Singapore to Bali

Singapore is a city dedicated to business. The spires of its skyscrapers look like a big bar graph pointing to the sky. It is incredibly clean and crime is virtually unknown. But amid this obsessive neatness is a madly chaotic welter of peoples and cultures, drawn to Singapore in pursuit of the almighty Singapore dollar. Get a taste of colonial Singapore at Raffles, where the Singapore Sling was invented, Emerald Hill, with its charming pavilioned pre-war homes, the Victorian botanic garden, and the green lawns of the Padang Cricket Club. And lest you forget, be sure to visit Orchard Road for non-stop shopping.

Parai Beach is a beautiful spot on Bangka Island characterized by its boulders. Swim, sunbathe, snorkel, and or relax under a gazebo with an ice cold beer. If you can tear yourself away from the lounger to go exploring then the combination of the powder white sand, gray rocks, and deep blue sea make for an amazing photographic backdrop.

Belitung Island has been described as an incredible island paradise that you never knew existed. There are indeed lots of unique places to visit here. Danau Kaolin, also known as the Blue Lake, is an area where water started collecting in a kaolin mine, the combination of bright blue crystal-clear waters and white mounds that look like floating icebergs is quite something which makes for some stunning photography. If you fancy a more cultural experience there is Museum Kata Andrea Hirata, the first and only museum of literature in Indonesia, a very colorful and vibrant place.

Pilau Seribu means a "Thousand Island" but actually consists of 128 small islands located in the Bay of Jakarta. A few of the islands have been developed for tourism and offer general tourist facilities. The beaches are golden and fringed with coconut palms and the abundance of marine life make this another excellent choice for diving and snorkeling.

Located on the northwest coast of the world's most populous island of Java, Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural, and political center. As you would expect there are hundreds of things to see and do here. Numerous museums, historical buildings, landmarks, parks, shopping malls, and markets await. The fusion of cultures including Chinese, Indonesian, Malay, and Dutch make for some incredible dining experiences. Be sure you try one of the Street Food stalls. Jakarta rewards you with some unforgettable meals.

Karimunjawa is a hidden paradise of Java. Also known as Karimun Java, it is an archipelago of 27 islands known for its white-sand beaches and clear blue sea. Many visitors like to rent fishing boats and the locals are keen to help guide you on a hike around the islands. As you would expect diving is excellent here as the islands have 35 types of corals, sponges, and there are even shipwrecks. After your chosen activity refresh yourself with a cooling coconut milk as coconuts can be found in abundance here.

Semerang is a port city on the north coast of Java. Dutch colonial architecture is prominent here and includes Lawang Sewu, a huge structure built by a railway company. It's a busy administrative and trading city which has many captivating colonial monuments, beautiful gardens, and superb views of the sea. There is even a museum established in 1970 to preserve a wide selection of steam locomotives, Ambarawa Railway Museum.

To the south of Madura lies a small island, Giligenteng, a community of four peaceful little fishing villages, where everybody knows each other. The village of Bringsang consists of one small street, a mosque, and a few local shops. There are no tourist attractions but it is an authentic fishing village and gives you an insight into the everyday life of this little community. The atmosphere is one of quiet content and the people are remarkably hospitable and friendly, saying hello and waving greetings as they go about their business. The beach here is really beautiful with clear water and pristine white sand.

Probolinggo is a port town whose main activity is fishing. It is also the nearest town of any size to the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park on the east coast of Java, and a stopping point on the way to the Gunung Bromo volcano. The area in and around the park is inhabited by the Tenggerese, an ethnic minority, and one of the few remaining Hindu communities on the island of Java.

North of Bali, the Lovina tourist area stretches over 12 km and consists of a string of coastal villages: Kaliasem, Kalibukbuk, Anturan, and Tukad Mungga, collectively known as Lovina. Lovina’s black sandy beaches are quite lovely, and the sea is very calm here and safe for swimming. The atmosphere on the beach is one of laid-back tranquillity with colorfully decorated traditional outriggers called perahu dotted along the shoreline.

Gili Trawangan, universally known as “Gili T”, is the most cosmopolitan and popular island. During the day you can explore the island on foot, snorkel, sunbathe, join a dive trip, rent a bike, or take a horse carriage ride. These activities are offered by local companies directly at the disembarkation pontoon.

Benoa is the main cruise port on the island of Bali. There are numerous places that can be accessed from here including the party-centric Kuta, Nusa Dua the popular beach resort with its luxury hotels and restaurants, as well as coffee plantations and rice terraces. Trips to temples, palaces, markets and a bat cave are some of the many things also on offer. Disembark after breakfast and continue your independent trip back home.