Transjakarta(01 of30)
Open Image ModalMany travelers avoid Indonesia\'s hectic capital city altogether, but I enjoyed getting right in the thick of it. Riding the new Transjakarta rapid bus system, for example, allowed me to mingle with locals as I took in Jakarta\'s sights and smog.
Monas(02 of30)
Open Image ModalOne of the main attractions is Jakarta is the 433-foot-tall Indonesian National Monument, locally known as \"Monas,\" which was erected in 1975 to symbolize the Republic of Indonesia.
Urban Jungle(03 of30)
Open Image ModalOne thing I love about Jakarta is that in spite of its hustle and bustle, congestion and pollution, it still manages to be lush.
Smile Of The Century(04 of30)
Open Image ModalJakartans are also some of the friendliest, happiest people I\'ve ever met and are eager to congregate with foreigners in spite of their often poor grasp of English.
Istiqlal Mosque(05 of30)
Open Image ModalAnother major Jakarta attraction is the Istiqlal Mosque, located just opposite Monas in the heart of the city. Indonesia\'s national mosque, Istiqlal was the site of a colorful TV taping the day I visited.
Leave Me With Your Borneo(06 of30)
Open Image ModalBorneo has been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately, but in spite of this, I enjoyed several days of trekking in the highly protected Gunung Palung National Park, on the island\'s west coast.
Lubuk Baji(07 of30)
Open Image ModalI camped in this amazing treehouse, named \"Lubuk Baji\" after a nearby waterfall.
Musli(08 of30)
Open Image ModalMy guide Muslianto, who prefers to go by \"Musli,\" has lived most of his life near the jungle and is incredibly in-tune with nature. He totally needs his own TV show!
Orang Utan(09 of30)
Open Image ModalIn spite of the ongoing primate genocide, there are still healthy populations of wild orangutans in Kalimantan, the official name for Indonesian Borneo. Here\'s one I spotted in a tree above where I was trekking.
Rainforest(10 of30)
Open Image ModalThe jungles of Indonesian Borneo are lush and humid, producing a mysterious ambiance.
Jogja(11 of30)
Open Image ModalThe city of Yogyakarta, locally known as \"Jog-ja,\" is the tourist hub of Java island, home to several imperial palaces as well as ancient temples, volcanoes and other incredible attractions. Like many other Southeast Asian backpacker hubs, Jogja is replete with guest houses, rickshaws and people who are eager to offer you services in exchange for money. Yogyakarta is more charming than, say, Siem Reap or Chiang Mai, and it\'s also got a more interesting story: It\'s still ruled by a sultan!
The Water Palace(12 of30)
Open Image ModalAlthough the Sultan\'s current \"Kraton\" palace is Yogyakarta\'s main attraction, the nearby water palace (Taman Sari) is more secluded and also more interesting. An oasis where sultans of years past would bathe with as many as 100 virgins, Taman Sari also houses a 26-kilometer underground tunnel that leads directly to the sea.
Stairway To Heaven(13 of30)
Open Image ModalThe mosque at Taman Sari is an attraction within an attraction. Its unique shape -- and intended purpose -- have given it the nicknake \"Stairway to Heaven.\"
Recycled Art Shop(14 of30)
Open Image ModalWhile departing from Taman Sari, I noticed some trash strewn about, but not haphazardly and on the streets as is usually the case in Indonesia. Rather, a local artist named Uwuh had painted some plastic bottles in the colors of the Indonesian flag and used them as decorations. Upon chatting with him more, I learned that he does this for a living. He hopes his art will inspire young Indonesians to solve their country\'s horrible trash problem.
Borobudur(15 of30)
Open Image ModalIn addition to Hindu temple Prambanan, Yogyakarta is also located close to Borobudur, a ninth-century Buddhist temple that is the world\'s largest.
Ashmageddon(16 of30)
Open Image ModalA few days after I arrived in Jogja, nearby Mount Kelud erupted, which prompted me to don a face mask and go out into the city with my camera.
Ash Flower(17 of30)
Open Image ModalAlthough questionable in its safety or wisdom, my decision to take in the ash-covered city not only built character but produced great photos and a nod in The Jakarta Globe, Indonesia\'s largest newspaper.
Kawah Ijen(18 of30)
Open Image ModalLike any sane traveler, I left volcano-ravaged Yogyakarta and headed immediately for Mount Ijen, one of the culprit volcano\'s East Java neighbors. Since Ijen continuously emits sulfur, however, it isn\'t prone to huge eruptions.
Blue Fire(19 of30)
Open Image ModalIt is prone to bright-blue flames at night, however.
Hard-Knock Life(20 of30)
Open Image ModalUnfortunately, there is a dark side to Ijen\'s bright beauty. The large sulfur deposits have resulted in the development of a commercial mine that, like many such operations in Indonesia, relies on extremely cheap and hazardous local labor. Although this man is carrying 80 kilograms and will do so for 6 kilometers, he will earn less than 7 USD for his work.
Volcano Country(21 of30)
Open Image ModalA dormant volcano as seen from the summit of Mount Ijen.
Natural-Born Hipsters(22 of30)
Open Image ModalAfter my overnight trek to Mount Ijen, my local guide Sam introduced me to the friendly people of his village at its base, many of whom are former miners.
Change Of Scenery(23 of30)
Open Image ModalAfter finishing up in busy Java. I flew to Sulawesi, a sparely populated island famous for its agriculture -- namely coffee and rice, which is what\'s being harvested by this beautiful, happy woman.
The Circle Game(24 of30)
Open Image ModalSulawesi is also famous for its Tana Toraja region, which hosts some of the most elaborate funeral celebrations in the world. Here you see a group of dancers inaugurating a funeral, with traditional, boat-shaped Toraja houses in the background.
Red Carpet To The Afterlife(25 of30)
Open Image ModalTorajan funerals aren\'t the weepy affairs we\'re used to in the West but lively, triumphant celebrations of life -- and whatever comes after. Here women raise a red fabric that symbolizes the deceased person\'s road to the afterlife.
Baby Graves(26 of30)
Open Image ModalBabies -- young ones, anyway -- also traditionally receive special funerals in Toraja. People bury their infants (and, in the cases of miscarriage and abortion, fetuses) in trees, with the idea that the tree, as the baby\'s new \"mother,\" will give it eternal life.
The Last Paradise(27 of30)
Open Image ModalI finished up my trip in remote Raja Ampat, which really is this beautiful -- no Photoshop!
Dive Trip(28 of30)
Open Image ModalIn addition to its beautiful beaches, Raja Ampat is famous as a diving spot.
Snake Eyes(29 of30)
Open Image ModalRaja Ampat\'s Papuan locals, who are generally of African descent, are sparse in population but overflowing in friendliness (and, in case of children especially, cuteness!).
Pink Sunset(30 of30)
Open Image ModalMy last sunset at Raja Ampat was truly the perfect end to a truly perfect trip. Are you ready to book your ticket yet?