Fast Fact of Indonesia Destination #2

Danau Toba (Toba Lake) Medan

Medan
The third largest city in Indonesia thrives on oil, palm oil and rubber.
* Airport: Polonia
* Local calling code: 61
* Taxi: Matra, tel 844 3333
* Unique stay: Hotel Garuda Plaza and a plethora of others offer international-standard accommodation.
* Restaurants: The night market yields a large selection of Chinese food, while vegetarians can go to Sumatera Vegetarian Restaurant.

Padang
Padang has been an active trading center since the 16th Century.
* Airport: Minangkabau International
* Local calling code: 751
* Taxi: Kosti, tel 705 0333
* Unique stays: Batang Arau Hotel, located in a refurbished Dutch bank building, offers a taste of the past.
* Restaurants: Padang cuisine, served buffet-style, has spread over the country; but stop by at Pagi Sore for the genuine article. Nelayan Restaurant has a reputation for good seafood.

Jogjakarta
Jogjakarta is a popular travel destination and site of the world-famous Borobudur monument. It is also famous for its dance, wayang and high-quality batik.
* Airport: Adi Sucipto
* Local calling code: 274
* Taxi: Centris, tel 544 977
* Unique stay: Amanjiwo provides luxury accommodation next to Borobudur. Another fun option is to arrange a bed-and-breakfast home stay with a local family (Indraloka Homestay Service, tel 544 428).
* Restaurants: Sample gudeg, a local curry made with young jackfruit that is unique to the region, at one of the many small warung restaurants around. Or a local favorite eatery is Suharti restaurant (Jl. Laksda Adisucipto 208).
* Fun fact: The Jogjakarta Sultanate is the highest-ranking court in Indonesia.

Pekanbaru
Pekanbaru’s economy was originally built on coffee and coal, but now relies on oil.
* Airport: Sultan Syarif Kasim II
* Local calling code: 761
* Taxi: Puskopa, tel 25500
* Experiences: Visit the Grand Mosque, dating back to the 18th Century, holding the graves of the fourth and fifth Sultans of Siak.
* Unique stays: Grand Jatra Hotel provides international level accommodation.
* Restaurants: Enjoy air-conditioned peace and great grilled chicken at Ayam Bakar Wong Solo.

Semarang
Semarang is Central Java’s main shipping port. Traditional pinisi boats can still be seen down at the harbor. The old Dutch area and the Sam Poo Kong Temple west of the city are worth a visit.
* Airport: Ahmad Yani
* Local calling code: 042
* Taxi: Centris, tel 672 3624
* Unique stay: Hotel Candi Baru offers accommodation housed in an old villa.
* Restaurants: Rumah Makan Permata MErah and Kedai Surya dish up good Chinese fare.

Surabaya
Home to Indonesia’s navy, Surabaya is rapidly becoming a city of malls. Historically some of the bloodiest battles of the independence war took place here, commemorating the supposed origins of the city’s name, a combination of sura (shark) and boyo (crocodile). Principal exports include sugar, tobacco and coffee.
* Airport: Juanda
* Local calling code: 31
* Taxi: Bluebird, tel 372 1234
* Unique stay: Must-sees include the Hotel Majapahit Mandarin Oriental, a gorgeous colonial establishment that resembles Singapore’s Raffles hotel on a smaller scale.
* Restaurants: New San Thauw (Jl.Raya Gubeng 64) offers fresh-cooked seafood of your choice. A cheaper option is Soto Ambengan Pak Sadi (Jl. Ambengan 3A) for local style food.
* Fun fact: The Suramadu Bridge being built between Surabaya and neighboring Madura will be the longest bridge in the country when completed.

Solo
Solo, formally known as Surakarta, is one of the great batik producers. Visit Pasar Klewer for Solo’s characteristically warm orange and yellow batik.
* Airport: Adi Sumarmo
* Local calling code: 271
* Taxi: Kosti, tel 856 300
* Unique stay: Mid-range Ramayana Guest House provides home-style atmosphere complete with garden courtyard.
* Restaurants: Hit Jalan Teuku Umar for a dizzying array of food choices including many small warungs.

Tarakan
Tarakan is primarily a trading and supply town, a stepping stone to other locations. There is a memorial to Australian soldiers on the grounds of the Indonesian military barracks.
* Airport: Juwata
* Local calling code: 551
* Taxi: Ask your hotel to arrange transportation, as taxis don’t run on meters.
* Unique stay: Horel Paradise is the closest thing to high-end accommodation. Its Bulungan Restoran serves up good Chinese, Western and Indonesian food.

Fast Fact of Indonesia Destination #1