The situation is clearly different today what with the opening of the Saurmadu Bridge in 2009 which provided more access to visitors to the island and Madura Island is poised to enjoy some of the most rapid developments for tourism starting 2010. Apart from its natural attractions and resources, the island is also known for its rich culture and legends where among some of the myths known from the culture here are the secretive sex techniques of the Madurese women known as the Goyang Madura.

One of the major attractions in Madura Island is the bull race which is known as the Kerapan Sapi. The event comes about around August and September each year where all the towns and villages around Madura hold their own respective races before competing for the grand finals which si the Presidential Trophy. This will take place around late September and is held in Pamekasan where the bulls race around 100 meters and takes about 10 seconds to complete.

Located off the coast of Madura are the Kangean Islands which is a 30 island archipelago which is a great place to visit if you are into nature and marine life. For those who are into adventure and such, this is an ideal destination while you can also drive along the northern coast of Madura to enjoy the sights and sounds of the island. Getting to Madura is easy through the new Suramadu Bridge while you can also come here through the ferry services from northern Surabaya.

The name Banjarmasin which is the Dayak Bukti word for ‘Bandar Masih’ where it is populated mainly by the Banjarese people. One of the major attractions here is the architecture elements in which the people are known for their unique methods of building their homes. In fact, it is known that there are at least 12 different types of Banjarese homes which have since been lost over time although you can still see some today.

In Banajarmasin, you will be able to visit the Museum Waja Sampai Ka Puting which was designed using one of the 12 types of traditional architecturarl styles while the oldest mosque in South Kalimantan is the Masjid Sultan Suriansyah here. The natural richness here includes the rivers of Banjarmasin which have been a vital part of the Banjarese lifestyle. Today, the rivers still play an important role where you can still see the floating markets along the rivers which allow farmers and traders to sell their produce each morning. Apart from that, you can also come around during the festive season where there are boat races and carnivals being held throughout the year. If you like, you can also take the Pulau Kembang and Pulau Kaget canal trips where you can spot some very interesting animals and greens. Banjarmasin is connected by the Shamsuddin Noor airport which is located not far from the city centre. Alternatively, you also come here through the waters where you can get a boat ride through the Trisakti harbour.

It is also an event whereby the local Balinese people are encouraged and educated to show their gratitude to Ida Sang Hyang Widi and their ancestors. It takes place on the 210th day of the Balinese calendar where it is believed that this is the time when the spirits of the ancestors would return to visit them. The rituals are performed as a form of welcoming them back as well as entertainment for them during their ‘visit’.

Balinese families will make offerings to the spirits by placing food and lowers on their compounds while some are also offered to the local temples. Penjors, which are tall bamboo poles are put out around the island. These poles are placed with flowers, fruits and coconut leaves and then placed around the front gate of the homes.

As this is a major event around the island, preparations are very intense and it starts a few days before the actual day. The Penyekeban is when huge clay pots are used to cover green bananas to expedite their ripening. This takes place 3 days before the Galungan. And then comes Penyajahan when the Jaja cakes are made which will be eaten during the feast.

Penampahan takes place a day before the Galungan where sacrificial animals are slaughtered and then offered to the temples. On the actual day, the locals will head out to the temples where they will make offerings and pray to the spirits. There will be local food almost at every juncture of the island and the day after that, it is time for fellowship where they visit their friends and families. The Kuningan takes place 10 days after the vent where yellow rice is offered. This is the day that is believed where the spirits return to heaven. The next Galungan is expected to take place on 1 to 11 February, 2012.

Here is where one can now visit the food stalls and try out the local delicacy here like the infamous Bakso, a type of noodles and the omelet styled Kerak Telor. As night falls, there would be more stalls coming around here as well as street performers and live music acts. This would breathe life into Fatahillah Square where the younger crowd throngs the streets and the surrounding areas. For those who would like to know more about the historical beginnings of the square can head out to the numerous museums and buildings here.

It occupies a 1.8 acre space which was formerly the social and political center when the Dutch colonized the country then. Here is where the old Stadthuis stands which was the then Dutch East India Company’s headquarters. Restoration for the square has been going on since it was named as a National Heritage Area during the 70s and is expected to complete by 2014.

In a corner of the square is the Batavia Café which is one of the major spots here for one to enjoy food and snacks. It is a common favourite among the expatriates as well as foreign tourists here set within a 200 year old building. Most of the original elements have been restored and well preserved and one could still feel the European style café, which was first envisioned by Mr Graham James, the proprietor of the café. There are a mixture of Dutch and Australian dishes to try out here within the walls of the 2 storey building although it is known to be a bit upscale and costly. The Jakarta History Museum is where one can learn more about the country and the square’s origins. Here, some 23,000 artifacts are put on display amidst its 37 rooms that include furniture, stone inscriptions and such.

This ‘flea market’ style is where many would come and trade practically any item which they regard as ‘antique’. Hence, not everything here is valuable although most things are used and old. Tourists like to come here as they are able to find items which remind them of the old times. This market has been operating for the last 40 years when it began selling Chinese porcelain and dining items.

