Java is one of Indonesia’s most diverse and beautiful islands. In this travel video, I show you 10 of my favorite places to visit. From surreal mountain landscapes and volcanoes to bustling cities, from tranquil fishing villages to historic temples set among green lush rice fields.
I traveled through Asia for a number of years, and visited Java in 2017. This short travel documentary aims to show you my personal top 10 places on this magnificent island. Thanks for watching, and feel free to leave comments below!
For other travel videos in the same Top 10 format, click here:
Top 10 Places in Shanghai: https://youtu.be/E-t59SPeFaw
Top 10 Places in China: https://youtu.be/hbgo66q1s9o
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Copyright of all footage: Hoffer Media
Here’s a brief overview of the content in this video (which can be used as a travel guide):
We begin this journey in Jakarta, the nation’s capital, and one of Asia’s largest cities. The city can feel overwhelming at first sight, but there are some great areas to visit, including museums, historic neighborhoods, and modern shopping malls.
After Jakarta, we travel to Yogyakarta, the cultural heartland of Java. It’s a much more relaxed place to walk around, and provides a more traditional perspective of Indonesia, with music performances (gamelan songs) and shadow puppet theatre. I also visit local farmers in the countryside around the city. Most are growing rice in green paddy fields, and are happy to show you around.
Around Yogyakarta you will find two of Indonesia’s most stunning temples. Borobudur is a Buddhist temple, and easily one of the most impressive historic structures in Asia. Prambanan is of Hindu origin, and its architecture is very different from Borobudur.
Mount Bromo is arguably one of Indonesia’s most famous volcanoes, and it’s actually possible to get up on the ridge, to get a peek into its crater. The next destination is Pangandaran, a peaceful seaside town with some beautiful beaches and powerful waves, and a popular holiday destination.
Semarang is a busy city with some beautiful historic architecture, including the church which was built in Dutch colonial times. The Christian minority still uses this church. After Semarang, we travel to Kawah Ijen, a surreal volcanic crater where miners are collecting blocks of sulfur. In some moments, this place felt apocalyptic.
In the fishing port of Banyuwangi (also the gateway to Bali) you will find some spectacular fishing boats, with bright colors and classic design. The town’s atmosphere is friendly, and it’s nice to walk around visiting some of the markets. The region around Banyuwangi is well suited for agriculture, and is used for cacao, rubber, and coffee production.
In the lush green mountains around Wonosobo, you will find some beautiful tea plantations, that are open to visit. We finish the journey in Surabaya, an important business and trading hub in Indonesia. It might not boast a lot of ‘tourist attractions’, but it’s a nice place to visit. The main mosque is a highlight, where the local Muslim population comes to pray. It provides an interesting view into the main religion in Indonesia, Islam. On Fridays, this area turns into an ‘open air restaurant’, with street food sellers offering their finest dishes.
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