, or raft on the mountain river Ayung. A sea of ​​adrenaline and unforgettable impressions of the beauty of the local nature are guaranteed. Wellness The SPA centers offer tourists massage and wellness activities based on national recipes. Here you can try the wrapping procedure, order a complex aimed at getting rid of excess weight and many other equally pleasant procedures. Holidays and festivals Tourists who arrive in Indonesia on the eve of the holidays will certainly find colorful processions on the streets, amazing contests, fairs and a sea of ​​happy and contented Indonesians distributing alms and singing songs.
parks On the territory of Indonesia there are several natural parks with animals and plants inhabiting them, which can be viewed, fed and photographed. For lovers of attractions, huge amusement parks and a water park have been built. In the dolphinarium you can swim with these cute mammals. And to see a huge number of fish without plunging into the water, offers an oceanarium. In addition, there are many bars, casinos and nightclubs, including open areas where fire shows are held.
Traveling on your own, you choose your own program, entertainment and place of residence. After getting to know the local culture, visiting a holiday or festival and seeing with your own eyes the beauty of temples, nature and beaches, it may turn out that one month spent in Indonesia is not enough and you want to extend your exciting stay in this exotic country.

Visa to Indonesia

Climate in Indonesia

Transport in Indonesia

On a larger map

So. The idea to go to Indonesia came after a thorough analysis of the weather in August-September in the countries of Southeast Asia. There was a question with tickets: the cheapest that was - Qatar Airways. As a result: in May they took tickets with a flight on August 26 to Jakarta and back (naturally with a transfer in Doha).

Then we began to think about where to go. Since before we planned to visit Burma, in order to replace it, we had to invent a decent excursion) Yes, we have already been to Bali, so we had no desire to sit on one island. I will not write what I thought, but I will describe what happened in the end.

Rate: 1$ ~ 8950 IDR.

Flight tickets (prices including taxes and fees):
1. Moscow - Doha - Jakarta - Doha - Moscow. Qatar Airways. 20.500 rubles per person.
2. Dakarta - Yogyakarta. Lion Air. 410.000 IDR ~ 45$ per person.
3. Denpasar - Jakarta. Garuda Indonesia. 900.000 IDR ~ 100$ per person.

Day 1. Arrival in Jakarta. Domestic flight to Yogyakarta.
We arrived at 15:30. Departure to Yogyakarta at 19:00. I took it on purpose with a margin, as they said, in Jakarta you can get stuck on getting a visa and luggage. Nothing like that! We left the airport 30 minutes after arrival. After another 10 minutes, we arrived at the terminal with domestic flights. So everything went quickly.
Upon arrival in Yogyakarta, we chose a hotel at the airport, took a taxi and drove off. That's all.

Expenses:
Airport tax in Jakarta - 40.000 IDR per person.
Foot massage at the airport - 40.000 IDR per person.
Taxi to the hotel - 50.000 IDR.
Hotel Indah Palace - 350.000 IDR dbl with breakfast.
Dinner - 110.000 IDR for two.
Total: 670.000 IDR for two.

Day 2. Borobudur, Merapi volcano, sunset on the ocean.
We get up at 7:30, have breakfast. We go to Borobudur, then we go to the observation deck of the Merapi volcano. After that, Prambanan was planned, but it closes at 16:00, and we don’t have time, so the driver suggested going to the ocean, which we of course agreed to)
After we return to the hotel and go to dinner at a nearby restaurant and sleep.

Expenses:
Taxi for the whole day - 350.000 IDR.
Hotel Metro Guest House - 200.000 IDR dbl with breakfast.
Tickets to Borobudur - 135.000 IDR for one.
Tickets to Prambanan - 110.000 IDR for one.
Tickets to the volcano Merapi - 20.000 IDR for one 50.000 IDR per guide.
Lunch - 50.000 IDR.
Dinner - 130.000 IDR for two.
Total: 1.310.000 IDR for two .

After the second day, in the evening, the carrier suggested us a route for 4 days (which will be described below), which starts in Yogyakarta and ends at the Padangbai ferry station in Bali, from where the ferry leaves for Lombok. For $300 for two, which includes his food, lodging, gas, ferry, etc. Howling all transport costs and carrier costs. We agreed)
Total: I drove for 4 full days - $ 300.

