Just recently I returned from yet another amazing tour with Wendy Wu and on each tour, I have made some wonderful friends. One couple who I met on a tour of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia have remained friends with me since that time. When they saw the new Wonders of Indonesia tour advertised, they contacted me to ask if I would like to join them. I looked at the itinerary, and it immediately appealed to me as I am a big fan of Asia and a chance to see the Komodo dragons was a huge incentive, so I booked my place with them.
I travel mostly on my own and am never worried about being the odd one out. My preference is to join group tours which include male and female. I find it gives a better balance. I have done a couple of solo tours which have been fine but for me it is a mixed group that is more appealing. On the Wonders of Indonesia Tour, as on other tours, I have always found likeminded people, who are happy to share the experiences with me, so I never feel lonely. The National guides on the tours are first class. Knowledgeable, friendly and always approachable.
The standout moment on this tour was most definitely the Komodo dragons but saying that, there were many other standout moments. Jodipan village in Malang was a rainbow of hope.
The early start to go up to Mt. Bromo to see the sunrise over the volcanic plateau, was awe inspiring and the view that confronted me when the sun shone over the huge volcanic area was otherworldly. It could have been the Moon or Mars.
There were many incredible historical sites that we visited on tour, but I think Borobudur Temple, a breath-taking Buddhist monument and Prambanan Temple, a towering complex of Hindu temples, in Yogyakarta were probably the ones that made the most impression on me.
Visiting the Komodo Islands by high-powered speedboat was exhilarating and such fun. As we visited the islands on 2 days, we had the pleasure of zipping across the sea at speed, something I enjoyed very much. We visited Pink beach which was like something out of a dream about paradise found.
At the end of the tour, we had just one day in Bali, but as we didn’t arrive until around lunchtime at the gorgeous hotel in Sanur, I felt that perhaps an extra day here and one less in Jakarta would have been better. Some of the group, were leaving early hours next morning so saw very little of Bali.
I had booked the Bali Explorer so did have a few days to explore with a guide and driver and to learn about Bali and its culture which is very different to Java. Each day was jammed packed with places to visit. I saw temples, mountain villages visited by an exciting Jeep experience, palaces, water temples and I even made my own offering of flowers in a bamboo basket which I took to a temple and received a blessing. I am very pleased that I included the Bali Explorer as there is so much more to Bali than beach and sand.
I can thoroughly recommend the Wonders of Indonesia tour and Bali Explorer as I learnt so much about Indonesia and the island of Bali which books and films can never impart in the same way as seeing and experiencing such wonderful scenes. It has left a lasting impression on me and has taught me so much about its cultural heritage and its people. They are delightful, friendly, respectful and so helpful. Nothing is too much bother. It was a privilege to meet these most extraordinary people who inhabit these islands.
