Probably the most popular island to visit in Indonesia, here is a list of what to do in Gili Trawangan Island, which is located just after Bali and Lombok Island towards the east. Popularly known as the Gili Islands, this unique cluster of three islands have gone through it all, from the days of some serious backpacker partying in the nineties to a tourist friendly island since going through a massive makeover in 2005.  

The three islands located next to each other are Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno where the Tranwangan is the largest of the three. Gili Air is pronounces as Ai-Yea and not air as most foreigners would call it. The beauty about the Gili Islands is that there is no motorized vehicles allowed on any of the islands therefore, it is such a charm to see horse carriages and bicycles being used as the main mode of transport. 

There is no airport available here therefore the only way to get here is via boat of ferry from Lombok or Bali which is a one or two hour ferry ride. As for accommodations, you can find luxury resorts, boutique hotels, budget hostels, backpacker guest house and even homestays, catering to all kinds of travelers. 

As for food, you must know that there is no pork available through the Gili Islands making it halal or pork free, however you can find almost all kinds of wines, spirits and beers catering to the international travelers that seek the perfect island getaway. As for what to do in Gili Trawangan, here is a list of what I experienced during my trip here in July 2016. 

What to do in Gili Trawangan Island

1. Rent a bicycle and cycle around the island

This is probably the best option to move around as it takes no more than 40 minutes to make one round the entire Gili Trawangan Island. Bicycles are available for rental from most hotels and resorts or from the shops along the main beach road. Prices are anywhere from Rp. 60,000 for the whole day or Rp.25,000 to Rp. 30,000 for a couple of hours. Some of the bicycles for rent include the classic city bicycle with a basket in the front or the 4x4 off road monster tire mountain bikes. 

2. Island Hopping from Gili Trawangan to Air to Meno

Visiting the neighboring islands is a must-do activity as you can see the smaller islands and the laid back life there. As Trawangan is the most inhibited island, you will find things easier on the other two islands but nevertheless, a well worth trip to explore if you love islands. What I noticed was that many travelers hop from one island to another to eat, drink and explore.

Datu Swings at Ombak Sunset Hotel

3. The Swing in the Sea at Gili Trawangan

The most popular tourist stop is the world famous 'Swing in the Sea' which is originally at Ombak Sunset Hotel on Gili Trawangan Island.

There are a total of four swings at the original spot but due to popularity, another resort followed suit and built their own set of swings in the sea, so if you want the original, it is at Ombak sunset while the other one is at Pandawa Beach. At the Datu Swings, you need to line up in an orderly fashion to wait your turn to get that legendary photo of the Gili Trawangan Swing in the Sea. This is probably the most shared photo in social media, especially with the younger travelers. 

4. Diving at the Gili Islands

Hands down this is truly a scuba divers paradise with over 20 dive resorts and operators on all the islands. The scuba diving price on Gili Trawangan ranges from around USD$28 per dive and a slight discount when you take a package.

There are dive centers with foreign speaking dive guides while all of them speak English. As for dive sites around the Gili Islands, there are 20 dive sites for you to choose from and unfortunately for me, there was not enough time to do a check dive in Gili, but I am sure I will be back to try some diving at the Gili Islands.

A turtle spotted while snorkeling at Gili Air

5. Snorkeling at Gili Islands

Anyone who comes here is bound to try snorkeling at the Gili Islands and you can do it from the beach or take the many snorkeling trips being offered by the operators on the island.

Usually there is a island hopping package where it takes you from one island to another island, and they will make a stop at one of the beautiful reefs for guests to snorkel.

Through my personal snorkeling experience, I noticed a very rich marine life which is beautiful and occasionally, the curious turtle may just pass you by. You should also make sure that you do not wander too far as sometimes currents can be strong and you may need to swim against the current back to your boat. 

6. Hike up the Gili Trawangan View Point

If you are into hiking and trekking, look no further as there is a view point at the highest point of Gili Trawangan where you can see the sister islands and the beautiful overall view of the Gili Islands. The view point is about 30 minutes trek up from most parts of the island and if you are a photographer, this would be the perfect place to catch sunrise and sunset.