Day 3. Prambanan. Road to Bromo.
We get up again at 7:30, have breakfast. We're going to Prambanan. After a long road to Bromo. We left at about 11 o'clock, arrived at Bromo's at 22:30. Dinner, night shooting of the volcano and by 12 at night we go to bed.

Expenses:
Hotel on Bromo - 220.000 IDR dbl with breakfast.
Tickets to Bromo - 25.000 IDR for one.
Lunch - 75.000 IDR.
Dinner - 80.000 IDR for two.
Total: 445.000 IDR for two .

Day 4. Bromo volcano. Road to Ijen.
We get up at 3 am, at 3:30 we sit in Jim and go to Bromo. The inspection ends at 9 am, by which time the driver brings us to the hotel. After that, a hearty breakfast and went to the Ijen volcano. Somewhere around 5 pm we arrive at the hotel, located an hour's drive from the volcano itself. We go for a walk around the local village and take pictures of locals and kids) After that, we go to the hotel, drink beer in the jacuzzi and go to bed!

Expenses:
Jeep on Bromo - 325.000 IDR per Jeep.
Jacket rental - 25.000 IDR per piece.
Breakfast lunch - 30.000 for two.
Tickets to the territory of the Ijen reserve - 2.000 IDR for one.
Hotel on Ijen Catimore Homestay - 165.000 IDR dbl with breakfast.
Dinner - 105.000 IDR per day
Total: 680.000 IDR for two.

Day 5. Ijen volcano. Road to Bali.
Wake up at 5 am, have breakfast and drive towards Ijen. Ascent, descent. At 10-11 we leave the volcano to the Padangbay ferry station. We sail for an hour to Bali. Next, according to the program, we will go to the north of Bali, where a photo hunt for dolphins is planned in the place of Lovina Beach. By 4 pm we arrive at the hotel, swim in the pool, drink beer and relax after Ijen. (we fell asleep and slept through dinner)

Expenses:
Tickets for Ijen - 30.000 IDR for one.
Lunch - 75.000 IDR for two.
Hotel in Lovina Beach - 350.000 IDR dbl with breakfast.
Dinner - 180.000 IDR per day
Total: 665.000 IDR for two.

Day 6. Dolphins and express tour through Bali. We sail to the island of Gili Nanggu.
We get up at 7:30, have breakfast and swim for the dolphins. According to the program of express memories of Bali) We move out of the hotel towards Lake Bratan, then the village of Ubud, then some temple dedicated to Gonesha. At 17:00 we arrive in Padangbai. We call the hotel from a passerby’s phone, and they tell us that since we will arrive at Lombok at 10 pm, they won’t be able to provide us with a boat to the island, they say there is no lantern on it ... After 10 minutes, the issue was settled. We sail for 4 hours to Lombok, then 40 minutes to the island of Gili. Go to bed.

Expenses:
Boat to dolphins - 175.000 IDR per boat.
Tickets to the temple on Lake Bratan - 10.000 IDR for one.
Tickets to the Gonesha temple - 20.000 IDR for one.
Lunch (fruits) - 45.000 IDR for two.
Ferry to Lombok - 21.000 for one.
Transfer from Lombok ferry station to hotel - 150.000 IDR per boat.
Hotel Gili Nanggu - 350.000 IDR dbl with breakfast.
Total: 820.000 IDR for two

Day 7-8. On the island of Gili Nanggu.
We sit on Gili Nanggu and enjoy life, blue water, white sand and solitude on the island.

Expenses:
Hotel Gili Nanggu (he is the only one there) - 350.000 IDR dbl with breakfast.
Food expenses - approximately 200.000 IDR per day for two.
Total: about 1.100.000 IDR for two for 2 full days.