There are quite a lot of things one can find around here and this include wooden statues, decorative items and others. One of the very interesting items that one can find here are old vinyl records. Here is where one is able to find a wide range of the records which are great for those who enjoy the old vintage sounds of the needle. There are hundreds if not thousands of old records here and it will take hours to finish browsing through all of them. If you are lucky you could pick out a rarity to bring home with you.

Apart from that, there are also many other stuff around here although not everything are considered antique. Take note that there are also some vendors who are selling new items to join in the businesses. Some have incorporated imitation goods here so be careful not to be cheated to believe that they are real. As with any other markets, you will need to haggle for prices of the items. The antiques are subject to the discretion of the seller so it is up to them what price they want to sell.

Coming to Indonesia means you will be able to enjoy a host of local delicacies here and one thing that you must try here is the tropical fruits like bananas, watermelons and many more. They are known to be one of the best in the world and you could easily get a pack for less than US0.50.

In most major towns and tourist destinations like Jakarta, Bandung and Bali, you can easily get a place to stay for less than US10 per night. This could go cheaper if you do not mind sharing the dormitory in the B&Bs. With the tropical heat here, an air-conditioned room would be quite a luxury already. When buying anything, you can put your bargaining skills to good use. If you buy anything at the first price the seller offer, then you have been cheated and have already paid way more than the product is worth. So whatever the case, always try to name your price at least half of what is offered and then move your way up. This can be applied to almost everything including a place to stay, a bus ticket and particularly, souvenirs and local products.

Bear in mind that the common perception about foreigners is that they are rich because of the currency. If you carry with you USD500, it is more than enough for the whole family to survive for a few months. So, if you are carrying cash with you, be mindful and do not expose how much you are carrying. Bring lose change whenever you can and convert them into local currencies wherever possible.

But one thing about Indonesia is that if you are the type who does not like too much attention, then you might need to reconsider visiting the country at all. More so if you are a foreign woman because you will bound to attract attention and lookers everywhere you go. If you feel uncomfortable with people ogling over you, then you will not have a comfortable trip.

Indonesian men are known to be quite daring when it comes to approaching women. This means that if they think you are approachable they will not think twice to try and make a pass at you. While it might be fun initially, it could get annoying if it happens too many times. In fact they have no problems just sitting next to you in a café and strike out a conversation. You must be very careful with them and to take note of those who speak extremely English extremely well. To them, the rule of thumb is simple, if you are alone, you are single and available. Due to the high demand for men escorts or gigolos there are also many of them around. Unless you intend to engage their services, you must be careful because they do not come straight out as one. It is fine if you have a companion throughout the trip but once you start receiving requests like money and cash, then it is time for you to bail.

A lot of tourists come to Indonesia and have a good time and sometimes they become too loud with their parties. Being a woman, it is better to keep a low profile unless you are with a group of friends that include the locals. Always keep your mannerisms in check, dress appropriately (even during the hot and dry season) and you will have an enjoyable trip.

In fact, Flores is known to offer almost a complete range of natural attractions that any tourist would be looking for because apart from its pristine lakes, there are waterfalls, mangrove shores, caves as well as a rich, traditional lifestyle of the locals here.

The island is located around the Eastern region of Nusa Tenggara where it is a long island with much to offer. There are 8 districts here namely the West, Central and East Manggarai, Nagekeo, Ngada, Ende, Sika and East Flores. One would be able to see one of the most exotic underwater life here where you could spot dolphins, dugongs and manta rays. White sandy beaches are located around the island and distinguishably there is also a beach with pink sand. At Mount Kelimutu, one can see the lake here which changes its colour periodically. Apart from the very popular Komodo dragons, you can also visit the Larantuka event here which is an age old Portuguese celebration during Easter week which have been practiced for about half a decade now.

It is located towards the northern part of the island and houses more than 1.5 million people. The place is known to have a great landscape of Dutch architecture while one will also like the Chinatown and the surrounding villages here.

To get here, one can fly in through the Achmad Yani International Airport which is located ver near to the heart of the city there are daily flights that come here from major cities of Indonesia as well as from nearby countries too. There is also a train that comes here from Jakarta services by the Argo Muria service which takes about 6 hours. As the town is connected to Jakarta, you can also get here by road which will take about 10 hours.

In Semarang, you can visit the Sam Po Kong Temple which was built to honour Laksamana Cheng Ho, a renowned Muslim Chinese commander when he visited the region in the 15th century. As mentioned, the rich Dutch architecture designs are found towards the northern parts of the town while the Gereja Blenduk which means ‘Doomed Church’ too is a great place to visit.

The shooting began recently and will be done fully in the country’s capital, Jakarta and according to Syamsul Lussa, the Director of Film Affairs of the ministry, this would have a direct impact on the tourism of the country as well as creating new jobs.

Another recent movie was also shot in Indonesia recently which is ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ where it was made in Bali that directly and indirectly attracted more foreign tourists into the island resort. In that movie, local talents were used that tells a story of Liz Gilbert, played by Julia Roberts who went to Bali to learn from the locals in order to find peace of mind.
Meanwhile, in the latest production some local artistes too have been recruited in the cast of the psychological thriller and that is not all because they were also involved in the production team in the movie that stars John D’Arcy and Bonnie Wright of a story of a group of students who had to reboot the human race in a post-nuclear war era.