Bali, Indonesia
Known as the "Island of the Gods," Bali is famous for its shimmering beauty and fascinating culture. Hundreds of Hindu temples, towering mountains and verdant rice terraces form a spectacular backdrop to the charm of the Balinese people. Here are mysterious volcanic lakes and jungle-shrouded volcanoes, wondrous ancient temples, fabulously creative painters and wood-carvers, and the legendary dancers who re-enact the stories of their Hindu deities.

Bau Bau, Indonesia
Once a pirate haven, Bau Bau is the principal town of the former sultanate of Buton, an ancient Islamic civilization which traces its origins to the goddess Wakaakaa. The hilltop fortress and palace of the former sultans are still intact. The palace is built of teak and houses such relics as the cloth money once used in Buton, a forerunner of the modern banknote. Nirvana Beach is a beachcomber's delight with warm, inviting waters.

Jakarta, Java, Indonesia
The Dutch colonial influence is still found in the harbor area of Indonesia's capital. But Jakarta's present-day personality is formed by the millions of Indonesians from distant islands who have sought big-city life, creating a third-world metropolis. You can experience their varied cultures at Taman Mini, "Indonesia in Miniature," a fascinating open-air parkland where tribal houses are built to scale. Then journey back to ancient times at the National Museum, which houses the skull of primitive Java Man.

Semarang, Java, Indonesia
From Semarang, travel through the lush jungles of Java to the astounding temples of Borobudur, the largest Buddhist monument on earth built in the 8th century. Here view a complex of dramatic carved towers that were forgotten for almost 800 years! Topped by graceful stupas, the winding pathways display carved panels depicting the life of Buddha.

Surabaya, Java, Indonesia
One of the last traditional Indonesian cities that evokes old colonial Asia, Surabaya remains delightfully untouristed and little changed from the thirties. You'll discover old neighborhoods of typical Dutch colonial homes, while in Islamic enclaves throughout the city, men in fez-like hats gather around mosques with minarets. Visit the Surabaya Zoo exhibiting a family of Komodo dragons. Or travel across the narrow straits from Java to the island of Madura and a bygone way of life, where a centuries-old style of bull racing still continues to be used as a method of breeding selection for the island's important cattle industry.

Komodo Island, Indonesia
A rare discovery awaits the traveler who ventures onto this remote island of Komodo. Walking through the dense vegetation, hearing and seeing a variety of bird and animal life, you may feel you've landed in another epoch. Indeed, the last vestiges of long-gone dinosaurs survive here, in the form of the legendary, giant lizards called Komodo Dragons.

Teluk Dalam, Nias, Indonesia
The island of Nias off Sumatra was isolated for thousands of years. The people here retained a Stone Age culture until the very recent past, with headhunting and human sacrifice known as late as 1935. Witness a thrilling challenge/welcome dance, and a spectacular demonstration of traditional stone-jumping.

Bitung, Sulawesi, Indonesia
Discover the natural wealth of northern Sulawesi, a fertile land of cocoa and clove plantations. Tiny off-shore islands harbor pristine coral reefs teeming with hundreds of species of tropical fish. While nearby at the Gunung Dua Saudara National Park, a cross-section of endemic animal life as tarsiers, hornbills, macaques and cockatoos thrive in a geologically fascinating area of hot springs and volcanic craters.

Palopo, Sulawesi, Indonesia
Known in colonial times as Celebes, the island of Sulawesi is protected by mountains and walled by thick jungles. Palopo, now a Muslim town, was once the center of the powerful Luwu kingdom. This is the gateway to Indonesia's Torajaland, a fascinating region in the highlands, which includes a traditional village and cliff-side burial sites, with painted wooden tau-taus, or funeral effigies, of their ancestors.

Belawan/Lake Toba, Sumatra, Indonesia
Belawan is the port of Medan, and gateway to the wonderful Lake Toba region in the highlands of northern Sumatra. It is a stunningly scenic area of lush rain forests, canyons, waterfalls and active volcanoes. The Toba Batak who live in this isolated area were once among the fiercest tribes in Sumatra. Visit the mountain retreat of Prapat on the shores of Lake Toba, actually a volcanic crater. Today Prapat is considered the pleasure spot of the Medan wealthy and jumping-off point for the ferries to Samosir Island, homeland of the Toba Batak.

Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia
Sumatra's third largest city, Padang still has a small-town feel. It is a gateway to the island's interior and Bukittinggi, the homeland of the gentle, sophisticated Minangkabau people. Visit a 140-year-old clan house, which houses a museum of traditional wedding and dance costumes, musical instruments and weapons.

Waingapu, Sumba, Indonesia
Sumba presents the chance to visit an ancient culture that long resisted the outside influences of Christianity, Hinduism or Islam. The distinctive thatched houses, with stone tombs of ancestors built right in front, will captivate you - as will the artful, handwoven ikat fabrics made here in the traditional way.

Jayapura, New Guinea
New Guinea is one of Asia's most spectacular regions for tourism. A living museum of natural history, untouched rain forests, white-sand beaches, snow-capped mountains straddling the equator, jewel-like lakes and moss-carpeted forests shelter some of the world's most astonishing wildlife. In the highlands valley of Baliem, Stone-Age tribes sport boar tusk nose rings, necklaces of harvested spider webs, and reed skirts for women. The custom of smearing their bodies with red or white clay for warmth has given rise to the nickname "mud people." In Jayapura, a picture-postcard harbor with a backdrop of eternally green hills greets travelers who visit this Indonesian part of New Guinea. Indeed, the only access is by sea, and aside from a few roads around the town, the only means of travel to the interior is on foot or by light aircraft. Streets bustle with an interesting mix of tribesmen, vendors, Minang merchants, Bugis fishermen or sailors from Makassar.