Day 9. Sailing back to Bali. We are moving to Kuta.
We got bored and decided to reel in the fishing rods. At 12:00 we leave the hotel towards the Lembar ferry station, then we board the ferry and sail back to Bali. We sail, we find a hotel in an Internet cafe and through Ahmed's carrier, we take a taxi and go there. In the evening we are already in Kuta. Let's go for dinner, walk and sleep)

Expenses:
Lunch - 90.000 IDR for two.
Boat hotel-ferry station on Lombok - 150.000 IDR per boat.
Ferry Lombok-Bali - 31.000 for one.
Taxi to Kuta (here we were promoted by one case, but there was no choice) - 300.000 IDR per car.
Dinner - 170.000 IDR for two.
Total: 770.000 IDR for two.

Starting from that day we checked into the hotel Hotel Puri Tanah Lot- a very good hotel, the rooms have air conditioning, hot water, TV, sick double bed. The rooms are clean, cleaned every day and bed linen is changed every day too. In general, we recommend! Price: 400.000 IDR with breakfast per room.

Day 10-12. Hanging out in Kuta.
We live in Kuta, surf, drink coconuts, chew bananas. In general, enjoy life again)

Day 13. All day we travel around Bali and watch all the most basic things.
We take a taxi driver for 12 hours and drive along the route: Hotel -> Monkey Forest -> Kintamani -> Tanah Lot -> Ulu Watu -> Hotel.

Expenses:
Drove for 12 hours with an air-conditioned car cost us 550.000 IDR.
All tickets to Bali are cheap: gave away about 100.000 IDR for two for all entrance tickets .

Day 14-16. We continue to party in Kuta.
We continue to go to the beach in Kuta and engage in relaxation and lead an idle lifestyle.

Costs in Kuta:
Sunbeds - 20.000 IDR per sunbed for the whole day (even if you leave, it will still be yours =)).
Fruits and beer-water on the beach ~ 70.000 IDR for two.
Dinner (2 salads, 2 seafood dishes, 2 fresh juices, 2 beers) ~ 200.000 IDR for two respectively.
Total about 320.000 IDR per day for two.

From entertainment:
Massage at an average of 100.000 IDR per person
Surfing: $50 for 5 hours with an instructor, spread over 2-3 days.

Day 17. Fly home. Internal flight to Jakarta, then by Qataris via Doha to Moscow.
At 8:00 we leave the hotel. At 10:20 flight to Jakarta from Denpasar airport. We arrive at 11:40 local time. At 18:00 we fly to Doha. Docking. Flight to Moscow. The End.

Total: We spent everything-everything-everything $3600 for two, that is, the budget of a similar trip for one 1800$ ~ 1350 euro ~ 54.000 rubles. (taking into account the fact that we each took a surf with an instructor, did massages several times and bought souvenirs).

Feels like: when our vacation came to an end, it seemed to us that we had been there for at least a month. There are so many impressions that words cannot describe! And if you consider that they are now offering trips to Turkey for this money, then in my opinion comments are superfluous =)
All in all, we highly recommend to everyone! After all, life is one, you have to have time to see everything!)

Fourth time to Asia - this time to Indonesia. Again, only ladies of free age (when they are still almost young, and the children are already adults). Tickets for Qatar Airways were bought back in the spring - 22,000 from Moscow to Jakarta and back. Tickets for Batavia from Jakarta to Denpasar were bought, unfortunately, later, and therefore cost $110.

The flight went well, with disposables, socks, a computer in the back of the seat, a semi-working remote control, and even Russian films.

In Jakarta, they bought a visa for $25 (for this you need to have only a passport and money). They changed money there ($1 = 8250 rupees). On the shuttlebus we went to the first terminal, after waiting for it for 25 minutes before. Batavia flies from terminal 1C. And the shuttlebus brought us to 1A. I had to run.

And now almost a day of flight is over, and at 21-40 we land in Bali. We were greeted by a pleasant coolness near the equator. Took a taxi for 60K rupees (after trading, of course) to Jimbaran. Hotel villapuriroyan was booked back in May on an Internet without prepayment on their website. A cozy beautiful patio appeared before our eyes, even at night we saw a small pool, a lot of greenery around.

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The rooms were spacious and clean, although the furnishings were not new, but the price was low - 242K rupees per room. After we went to the sea, or rather to the ocean. The beach is very close to the hotel. The sea met us with waves, and the beach with soft sand. There was a breeze and it was nice. We had dinner with local dishes of vermicelli and rice. Satisfied and full, they fell on the bed and fell asleep.

