The most common travel destinations for people living in the Kingdom are Dubai, Turkey, London, and Malaysia.However, some Saudi families have discovered a unique vacation spot with breathtaking natural views untainted by man, described by some as a piece of paradise on Earth. Mentioning Indonesia as a place for travel may elicit raised eyebrows but those who have traveled there attest to a surprisingly wonderful experience with picture-perfect scenes. It may take a bit of courage and a sense of adventure to step out of the norm, but once you do there is a world of beauty waiting to be uncovered. The Republic of Indonesia boasts the largest cluster of islands in the world, comprising 17,504 tropical islands, many that have still not been explored. The breathtaking islands offer white sandy beaches, rolling waves, deep blue waters, and a rich ocean life of dolphins and other amazing creatures and colorful coral reef. Its diverse landscape is also home to fertile rice lands, rainforests, waterfalls, mountains, and savannah grasslands. For Abdullah Al-Harbi's family, the opportunity to visit Indonesia arose by coincidence and was not part of their initial travel plans. His favorite Arab places are no longer an option due to political strife, violence, and turbulence in Cairo, Beirut, and Damascus. European countries are picturesque but out of his reach because of the extremely high costs of travel to Europe. “I prefer to travel to a Muslim-friendly country where people would not make my wife and daughters uncomfortable wearing the hijab. “My family suggested Malaysia but it was too late and almost impossible to book flights at the last minute due to the increased demand on flights from the Kingdom to Malaysia,” said Al-Harbi. Al-Harbi added: “My travel agent suggested Indonesia and although I was a bit hesitant at first, I later found out that Indonesia may be the ideal holiday destination for the Saudi family, especially those on a tight financial budget. “Accommodation, recreation, and food expenses are low and there are plenty of attractions and fun, entertaining family activities to do.” The majestic beauty of the town Puncak, also known as the Green Mountain, draws a large number of Arab tourists each year. Much to the Saudi family's surprise, many of the taxi drivers, hotel employees, and restaurant waiters in Puncak can speak the Arabic language. It is not rare to see a small mini-market with a sign at the door written in Arabic that says “Saudi Baqala” (market). Puncak is a mountain resort, located about 100 km south of the capital, Jakarta. With cool weather, fresh air, and spectacular views, it is a calm and relaxing place to escape from the crowded and noisy city life. You can slow down, reconnect with nature, be mesmerized with the glamorous sunsets, and sample some of the world's tastiest tea from the region's plantations. Ola Bondogji, a medical student at King Abdulaziz University, has visited Indonesia with her family and they did sightseeing in Jakarta, Puncak, and Ancol. She felt that an improvement in tourists' assistance and guidance is still needed and communication with the locals was a bit difficult, but nonetheless she had a great time in Indonesia. “The people were friendly and we enjoyed all the lovely parks and the beautiful weather which is really rare when you live in the dessert. “Also, the Safari Park in Puncak was fun, interesting, and worth visiting. In the end, if you ask me, any trip you take is really just as good as the company you have. “And in this case it was my lovely family and I think we all had a great time together,” said Bondogji. The exotic Safari Park is a must-see if you go to Puncak. In a natural environment, visitors can explore, see, and learn about endangered wildlife conserved and protected in the Safari Park. More than 2,500 animals from five continents roam freely across the 340 hectare park, including lions, tigers, wild buffalo, komodo lizards, giraffes, rhinoceros, bison, bears, and orangutans. There is also an educational zone with rides and animal shows, and a baby zoo in which young children can actually touch and interact with the cubs of lions, tigers, and other wild animals. Take a guided tour to the bird park, the Nusantara Flower Garden and the famous Cibodas Botanical Garden that has thousands of varieties of flowers to see and smell. Families come to enjoy strolls, hikes, and picnics in pleasant, heavenly surroundings. For a lively and exciting experience, families can head to the water theme park in Ancol. The popular recreation park, dubbed “Ancol Dreamland”, has a wide range of attractions: a sea world, water-park with amusement rides and artificial waves, lagoon for fishing and boating, and an art center. “I was impressed with the widespread availability of mosques in Puncak, some of them built and funded by generous businessmen from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. “We also dined in restaurants that prepare Saudi foods. Upon recognizing that we were Saudi, some young Indonesian children ran up to us and chanted famous Arabic slogans and asked for a gift in return and we gladly gave them some coins,” said Al-Harbi. Throughout history, traders have brought the world's large religions of Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam to these scattered islands, deeply influencing this country's culture and way of life. Today, Islam is the religion of the majority of the population in Indonesia. Indonesia has a tropical climate with just two seasons and temperatures averaging from 25 C to 30 C all year round. The dry season starts in April and lasts until October, which is the best time to travel, though the monsoon season, from November to March, is fine to travel as well. Rains can be heavy but generally limited to a couple of hours at the end of the day. “During this time of year, we have booked many flights to Jakarta and Manila. There are direct flights from Jeddah to Jakarta, and the trip is approximately nine hours and 40 minutes long. The adult ticket from Jeddah to Jakarta costs around SR2,950,” said Rameez from Al-Rajhi Travel Agency.