Wide selection of local food at the Gili Trawangan Night Market

7. Eat at the Gili Night Market

A very popular spot is the Gili Night Market which is hard to miss as it is located on the only main road around the island. Here, you will see loads of tourist and travelers ordering all kinds of local foods like mixed rice dishes, cooked or grilled seafood and a variety of local deserts. Go early to get a good spot and the night market is open from around 5pm till 11pm, nightly too. If you want to try Indonesian food, island style, this is the place. Nearby there are convenient stores and coffee shops.

8. Watch a Movie by the Beach

A popular attraction is the movie by the beach at Gili Trawangan where guests pay around Rp.50,000 or 60,000 to watch a movie inclusive of a juice. Comfy bean bags are provided on the beach and limited to a number, so you need to come early to get your spot.

From the beach road, you will not be able to see anything, so no freebies here. A time table of movies ant show times are displayed on a board while they show international movies here on a big screen. Great for those wanting to just chill and relax.

Movie on the beach at Gili Trawangan

9. Try a Cooking Class on Gili Trawangan 

Yes, there is a cooking school on Gili Trawangan called Sweet and Spicy Cooking School where you can learn how to cook. Open to around six or eight students at a time, this fun cooking class is conducted by a local chef and is quite entertaining as those passing by will have the opportunity to witness your cooking skills. For those interested in learning how to cook, this would be the perfect experience for you to attend a traditional cooking class on Gili Trawangan. 

10.  Get a Sun Tan on the Beach

As the island is literally surrounded by beaches, you can simply pick your own spot to sun tan, if you want privacy or not, the choice is up to you. Some places are private, so you need to take note while most of the beaches are public. Deck chairs are also on rental or belonging to a resort, so please check first. Don't forget that SPF30 if you are planning to get a sun tan and the best time to do it is before 11.00 am.

Sun tanning at the many beaches on the Gili Islands

11. Enjoy a cocktail at the beach bars on Gili Trawangan

Bars at Gili Trawangan

As you arrive on the islands, you will notice loads of beach bars, restaurants and cafes which are situated directly on the beach areas. Some of them private owned and most of them are hotel operated.

It is here that you can enjoy a cocktail by the bar or even on the beachside and absorb the natural island beauty. For Muslim travelers, they serve Mocktails, juices and other non-alcoholic drinks too. Take note of the happy hour times they offer as sometimes, you can find a good deal at some of the bars at Gili Trawangan.

12. Go for a Spa at Gili Trawangan

Nothing beats having a traditional spa on an island and here at the Gili Islands, there are spas located almost everywhere. Prices vary from one another while you should book early for your spa session as it tends to get crowded during peak hours, especially at the hotel and resort spas here. 

There are a few more things that one can do at Gili Trawangan but the above are some of the main things you should not miss. If you love water sports, there are a number of operators who offer various types of water sports. As for money, there are ATM machines located all over the island so getting cash is not a problem while convenient and pharmacies are also available along the main beach road, in case you come down with the flu.

Beach road along Gili Islands

The Best Time to Visit Gili Trawangan

You must take note that the best time to visit Gili Trawangan Island is in July, August, September as this is the super peak period and also December for the year end season, therefore it is advised to book way ahead for your hotel room or you will be turned away as it gets really packed and if you plan to just try a walk-in, most hotels there will hang signs outside stating 'No Rooms' or 'Hotel Full'. 

The low season at Gili Islands is from February, March and April. The other months are the rainy months where you can expect showers in and out and for divers, November to April is the worst possible time to go diving at Gili Trawangan. Again, with the recent influx of tourism here, sometimes during the low months, rooms can be fully booked too, so best to always book your Gili Trawangan Hotel ahead of your trip.

Gili Islands Map, click to enlarge. Map from Lombok Media

Perhaps you are interested in exploring somewhere new other than Bali and the Gili Islands are the next best thing in trend. Right now (as of July 2016) there are a lot of European tourist who are flocking here to avoid the over commercialized Bali while some Asians are also coming here due to the wow factor of the islands and in time, this place will be the talk of town where loads of tourist will be packing this place up, therefore I recommend you visit the Gili Islands before it gets super commercial and busy. 

If you have questions or suggestions on what to do in Gili Trawangan Island, please do leave them in the comment form below. For those who want to find out about the many places I visit around Indonesia, you can also follow Malaysia Asia on Instagram as I frequently travel around Southeast Asia exploring islands and other places of interest. This trip was organised by Indonesia Tourism on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism Indonesia to promote the #TripofWonders campaign for 2016. 

