INDONESIA : A Tropical Paradise And 17,000 Islands to Choose

With more than 17,508 islands, Indonesia is a tropical paradise to discover.

Indonesia has 6,000 inhabited islands with a population of over 240 million people. The main islands of Indonesia are Java, Sumatera, Borneo, Sulawesi, and Papua. Aside from the Indonesia's most popular island  BALI, Indonesia is one of Southeast Asia's least explored countries in terms of Ecotourism.

The climate of most of the area is subject to a monsoon season spanning from October and April. Temperatures are consistently warm at 26-30 degrees with exceptionally humid conditions. To add to Mother Nature’s many challenges, the country is also host to over 150 active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.

For many, a holiday to Indonesia starts at Jakarta, the largest city in the country. Most travellers will find the heavy pollution and nightmarish traffic a holiday turn off, but there are many unique features of the city. Once in Jakarta, visitors looking to move to more picturesque destinations will find it easy to get around between the islands. Bali, of course, has become a popular tropical resort destination with many airline carriers offering special deals and cheap flights packaged with resort accommodations.

Boat travel is widely available between Java, Bali and Sumatra. Buses are the easiest way to get around on land and are readily available throughout most popular cities and towns. There are also a number of quirky local transport options including three wheeled bicycle powered cabs, horse drawn carts or rickshaws.

Indonesia's population is diverse mix of 300 ethnic groups, drawing much of its influence from Hindu culture. Meanwhile, Chinese, European and Arabic influences are also prominent. Traditional dance and sport are the favourite pastimes and rituals amongst the locals while the regional food also draws from Middle Eastern, Chinese, European and Indian roots. Indonesia is perhaps one of the most diverse melting pots of cultures and is quite an amazing area to discover a range of customs and traditions - or you might just appreciate it as a great ecotourism paradise.

Indonesia can be hard work to travel through properly — and the limiting 60-day tourist visa does not help those really wanting to explore the 17,000-island-strong archipelago fully, given how infrequently some ferries travel. But with a little good planning, a lot of energy and bundles of enthusiasm, Indonesia more than rewards those who make the effort to discover its secrets, and appreciate its culture and uniqueness.