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The Architecture of Indonesia
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Indonesia
To Indonesia, with Pakistani Passport
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Indonesia is like a treasure trove for architecture buffs and adventure seekers alike! Imagine wandering through the ancient majesty of Borobudur Temple or soaking in the modern skyline of Jakarta. Get lost in the charming chaos of Yogyakarta’s old town, where every corner whispers tales of the past. And Bali? Oh, it’s a dreamland of traditional architecture set against stunning rice terraces. But wait, there’s more! Dive deep into the cultural riches of remote villages like Toraja, where intricate wooden houses steal the show. Indonesia isn’t just a destination; it’s a whirlwind of unique experiences waiting to be uncovered!
Now, on to Bali!!
Bali isn’t just about beaches and parties; it’s a haven for architecture enthusiasts! Explore stunning temples like Tanah Lot and Uluwatu perched on cliffs, or delve into the intricate carvings of Pura Besakih. Discover traditional Balinese houses amidst lush landscapes, and don’t miss the chance to stay in a luxury villa that’s a work of art itself. Bali, where every corner is a unique experience in architecture!
April – October
Widespread rain happens from September – March
Indonesian Rupiah
check today’s conversion here.
Plug type C and F
220V / 50Hz electrical system
Getting There
Visa Requirements and Process – I applied through their e-visa portal: https://molina.imigrasi.go.id/. It’s a straightforward process, create your account on the portal and upload all your documents, including bank statement (minimum balance requirement is $2000). The visa is called 211A.
Visa fee is 1,500,000 Indonesian rupiah i.e. PKR 26000.Â
Processing time is 5 working days and it did come exactly on the 5th day.Â
Traveling to Indonesia – Batik Air has introduced some cheap flight options (I booked my return with it). I flew from another country however all major airlines travel there i.e. Emirates, Etihad, Qatar and Thailand with Thai Airways and Batik Air being the best in terms of hours.
Customs and Immigration – Super simple, Very friendly, since Pakistani Passport is not electronic, you cannot take advantage of speed gates, however immigration is super simple.
Basics
Food – Indonesian and Balinese food are kinda different, try both specially their traditional sweet which is quite in line with Japanese Mochi. Halal options are super super common considering a Muslim Country.
Transactions – Card works super fine, only super shops/ vendors will take Cash.Â
Intercity Travel – Grab is your best friend, it’s Careem and Foodpanda in one app, you can order a car both for a ride and for hourly bookings, a motorcycle with insurance, also order food or anything for marts.
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Stays & Tours
Hotels: I went to Bali, and booked a homestay and Resort through booking.com.
Tours: I booked a one day tour via Viator.com (use can app too), rest I did yoga and architectural stuff booked directly. Take at least one, you will meet quite a diverse group.
Intercity Travel – Grab is your best friend, it’s Careem and Foodpanda in one app, you can order a car both for a ride and for hourly bookings, a motorcycle with insurance, also order food or anything for marts.
Safety – I traveled as a Solo Female and found it to be super safe including travel which is quite a lot since Bali is huge!Â
“Jimbaran Beach Bay Resort”
“Ubud Yoga Center”
“Water Garden”
Language & Basic Phrases
Balinese people speak three languages: English, Indonesia and Balinese or Basa Bali. Quite a lot of people speak english, specially the ones within travel industries, however basic English phrase are super common still following might help both with communication and community building:
Ha-lo
 Selamat pagi
Terima kasih
Permisi
saya minta maaf
for ease, download “Indonesian” in the Google Translate and you’re good to go! Also, the word that you will hear the most is going to be Yeah and OK.
@qasasulsafar To Egypt , with Pakistani Passport From the towering pyramids to the serene Nile, every moment is a brush with history. Getting a visa with a Pakistani passport is relatively smooth, but oh boy, the wait is real! It took a whole month for my passport to return. But trust me, the breathtaking wonders of Egypt are worth every moment of anticipation! Explore the land of pyramids, history, and endless beauty. Check out my website for all the details on visiting Egypt! Link in bio. #TravelStruggles #EgyptVisa #WorthTheWait #EgyptVisa #TravelStruggles #qasasulsafar #egypt #pakistanipassport ♬ CleĂłpatra, Rainha do Egito – Wisley Vilela
My Two Cents!
