The Emerald of the Equator. Indonesia is a wonderfully captivating country spread over 17,500 islands that straddle the Equator. The sun is almost always shining, the weather warm, and the beaches endless. On top of that, Indonesian people are incredibly warm and welcoming to visitors.

Bali is by far the most well-known destination, and for good reason. Bali epitomizes rest and relaxation with beaches, sunshine, countless resorts and retreats, waterfalls, and Instagram friendly cafes. If in Indonesia, a trip to Bali is highly recommended.

The country is more than just Bali though. It’s possible to see Komodo dragons on Komodo Island, go snorkeling and scuba diving in the Gili Islands, and explore the largest Buddhist temple in the world at Borobudur. Jakarta is a massive bustling city full of shopping and nightlife, and is an excellent jumping off point for many tourists’ Indonesian adventures. Indonesia also have about 150 volcanoes, with about half of them still active.

Indonesian cuisine is quite diverse, with one of the most popular dishes be Nasi Goreng, essentially the Indonesian version of fried rice. Rice is a staple in every meal, and there is no shortage of flavorful meat and vegetable side dishes to pair it with. Lastly, the iconic cat coffee, or Luwak coffee, where the coffee beans are ingested by the civet cat and taken from their feces to make the world’s most expensive coffee.