DISCOVER THE SIGHTS, BITES AND CHARMS OF MANDALA’S 17 DESTINATIONS, FROM BEACH-SIDE BALI, TO REMOTE TARAKAN

Bali

Airport:Ngurah Rai
Local code: 361
Taxi: Bluebird, tel. 701 111

Eat: Soak in the gorgeous sunset ocean at socialite spot La Lucciola. Oberoi Rd., Kayu Aya Beach, Seminyak, tel. 730 838.

Sleep: Sail on a traditional Bugis phinisi boat. Indonesia Cruises, Kuta Poleng D-7, Jl. Setiabudi Simpang Siur, tel. 766 269, www.indonesiacruises.com.

Enjoy: Spend an afternoon learning about textiles at the Indonesian Textile Arts Center. Jl. Kajeng No. 24, Ubud, tel. 972 187, www.threadoflife.com.

Balikpapan

Airport: Sepinggan
Local code: 542
Taxi: Mawar, tel. 412 525

Eat: Sample local seafood, frog and fowl at local favorite Restoran Shangrilla. Jl. Ahmad Yani 29.

Sleep: Blow your wallet at the city’s classiest downtown hotel, Hotel Gran Senyiur. Jl. ARS Mohammad 7, tel. 820 211, www.senyiurhotels.com.

Enjoy: Arrange a day trip to the crocodile farm at Teritip. Borneo Discovery Tours, Jl. Harapan No. 38, tel. 566 1696, http.www.borneo-discoverytours.com.

Banjarmasin

Airport: Syamsudin Noor
Calling code: 511
Taxi: Area, tel. 747 4567

Eat: Satisfy carnivorous cravings at Rama Steak House — the name says it all. Arjuna Plaza, Jl. Lambung Mangkurat.

Sleep: Catch a good night’s sleep at the high-end Swiss Belhotel. Jl. Pangeran Antasari 86A, tel. 327 1111

Enjoy: Take a day trip to the Cempaka diamond fields 30km away for a glimpse of the digging fields.

Batam

Airport: Hang Nadim
Local code: 778
Taxi: Counter, tel. 325 507

Eat: Join the crowds for a snack at bustling open-air Nagoya Food Court. Jl. Imam Bonjol, Nagoya.

Sleep: Enjoy the quiet four-star Panorama Regency Hotel. Komplek Panorama Nagoya, tel. 452 888, www.panoramaregency.com.

Enjoy: Jet ski, banana boat and parasailing at the Batam View Beach Resort. Jl. Hang Lekir, Nongsa, tel. 761 746.

Bengkulu

Airport: Fatmawati Soekarno
Local code: 736
Taxi: Rent a car from your hotel

Eat: Knock back a steaming bowl of meatballs (bakso) at Bakso Arema Cak Brewok. In front of Sapta Bakti Nursing Academy, Jl. Mahakam Lingkar Barat.

Sleep: Check into Hotel Horison Bengkulu, Jl. Pantai Nala 142, Anggut Bawah, 21 722.

Enjoy: Wander down to the Tapak Paderi beach and take in the morning breeze.

Jakarta

Airport: Soekarno-Hatta
Local code: 21
Taxi: Bluebird, tel. 794 1234

Eat: Savor tasty Italian cuisine at reasonable prices at Trattoria. Plaza Pondok Indah 2, Blok BA 25-26 Jl. Metro Pondok Indah, tel. 750 0959.

Sleep: Sprawl in the huge rooms of downtown Hotel Gran Melia. Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said Kav. X-O , Kuningan, tel. 526 8080, www.granmeliajakarta.com.

Enjoy: Visit Edwin’s Gallery for hot contemporary art. Jl. Kemang Raya 21, tel. 719 4721, www.edwinsgallery.com.

Jambi

Airport : Sultan Thaha
Local code: 741
Taxi: Koperasi Taxi, tel. 65 904

Eat: Don’t miss trying pempek at Pempek Nony 168. Jl. Prof. M. Yamin, Simp. Kawat, tel. 444 909.

Sleep: Rest in comfort at the 4-star Ratu Hotel & Resort. Jl. Slamet Riyadi No. 40, Broni, tel. 668 888.

Enjoy: Step back in time at the Muaro Jambi temple complex (Percandian Muaro Jambi). Dating back to the Melayu Kingdom, it is set beside the scenic Batanghari River.

Jogjakarta

Airport: Adi Sucipto
Local code: 274
Taxi: Centris, tel. 544 977

Eat: Sample the imaginatively mixed menu at Belgian-run Via Via. Jl. Prawirotaman, tel. 384 557.

Sleep: Enjoy a sound night’s sleep at the centrally-located Hotel Ibis Malioboro. Jl. Malioboro 42-28, tel. 516 974.

