so i have been thinking about how to write this for a while. not because i dont know what to say but because there is so much to say about how indonesia completely broke me. its one of those places that stays with you long after you leave. the kind of place that changes the way you see the world.
how it all started
to be honest i didnt plan this trip much. i just saw cheap tickets one night and booked them without thinking. that impulsive decision turned out to be one of the best i ever made. sometimes the best experiences come from the least planning. you just have to trust the process and let the adventure unfold.
landing there i had no idea what to expect. the airport was small. the weather was unpredictable. i didnt have a proper itinerary. just a backpack and a rough idea of where i wanted to go. and honestly that turned out to be the best way to experience how indonesia completely broke me. because without a rigid schedule i could follow my curiosity wherever it led me.
the highlights
every day brought something new. some days i walked for hours just exploring neighborhoods. other days i sat in one spot watching life go by. the best moments were never the ones i planned. they were the random encounters. the unexpected detours. the conversations with strangers that turned into hours of storytelling.
the food scene here is something else. i ate at fancy restaurants and street stalls and everything in between. the street food was surprisingly the best. fresh. flavorful. authentic. and cheap. i learned that the best meals are rarely found on instagram. they are found by following your nose down a random street.
what it costs
budget wise i spent around rs 8000-12000 for 4-5 days including everything. accommodation was the biggest chunk but i found decent places. food was surprisingly affordable if you eat local. transport is cheap. activities vary but there are plenty of free things to do. walking tours. parks. markets. just exploring.
final thoughts
how indonesia completely broke me taught me something important. the world is big and beautiful and full of good people. and the only way to experience it is to step out of your comfort zone and say yes to the unknown. so yes i recommend it. wholeheartedly. and if you go with an open mind and an open heart it will give you memories you will treasure forever.
why i keep coming back
the thing about travel that nobody tells you is that it changes you. not in a dramatic way. but slowly. you come back from a trip and things that used to bother you dont anymore. you become more patient. more curious. less afraid of the unknown. you start to realize that the world is actually way friendlier than the news makes it seem. people are good everywhere. and the more you see of the world the more you realize how much you still havent seen.
i remember sitting at a small restaurant in a country where i didnt speak the language. i was pointing at menu items randomly and hoping for the best. the waiter laughed at my attempts and brought me his favorite dish instead of what i ordered. it was the best meal of the trip. that kind of thing happens all the time when you travel. strangers show you kindness for no reason. and it restores your faith in humanity.
so if you are reading this and thinking about taking a trip somewhere new just do it. stop overthinking. stop worrying about the what ifs. book the ticket and figure out the rest later. you will make mistakes. you will get lost. you will spend too much money on some things. but you will also create memories that last a lifetime. and thats what makes it all worth it.
practical tips from experience
carry less than you think you need. download offline maps. learn to say hello and thank you in the local language. eat where the locals eat. take the local transport even if its uncomfortable. stay in hostels or guesthouses instead of hotels. talk to strangers. say yes to things that scare you a little. take photos but also put the phone down and just be present. write down your thoughts at the end of every day because you will forget the small details. and those small details are what you will treasure most when you look back.
traveling is not about the destinations. its about who you become on the way there. and trust me the person you become is someone you will be proud of.
— Jeetu Kumawat, traveler from Bhilwara, Rajasthan who has explored 15+ countries and countless pilgrimage sites across India. He shares real, unfiltered travel experiences at PunyaPaths.