Penulisan 5 Soft Skill

My Beloved Country, Indonesia

I am native from Indonesia, I love Indonesia. So I won’t go anywhere before I have done explore my beloved country,Indonesia. When we think about Indonesia, we often think about Bali. But Indonesia is much more than that. It’s a country rich in cultural diversity, home to around 300 ethnic groups and 700 languages. It is one of the largest countries in the world, counting around 17,500 magnificent islands, some of which are still unexplored. Indonesia has many beautiful natural scenery.You know The Indonesian archipelago spreads over 5200km between the Asian mainland and Australia. With over 17,500 islands, Indonesia has something unique to offer for all sorts of visitors.

Travel across the archipelago is pretty unforgettable, in tiny fragile planes, rusty ferries and careering buses. Give yourself plenty of time to cover the large distances; if you only have a couple of weeks, you’ll have a better time if you restrict yourself to exploring a small area properly rather than hopping across 3000km to see your top ten sights. If you do have longer, try to plan a trip that doesn’t involve too much doubling back, consider an open-jaw international plane ticket, and try to intersperse lengthy journeys with a few days of relaxation in peaceful surroundings. Also, leave yourself some leeway – if you’re in a hurry with a vital plane to catch, something is bound to go wrong. Having said all this, the places which are hardest to reach are often well worth the effort, and some of the most rewarding experiences come when you least expect them. An enforced day’s malinger between transport in an apparently dull town might end with an invitation to watch an exorcism, or to examine a collection of ancestor skulls over coffee and cigarettes.

When to go

The whole archipelago is tropical, with temperatures at sea level always between 21˚C and 33˚C, although cooler in the mountains. In theory, the year divides into a wet and dry season, though it’s often hard to tell the difference. Very roughly, in much of the country, November to April are the wet months (Jan and Feb the wettest) and May through to October are dry. However, in northern Sumatra, this pattern is effectively reversed. The peak tourist season, but not necessarily the best time to visit, is between mid-June and mid-September and again over the Christmas and New Year season. This is particularly relevant in the major resorts, where prices rocket and rooms can be fully booked for days, and sometimes weeks, on end.

Typical Costs

• Accommodation – Hostels usually cost around 135,000 IDR per night for a shared room and 335,000 IDR for a double private. Prices will be up to half the price outside of the major cities. Most hotels begin at 405,000 IDR per night for a double room.
• Food – Local food is extremely cheap, starting at 6,700 IDR for street food and 13,500 IDR for a full local meal. On average, you’ll spend 26,800-40,500 IDR for a solid meal. Western food is more expensive but is still affordable at around 121,000 IDR for a meal and drink.
• Transportation – For traveling between islands, ferries cost around 65,000 IDR (and up) for a ticket from East Java to West Bali, and the rates go up from there for other routes. An eight-hour journey on a bus costs around 80,000 IDR. Overnight bus will start at around 128,000 IDR.
• Activities: Attractions are not hugely expensive. You’ll pay around 87,500 IDR for entrance in to Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park and the same for Bunaken. Borobudur costs 270,000 IDR. The famous Mt. Batur hike is between 405,000-805,000 IDR.

Money Saving Tips

1. Eat on the street – You can pick up tasty local fare for around 6,700 IDR cents! Street side snacks, soups, and noodles will keep your wallet fat! Markets are your best bet for finding seriously cheap food.
2. Bargain hard – Nothing is ever at face value in Indonesia. Bargain with sellers as most of the time, the price they’ve quoted will not be the price you’ll pay if you bargain!

Top Things to See and Do in Indonesia

1. Relax in Bali
2. Dive in the Gili Islands 
3.  See Komodo Dragons
4. Watch the sunrise at Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park 
5. Explore Hindi Prambanan
6.  Amaze yourself in Borobudur 
7. Snorkel or dive in Bunaken 
8. Have a spa day 
9.  Broaden your taste buds
10. Visit Yogyakarta
11. Shop in Denpasar
12. See the orangutans in Sumatra
13. Explore village life in Kalibaru
14.  Visit Dieng Plateau,Central Java
15. Lake Maninjau,West Sumatra
16.  Thousand Islands,DKI Jakarta
17. Bandung,West Java

The Top 5 Place that I Really Want To Go

• Komodo Island, East Nusa Tenggara

Komodo Island is home to one of the most fascinating creatures on earth: the Komodo dragon. The dragon is native to Indonesia, and these islands are the only place where they can be found living in the wild. It is the largest lizard in the world, sometimes growing as tall as three meters long and weighing up to 70 kilograms, with sharp claws and poisonous saliva.

• Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara

Similar in density and size to neighboring Bali, and sharing some cultural heritage, Lombok has developed as one of the main tourist destinations in Indonesia. Even though they can be said to be increasingly changing in character, the Gili Islands still have enough diversity to provide for all tastes. From luxury resorts, to laidback backpackers’ retreats, the islands have it all. Other tourist spots south of Lombok include Kuta Beach, famous for its quasi-deserted white sand beaches, and as one of the best surfing spots worldwide, and Mount Rinjani, an active volcano.

• Toraja, South Sulawesi

Tana Toraja Regency already declared as the touristic "prima donna of South Sulawesi in 1984." In a little more than 15 years the Toraja people of upland Sulawesi had gone from anthropological obscurity to touristic celebrity. Known for their spectacular funeral rituals, effigy-filled burial cliffs, and elaborately carved architecture, the Sa'dan Toraja people of Indonesia number some 346,000. Although they continue to adhere to the traditions that so intrigue tourists, the Toraja are a predominantly Christian minority in a Muslim country.

• Pontianak, West Kalimantan

The second longest in the world and the longest in Indonesia, the Kapuas River in the jungles of Borneo brings you all the way into the hinterlands, home to the indigenous Dayak people. Deep in the rainforest, traditional ways of life have survived throughout the years. In an incredible natural setting, rich in diversity, boat rides starting from Pontinanak are the ideal way to explore the region. You can also experience the Dayak way of life by staying in traditional longhouses. In the villages, elders still use traditional medicine, perform rituals, mark bodies with intricate tattoos, and wear heavy earrings. Borneo is also the best place to spot black orchids, orangutans, and fresh water dolphins.

• Raja Ampat, Papua

Situated in Papua, the archipelago of Raja Ampat, comprising more than 1,500 small islands, is a diver’s dream destination. The underwater scenery is incredibly beautiful, and includes one of the richest coral reef ecosystems on earth. It also includes around 1,300 different species of fish, 530 species of coral, and around 700 species of mollusk. The islands remain remote, and are hard to access, which makes them relatively undisturbed by human activity and expensive to get to. But for divers, this place is highly recommended.

How is it? It’s great right? So what are you waiting for? Lets explore Indonesia and feel all this great experience that you never forget for the rest of your live. I hope I can visit all of these place above in 2019 and I think i will regret if I never come to this place.