For the first timer visiting Jogja, it is always a question on what to do and where to go in Jogjakarta, and this article sheds some basic information about the many places of interest found around Jogja, as the locals calls this place. For most travelers, the first thing that comes to mind is of course, one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world called Borobudur, which still stands magnificently since the 9th century. 

Next would be the amazing Prambanan Temple, which also hails from the 9th century and is of Hindu origins, and both the temple complexes are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and for the city lover, there is the famous Malioboro Street for your shopping in Jogjakarta. I will not be highlighting the two main temples of Borobudur and Prambanan as there is much information on these places, but there are some other interesting places to go in Jogja which I will highlight below. 

An Andong or Horse Carriage along Malioboro Street in Jogjakarta

Malioboro Street Shopping

This place is probably Indonesia's answer to Bangkok's street shopping scene where you can find traders of all sorts in every possible corner of the main Malioboro Street. However, the items sold here are mostly apparels, jewelry and tons of souvenirs and great for those wanting to get some. 

The thrill is to walk the entire length of the street and then take an Andong (Horse Drawn Carriage) and Becak (Trishaw with rider at the back) which are the main traditional transportation around here. On weekends, the place gets jam-packed with thousands of locals and tourist who are seen all over the shopping streets here. There are hotels, traditional massages and tour agents located in the side streets while there are a few shopping malls where you can get fast food and many other items along Jalan Malioboro Street Shopping. 

Malioboro Street

Address: Jl. Malioboro, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Opening Hours for Shops/Malls: 010:00 – 22:00

Opening Hours for Street Vendors: 08:00 – 00:00  

An intricate European styled gazebo at the Kraton Palace grounds

Kraton of Yogyakarta

For those who are into history and culture, you should not miss the Kraton Palace as it holds a rich cultural history of the Sultan of Yogyakarta. This massive palace complex is located in the city of Jogjakarta, and it is also the main seat Sultan of Yogyakarta and his family.

The Palace also serves as a cultural center for the Javanese people and contains a museum that displays the sultanate's artifacts. The architecture of the palace is quite interesting, where you can find elements of European and Dutch influence infused into the designs around the Palace grounds which was built in 1756. 

Keraton Palace

Address: Jl. Taman, Kraton, Yogyakarta 55133

Opening hours: 08:00 – 14:00

Entrance Fee: 3000 IDR (US$ 0.25)

The pools were on maintenance when I visited the Taman Sari Water Castle

Taman Sari Water Castle

The Sultan's luxury playground and royal gardens, a magnificent aristocrat area with beautiful water pools and lush landscaping and you though that you would have to see this is Europe? In Jogjakarta, you can see it just two kilometers from Kratron, where the Taman Sari Water Castle is located at. The exquisite gardens are also said to be built by a Portuguese architect in between 1758 and 1765. There are four main areas here so expect to spend at least an hour or two here. 

Inside, you will see the main central bathing complex with two main swimming pools which were once used by the Sultan and his family as a royal bathing area. Nowadays, this place serves as an important element of the Yogyakarta Sultanate history.

Keep a lookout for two concrete gates that lead to the bathing complex. One is located in the western side called Gedhong Gapura Hageng and one at the eastern side called Gedhong Gapura Panggung and here, you will see the gates decorated with beautiful ornaments of stylized birds and flora. A great place to get your photo taken. 

Taman Sari Water Castle

Address: Jl Komp. Taman Sari. Yogyakarta 55133

Opening hours: 08900 – 15:00

Entrance Fee: 7000 IDR (US$ 0.50)

Underground Mosque in Jogjakarta

Underground Mosque in Jogja (Sumur Gumuling)

Probably the only unique mosque in the world where it is located underground and inside a local village near the Kampoeng Cyber area. In short, you can walk here from the Taming Sari Water Castle but moving around here is quite a maze, so best to get a map or ask someone if you are going alone.

Look out for the entrance to the Underground Mosque

The beauty about the Underground Mosque or Sumur Gumuling is that it was built around the 18th century by the Sultan of Yogyakarta where it is said to be his private prayer place.