We got up at 10 and went to breakfast. We were offered a choice: fried vermicelli, a thick cake with jam and toast, as well as coffee or tea. Balinese coffee turned out to be quite personal. Satisfied, we went to the sea to swim, enjoy life and acclimatize. The beach is sandy, quite clean, the waves were terrible outside, kind inside. That is, it is quite possible to swim out for them and swim in depth.

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We went to the fish market, which is located near the airport. Disliked: Dirty and smelly. There are also fruit rows. But we were there in the evening, so we got only papaya.

In the evening we went to have dinner at MegaTebaCafe. It is located in the left corner of the bay, if you stand facing the ocean, in a row of other cafes without tablecloths. There we took two sets of 90K rupees. They included fish, shrimp, mussels, rice, sauces, water, fruits. And, of course, we separately took freshly squeezed juices. They are wonderful there! It was enough for four.

We agreed to take a taxi for the whole day at the reception for 500K rupees.

We ordered breakfast half an hour earlier. We left around 8:20.

First we went to Dreamland, a beach near Uluwatu. It was impossible to swim there because of the big waves, but beautiful! Sand, rocks, wave crests.

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We found a small hole in the rocks on the shore, and tumbled a lot there in the waves.

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The next point of our program was Uluwatu. This is a temple that occupies the southern cape of Bali. The path led along the edge of the cliff, and we saw huge waves breaking on the cliffs.

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Many monkeys run around the area. These impudent creatures grab cameras from gaping tourists, glasses and caps.

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Thank God they are afraid of the stick.

Further, our path lay to the bourgeoisie in Nusa Dua. There we swam, do not believe it, without waves. It was dirty near the shore, but further on it was real bliss: the water was clear and warm. I didn't want to go out, but I already wanted to eat.

The driver brought us to a beautifully decorated restaurant with tablecloths. This immediately aroused our suspicions, but the menu put them to sleep. Although the prices were small, the amount of output dropped sharply. So after paying 500k rupees, we left the restaurant with a slight feeling of hunger.

Finally we visited Tanah Lot. This is a temple in the sea. At low tide, he finds himself on the shore.

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We watched the sunset there and went to Artmarkit, which is located nearby. There are a lot of souvenirs and clothes there. Lots of beautiful palm wood products. For everything you need to bargain and drop the price 2 times.

We arrived home late, on the way we stopped at a minimarket, where we bought inexpensive good fruits.

Today transfer to Ubud, the cultural capital of Bali. Yesterday's taxi driver took us there in an hour and a half and for 250K rupees. He also found us the Ubud terraces hotel (ub [email protected]), which is located on Monkey forest street.

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The hotel has a large, beautiful area, spacious rooms. Fan 250K, air conditioner 300K. There is a swimming pool. We gladly agreed.

True, then we were surprised to find that there was no soap in the room. On our request, we were offered to buy it ourselves.

But that's not the point. Ubud struck and fell in love with us at first sight. It is very Asian and, at the same time, not like other Asian cities. It is clean and green with many temples.

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There are many small hotels, cafes, shops. There you can wander and wander.

But we were pressed for time. After swimming in the pool, we went to the Monkey Forest. This is a piece of the jungle, in which paths, temples are harmoniously inscribed, and where monkeys are found.

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They are funny and well mannered unlike their counterparts in Uluwatu. They do not tear anything, but they can climb on visitors and try to take away the camera. You can feed them bananas and watch their relationship endlessly. This place was well worth our visit.

We turned right. Soon the street turned into a path, and we saw rice terraces. The rice was green, the irrigation ditches gurgled, the path was lined with palm trees. The beauty of another world different from us.

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The locals cultivated the fields, went about their business and smiled affably at us, offering coconuts. Then the path turned into a path and descended into a ravine. When we crossed to the other side and sat down to rest, an aborigine approached us and hinted at a late time. We turned back and walked along the same side of the ravine without crossing it. The path turned into a path winding among the local farms. Suddenly we heard a heart-rending croaking and saw a snake eating a frog from the side. The sight is not for the faint of heart. Passed by Organic farm cafe. Then we entered Ubud on the street perpendicular to the Monkey forest.

Wonderful walk!