Not so Popular Opinion – Ubud city center is overrated, there are many places that are less crowded and rather beautiful.
Some Offbeat Experiences – Bamboo Workshops, Jimbaran Beach (not many tourist stay here hence beach is nearly to your self with sunset right in front of you), Coffee Plantation Tour, Fireflies Safari – to name a few!!
Fun Fact – Bali is super touristy so there are quite a lot of experiences which are just for pictures and when I tell you they are trained to take super fast pictures and all are super Instagram worthy – I aint lying. They are trained at super speed.!Â
Pro tip for architects – Go to the Bamboo Housing Tour and Workshop, its amazing how much you can learn.
More on Architecture and Experiences
May 4, 2024
Saf
Loved reading about the whole experience. If you could share the estimated cost for the whole trip, that’d be amazing
qasasulsafar
Hello, Thankyou so much. It means alot 🙂
Let me share the expenses soon.
qasasulsafar
Hey,
I can’t really specify an overall budget because it’s very subjective, depending on activities, interests, and personal preferences. However, here’s a detailed breakdown of my expenses—hope this helps!
Flights
Osaka to Bali: 45K [I picked scoot before I wanted to see Changi Airport waterfall and I booked in advance]
Bali to Karachi: 80K (Batik round was costing 162K at the time of my search)
Accommodations
6k per day for home stay and I booked a resort for my last two days – that was a splurge, however a very good hotel was around 15k per night when I was searching.
Commute
I commuted 100% via Grab, ride from the airport to Ubud city center which is approximately 1hr and 15 mins with traffic was 2500 rest were around 800 – 1800 depending on the distance.
Food
I had a good range of food, the ones from local market were around 500 – 800, a nice little restaurant was around 1000 – 2000 and a very high end fine dining came around 4000 – 5000 (all one person’s price)
Activity
Full Day Bali Tour: 15,000 (includes multiple destinations, Bali Swing, a buffet, and Lempuyang Temple pictures)
I did Bamboo Tour and Workshop that was 12,000 for a 5-hour activity
Yoga classes were 2,700 – 3,000 per class (I went to two different places)
Traditional Balinese Spa package: 6,000
Hope this gives you a better idea of the costs!
qasasulsafar
Thankyou so much. Im glad you loved reading it.
I can’t really specify an overall budget because it’s very subjective, depending on activities, interests, and personal preferences. However, here’s a detailed breakdown of my expenses—hope this helps!
Flights
Osaka to Bali: 45K [I picked scoot before I wanted to see Changi Airport waterfall and I booked in advance]
Bali to Karachi: 80K (Batik round was costing 162K at the time of my search)
Accommodations
6k per day for home stay and I booked a resort for my last two days – that was a splurge, however a very good hotel was around 15k per night when I was searching.
Commute
I commuted 100% via Grab, ride from the airport to Ubud city center which is approximately 1hr and 15 mins with traffic was 2500 rest were around 800 – 1800 depending on the distance.
Food
I had a good range of food, the ones from local market were around 500 – 800, a nice little restaurant was around 1000 – 2000 and a very high end fine dining came around 4000 – 5000 (all one person’s price)
Activity
Full Day Bali Tour: 15,000 (includes multiple destinations, Bali Swing, a buffet, and Lempuyang Temple pictures)
I did Bamboo Tour and Workshop that was 12,000 for a 5-hour activity
Yoga classes were 2,700 – 3,000 per class (I went to two different places)
Traditional Balinese Spa package: 6,000
Hope this gives you a better idea of the costs!
Muhammad Abd
Total cost of the trip including everything???
qasasulsafar
PKR 260,000 for 6 days
Danish
Hey, loved your content. Need to ask if ubud is worth going to ? Or uluwatu is better place ? Since i am more attracted to dance and parties plus clean and less crowded beaches.
Also could you please share some good resorts if you know any ?
I also searched for batik air but it is costing me 1,000 dollars which is more expensive than emirates for feb 2025