Getting here is an adventure as you enter through what looks like a tomb entrance and then you walk down along a tunnel which resembles a very European catacomb and then you arrive in a circular room which is the main prayer area and the technology from the 18th century is pretty amazing as the acoustics of this place is well planned. This is also a great place to visit and also for photography as it is truly one of a kind here. Again, the directions to get here are not easy, but you can always ask the locals there and remember to dress decently for the Underground Mosque in Jogja. 

Underground Mosque in Jogjakarta

Address: Jl. Komp. Taman Sari, Yogyakarta 55133

Opening hours: 08:00 – 14:00 (to 12.00 on Fridays)

Entrance Fee: Free

Map of Kampoeng Cyber in Jogjakarta

Ratu Boko Temple in Jogjakarta

Ratu Boko Temple

One of the lesser known temple complexes due to not having any prominent mega structures is Ratu Boko Temple Complex, which is near to Prambanan Temple. This is now considered one of the very important archaeological sites where there is on-going work being done as visitors explore this place. 

If you love history and culture, this is also one of the must-visit places in Jogjakarta where Ratu Boko in Javanese means "Stork King" and the entire temple complex lies 196 meters above sea level on a hill where you can see Prambanan Temple in the distance. If you trek all the way to the top part, yo can get an areal view of the entire area. A number of people come here for the sunset photos as it is not as crowded as the other temples.

There are English speaking private drivers (supir) that you can rent with a car for around Rp600,000 for 12 hours where they will take you to these places. The entrance fees are not included and this is one of the easiest options to move around from temple to temple here. 

Ratu Boko Temple Complex

Address: Jl. Taman, Kraton, Yogyakarta 55133

Opening hours: 09:00 – 21:00

Entrance Fee: 110,000 IDR (US$ 8.50)

The Ramayana Ballet Show in Prambanan, Jogjakarta

Ramayana Ballet

One of the must-see theater shows in the world is the Ramayana Ballet which is held in the Prambanan Temple Complex in Yogyakarta. This stunning show is hands down a world class performance that brings visitors through the world of a Hindu Poem but in the Javanese version.

The Ramayana Ballet showcases over 200 dancers that take you through a magical performance in the open aired stage area with the natural background of Prambanan Temple. There are also indoor shows on selected dates as well and the two hour show starts at 7.30 PM on selected days therefore you are advised to book ahead or ask your tour company about the preferable dates.

This means, you should be visiting Prambanan Temple Complex around 3 to 4 in the afternoon and just after sunset, take a walk over to the show theater area which is about 10 minutes walk from the main temple and your tour bus or guide will pick you up from the theater area. 

Ramayana Ballet

Address: Jl Jogja-Solo Km 16 Yogyakarta
Phone : +62 274 496 408 / +62 274 497 771

Show Time: 19:30 – 21:30

Ticket Prices: 125,000 to 325,000 IDR (US$ 9.50 to $25.00)
More: Ramayana Ballet

Jogjakarta Street Parade

At the Jogja Street Parade 2015

If you are visiting Jogjakarta in October, don't forget to ask about the Jogjakarta Street Parade which takes place on a weekend. In 2015, the Jogja Street Parade was held on 19 October therefore it will be better to ask about this years parade.

During this procession, the main roads are closed for a cultural parade that showcases the many different cultures and people of Indonesia in one massive street parade here.

An event not to be missed, it takes place from around 6.00 pm till about 11.00 pm and provides a perfect photography moment for those into photography. If you are staying at the Phoenix Hotel in Jogjakarta, it takes place just outside the main road of the hotel which is really convenient.

Borobudur Temple at around 5.00 am for the sunrise tour

The places above was personally visited by me on one of my trips around Indonesia, under the Ministry of Tourism on the campaign Wonderful Indonesia and #INATopBucketList team. We explored different regions around Indonesia where we visited Bandung, Jogjakarta, Bali and Komodo Island. For more information on Jogjakarta or other beautiful places, you can also check the official Indonesia Tourism Website. 

There are many other places of interest around Jogjakarta but I am yet to visit them, and perhaps the next time around I would have the opportunity to visit some of these other places. As a travel writer and Travel Social Media Influencer, I do my best to share my experiences in  more informative method versus trying to rank for keywords, therefore if you have any comments, please do share them with be in the comment form below. With this, I trust the next time someone asks you where to go in Jogjakarta, you share this with them. 

