the story of the experience of tourists who have been to Indonesia

We've spent almost a month in this diverse island nation. Each island we visited was dramatically different than the last, and we enjoyed the sights, sounds, foods, people, and animals of each thoroughly! Here's our top ten

1 Helping Hands 

We weren't sure what to expect when we arrived, but everyone we've met has been extremely friendly, kind, and helpful. On Kisar, our anchor chain became wrapped around a bit of coral. Before long, three canoes with over a dozen Indonesian boys came by to help. We wouldn't have gotten free without them!

2 Active Volcanoes 

The eastern segment of islands had a number of picturesque, towering volcanoes. Some had visible lava flows and plumes of smoke rising from their tops.

3 Bribes. 

We deal with government officials in every country we visit, but this was the first where we were overtly requested to pay a bribe. Unofficial 'gifts' such as these are commonplace; this is unfortunate in a country where many people are poor.

4 Color-Changing Lakes of Kelimutu 

On the island of Flores, we traveled to the top of a volcano to see three colorful crater lakes; we had to wait a while and watch carefully for the clouds to clear, and it was worth it! Each is a different color and the colors slowly change over time. These lakes are sacred; the locals believe that your soul travels to them when you die, and a gate keeper determines which lake you enter.

5 Ojek and Bemo Rides 

Getting around in Maumere can be quite the thrill. There are plenty of motorcycle taxis (called ojeks) and a 10 minute ride might cost you a dollar. There are also buses called 'bemos' which travel on predetermined routes. They're small vans with wooden benches that are cramped with people and cargo - inside, outside, and on top!

6 Bali Zoo

This zoo was very interactive. As we followed the paths winding through the zoo, we would suddenly come upon keepers offering us animals to hold! We got to hold snakes, binturongs, a crocodile, an iguana, exotic birds, and flying foxes!

7 Public Cremation 

When we took a day trip on Bali to visit the town of Ubud, little did we know that we would be part of a massive public cremation ceremony. Families and friends of two priests that had passed away put on an awe-inspiring display. Although for us it was a strange sight to see, we learned that it is a very special occasion on Bali for Hinduism.

8 Hazards at Sea

We didn't have a lot of favorable winds in Indonesia, but we did see a lot of other things. Waterspouts and lightning squalls were some natural hazards that we had to deal with, but we also saw thousands of fishing boats (literally!). Some were as small as canoes while others used bright lights at night to attract fish and squid. As we neared Singapore, we started to see a significant increase in shipping traffic as well.

9 Kopi Luwak

This coffee is made from coffee beans that have been eaten and pooped out by a type of tree cat called a luwak. On our private tour of the Kopi Bali factory, we were treated to many free, very delicious samples.

10 Orangutans 

The island of Borneo is the home of these wild great apes, and we got a chance to interact with them - face to face! These massive creatures are stoic, strong, unpredictable, comic, and frightening all at the same time. It was an experience we'll never forget!