Indonesia, cintaku.

Currently forty-nine countries into this life-long goal of visiting at least half of the world’s countries and territories, and still, Indonesia remains to be one of my top faves. Tens of countries ago, I instantly fell in love with Indonesia/ns when I stepped out of Soekarno–Hatta International Airport. Our Couchsurfing host who promised to pick us up from the airport did not hesitate, not even for a second, to take me in even if I was possibly a wandering host to bedbugs who feasted on me while I slept in some moldy room in Borneo.

She also drove me and the hubby — then my boyfriend — through Jakarta’s infamous traffic congestion to Gambir for our train to Yogyakarta the next day after feeding us our first Javanese meal in their home.

Our journey in the country had just begun yet we were already spoiled with kindness. My first impressions of the country did not change as we traveled to central and east Java, and onward to Bali. My fondness even grew stronger when we traveled back to Bali three years after that trip with two year-old Luna.

So why do we love this country so much? Here are some of the reasons.

1. Orang Domestik (Local People)

We didn’t just Couchsurf in Jakarta, we also Couchsurfed in Yogyakarta and Bali. Our host’s mom in Yogyakarta treated us like her own offspring (she spoke only a few English words yet we managed to communicate well). She prepared us traditional brekkies and took us out to dinners. She made sure we brought enough warm clothes for Cemoro Lawang — our next destination. She and her son also took us to the train station on scooters to make sure we get onboard alright, with a packed lunch which she prepared for us!

Our host in Bali was equally insanely hospitable. He was living in a shoebox of a pad in Kuta but made space to accommodate us. When not working, he gave us a guide around the area and showed us food warungs that only locals know of, where we could get dirt cheap meals because he knew we were dirt poor.

Of course it wasn’t just our hosts who showed us such kindness. Random strangers did too. Locals are incredibly helpful and will go out of their way to assist a foreigner.

2. Affordable (Actually, cheap.)

Even for a Filipino like me. With some scouting, it’s relatively easy to find cheap yet decent accommodations. I say “relatively” because it depends on your definition of “decent”. Dorm beds in rooms without aircon, without hot shower and away from the main drag (prolly upstairs a noisy pub) starts at US$8. If you’re traveling with a buddy, you get to split the US$30 for a more comfortable double room. If you feel like splurging and have got the time to plan ahead, use sites such as Traveloka.com to search for specials on posher hotels such as Hotel Rancamaya. You can find cheap flights on this site as well.

3. Food

I actually like Indonesian food more than Thai. Sometimes the flavours sweet, salty, sour, bitter, spicy are not balanced, but I reckon that’s why my taste buds like it. The cuisine is one of the most diverse (Uhm hello, 17,000+ islands!) and complex in the world. Explore beyond the usual nasi goreng, rendang and satay. Try my personal fave the gado gado, fried tempeh sold on the streets, and sayur asem. Obviously, to sample authentic dishes, head to a warung/restoran where locals dine (not the ones set up for tourists). The plating may not be Instagram-worthy, but the meals are the real deal.

4. Nature

Beaches (Again, hello, 17,000+ islands!), dive spots, volcanoes (Indonesia has approximately 100+), mountains, wildlife. The country is a nature lover’s playground. I’ve sauntered on Bali’s overrated and underrated beaches and hiked grumpy Gunung Bromo, and can’t wait to go back soon to see the beaches of Lombok and volcanoes of Flores.

Would love to visit Komodo Island as well to see their dragons!

5. Candi (Temple)

Two words: Borobudur and Prambanan. Enough said.

17,000+ islands and we’ve only visited two. That’s not even scratching its volcanic surface! Have you been? Lemme know what you love about Indonesia.