Pulau Weh Indonesia Beaches Aceh February 16, 2025 Among the places I've been scuba diving, Pulau Weh is perhaps one of the most off-the-radar destinations. The island sits just off the coast of Banda Aceh on the northern tip of Sumatra, the very center of the 2004 tsunami that devastated a large area of Southeast Asia. By the time I visited about five years later, things were recovering well, although there were still a number of tsunami sights around the city. The diving on the idylic little island was some of the best I've experienced around Southeast Asia, and the scenery above the water, as you can see, isn't bad either. Gapang Beach on Pulau Weh After the tsunami, Aceh gained a measure of independence from the Indonesia central government, which allowed it to introduce it's own version of sharia law. This means that Aceh is essentially a dry province and women, in particular, should dress as discretely as possible, at least in Banda Aceh. However, Pulau Weh is very relaxed and it's unlikely anyone would bother you there. Still, this is one of those destinations that's hard to recommend, no matter how nice it may be. You have to make your own decision.
Torajan Rice Silo Tana Toraja, in the center of Sulawesi island, has one of the most distinctive cultures you'll run across in all of Southeast Asia. The Torajans are fiercely proud of their heritage and continue most of the traditions they bought with them thousands of years ago.
Candi Sewu Candi Sewu is a charming Buddhist temple that's well over 1,200 years old. It's very close to the more well-known Prambanan complex in central Java, but seldom visited. One of the chubby stone guardians of Candi Sewu
Hotel Majapahit The Hotel Majapahit in Surabaya is one of the less known classic hotels around Southeast Asia. It was built in 1910 by the the Sarkies Brothers, who built Raffles in Singapore and the Eastern & Oriental in Penang. The lobby building which has this window was built in 1930, which is why it reflects a heave art deco design.
Prambanan The Prambanan Complex just outside Yogykarta in central Java is less well-known than the nearby Borobodur Temple, but no less impressive. The towers of the central grouping of the Prambanan Complex
Lotus Lagoon Candidasa, on Bali, was one of my favorite places on the island. It's developed with several small-ish hotels and lots of restaurants, but not over-run with tourists. This lagoon (a former bay now cut off from the sea) is at the center of the northern area of the town.