Indonesia's more than 17,500 islands are a paradise for adventurous travellers looking for stunning nature and something new. Most will be familiar with the world renowned tourist destination of Bali or even Lombok, but Indonesia has so much more to offer. Diving and snorkeling are popular activities as the waters of Indonesia are some of the healthiest and most diverse in the world and rare sights such as the whale shark, hammer heads, manta or eagle rays are often spotted in Indonesian waters.
The largest muslim country in terms of population, it may be a surprise that the largest Hindu temple in South East Asia is located in Indonesia, in Yogyakarta in Central Java. Prambanan temple is believed to have been built around 800 A.D. and contains three main temples each dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Another Java temple, the Borobudur, is a Buddhist monument from the ninth century and today one of two UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Hikers and mountain bike enthusiasts are also well catered for in Indonesia thanks to the islands' mountainous terrain. Adventures abound whether trekking through the jungle to hidden temples, strolling through the seemingly endless paddy fields or climbing high to a dormant volcanic crater to peer into the steaming abyss below.
Posted by Wayne Hue