Indonesia

Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia. There are approximately 260 million people living in Indonesia. The official language is Bahasa, but English, Dutch, and Javanese are also widely spoken. There are more than 700 hundred languages spoken in Indonesia! The majority of the population practices Islam … in fact, this is the world’s largest Muslim country.

Major exports of the country include mineral fuels, animal or vegetable fats, electrical machinery, rubber, and mechanical appliance parts.

Bali, also known as the “Island of the Gods”, is known for its mountainous landscapes, volcanic hillsides, and flawless sandy beaches. In Bali, each village is required by law to construct at least three temples—the pura puseh (temple of origin), the pura desa (village temple), and the pura dalem (temple of the dead). Make sure to visit all three before you leave! Bali is also known for its scuba diving, massage therapy, and museums. Adventurers in Bali will be sure to play, learn, and relax during their stay!

I had a great time in Jakarta! I did a night foodie tour sampling the best Indonesian foods.

Jakarta street foodie tour

Next day checked out the colorful scenes in Fatahillah Square. The Alila was a great choice in Jakarta! I intend to go back to Indonesia’s remote islands—like Sumatra. Susan wants to go to Bali … hopefully soon!

South Sudan

Garbage everywhere in the streets of Juba Country Information: The capital of South Sudan is Juba, and there are approximately 13 million people living here. The official language of South Sudan is English, with Arabic spoken by a majority of the population as well....

Russia

Hotel Cosmos in Moscow   Men playing backgammon in the park. The Russians lost 25 million men in WW2, notice their formal dress and that they still wear their medals from 40 years ago. Super-cool picture ... Russian submarines at port! Country Information: The...

Vanuatu

Not my favorite destination in the Pacific, although I likely might’ve felt otherwise had the weather cooperated and I had been able to get to the rim of the famed Tanna Volcano, on which you can feel it rumbling with molten lava spitting from its cone. While it...