20-Nights Indonesia Adventure: Java & Bali - 18-to-Thirtysomethings

Kuta

About 600 mi/965 km east of Jakarta, Kuta was one of Indonesia's first tourist towns, and the years have taken their toll. Kuta appeals to travelers whose main interest is good nightlife and an ample supply of bars. It is popular with young people who enjoy the round-the-clock action.

The beach still retains its beauty, and the waves and sunsets are impressive.

At night, there are plenty of bars to hop or crawl between, but on your way you'll pass all the trappings of urban squalor: drug sellers, prostitutes and beggars (seldom seen elsewhere on Bali).

The streets are choked with motorcycles and exhaust. A better idea is to skip Kuta and stay in nearby Legian or Seminyak (both are near the nightclubs, but away from most of the noise). Other quieter alternatives include Sanur and Nusa Dua.

If you do stay in Kuta, be sure to save some time to visit the countryside—day trips can be easily arranged by your hotel.

There are several temples near Kuta. One favorite is Ulu Watu, which is perched on a sheer cliff over the ocean on the island's southern coast. Other trips can be arranged to see temple dances or to visit the craft villages on the way to Ubud.

Malang

Yogyakarta

Ubud

Bandung

Jakarta

For most travelers, Jakarta, Indonesia, is either part of a business trip or a pit stop on the way to more popular tourist destinations such as Bali and Yogyakarta. In truth, most find little that makes them want to linger in Indonesia's capital: A large, crowded city on the island of Java, Jakarta evokes few beautiful or memorable images. One exception is the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, the city's art building.

To appreciate this city, visitors need to seek out Jakarta's sights that invoke the historical heritage as a meeting place for East and West. These include the remnants of the Dutch colonial era and the old schooner harbor, Sunda Kelapa, still hard at work and looking much as it did in previous centuries.

Don't be surprised, though, if modern Jakarta begins to grow on you: Its jarring mix of trendy nightspots, teeming streets and occasional political demonstrations bespeaks a place where the present is unfolding in an exciting—if not always orderly—manner. The city's image is slowly changing, however, and Jakarta has many fine hotels, shopping malls and golf courses in and around the metropolitan area to entice visitors to stay a little longer.

Travelers to Indonesia should be aware that tsunamis and earthquakes are part of the travel equation. Both are unpredictable, but travel warnings from embassies come into force quickly in the unlikely event that they should occur.