INDONESIA...4 syllables that have always sounded so nicely to my ears. So when I received an email from the Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia, asking me to join the 2 week-long blogtrip Trip of Wonders 2016, you can imagine my reaction! Well, my second reaction because the first one was: "it must be a joke, a spam, it's too beautiful to be true, why me?!"

Definitely it wasn't a joke, and joining this Trip of Wonders was one of the best experiences of my life, and without any doubt, the most beautiful travel I've ever done! The most beautiful not only because of the places I saw (Bandung, Yogyakarta, Raja Ampat, Lombok), the history I learned and the culture I experienced, but also because of the people I met: the dedicated and passionate team who organized the trip, my fellow bloggers, youtubers, instagramers, and of course the locals.

The people living in this country are so incredibly kind and rich in their hearts. That's why in my photos you'll see so many portraits taken along this trip. Okay, enough talking! I hope, you'll enjoy the visit to Wonderful Indonesia through my eyes!

 #TripOfWonders #WonderfulIndonesia !

BANDUNG

Bandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia and Indonesia's fourth largest city after Jakarta, Surabaya and Medan, make it the third largest city by population, with over 2.4 million, and Greater Bandung made up of 2 municipalities and 38 districts, making it the nation's 2nd largest metropolitan area. Bandung has cooler temperatures year-round than most other Indonesian cities. The city lies on a river basin surrounded by volcanic mountains.

After lunch, we were ready for a crazy and so funny Off Road in Bandung, it was really amazing! I invite you to watch the video on YouTube made by my friend Nilson Junior : http://www.umbilheteporfavor.com/2016/10/14/trilha-off-road-insana-de-land-rover/ 

This second day, we were invited to the Komunitas Hong, for playing the Tradional Games. Such a lovely moment, specially for knowing better the local games, and knowing each others better!

Young faces of Bandung, making new friends :)

Borobudur Sunrise

Borobudur is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument consists of nine stacked platforms, six square and three circular, topped by a central dome. The temple is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The central dome is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues, each seated inside a perforated stupa. It is the world's largest Buddhist temple, as well as one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world.

We woke up at 3.30am for watching the sunrise in this place, and trust me, it worths it a million time!!! Incredible show!

Exploring Desa Pentingsari with the beautiful Eva Noviana and a buffalo !

Welcome to Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta is a city and the capital of Yogyakarta Special Region in Java. It is renowned as a center of education, classical Javanese fine art and culture such as batik, ballet, drama, music, poetry, and puppet shows. Yogyakarta was the Indonesian capital during the Indonesian National Revolution from 1945 to 1949. One of the districts in Yogyakarta, Kotagede, was the capital of the Mataram Sultanate between 1575 and 1640. The city is named after the Indian city of Ayodhya from the Ramayana epic. Yogya means "suitable, fit, proper", and karta, "prosperous, flourishing" ("a city that is fit to prosper").

Faces of Yogyakarta

Exploring the streets of Kotagede

Prambanan Temple

Candi Prambanan is a 9th-century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia, dedicated to the Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator (Brahma), the Preserver (Vishnu) and the Destroyer (Shiva). The temple compound is located approximately 17 kilometres (11 mi) northeast of the city of Yogyakarta on the boundary between Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces. The temple compound, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia, and one of the biggest in Southeast Asia.

Batik Plentong

Batik Plentong is a batik home manufacture based in Yogyakarta. Founded by husband and wife, H. Djaelani Wignyosudarmo and Hj. Supartini Djaelani in 1950, they shared love and passion for their batik making and preserving tradition as a cultural heritage.

Welcome to Raja Ampat

In few words: Paradise on Earth!!

Located off the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula on the island of New Guinea, in Indonesia's West Papua province, Raja Ampat, or the Four Kings, is an archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands, cays, and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo, and the smaller island of Kofiau. The Raja Ampat archipelago is the part of Coral Triangle which contains the richest marine biodiversity on earth.

Exploring the Dive Lodge

Going to the Arborek Village

Back to the Dive Lodge for an amazing sunset with the stunning Tayana Simons and my great friend Jean-Philippe Mattei 

Sawinggrai Village

Piaynemo Island...The Lost Paradise!

Welcome to Lombok and Gili Terawangan

Lombok is an island in West Nusa Tenggara province. It forms part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east. It is roughly circular, with a "tail" (Sekotong Peninsula) to the southwest, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) across and a total area of about 4,514 square kilometres (1,743 square miles). The provincial capital and largest city on the island is Mataram. It is somewhat similar in size and density with neighboring Bali and shares some cultural heritage, but is administratively part of Nusa Tenggara Barat along with sparsely populated Sumbawa. It is surrounded by a number of smaller islands locally called Gili.

Surfing lessons at Selong Blanak Beach

Exploring Gili Terawangan

I hope you enjoyed the visit as I enjoyed my trip in Indonesia. Don't hesitate to share this gallery on your social network, to your friends if you like it! For more, go to #WonderfulIndonesia !

I can't finish without saying a big big thanks to the Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia, to Grace, to the whole team, Boelle, Eva, Gemala and Pinneng for all the great work you did for us. As I will never forget this trip, I will never forget the faces of this trip neither: all of YOU!

INDONESIA TIPS:

• Language: Indonesian (official), Javanese, Sundanese, and 700 others

• Money: Indonesian rupiah

• Calling Code: +62