Natural Treasures of Indonesia, Borneo & Taiwan

Bali is an Indonesian island at the western-most of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east. It is one of Indonesia’s 33 provinces, with the provincial capital at Denpasar towards the south of the island. Bali is home to the most of Indonesia's Hindu minority, and also the largest tourist destination in the Archipelago. Read more about Denpasar (Bali), Indonesia

Sumbawa is an Indonesian island located in the middle of the Lesser Sunda Islands chain, in the province of West Nusa Tenggara. It marks the boundary between the islands to the west, which were influenced by religion and culture spreading from India, and the region to the east that was not so influenced. Sumbawa has historically had two major linguistic groups who spoke languages that were unintelligible to each other and the east-west division remains today. Read more about Sumbawa, Indonesia

Komodo Island may be closed to visitors throughout 2020, following which numbers may be limited to 5000 annually. The decision will be made in mid 2019. Komodo Island lies in the Wallacea Region of Indonesia, identified by Conservation International as a global conservation priority area, and is located in the centre of the Indonesian archipelago between the islands of Sumbawa to the west and Flores to the east. Read more about Komodo Island, Indonesia

Taka Bonerate National Park is a marine park located in the Flores Sea, Indonesia. South Sulawesi Island lies to the north, and Flores Island to the south. The park includes the Takabonerate atoll islands and was granted its status in 1992. Read more about Taka Bonerate National Park, Indonesia

Palopo, a city port, is the provincial capital of regency Luwu, and the third-largest city in the province of South Sulawesi in Indonesia. It is the location of South Sulawesi's oldest mosque. Built from blocks of white coral, with a three-tiered roof representing the ancient Austronesian cosmos, the Mesjid Jami is said to have been built during the reign of Sultan Abdullah. Read more about Palopo, Indonesia

Ujung Kulon, one of Indonesia's best known national parks, lies on the SW corner of the island of Java. It is one of the last remaining natural forests on Java and one of very few areas offering a profile of sea-shore to mountain top tropical vegetation. The beautiful isolated beaches that cover the coastline are among Ujung Kulon’s best-kept secrets. Read more about Ujung Kulon, Indonesia

The Derawan Islands are in the province of East Kalimantan in Indonesia. They include Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakaban, Maratua, Panjang, and Samama Island and submerged reefs and islets. They are located in the Sulawesi Sea, on the coastal shelf of East Kalimantan. Read more about Derawan Islands, Indonesia

El Nido refers to a small quiet fishing village and a Municipality in the province of Palawan in the Philippines. It lies 420 km SSW of the capital Manilla. El Nido ferry terminal faces a protected bay on the west coast of the island. Read more about El Nido, Philippines

Manila, the capital of the Philippines and the most densely populated city in the world, is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay, on the western side of the island of Luzon. This metropolis has certainly come a long way from being a fortified settlement and renowned trading centre in the 13th century. The city attracts over one million visitors from all over the world annually. Read more about Manila, Philippines

Manila, the capital of the Philippines and the most densely populated city in the world, is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay, on the western side of the island of Luzon. This metropolis has certainly come a long way from being a fortified settlement and renowned trading centre in the 13th century. The city attracts over one million visitors from all over the world annually. Read more about Manila, Philippines

Hualien City is located on the east coast of Taiwan, on a strip of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Central Mountain Range, and is the capital of the Hualien County. Tourists visit the city for its own beauty and interest, and it is also the base for a tour to the famous Torako Gorge, just a short distance north of the city. Hire a motor scooter or take a taxi to visit the numerous tourist spots. Read more about Hualien, Taiwan, Province of China

Taipei, located on the Danshui River, is the largest city and the capital of Taiwan, in the Republic of China. It lies 25 km SW of the Pacific Ocean port Keelung in northern Taiwan. Now a sprawling metropolis, for those who love the hustle and bustle of a big city, it truly is a great place to visit. Read more about Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan, Province of China