“Planning to go to Bali, would you like to come?”

That sealed the deal and I was back in Bali less than 3 months later with my dad and a cousin on a family vacation. Clearly this is a very comfortable holiday compared to my backpacking adventures and it was structured. Correction, it was VERY organised and we managed to do and see a lot in 6 days.

If you haven’t already seen my previous post on Bali, this is just an extension of that but on the other end of the scale. 

Jakarta, a city where the phrase 'horrendous traffic' takes on a whole new meaning. If you think Bangkok traffic is bad, wait till you get to Jakarta, its an absolute nightmare! Having said that, I had an amazing weekend. Who knew one could have such a brilliant time?

Jakarta is a city with over 20 million in population with a long history as a trading port since the 4th century. It is one place you should visit at least once in your lifetime. It's a melting pot of cultures, food as well as a good shock to your system. And I do mean a complete shock!

Just like any other city, Jakarta has some really amazing cafés, bars and restaurants. Most of them are situated within malls so it's relatively convenient to have dinner, pre-drinks and then hit the clubs. Some of their clubs are also situated within the vicinity of malls, which makes it all the more convenient.

Lombok is an island situated to the east of Bali. Unlike its sister island, it's relatively unpopular to mass tourism, which makes it more appealing to backpackers and those seeking untouched natural beauty. Here are a few things that one should do while in Lombok:

Mt. Rinjani is the second highest active volcano in Indonesia, standing at 3,726m. Situated in the north of Lombok, this mountain sets the prefect trekking range for enthusiast.

You will experience various terrains, from hot flat fields to dense rain forest and cold temperatures.
Getting to 2,700m is a feat in itself and you'll be greeted by beautiful views of the crater lake (Segara Anak), which is exceptional during sunset and sunrise. Concurring the peak would require extra mental and physical strength, and rewarded with fantastic views of Bali, Java and the Gili islands on a clear day.