All tagged Indonesia
It’s ironic that the world’s largest Buddhist temple, Borobudur, is located in Indonesia, a country that is predominantly Muslim. Borobudur is also Indonesia’s most visited tourist attraction – a fact that worries many concerned about its preservation. But the Indonesian Government in partnership with UNESCO have done much in the past 50 years to preserve this ancient site for future generations. It’s a destination in Asia that older travellers will enjoy.
Indonesia’s second largest city, Surabaya, is home to one of Asia’s most elegant colonial hotels — the Hotel Majapahit. It’s East Java’s version of Singapore’s Raffles Hotel. With room rates on offer at about a quarter of the price of the Raffles Hotel, it provide travellers with the opportunity to enjoy the stylish elegance of this meticulously maintained historic Southeast Asian hotel at a more affordable price.
Yabbiekayu is a small eco-resort near Yogyakarta, Indonesia, that offers older travellers the chance to relax and de-stress in a rural environment of sustainable living. It provides the opportunity too to learn a little about Javanese culture and visit some of the nearby UNESCO World Heritage listed places such as the Buddhist temple of Borobudur and the Hindu temple of Prambanan.
Volunteering is a rewarding way for older travellers for whom traditional sightseeing no longer appeals, but who want to experience new places and new cultures — and especially for those interested in biodiversity, environmental and wildlife conservation issues. It’s an ideal way to meet people of different nationalities who share the same interests, and to see parts of Asia that are well away from the usual tourist haunts.
Many older travellers to the tropical countries of Asia like to keep fit whilst they are on holiday. One way to do this is through running or jogging. However, if you normally run only in temperate climates, there are some precautions that you need to take in the tropics. This guide contains some practical advice from a Thailand-based ultra runner on how to maintain your fitness regime in a tropical climate, and also some important tips on personal safety.
Paintings make great souvenirs to bring home from a trip to Asia. They not only serve as a reminder of places that you’ve visited, but will look great on the walls of your home. Original paintings may appreciate in value and are a better buy than reproductions. Our guide to buying art in Asia tells you where the best places are to buy original paintings, how to transport your paintings home, and where to see the best art if you aren’t in the mood to buy yet.
Asia is one of two continents where there is a higher risk of contracting rabies than elsewhere in the world. Rabies is a serious disease because it is almost always fatal if not treated. Therefore it is important for travellers to know how transmission can occur and what action to take in the event that they come into contact with a rabid animal. If promptly treated, rabies is 100 percent curable.
There are only 10 countries in Asia that allow travellers to use camera drones without a permit. In about 20 others, the process of acquiring permits ranges from relatively easy to extremely hard. In many others, recreational flying of drones is banned. Even in countries where drones are permitted, there are many no-fly zones and regulations that have to be followed. Penalties for breaching drone laws can be heavy fines or even imprisonment. This article summarises where you can and cannot fly drones in Asia.
There are many different tropical fruits available from markets and street stalls throughout Asia. Not all of them may be familiar to visitors from other parts of the world because some tropical fruits do not travel well, so are only readily available in the countries where they are grown. Travellers should therefore try to sample local fruits that are in season whenever the opportunity arises. Here are six of our “must try” fruits for visitors to the region.
TripAdvisor has unveiled its 25 top destinations for 2019 and, not surprisingly, they include many places in Asia. Its annual Travellers' Choice Awards are based on the reviews and ratings of TripAdvisor users around the world. Here’s a look at the 10 Asian destinations that made the list and what they have to offer older travellers.
RVing is a popular pursuit in many parts of the world, but in Asia there are only three countries where campervans can be rented, and only one country – namely Japan – where campgrounds or RV parks are on a par with those in the West. Japan is also one of the safest countries in the world to tour in a campervan.
For those who enjoy a tipple, one of the pleasures of travelling in Asia is sampling some of the locally-produced drinks. A wide selection of alcoholic drinks is available, with many countries producing not only their own beer and wine but a sometimes surprising range of spirits.
Thinking of renting a car in Southeast Asia? In some countries it’s possible but in others it’s not. And in those where self-drive rental cars are available, there are dangers to be aware of. In several countries driving yourself is not recommended unless you’ve had previous experience of driving in Asia. Check out our guide to the best countries in which to rent a car.
TIME magazine’s 2018 World’s Greatest Places listing featured many places to visit, eat, drink and stay in Asia. We reviewed the list and came up with the top 20 places that we think will be of most interest to older travellers. These include some diverse and interesting places that have only opened in the past year.
The best orchid gardens in Asia are located in Singapore. They are arguably the best orchid gardens in the whole of the tropical world. Any visitor to Asia who appreciates the beauty of orchids should include these gardens on their travel itinerary. This short guide describes the three best places to see flowering orchids in Singapore.
The orangutan is among the most loved of Asia’s wild animals. But it is critically endangered and its numbers are continuing to decline as its natural habitat, the rainforest, is destroyed. Today orangutans can be found only in Borneo and Indonesia’s North Sumatra. But there are still relatively easy ways for travellers to see them in the wild or forest rehabilitation reserves.