In Jogjakarta, Jalan Malioboro's street shopping is probably Indonesia's answer to Bangkok's street shopping scene where you can find traders of all sorts in every possible corner of the main street in the city center. Every tourist visiting Jogja would or should at least make a visit here due to the high popularity of the area. Personally for me, this was my second time here in one year too. 

The location of Jalan Malioboro Street is smack center of Jogjakarta where the length of the street is around 1.3 kilometers long, so walking along this street is pretty easy. Along this street, you will come across many shops, restaurants, some malls and loads of roadside vendors or traders. In the side alleys of Malioboro Street, you will find many hotels, restaurants, more shops, tour agencies and massage places.

Walking along the main street is an experience by itself as there are a number of items that will catch your eyes, usually it is the price factor as the items sold here are relatively cheap. Most of the regular items seen sold here are apparels, jewelry and tons of souvenirs and great for those wanting to get some. Again, use your bargaining power for the street vendors as there is always room for a discount.

An Andong or Horse pulled carriage, commonly seen on the main roads here

Becak riders waiting for passengers in Malioboro

A local version of a food truck, a drink truck selling local coffee

The thrill of Jalan Malioboro is to walk the entire length of the street and then take an Andong (Horse Drawn Carriage) and Becak (Trishaw with rider at the back) which are the main traditional transportation around here. On weekends, the place gets jam-packed with thousands of locals and tourist who are seen all over the shopping streets here.

For food at Jalan Malioboro street, you have quite a number of options where if you have an iron stomach, I would easily recommend trying some of the very local Jogja dishes from the restaurants at the side lanes. You can also get other Indonesian foods like Nasi Padang, Rawon, Pempek and so the famous Lesehan. For those wanting some proper restaurant food, try the Indische Koffie Cafe at the end of Jalan Malioboro where the Fort Vredeburg Museum is located.

For coffee lovers, fear not as you can easily find cafes serving all kinds of local and international coffee and if you are a fast food lover, you are saved as there is KFC, McDonald's and some others along the main street, some even in the shopping malls here. There are various ATM machines along the way and some money changers are available on the main road.

Below are random photos taken along Jalan Malioboro Street. Click on them to see a larger photo.

Locals shopping at Jl. Malioboro

Street vendors along Jalan Malioboro at night

Typical daily scene at Jalan Malioboro

Horse art sculptures along the main road here

The side roads of Jalan Malioboro

Some of the accessories being sold by the street vendors

Mal Malioboro, where you can get fast food and other items

Inside the Mal Malioboro, very new and modern

A 'Becak' rider takes a moment to relax by the main road

What some of the shops look like along Jalan Malioboro

Ramai Mall, a popular place for gadgets,smartphones and IT stuff

Rianty and Janoko Batik shops along the main street

A toy vendor pushing his cart along the main streets

International Village in Jogjakarta

Street food in Malioboro

Lesehan, a very popular style of local dining

Terang Bulan Malioboro, a famous food dish here

Malioboro Inn, located at one of the side roads

For those visiting Jogjakarta in October, you should know that they have the Jogjakarta Street Parade which also celebrates the independence of Jogjakarta. This street parade is filled with characters and lots of color, so if you love local cultures, don't forget to catch the parade in October. Please check with the local on the exact day it takes place.

A tourist information center is located in the half way point of the street, for those seeking more information or there are many travel agents who will act on their behalf to sell you other places to visit in Indonesia. At the end of the day, those visiting Jogjakarta will most likely stay in the city area and when you have some free time, Jalan Malioboro Street Shopping will be one of the thins you will be doing.

When you say Indonesia, the first thing that comes to mind is Bali, followed by Bandung or Jogjakarta and so on, but over the years, people have been flocking to these cities over and over again not noticing some of the other fascinating places in Indonesia that are yet to be explored. One of them is Makassar, Indonesia's undiscovered gem in the South of Sulawesi island. 

For me, it was an eye opener and you may be curious on to why I said this - Well, let me just share with you that this is my first time visiting Makassar in this part of Indonesia and the best part was that I did not do any research whatsoever prior to coming here. My style nowadays is that I would rather accept everything as a surprise, versus knowing what lies ahead. 

