"Indonesia? Where is that?" "Where is Bali?" "Ah, then it's all clear." Representatives of the archipelago's Ministry of Tourism often have such conversations during presentations of tourism opportunities abroad. They decided to break this stereotype and show that Indonesia has a lot to offer. Besides Bali, there's more. A TRN-news correspondent found out what exactly.
Not Bali alone...
Bali (let's get that straight – the correct stress falls on the first syllable) is indeed a magnet for tourists from all over the world, and as a result, its infrastructure is among the best developed. However, the Indonesian government has now decided to focus on promoting other resorts. The strategy is called "Bali and Beyond" and aims to show that the archipelago's attractions are far from limited to this one island.
As Made Badra, head of the Badung Provincial Tourism Office on Bali Island, explained at the BBTF trade show, the region is investing heavily in developing tourism infrastructure. For example, a major highway was built this year, facilitating airport transfers and travel throughout the province, and free Wi-Fi will be available in all cities in October. The "Smart City" concept, which allows payment for all services using a special plastic card, is planned for the foreseeable future.
Beyond beach holidays, Indonesia offers cultural, ethnographic, and historical tourism. For this purpose, the island of Flores is worth a visit.
A flight there from Denpasar Airport takes just 1.5 hours. The island's capital, the port town of Labuan Bajo, with a population of less than 2,000, impresses with its resort atmosphere. Despite its relative obscurity, both the city and the island as a whole boast a well-developed tourist infrastructure, boasting at least five 5-star hotels and at least 10 four-star hotels.
The island is located just two to three hours' drive from Komodo and Rinca, home to the famous Komodo dragons. So, a visit to Flores can be combined with an observation of the largest living reptiles on Earth.
Where civilization ends
The island is home to a unique village called Wae Rebo, hidden somewhere high in the mountains. You'll learn about its uniqueness later. Getting there requires three different modes of transport and almost a full day.
First, you'll travel by car or minibus along serpentine mountain roads. A butt massage is included in the price (by the way, Balinese massage is considered one of the best in the world, and also perhaps the cheapest – a 45-minute full-body massage costs only about 500-1000 rubles). The picturesque surrounding views make up for it – they're so beautiful that you'll immediately forget about the rough roads.
The drive along country roads takes about four hours. Then you can hop on scooters and motorbikes—a sort of local "mountain taxi," driven by smiling locals in reflective vests. These mini-bikers, nimbly weaving between potholes in the asphalt, will take you to the very foot of the mountain (another 10 minutes), where the hiking trail begins.
It's roughly the same place—at the entrance to the forest, civilization ends; beyond that, there's no signal. However, don't worry—it's impossible to get lost there; there's only one trail, and it's quite busy.
The trail winds through picturesque jungle, offering occasional panoramic views of the nearby mountains and canyons. The climb takes between 2.5 and 4 hours, depending on your fitness level.
Thanks to the complete absence of urban light pollution, the Milky Way is clearly visible in Vai Rebo. After dark, the starlight is of course insufficient, so be sure to bring a flashlight.
Upon arriving in the village, our first step was to see the mayor to obtain permission to photograph and stay there. Traditionally, this formality is a ceremony: guests sit on special mats in the hut's "living room," and the mayor gives a long talk. Our guide, Emmanuel, briefly explains what this means. "He gave you permission to take photographs," Emmanuel clarifies, and we happily take advantage of this permission.
The traditional Wae Rebo hut, Mbaru Nyang, is a cone-shaped structure divided into several tiers. The upper floors once served as storage areas, storing everything from food to sacrificial objects. The lower tier is also divided into several areas: a common area or living room, where we were received, a kitchen and dining room, and bedrooms—one for each of the 6-8 families, separated from the main room by screens.
This is the only village on the island where these huts remain. It was for this reason that it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. They were restored in 2008, and in 2010 they began promoting the village as a tourist attraction. Now, the flow of tourists is growing, and local residents earn their living not only from farming, growing oranges and bananas, but also from tourism. The village only has generator power; it turns off around 10 p.m., which gives you the opportunity to photograph Mbaru Nyang under the stars. Another life hack: try to photograph it before midnight or 1 a.m., otherwise the moon will come out and ruin everything with its bright light.
A visit to Wae Rebo includes an overnight stay in one of the houses and a meal of traditional Indonesian food – nasi goreng (fried rice), soto ayam (chicken soup), ayam goreng (fried chicken), krupuk (shrimp chips).
It is worth noting that almost every local village has a real billiard table, which is usually occupied by local youth.
The path to happiness
The cultural heritage of the Indonesian people on Flores is by no means limited to Wae Rebo. Along the way, we stopped in another village, where we were shown traditional dances—a war dance and a rice harvest dance—and also learned how to play a local game of skill called Rangka Alu. It involves placing long bamboo poles on the ground, shaped like a grid. Then, some players begin to open and close them in a rhythm, each player attempting to slip between them. The tempo gradually increases until the player is caught.
When planning excursions on Flores Island, local guides make sure to include an interactive component. This includes the game described above, as well as dances in which guests are invited to participate. They also offer excursions where they can try their hand at making something with their own hands.
Indonesia's branding is largely based on the islands' cultural heritage. Many of them have preserved unique ethnic groups, as well as numerous rituals and traditions passed down from generation to generation.
Life on the Indonesian islands is built on the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana (literally, three sources of goodness) and aims to build harmonious relationships with divine forces, nature, and others, and, as a result, achieve happiness. These same principles are adhered to when organizing tourist vacations. Perhaps this is why Indonesia is like a big, warm book for tourists, one they want to return to again and again.
Source: trn-news.ru
