Foto: Mountain biking around Ubud (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Indonesia - In front of the hotel, I meet Eddy, who will guide today’s cycling trip from Mount Batur back to Ubud. First, we take a bus northward. Even far outside the city, I see woodcarving workshops and stores—I can’t imagine many buyers still come here. Probably taxi drivers stop here for commission. We pause at a viewpoint overlooking the terraced rice fields—gorgeous, though the sun is unfortunately backlighting the scene. After about an hour, we reach the crater rim. From a restaurant terrace, Eddy explains that a large volcano once stood here. It exploded in 1962, creating the Batur and Agung craters. Before starting the descent, we drive a bit further to where the bikes are ready. I check the brakes and gears, put on my helmet, and we’re off. Eddy insists I stay behind him—not ideal, as we descend very cautiously. I don’t have to pedal, just brake constantly to avoid overtaking him. We pass rice fields and small villages. Children wave enthusiastically—not surprising, since tourists pass here daily. We stop at a kampong, a small community of families. I enter through a narrow traditional gate. Eddy explains the temple is positioned to protect against the volcano. The grandparents live directly beside it, with the rest of the family across the courtyard. Women weave offerings, children play on a bamboo swing, pigs and a cow are in the back. Back on the bike, we ride a narrow one-meter path through the rice fields. This too slopes downward. At one field, Eddy explains how rice is grown and harvested. By chance, harvesting is happening now. The whole ride is downhill—we descend from 1,000 to 200 meters. At a small dam, I’ve cycled 24 km. It wasn’t exhausting. Eddy suggests cycling the last stretch to the restaurant. I agree. This part is uphill—6 km. I quickly feel the heat but manage to keep up with Eddy. It feels good to push myself a bit. When I reach the restaurant, I’m soaked with sweat. The buffet lunch tastes great.
At Borobudur
Indonesia - Today I’m going to visit the Borobudur temple, one of the seven new wonders of the world. It seems like one of the highlights of this trip. I leave Yogya by bus. It’s rush hour. Countless motorbikes weave through the city. I quickly understand why—a ...
Dolphins at Lovina
Indonesia - At six o’clock I meet Robert again on the beach. The sun has not yet risen, but a glow already hangs over the sea. I help Robert and the skipper push the fishing boat into the water. I step in to go dolphin watching. Fellow travelers who went yesterday ...
Face to Face with Orang Utans
Indonesia - I’m getting ready for a long trek through Gunung Leuser National Park. This is one of the last places where orangutans still live in the wild. Until a few years ago, the orangutans were fed twice a day, but efforts are now being made to phase this out ...
Sulfur carriers on the Ijen volcano
Indonesia - At four in the morning, my alarm goes off. Today I will climb the Ijen volcano, an active volcano north of Ketapang. Jeeps are waiting in front of the hotel. I join a rather quiet driver. He drives out of Ketapang heading north, taking about two hours ...
Sunrise at the Bromo volcano
Indonesia - Knock knock. “It’s three o’clock, Sir!” I’m woken for the sunrise at Mount Bromo. I quickly dress—Karin warned me it would be crowded today, as it’s Sunday and many locals come up for the sunrise. In the dark, I see a stream of headlights ...
The colorful lakes of the Kelimutu volcano
Indonesia - The Kelimutu volcano, located on the island of Flores in eastern Indonesia, is famous for one of the country's most fascinating natural phenomena: three crater lakes, each with a different, ever-changing color. These so-called “Lakes of Kelimutu” ...
The impressive Komodo dragon
Indonesia - The Komodo Islands, located in eastern Indonesia between Sumbawa and Flores, are among Southeast Asia’s most fascinating and rugged natural areas. They are part of Komodo National Park, established in 1980 to protect the unique flora and fauna, especially ...
The island of Gili Air
Indonesia - Gili Air is one of the three Gili Islands located off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia. Together with Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno, it forms a tropical paradise in the Indonesian archipelago. Gili Air is the closest to Lombok and is known for ...
The Prambanan Temple near Yogyakarta
Indonesia - Today I leave Yogyakarta and head to the Hindu Prambanan temple, located 18 kilometers outside the city. This temple, from the same era as Borobudur, was severely damaged during the 2006 earthquake. The main temple, dedicated to Shiva, largely collapsed. ...
The Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls
Indonesia - The Rinjani Waterfall, often associated with the famous Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls, lies at the foot of majestic Mount Rinjani on Indonesia’s Lombok island. These are among the island’s most beautiful natural attractions, deeply connected ...
The traditional Bajawa villages on Flores
Indonesia - Deep in the mountainous interior of the Indonesian island of Flores lies Bajawa, a town known as the gateway to some of the most authentic and best-preserved traditional villages on the island. These villages, inhabited by the Ngada people, offer a rare ...
The view over Pulau Padar
Indonesia - The view over Pulau Padar – also known as Padar Island – is undoubtedly one of the most iconic and breathtaking panoramas in all of Indonesia. Located in Komodo National Park, between the larger islands of Komodo and Rinca, Padar is known for its ...
Washing elephants in Sumatra
Indonesia - My alarm wakes me just before seven. Today I’m going to wash elephants – an experience I’m really looking forward to. Suka greets me enthusiastically when I arrive at the restaurant. It’s about a half-hour walk to the elephant camp. The elephants ...