Indonesia - Island Haven

Largest archipelago in the world, Indonesia is a country located in the Southeast Asia and an excellent place for travellers seeking scenic beauty and modern day architecture. Indonesia is a giant country comprising of almost eighteen thousand islands, with 230 million people making it the fourth most populous country in the world. Often called a shopping paradise, one can also find the largest aquarium of Southeast Asia here. Beautiful beaches and majestic Hindu temples dot the country, beside some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers.

Accommodation Options and Languages Spoken
Indonesia has a large range of accommodation option from the cheap backpackers hostels to lavish hotels. One can stay in Bali or Jakarta. Bali has some of the best accommodation option in the form of lavish villas and budget hotels. You would find good budget hotels in Jakarta. Indonesian is the official language of the country, and Javanese and Sudanese are also spoken widely.

History
Indonesia was ruled by various kingdoms and various civilizations in the past. You would find an influence of these civilizations across the archipelago. Fossils of the Homo erectus, also known as Java man, were found in Indonesia and are believed to be 2 million years old. After being under the rule of the local kingdoms, Indonesia was occupied by the Portuguese and subsequently after a century by the Dutch. Indonesia became a republic in the year 1949, after many years of struggle.

Popular Places
Indonesia has a huge area and thus, the travellers often have to carry enough time to revolve around the entire country. Some of the most beautiful locations are Bali and Jakarta, visited by huge number of tourists. One should visit the divine city of Bali to watch some of the sacred Hindu temples. Uluwatu temple is one of the many religious sites to visit. You should visit the city of Jakarta for its present day attractions, including some of the elegant and artistic buildings. The amusement parks and zoos attract tourist across the world. Some of the aesthetic museums can also be found in different parts of the country. The city of Jakarta has the biggest mosque in Southeast Asia.

Getting Around
Ferries that move around the different cities are one of the options to move around the country.  Trains are also easily available in Indonesia and one needs to be aware of thefts while travellinga round. For short and day journey, one might choose the efficient bus service. You can also rent a private car. Indonesian tricycle becak or ojek, the motorcycle taxis, are also among good options for travelling. Guide would be of great assistance to explore various cities.

Places of Entertainment
One can head to Bali for some of the amazing scuba diving sites. Bali is the best place for entertainment in the country and one can find every type of alcohol and beer in the city. Some of the best restaurants and nightclubs are also present in the city.

Currency
The official currency of Indonesia is Indonesian rupiah. One can obtain the present exchange rates for Indonesian rupiah via news available on the internet.

Group accommodation in Indonesia | Cheap hostels & budget hotels