After swimming in the pool, we decided to try a local massage. There are a lot of spa centers in Ubud. We took a traditional Balinese massage for Rs 80k. Wonderful! For a whole hour, the strong handles of the baliyok kneaded our tired little bodies. On the street we agreed with a taxi driver for tomorrow for 500K rupees.

Before going to bed, they found the absence of a second sheet or duvet cover.

We got up early and left at 7:50. But before that, they caught the boy who was cleaning the rooms, and almost forcibly pulled out four sheets from him.

The first step in our program was GunungKawi. 300 (as they say, they did not count themselves) steps led us to the river. Along the way, we admired a very picturesque landscape. Rice terraces, palm trees on steep slopes.

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Below we saw the royal tombs: huge reliefs carved into the rock.

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Not far from them is a small temple on the other side of the river. A very beautiful place.

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The next item was suggested by our driver: something like a garden for tourists. There we saw how coffee, cocoa, various exotic fruits grow, and luwaki also live there. These are fox-faced cats. They eat coffee beans and then defecate them. Undigested grains are washed, dried and roasted as usual.

We were treated to coffee, cocoa, teas, and we bought a cup of shit coffee for 30K rupees.

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I liked it, this coffee is softer with a slight acidity. In the shop there bought coffee, cocoa, teas and delicious chocolate.

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But a mafia of local guides got in our way. These racketeers demanded 300K rupees for a two-hour walk. When we expressed our desire to send them to the bathhouse and go alone, we were accused of breaking the law. Trade did not lead to anything, and we, proudly turning around, drove to the lake. It turned out not to be very interesting.

Soon we got into the car and went to Singaraja. The road went through mountain passes and was unusually beautiful. Realistically, our driver took us to Lovina. There is a nice beach with no waves. The expected black sand turned out to be just dark, and did not make much of an impression.

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Having bathed, we went to have lunch at the nearest cafe, rejecting the good restaurant offered by the driver.

The last point of our program was Lake Bratan and the temple on it. We arrived there at dusk. Having bought tickets (in Bali you have to buy tickets everywhere), we went to the temple grounds. It is a beautiful garden with temple buildings. Pagodas on small islands.

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Lepota! It is a pity that we did not come here a little earlier, when the mountains on the opposite bank were illuminated by the setting sun.

And home! At 8 we were at the hotel. We disagreed with the driver about the events: we thought we had a great day, but he did not think so. Odd, he expected to return much earlier.

In the evening they changed money. There are a lot of exchange points in Ubud where they have never tried to deceive us. Agreed with another taxi driver to take us to Padang Bay for 180K rupees.

On the last day of summer we went to Lombok. We reached Padang Bay in an hour. A ticket to Lembar Pier on Lombok cost 36K on a public ferry and 350K on a speed boat. We preferred cheapness to speed and stayed at the pier to wait for the ferry for up to 2 hours. All morning ferries were canceled due to the Romodan holiday.

Before departure, we had more than three hours, and we went swimming. The beach was found to the left of the pier (facing the sea). Bought among the boats in surprisingly clean water for the port. Then we were waited by a cafe on the embankment with delicious fried bananas. So the forced delay did not tire us at all.

At half past two we merged with the crowd and went to storm the ferry. The crowd consisted of locals and backpackers.

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We were nimble and agile and broke into the ferry in the first rows, for which we were rewarded with good seats. The ferry brought a small number of cars and many motorcycles. The people settled down on the seats, the floor, where necessary. The ferry was big and there was enough space for everyone.

We sat in the prow, where a strong wind was blowing. It got really cold.

Four hours flew by quickly, and here we are in Lombok.

To our surprise, the square was almost empty. Taxis were out as a class. Again Romodan. But the world is not without good people. Seeing our confusion and ability to pay, a peasant jumped up to us and offered a car for 300K rupees. Bargaining in Romodan is pointless, and we agreed.

On the way, we counted the number of people on one motorcycle. The maximum was five. Child, father, mother with two children. It's a pity we couldn't take a picture of this daring five.

We arrived in Senggigi at the Mascot Hotel MascotbeachResort, which we booked by phone from Bali +62 370 693 365. This is a hotel on the first line, consisting of two-room bungalows. A double room cost 450K. The rooms are clean. The garden is pleasant.

