Immerse Yourself in Indonesia

Lombok

You may have heard of Lombok, as it is so close to Bali, and acclaims fame for its "Gili Islands" and scuba diving. However, not many tourists venture here, so you will receive many curious local stares and head turns as you explore. I spent much of my time in Mataram volunteering for a cultural exchange program, "Feel Lombok". On our free days, I rented a scooter to ~vroooom~ further into the remote areas of the island.

• Senggigi Beach: A fusion of white and black sand, this beach boasts a colorful reef, totally rad surf waves and beach bars dotted along this quiet shore.

• Pink Beach: Secluded pink(ish) beach with a long, rocky road to obstacle through, but worth the "white knuckle" effort. The water is so clear and calm, you'll feel like royalty having this pink oasis pretty much all to yourself.

• Gili Kedis: Instead of boating out to the classic "Gili's" in northern Lombok, book a tour to camp overnight at Gili Kedis in the southern part of the island. You'll be surrounded by starfish, crystal clear water and you will get to spend the next day "Gili Hopping" to snorkel. Eat like a local, and sip from the freshest of coconuts.

East Java

Now, Java may ring a bell too, whether it stems from your love for coffee, or that the capital city, Jakarta is on this main island. Jakarta is a good starting point. If you're going to spend more than three days in this region, I recommend driving down to Cianjur or Bandung. Here you will get away from the heavy traffic fumes and explore the countryside's simplicity.

I volunteered in Blitar City at a coffee farm, "De Karangajur", and within these two weeks, here's what I accomplished:

• Gunung Kelud: Active volcano with a crater lake that can be hiked or biked to. The views on this windy road through the mountains were unmatched. The noodles at the base were delicious, and it felt so special to be the only foreigners there.

• Sirah Kencong Tea Plantation: This plantation mesmerized me since I had never seen so many rolling hills of lush green in my life. I recommend getting a tour since you'll get to sample some tea (the cinnamon, ginger, brown sugar concoction was the best). Indulge in hot pot back at the base to warm the soul. It's actually quite cold up there.

• Malang: this city was a stopover before our Bromo/Idgen tour, but it felt comparable to that of a US southern charm of a destination. It was built into nature and had so many remarkable restaurants, cafes, and landmarks to explore on foot. I definitely recommend staying at Hotel Tugu while you're there since it boasts hundreds of artifacts detailing the history of Indonesia on the first floor and in every individual room to give it its own unique flare.

Sumatra

Ahhh, Sumatra. The place I decided to extend my stay in Indonesia for an extra 3 months. Sumatra is a vast jungle island in Indonesia that holds all the wildlife you have only seen on Planet Earth docuseries.

I volunteered at an English camp for three months in West Sumatra to teach English to college students and to bridge the cultural gap between America and Indonesia.

• Bukittinggi: Distinctive for its famous clock tower, this city is tucked away in the mountainous region of West Sumatra. Between the lively commotion of local tourists, panoramic canyon views and its environmentally friendly version of poop coffee (it tasted way better than it sounds). Rafflesia Luwak Coffee is off the beaten path and has been visited by many celebrities (Gordon Ramsay included!). It is worth stopping in for a tasting or even a cooking class.

• Kerinci National Park: The largest national park in Sumatra and listed as a World Heritage Site. This area is home to one of the highest Sumatran tiger populations in the world.

• Mentawai Islands: Offers some of the best surfing conditions, making it a paradise for surfers all over the world. Just a 3-hour ferry ride from Padang, these islands have maintained a unique culture that sets them apart from the rest of Sumatra.

The 5 Essential Makanan(s) (Dishes)

• Beef Rendang: Originally from West Sumatra, this dish has the ideal blend of spice and richness in flavor.

• Satay Madura: This one dish originally came from one of the regions in East Java, yet its delicacy is well-known throughout the entire country. If you like peanuts, this dish will blow you away with each skewer of meat drizzled with peanut sauce and served with rice cakes.

• Fried Rice (Nasi Goreng): A staple dish that can be customized with egg, chicken, beef, seafood or veggies. If you're a picky eater, you will at least fall in love with this.

• Gado Gado/Pecel/Lotek: They're all so similar, you may not be able to tell the difference, but this hefty salad is a popular breakfast dish with veggies and peanut sauce.

• Bakso: Meatballs and fried wonton in a warm beef broth and you could add up to three variants of noodles if you wanted to.

Note: Since Indonesia is notably the most populous Muslim-majority country, you will find that bars and nightlife are very rare. The coffee shops run wild through midnight for all the coffee/tea lovers.

My personal favorite for socially acceptable drinks is Kopi Susu, which is a sweet, iced coffee with condensed milk that can be enjoyed at any hour of the day.