Indonesia

I wandered beyond the bustling streets of Jakarta, a sprawling metropolis where colonial-era buildings stand side by side with towering skyscrapers, and the scent of satay lingers in the humid air. As I ventured eastward, leaving behind the city's relentless energy, I found myself immersed in Indonesia’s ever-changing landscapes—where rice paddies stretched endlessly, volcanoes pierced the horizon, and mist-draped rainforests hummed with life.

Traveling over 1,577 kilometers by bus, train, and ferry, I traced a path through Java’s beating heart. In the cultural hub of Yogyakarta, I stood before the majestic Borobudur, its ancient stupas glowing under the morning sun, and later, I watched batik artisans create intricate patterns, their craft passed down through generations. Further east, the surreal beauty of Mount Bromo at sunrise left me breathless—an otherworldly scene of smoldering craters and shifting sands.

As I approached Bali, the landscapes softened into emerald rice terraces and coastal cliffs, the scent of frangipani drifting in the warm breeze. Temples adorned with canang sari offerings lined the streets, and surfers danced with the waves along the island’s sun-drenched shores. The journey, rich in culture and contrast, was more than a crossing from west to east; it was an immersion into Indonesia’s spirit—a land where ancient traditions endure, nature shapes daily life, and every encounter holds a story waiting to be told. — Anouk Sassen