Introducing

Wonosobo because it's stress free and cool.

I nver visit there before.but i ever hear abt that place.
Yeayy wonosobo is nice place.

@Guestposter6513

Good day.  I am currently living in Bali but really want to check out Sulawesi.  I'm looking for a less touristy island closer to unspoiled nature.  I found this forum, I hope you can tell me a little more about Sulawesi please.

I once booked a flight to Makassar. After arriving and making my way to the hotel, I just got this feeling that people were after my money, being a westerner. I cut my trip short and left the next day.

However Sulawesi is really beautiful and I really Love Manado food.

Sorry I can't be of any help.

    I once booked a flight to Makassar. After arriving and making my way to the hotel, I just got this feeling that people were after my money, being a westerner.
 
    -@wyngrove60

That still happens to me after all this time.

I usually solve the problem by speaking in Bahasa or, if the item is on Shopee, I show them my screen.

The worst one today trippled the price and refused to budge so i just walked away - There's no point arguing with a fool.

Another tried it on so I told him that was the 'bule' price - he realised I wasn't a tourist and gave me something closer to what locals pay. It was slighty high, but not enough to care - Everyone went away happy.

    @Guestposter6513
Good day.  I am currently living in Bali but really want to check out Sulawesi.  I'm looking for a less touristy island closer to unspoiled nature.  I found this forum, I hope you can tell me a little more about Sulawesi please.
   

    -@moonbem3

Lombok is less touristy, but there's still enough to spoil it a little.

Most of Java is pretty great.

Belitung is amazing and the beaches are stunning (if you want beaches)

Inland, anywhere in the mountains, especially medium sized towns. It tends to be cooler, but the towns have most of what you will ever need.

Aceh is an interesting place as long as you aren't interested in alcohol.

    I once booked a flight to Makassar. After arriving and making my way to the hotel, I just got this feeling that people were after my money, being a westerner. I cut my trip short and left the next day.However Sulawesi is really beautiful and I really Love Manado food.Sorry I can't be of any help.        -@wyngrove60

Coincidentally I did the same a few years back. I had business in Jakarta and looked at the map and thought Makassar would be an interesting city to visit for a few days. Landed at the relatively new airport and took a taxi to the Aston hotel (out of curiosity was that where you stayed Wyngrove?) I find the Aston brand consistent and reliable throughout Indonesia.

That evening I was relaxing on the verandah area of a bar overlooking the port enjoying the gentle tropical onshore breeze with a draft Bintang. There were three local girls at the neighbouring table who heard me speaking English to the waitress. Anyway we got chatting and it turned out they worked for the Makassar radio station Delta FM one of the largest radio groups in Indonesia. Their English was excellent, one of the girls was a DJ. I myelf do some occasional reporting for the London radio station JazzFM so we had much common ground.

They offered to show me around at the weekend and took me to the Malino highlands about a three hour drive from the city. This was and still is one of my most memorable experiences anywhere in the world. We sat in the tea plantations watching the sun go down and the clouds just skimming above us .

I ended up dating my current GF who was one of the three. Makassar is an industrial port city but has some decent malls which we explored. Because I was with locals I was not aware of the skin tax but have no doubt it exists like many countries in Asia. For the record I have always found Indonesians some of the most trusty and genuinely friendly people in Asia.

As regards Lombok. I have been twice with my GF and it really is to be recommended. We stayed in Senggigi on the west coast

First up - Aston hotels are generally considered to be very nice. I concur.

I co-presented a couple of radio shows when I lived in Purwokerto - Fun times.

That city is another on the list to consider. I liked the place, but it wasn't my favourite.

I stayed in Purwokerto a couple of nights stopping off on my train journey to Jogja. Guess where I stayed? The Aston lol. So I was seated one evening in the lobby lounge listening to this female jazz singer with a pianist accompaniment (link attached) I was the only one there and applauded many of the excellent jazz covers they performed. I offered to buy the singer a drink on one of their intermissions. Charming lady by the name of Trisni. Again she offered to show me around the city and sights  (we walked up all the way through the gorge with the waterfalls)  in her little car the next day. She refused to let me pay her for the fuel and introduced me to her mother who she lived with where they run a little gift shop not far away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3BP0zF7JaM

The Aston Purwokerto does an amazing breakfast. It has to be the best out of all of that chain I've visited.

Only the Inna, Jogja has beaten it.