Hi, Wondering if anyone has been to Indonesia? I should be going out to the Phils in June. I'd like to suggest to Beth we take a trip to Indonesia. We were thinking about going to Thailand, but I was wondering if Indonesia would be slightly further from Phil in terms of it's culture/scenery? I've been looking and it seems like a nice place, but never been so wondered if anyone has an input? Many thanks.
Sorry not me, however I note recently that there are Cebu Pacific flights to Bali for 999 peso, couldn't track down the exact dates they would be available but the fares do appear to exist.
Yes. I spent 5 weeks there a few years back. It has similarities and differences with the Philippines. It is, like the Philippines, a volcanic archipelago. However language and religion is different. English is not so readily spoken there and they are mainly muslim. The culture seems to parallel the Philippines culture, notwithstanding. I seem to recall it was formerly the Dutch East Indies and there has been a strong Dutch influence in the past at least. Bali is the place that the Aussies seek for their holidays. But there are so many more islands than in the Philippines, about 17000 evidently. The capital, Jakarta is very like Manila. When I was there the poverty was as prominent as in the Philippines. I found that I enjoyed the food. Unfortunately I was working there so saw very little in the way of places of interest. Where we were working was actually the western bit of Papua New Guinea , Irian Jaya, which at the time at least was known for the abduction of westerners ( known as the long pig ), bows and arrows and blow guns with poisoned darts, head hunting and cannabalism! Fortunately that sort of thing is or was confined to that region in the east. I recall that it is the home of the Orang Utan. And tigers are common in Sumatra. Also there are some Marsupials. They say it is the largest economy in SE Asia. I can well believe that as it has a well developed oil and gas industry. When I flew there it was via Thai Airways on the way to Singapaore and then Garuda to Jakarta.
Been to Bali before and not being biased, I'd say that beaches in the Philippines are better. They are a pre-dominately Muslim country so it's a bit more strict and conservative compared to SG, PH or TH. Safety could also be an issue with terrorist attacks here and there. I'd say anywhere in Southeast Asia would be somehow similar and it would greatly differ depending on what is the majority religion of the country.
Visited Bali once, well over a decade ago. Started in Denpasar, and travelled to Ubud, and a black sand beach on the North coast. I remember it as being a relatively expensive place, a prime Australian beach holiday resort. Nice, but spoilt by the fact that the local con artists seemed to try every trick possible to cheat tourists with dual pricing, not my favourite place to rush back to. That was well before the 2002 Bali Bomb planted in an Irish pub by Islamic Terrorists killed over 200 people, It will be a totally different place now. (jeez, how time flies) If you don't fancy Thailand have you considered a trip to Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia), that is relatively close to the Philippines, quite a few Philippine people there who arrived as refugees. I think that both Air Asia and Cebu Pacific fly there, not bad for a short trip... Or MNL-BKI-KUL-MNL, you could even fit Penang and Bangkok into the loop if you are feeling adventurous. I am in Bangkok at the moment, demonstrations are getting quite bad, policeman shot dead with a bullet to the head today and at least two other people shooting fatalaties, but life continues as normal for most people. Indonesia is Muslim, but I seem to recall that Bali is predominantly Hindu, some nice rituals with women walking around with baskets piled high with fruit balanced on their heads.
Bali originally became famous because its womenfolk would walk around bare to the waist with baskets of fruit on their heads; this charming cultural idiosyncracy did not long survive the arrival of the Kodak camera in the 1920's, but it gave the place a reputation on which it was able to build a tourist trade.
My trip to Indonesia was my first to South East Asia and I was gobsmacked at what I saw there in the way of poverty. I had seen similar in Africa but not on the same scale ( Jakarta ). What I found was that my time in Indonesia meant that I had a familiarity that stood me in good stead for my trips to the Philippines and Thailand. So your time spent in the Philippines ought to work in the same way for you. The traffic is manic in Jakarta, just like Manila.
I have worked in Indonesia quite a few times, not a bad place but would strongly suggest taking Imodium with you if you're going off the beaten track and exploring. I've worked in over seventy five different countries and Indonesia is the place where I always have stomach problems that linger for months. Jakarta is the place for me, love the bustling city and people, very good hotels just like Manila, but like all here, biased towards Manila. Indonesia has the largest population of Muslims in the world, over 300 million. Oh, try not to fly Geruda the National carrier, its cheap but not cheerful. If you do go to Indonesia, please please take Balik UK with you and leave him there with the rest of his Muslim buddies
Only another 120 or so to go, Philippines and their people are my number one, that was the case even before I met my loved one.
With the above in mind, I'd recommend you look at western Malaysia (peninsular Malaya and Penang) which is also an ASEAN country so Filipinos don't require visit visas. Although it is a Muslim country, you'd hardly know it as you'll find other religions not only tolerated but respected. There are some particularly fine Buddist temples all around the country with the best being on the island of Penang - the Gold Temple and the Snake Temple being two of the best.
When I was in Indonesia I never felt there was a jihadist lurking on every street corner. Greenspin. Any particular reason why you thought of Indonesia?
You may not know this but Cebu Pacific is in the process of merging with TigerAir Philippines. It is in fact a take-over of the latter by the former but the two airlines will, for the time being, be run as two separate entities. Cebu Pacific has also just announced that it is to raise fuel surcharges on all its routes by between 10% and 160%. The biggest increases are for its international routes and it would appear that it will be cheaper to fly to Hong Kong (or Macau) with the scheduled carrier, PAL, particularly if you want checked baggage. From Philippine Flight Network:
Like many people here I am thinking of doing just that, but probably like many people here I wont. We all love the place but I suspect as we start to get older that we start worrying about health , pensions and so on and we will probably remain in old Blighty. There is of course in your case, children to consider, you may have grandchildren by then and so on and the Filipino side of your family will be deeply enrooted in British society and will not want to leave. Its a very difficult thing to plan ahead, you never know what is around the corner good or bad.
John, you wont be able to afford to retire to the Philippines anyway, not after paying the new toilet tax in the IOM
How did you know about that? I am hoping I am exempt. I need to look into it. I presume it was on the UK news? Just seen it....... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-26239702