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We ate Indonesian delicacies in their restaurant. Tomorrow we have to buy a tour to Rijani.

Already at 9 am, I was caught by an employee of the company working in our hotel about trekking in Rijani. But we were not yet ready to talk to him. Therefore, we postponed this entertaining action for 10. Meanwhile, we called the hotel in Simbalun, from where we are going to start our ascent to the volcano. We were immediately offered a tour, including a transfer and a hotel for 1,500,000 per sister. We were pleased with the route, but not the price. Their representative immediately came to us and began to sell us trekking, but did not want to bargain. We sent him with God and went to the reception to meet with the first pepper. He offered us a hotel in Senara and trekking from Sembalun to Senara for our price of 1200k rupees. We shook hands, paid him half the amount and dispersed satisfied.

For breakfast we took delicious rice with vegetables and additionally ordered amazing fried bananas.

And swim, swim, swim! The beach there is great. Fine sand, clear water.

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One breaks the idyll: a small strip of garbage in the water near the shore. We walked along the beach to the right to the cape. It’s quite garbage there, and behind the cape there is just a folk beach with all its features.

Let's go to the left, there are a number of hotels and cafes. We had lunch at Sunshine Cafe. There was strawberry juice. The food is average.

And for the last time before Rinjani we bathe in the ocean.

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And it's time to collect. We pack all warm clothes in backpacks, leave everything that is not needed at the hotel. Fortunately, the same hotel for two nights after Rijani has already been paid in advance through the Adoga website.

Exactly at seven in the evening a car came for us, and we went to Senara. We were there around nine. On the way, they tried to change the route by phone. We were offered to start the trip to Senara and finish in Sembalun. But this really meant an extra 450m up, since Senar is at an altitude of 600m, and Sembalun is at 1050m. We declined very politely.

We were settled in a modest hotel, where we met our guide Tari.

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We took the absence of a second sheet and the presence of dirty towels as preparation for a hike.

At seven in the morning we were fed a pancake and given coffee and tea to drink. Next, we watched the pickup truck being loaded with food, things, porters and a guide. At 9 o'clock they loaded us with our backpacks. We left some extra things where we spent the night.

Around ten we were in Simbalun. There, at the trekking center, they filled out paperwork and at about 11 we set off for our guide.

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At first the trail went through open country and was not very steep.

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Then we entered pine forests, or rather meadows with pine trees growing on them.

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It was hot. We saw many dry riverbeds. Near one of the bridges, porters prepared lunch for us. To say this place was dirty is an understatement.

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Many groups ate there both before us and with us, and there were no urns there. We tried hard not to watch the porters prepare dinner and wash our dishes. For this they were rewarded with Rolton soup and vegetables. The tea turned out to be vodka, and we washed our hands with it.

There had been a fire in these places two weeks before us, and huge areas of burnt grass surrounded us. The guide said that this is repeated annually in July and August.

But, fortunately, there were also places not touched by fire. The climb got steeper and the views more beautiful. At sunset, we went to the edge of the crater and saw the lake.

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Yes, our climb to 1600m was not in vain, it was worth going here.

The porters were already here, and tents were set up and dinner was waiting for us.

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Porters were most accurately described by bzzzt. I can only quote him.

They are characterized by small stature and an extremely "puny" physique.

They smoke all the time

They constantly carry more than 20 kg of weight on a makeshift bamboo structure placed on one of the shoulders. At the same time, the weight of an average "porter" without a burden is unlikely to exceed 60 kg.

The aforementioned homemade structure is a storage for food, water, dishes, tents, sleeping bags and other things, without which our trip would simply be impossible.

Of the clothes on them and with them only: shorts, one T-shirt and slippers

Each "porter" without much effort is able to overcome the steepest slopes one and a half to two times faster than quite athletic, prepared and motivated tourists (that's us)

For every day of such hellish or, better to say, slave labor, they are entitled to 50 thousand rupees (think about it, this is 5.5 dollars!)

They are most likely robots.

Early in the morning, or rather at night, we had to climb the Rijani peak 3726m. That is, takeoff at 1000m and descent. It was decided to send me alone to this tin.