I was actually very impressed overall with Makassar, the largest city on the island of Sulawesi, simply because it offered a wide variety of tourism genres for all walks of life and I will share with you some of the experiences I had when I visited this stunning city in July 2016.

The beautiful clear waters of Kodingareng Keke Island

For historical buffs, Makassar is the fifth largest city in Indonesia and located on the southwest coast and facing the Makassar Straits. Historically, Makassar has been a dominating free trade city since the sixteenth century and till today, the trading families still exist where some of the affluent people in Indonesia hail from Makassar. The Portuguese and Dutch both had both ruled in Makassar from the sixteen to seventeenth century and today, you can still see historical remains like Fort Rotterdam in the port city, which is one of the most thriving ports in the region. 

With an estimate population of two million people, Makassar is what my vision of an original Indonesian city looks like - motorbikes and cars at every possible road, traders and hawkers selling food by the five foot ways and road corners, Pete-Pete (Angkuts/Van Taxi's) monopolizing the streets and lots of friendly local faces. And mind you, all of this not fully disturbed by rapid modernization which gives the city time to slowly adept and grow. 

My group and me were put up at the beautiful Aston Hotel Makassar, a three star modern property located in the main city area and walking distances to most places of interest around Makassar. There are a number of 3-4 star hotels in Makassar while there are also a number of budget hotels and guest houses as well.

Sunset in Makassar by Losari Beach

So, what is there to do in Makassar? 

The golden question that many will ask, and for me just being there only once for a few days does not give me the authority to pass judgement and make a 'Top Places to Visit in Makassar' as others would easily jump on the bandwagon to capitalize on the title, but I can just share with you the places that I visited in Makassar during my recent trip. The list below is in no order too. 

Losari beach road in Makassar

Losaris Beach (Pantai Losaris)

Hands down the most popular place in Makasar where everyone, and I mean everyone goes there in the evenings to just relax, catch the sunset or hang out by the many roadside stalls selling desserts and drinks. Losaris Beach is probably the most famous landmark due to the huge red words spelling out Pantai Losari which means Losari Beach.

If you walk here from the main part of town, you will most likely see the main waterfront square before Losari where you can find the famous huge red words spelling City Of Makassar. This will be the main waterfront area where hundreds of locals hang out in the evenings to catch the beautiful sunsets.

Bantimurung Waterfalls

Bantimurung National Park
The closest national park to Makassar and only about an hours drive away. Here, you can find a beautiful waterfall which is open to the public and not far from the main entrance of the national park and as you explore further, the main trek filled with flora will lead you to a cave and another small pool or lake.

The total trek from the start to the lake will probably take you only thirty minutes. There are street vendors selling souvenirs and local restaurants. Entrance tickets for tourist is also Rp.255,000. More info and a need to translate is here - http://www.tn-babul.org/

View from Kodingareng Keke Island, Makassar

Visiting Kodingareng Keke and Samalona Islands 

Bangkoa Jetty in Makassar

For those who seek the sand, sun and sea, there are two islands located about 30 minutes from the city of Makassar. They are called Kodingareng Keke Island and Samalona Island which are paradise perfect offering crystal clear waters for snorkeling or even diving.

To get here, you need to go to the Bangkoa Harbor Jetty, which is also in the main town area where you have to walk through the main arch as in the photo, towards the jetty area.

There are also probably hundreds of people there, mostly locals so if you need assistance, you best look for someone who speaks a little English. A four hour boat charter will cost around Rp500,000 to Rp600,000 for about 6-8 persons and you will need to negotiate your price with the local boat men here.

Boat to Kodingareng Keke Island

Samalona is the closer island to the city and offers basic accommodation, similar to homestays and most visitors come here to have their food. Kodingareng Keke island is another 15 minutes away and this is the beautiful island that has no buildings apart from a fairly huge three level concrete lookout tower, which is awesome to take photos from.

The waters around Kodingareng Keke are simply amazing while there are healthy coral patches around the island making it ideal for snorkeling and diving.

As for the size of this island, you can walk from one end to the other in under five minutes. Snorkeling equipment is available for rental from Samalona Island for about Rp50,000 per set, so you need to ask the boatman about this before you head to Kodingareng Keke Island.

