Indonesia – Wangechi Gitahi Travels

Asia

Bali, a true Beauty

By Wangechi Gitahi

Bali, you are truly a wonder, everything from your deeply cultural nature, to your amazing friendly people, to your diverse scenery. It is a shame that you have been wrongly perceived as a destination only for the elite, a reason that has kept many people away from exploring your beauty. I am glad I ventured here, and confirm, you welcome all sorts of budgets.The below is what we got up to: Ubud This is my favourite place in Bali, you will be amazed by its beauty and the culture of the people. The residents of this area are very traditional and thus, it is a cultural haven, my kind of place.. This place chose to expose its beauty to me, and I now understand why people speak with such awe about it. The culture The residents of Bali have managed to keep their cultures alive in their daily living, a…

Asia

Cultural immersion in Yogyakarta

By Wangechi Gitahi

This is a city that is located in Java and it is commonly referred to as Jogjakarta or Jogja. The area is ruled by a Sultan and the communities here are still very traditional. You will be overwhelmed by the culture in this area. Highlights of my trip: 1: Visit to Borobodur: The Borobodur is a UNESCO World Heritage Site having been built in the 9th century as a buddhist temple. It has been well maintained and I highly advise a visit as it is not only a beautiful masterpiece, the carvings on the wall tell stories about their culture. I highly advise one to arrive early, so as to enjoy the place before it is thronged by people. At the entrance, everyone is given a sarong to wear across their waist as a form of respect. I only discovered that it was a buddhist temple when we walked to…

Asia

Jakarta

By Wangechi Gitahi

Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia and has a population of about 9.6 million people. It has a high population and thus heavy traffic, it be motor vehicle or motorbike is common.The people are very friendly though be prepared to take many pictures with strangers as “Black Africans’, seem not to be a common occurrence. The following were my highlights: 1.Monas: This is the National Monument of Indonesia, it is about 132 meters tall and is a symbol of their fight for freedom. There is a National History Museum within the compound that tells the history of Indonesia through dioramas i.e 3 D miniature models, paintings and stone wall carvings. In the museum, the figurines have both Bahasa and English explanations thus one can easily understand what is hapenning. 2. Ancol: This is a somewhat theme park that has anything and everything. My highlight of this place was the…

Asia

Indonesia 101

By Wangechi Gitahi

Indonesia is found in South East Asia and is known officially as the Republic of Indonesia. Its capital is Jakarta It is the largest archiepelego in the world having about 17,508 islands. Their official language is Indonesian Bahasa although most people also speak English It is the worlds largest Muslim majority nation and is open to all religions . The men and women do not generally mix and thus you will find Men and Women sitting in separate areas in most public transport. The population of Indonesia is over 260 million people . There are over 200 ethnic groups, which translates to lots of cultures to learn about. It has varied biodiversity attractions from over 400 active volcanoes, to being home to the Komodo dragon Most places and homes use water in the toilet instead of tisssue paper. Ensure you carry adequate supply of tissue as you move around The…