PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL: MEET INDRA FROM JAKARTA, INDONESIA
Being a travel journalist for nearly 5 years has allowed me to travel to more than 70 destinations worldwide. My work has introduced me to the tourism, hospitality and the aviation industry – things that I am very passionate about.
Even before doing it professionally, I have been traveling since I was in high school as an exchange student in Sardinia, Italy. From the deep bottom of Raja Ampat to the peak of Himalaya, I have visited 43 countries worldwide and 32 provinces in Indonesia.
1) NUMBER OF COUNTRIES VISITED
43
2) LANGUAGE(S) SPOKEN AND/OR WANT TO LEARN
Indonesian, English, Italian, Sundanese
3) AGE AND FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRIP YOU TOOK
33, first international trip would be when I was 13
4) FAVORITE AIRLINE
Can I name at least 5? It would be Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa, Swiss Air and off course Garuda Indonesia
5) YOUR GO-TO IN-FLIGHT APPAREL
Anything with no metal and easy to take off
6) THINGS/GADGETS YOU CAN’T TRAVEL WITHOUT
iPhone, swimming trunks, camera
7) FAVORITE COUNTRY AND WHY
Currently Iran, it’s beautiful, full of surprises and very spiritual. And can I say the nicest people on earth?
8) WTF MOMENT
Every time I have to climb a mountain. From Rinjani in Lombok, Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka, Gunung Gede in West Java, and Annapurna in Nepal. I thought I was traumatized and kept on complaining while trekking, but I keep on doing it, WTF.
9) FAVORITE CITY AND WHY
Paris, it tickles all your 5 senses.
10) MOST EMBARASSING MOMENT
I don’t have one
11) FAVORITE CUISINE
I like everything, but if I should choose I would say Turkish.
12) HOTEL, HOSTEL, OR AIRBNB?
Hotel, Would prefer Airbnb if I’m traveling with more than 3 persons
13) MOST MEMORABLE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
Road trip in Ladakh India. We had a near death experience passing through the highest motorable road in the world. The landscape was out of this world and it spiritually changed me.
14) MOST CHALLENGING TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
Trekking the Rinjani Mountain, the highest volcano in Indonesia. I was this close to giving up. Probably the hardest trek I’ve ever experienced.
15) BEST TRAVEL ACTIVITY
Relaxing at the beach sipping cold coconut and reading books.
16) FAVORITE TRAVEL SOUVENIR
incense, essential oils and home accessories from Sri Lanka.
17) MOST LIKED INSTAGRAM PIC
My home (I don’t know why it got crazy likes in 2 days)
18) FAVORITE TRAVEL PICTURE TAKEN
At the Bafgh Desert, Iran
19) FUTURE TRAVEL PLANS
Siem Reap
20) BUCKET LIST
South America in 6 months
21) YOUR TRAVEL INFLUENCER(S) AND WHY
@doyoutravel and @gypsea_lust (couple) besides their crazy unstoppable destinations, there is something humbling about their pictures. They have their own distinctive style and they are approachable. Interviewed them once when I was the guest editor for Fashion TV magazine, and they are very humble.
22) FAVORITE TRAVEL QUOTE:
“Paris is always a good idea”