The Fort Rotterdam words in red outside the tourist attraction

Fort Rotterdam

Inside Fort Rotterdam

One of Makassar's most popular tourist attractions is not other than the 382 year old Fort Rotterdam, which is also located in the main city area. This fort, once used by the ruling Dutch, holds quite a lot of information about the long history of Makassar and Sulawesi.

Inside there is also a museum called La Galigo which has exhibitions about history and culture of Sulawesi dating back to the 17th century.

Outside the main entrance, you can see huge red words spelling out Fort Rotterdam which is a popular place to get a photograph. Inside, you can spend around one to two hours exploring this place and learning about the interesting history since the Portuguese first came in 1511 before having the Dutch take over in 1667.

Trans Studio Theme Park in Makassar (Image from Indonesia Tourism)

Trans Studio Theme Park
Asia's largest indoor theme park and the third largest in the world at a whopping size of 20,000 square metres, however due to our travel schedule, we did not manage to visit this place. But I will list it down here as those traveling with kids should make a stop here as this indoor theme park is really huge.

Trans Studio in Makassar is also an integrated park with a shopping mall and a resort therefore it would be a perfect one-stop for any family visiting here. There are a total of 21 rides and four main areas to explore here. For more information on Trans Studio Theme Park in Makassar, please visit - http://www.transstudioworld.com/

Coto Makassar, a must-try local dish here

Trying the local Makassar Food

Hands down, anyone visiting Makassar must try the local food here and without fail, the Coto Makassar (Pronounced as Choto) is the most famous dish which can be found around the city. Some of them from roadside vendors while others in proper restaurants. I had walked about 500 meters from the Aston Hotel Makassar down the road to a well known Coto Makassar restaurant called Coto H.Daeng Tayang along Jl.Sultan Hasanuddin.

Local Makassar dishes at one of the restaurants

Another well known dish is called Pallubasa at a very amazingly popular restaurant called Pallubasa Serigala, where only locals are seen here. However, due to some local influencers in our group, we were taken to this astonishing place to try this dish which is very similar to Coto Makassar, but with an egg mixed in. The Pallubasa Serigala Restaurant is located along No,54, Jl. Serigala in Makassar and you cannot miss the orange signage in the front.

Other must-try food in Makassar is the Pisang Ijo which is actually banana wrapped in a green pandan layer of flour, served with a dash of condensed milk and sugar syrup. These can be found at almost every corner of Makassar and along with another similar dish called Pisang Epe or grilled banana that is condimented with brown sugar syrup and a topping of your choice from cheese, chocolate and durian.

A huge monkey structure before entering the Bantimurung National Park in Makassar

If you explore Makassar on foot, you would most likely see a lot of many other foods that range from noodles, fish and meats, however you should know that there are a lot of Chinese influenced dishes that carry Indonesian names like Pangsit Mie and Mie Kanton where Mie is actually Mee or noodles. For the food traveler, it is recommended to explore the various delicacies around Makassar, but do it in the day.

I visited Makassar in July 2016 under a familiarization trip organised by the Ministry of Tourism Indonesia and from the Wonderful Indonesia campaign. This was also the inaugural trip under this years campaign called Trip of Wonders where we also visited Lombok, Gili Tarawangan, Banyuwangi, Mount Ijen and also Bandung.

I had previously visited other parts of Indonesia under the same campaign which took me to places like Komodo Island, Borobudur, Jogjakarta, Palembang, West Java and many other very interesting places. If you plan to visit Komodo, I have an article on how to get to Komodo Island for those needing some information and you can also read my article on places to visit in Indonesia for 2016.

Samalona Island, 15 minutes from Makassar

The experiences gained has helped me understand the many other unique places that Indonesia has to offer apart form the usual popular tourist places. As this was my inaugural trip to Makassar on Sulawesi Island, I believe that this place would be the next popular destination for Indonesia as there is so much natural attractions offered which has yet to be discovered by many travelers.

One of the much talked about places in Sulawesi is also Tana Toraja, which is located 328 kilometers north of Makassar and is one of the must-visit places if you love culture. However, the journey here would be something to remember as it takes about 8-10 hours via bus from Makassar to this highland county. Again, for those who are planning to visit this place, I can easily say that Makassar is truly Indonesia's undiscovered gem waiting to be explored.