Enjoy: Take a guided tour of the Palace Kraton compound to discover how this Javanese royal family lives, and the appropriate way to wear your keris.

Kupang

Airport: El Tari
Local code: 380
Taxi: Arrange through your hotel

Eat: Sample local seafood at the inexpensive but charming Bintang Jaya. Jl. Ahmad Yani.

Sleep: Relax in the cool sea breeze at the beach-side Kristal Hotel. Jl. Timor Timur 59, tel. 825 100.

Enjoy: Browse the local Pasar Inpres market for ikat textiles or conical hats. Off Jl. Soeharto.

Medan

Airport: Polonia
Calling code: 61
Taxi: Matra, tel. 844 3333

Eat: Enjoy authentic Indian food at Cahaya Baru Indian Restaurant. Teuku Cik Ditiro No. 12/16, tel. 453 0962.

Sleep: Stay at Medan’s tallest hotel, Citi International Sun Yat Sen. Jl. Sun Yat Sen No. 77, tel. 736 3479.

Enjoy: Visit the tranquil Lake Toba. Happy Holidays, tel. 456 6458, www.medantour.com.

Padang

Airport: Minangkabau
Local code: 751
Taxi: Kosti, tel. 705 0333

Eat: Head to seafood haven Nelayan Restaurant for a tasty dinner. North side of Jl. Samudera.

Sleep: Unwind inside the friendly Immanuel Hotel. Jl. Hayam Wuruk 43, tel. 28 560.

Enjoy: Sample kripik belado snacks at Rohana Kudus. Jl. Rohana Kudus No. 74, tel. 523 386.

Pangkal Pinang

Airport: Depati Amir
Local code: 717
Taxi: Ask your hotel to arrange

Eat: Sample fish and crab at Rumah Makan Asui. Jl. Kampung Bintang, tel. 423 772.

Sleep: Stay near the beach at Hotel Parai Indah. Jl. Pantai Parai Tenggiri, tel. 94 888.

Enjoy: Sample fermented anchovies (teri) and dried sea cucumbers at Toko Oleh-oleh LCK. Jl. Jend Sudirman No. 30, tel. 424 163.

Pekanbaru

Airport: Sultan Syarif Kasim II
Local code: 761
Taxi: Puskopa, tel. 25 500

Eat: Order a hamburger and finish off with ice cream at the atmospheric Vanhollano Bakery. Jl. Sudirman 153.

Sleep: Have a stylish night’s rest at boutique business hotel Aston Pekanbaru. Jl. Sudirman No. 158, tel. 886 888.

Enjoy: Drop by the Museum Negeri Riau to see its interesting collection of cultural artifacts. Jl. Sudirman.

Pontianak

Airport: Supadio
Local code: 561
Taxi: Antya, tel. 733 688

Eat: Swing by Restoran Beringin for quick and easy eats. Jl. Diponegoro No. 113, tel. 734 787.

Sleep: Relax in clean surroundings at the 3-star Hotel Santika. Jl. Diponegoro No. 46, tel. 733 777.

Enjoy: Check out a replica of the traditional longhouse dwellings. Jl. Sutoyo Pontianak, 100m from the Provincial Museum.

Semarang

Airport: Ahmad Yani
Local code: 24
Taxi: Centris, tel. 672 3624

Eat: Sample the boneless milkfish (bandeng) at Restaurant Elrina. Jl. Pandanaran 83, tel. 841 9702.

Sleep: Break your journey at the refurbished New Metro Hotel. Jl. Haji Agus Salim 2-4, 354 7371.

Enjoy: Find out what Semawis Night Market has on offer on the weekend. Gang Baru.

Surabaya

Airport: Juanda
Local code: 31
Taxi: Bluebird, tel. 372 1234

Eat: Blow out your wallet at Restoran Kuningan International. Jl. Kalimantan 14, tel. 503 5103.

Sleep: Check in at the newer Cendana Hotel. Jl. Kombes Pol M Doeryat 6, tel. 545 5101, www.cendanahotel.com.

Enjoy: Check out the komodos and other exotic species at the Surabaya Zoo. Kebun Binatang, Jl. Diponegoro.

Tarakan

Airport: Juwata
Local code: 551
Taxi: Ask your hotel to arrange

Eat: Head to Depot Sate Kambing Blitar for goat satay. Jl. Niaga I RT.13 Karang Balik, tel. 22 984.

Sleep: Join the business travelers heading to the Garden City Hotel. Jl. Mulawarman RT.6 No. 15, tel. 21 133.

Enjoy: Visit the graves of World War II Japanese soldiers alongside old bunkers in the hills.