HoliDaze Archive

Surabaya

Indonesian Food Cheat-Sheet: Tips & Translations For First-Timers

Mie Goreng Ayam

Indonesian food can be summed up in two words: delicious and inexpensive. Whether street food or actual restaurant, whether on Sumatra, Java, or somewhere further east, it is pretty hard to go wrong in this culinary country. I’ve eaten some amazing meals that cost only 15,000 rupiah ($1.00 USD) yet have left me so stuffed … Read More

The Ultimate Unique & Offbeat Indonesia Travel Guide

Nusa Penida island

Multi-colored volcanic lakes. Haunted resorts. The world’s largest mud volcano. The world’s most elaborate funerals. An abandoned chicken church and other abandoned structures. Welcome to the quirky and offbeat Indonesia few people discover. And the best part? Most of these places are near popular tourist destinations, meaning that you don’t need to go far to … Read More

The Ultimate Indonesian Food Guide: Regional Dishes

Ayam Bakar Bumbu Rujak

Part of the beauty of Indonesia is that the country and islands are composed of hundreds of different cultures that have all come together to form one diverse nation. As such the food in Indonesia varies not just island to island but city to city. So now I present to you the Ultimate Indonesian Food … Read More

Indonesia By Motorcycle: How, Why, Where, Advice & Tips

The HoliDaze Guide On How To Motorcycle Indonesia

Indonesia is an amazingly vast and impressive country. When I first arrived here I thought one month would be enough. HA! How wrong I was. Six months later and I am still exploring this diverse country. Doing almost all of it by motorcycle, as well. Many Westerns are scared or worried about navigating the wild … Read More

Photo Essay: House Of Sampoerna, Cigarette Factory And Museum

Old Style Cigarette Shop At House Of Sampoerna

Located in Surabaya, the House Of Sampoerna is museum and active factory, as well as a popular tourist attraction. In 1913 Liem Seeng Tee, a Chinese immigrant to Indonesia, started what would become one of the biggest cigarette businesses in the entire country. Despite the ridiculously high number of smokers in modern Indonesia, tobacco is … Read More