Our stay in Karimun Jawa is already coming to an end. After several days spent amidst paradisiacal beaches, turquoise waters, and unforgettable sunsets, it's time to hit the road again. But before continuing our adventure in Indonesia, an important decision awaits us: what will be our next destination?

Three days out of time

These past few days have been a real break.

We rediscovered a rhythm we had almost forgotten.

Mornings begin gently, lulled by the birdsong.

Days flow between swimming, scooter rides, and long hours spent watching children play on the sand.

Of course, traveling with Marion and Martin isn't exactly a relaxing vacation.

“Daddy, where are we going now?”, “I'm hungry!” or “Are we going back to the pool?” punctuate our days.

And yet…

We feel like we've finally slowed down.

This break has done us a lot of good.

Travel is not just about visiting

During these few quiet days, we pulled out maps, compared itineraries, and started imagining what was next.

Initially, we dreamed of discovering the famous volcanoes of Java.

Mount Bromo.

Merapi.

Spectacular landscapes found on all Indonesian postcards.

But very quickly, a question arose.

At what cost?

Looking closer, we realize that this leg would involve very long hours of travel, departures in the middle of the night, several connections, and a much more sustained pace.

Traveling with two young children sometimes forces us to look beyond the photos we see online.

Choosing to slow down

We then made a decision.

We won't be visiting the volcanoes this time.

This choice was not easy.

When you're planning a world tour, you often want to discover everything.

But we've learned that it's impossible to see everything.

And above all, that it's not necessary to see everything to have an extraordinary trip.

We prefer to spend more time in places where we feel good rather than just racking up kilometers to check off a destination on a list.

Ultimately, that's our way of traveling.

Taking our time.

Enjoying.

Adapting.

Accepting to change our plans.

An obvious choice emerges: heading to Bali

Little by little, one name kept coming up in all our discussions.

Bali.

The Island of the Gods.

Its terraced rice fields.

Its temples.

Its villages.

Its beaches.

Its unique atmosphere.

Since the beginning of our trip, we've heard about Bali from many travelers.

It's now time for us to discover for ourselves what makes this island so fascinating.

Our itinerary is now decided.

Tomorrow, we will leave Karimun Jawa aboard the fast boat to reach Jepara.

We will then continue our journey to Semarang where we will spend a last night on Java.

The next day, a short flight of barely an hour and a half will take us to our next big stop.

Bali awaits us.

Our expectations before discovering Bali

We don't know yet what we will find there.

We can already imagine the immense rice fields of Ubud.

Temples lost in the vegetation.

Balinese ceremonies.

Small warungs by the roadside.

Beaches where surfers await the perfect wave.

But we also know that we'll have to go beyond the clichés.

As with each of our destinations, we want to discover authentic Bali, the one you don't necessarily find in tourist guides.

What we'll remember about Karimun Jawa

Before leaving, we take a few minutes to look at the ocean one last time.

Karimun Jawa will remain one of our most beautiful memories of Indonesia.

Not just for its landscapes.

But because this island reminded us of something essential.

Traveling is not a race.

The best memories often arise when you agree to slow down.

Practical information

Current stop: Karimun Jawa

Next destination: Bali

Transport: fast boat to Jepara, road to Semarang, then domestic flight to Bali.

Our advice: don't try to see everything. Leave room for the unexpected and pleasant surprises.

The journey continues…

Each new stage brings its share of discoveries.

After the bustling markets of Jakarta, the rice fields of Java, and the paradisiacal beaches of Karimun Jawa, a new adventure unfolds before us.

In the next chapter of the JUMAA Journal, we will finally set foot on Bali, an island that makes millions of travelers around the world dream.

We can't wait to discover if it lives up to its reputation… and especially to take you with us on this new stage of our world tour.