Rise at 2-30. In complete darkness, by the fire, porters gave me coffee and biscuits to drink. Lights were visible on the side of the mountain: these were the earliest birds climbing the mountain.

At 3-15 we went with Tari. I switched on the headlamp I had bought from Simbalun the day before. The trail was two-lane, and many people walked along it.

At first the ascent was steep, then I reached the ridge and followed it. Tari got lost halfway, but even the most gifted cannot get lost there. The road is a diverse sypukha. Walking is safe, but very difficult. And in the end, after two and a half hours of climbing, a real tough guy was waiting for me: the coolest takeoff.

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And this is already with accumulated fatigue. Each step was difficult. Dawn had already begun, and it was necessary to reach at all costs. The sun was rising over the sea, clouds were swirling somewhere below.

Happy people were already descending, and I looked at them in a hunted way. Another half an hour for a hundred meters of ascent, and I'm at the top. I will never forget this beauty. Clouds far underfoot, Bali volcanoes Agung and Batur in the distance, a lake in the Rijani caldera and a small volcano, cones of fog over the lake.

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Tari appeared half an hour later, and we began our descent. Now I looked condescendingly at the rising people, and they smiled at me with a hunted smile. The descent took me two hours, including photographing the opening beauties.

About half past nine, half dead from fatigue, I arrived at the camp.

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Soon a small volcano was visible, located on a peninsula in the lake. Indescribable beauty.

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A little more, and the sun illuminated its crater. There were no clouds, we breathed clean mountain air and enjoyed the beauty around us. At the top there is an observation deck from where you can clearly see the lake and the volcano. It is there and only there that tourists who take a two-day tour are brought. We were very glad that we took a three-day tour from Sembalun to Senara. This gave us the opportunity to fully experience Rinjani, its beauty and uniqueness.

Then we went down to Senara. There are 2 km of descent for 12 km. At first it is steep on stones, then on loose gravel. The terrain was open, and below was a forest on which clouds lay. It was funny to see first the jungle, then the clouds, above them the sea and the sky. Agung was seen in Bali, the Gili Islands.

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There were also pieces of burnt grass, but compared to the surroundings of Sembalun, they were few. Then the path entered the jungle and the clouds. The trail is great and very scenic. The nature of the forest changes with the fall in altitude. It becomes thicker, creepers and thorns appear.

In the evening we went for a massage. Opinions differed. To two it seemed much worse than in Ubud, to two it was much better.

The last time we had dinner in Lombok was at our hotel. We were alone in a restaurant by the sea. The food was quite decent for white ladies on holiday. We liked everything in the Mascot hotel: comfortable bungalows, location on the first line by the sea, wonderful garden, good service, restaurant. Night swimming in the ocean, and goodbye Lombok!

Pre-ordered Blue bird taxi by phone. The taxi arrived on time and after 40 minutes and 50K rupees we were already at the Mataram airport.

Lion air checked my credit card for a long and tedious time and did not even look at my passports. Tickets to Denpasar were pre-purchased online for Rs 250K. By the way, a boat to Bali from Lombok costs 350K per person there.

The flight lasted half an hour and was very interesting. We saw Mataram, then Agung appeared, in Bali we saw our native Jimbaran and Uluwatu.

Once at the airport, we went to the Hotel reservation counter, where a nice boy offered us the Puri Bamboo hotel in Jimbaran for $55 for a double. No, at first he offered other less worthy hotels, but as soon as I went to the next similar counter, the right hotel was found. We paid for it immediately and received a voucher. At the exit from the airport we caught a blue bird and for 40K we reached the hotel. He turned out great. Large comfortable rooms with balcony, swimming pool, towels by the pool, everything is clean. One drawback - the path to the sea (ten minutes) passes through a not very pleasant street.

On the main street in a large supermarket, they bought watermelon, yellow inside, mango, melon and the mysterious fruit Lengkeng, also known as longan. These are large berries with a tough skin and translucent flesh. They taste like melon. We liked.

We spent the evening on the beach, dined at the beloved TebaMege on the ocean at a table with a candle, eating fresh grilled seafood. It also has delicious lime juice.

Continued in the next story