Visiting Indonesia is an experience that is hard to forget and tourists can enjoy the nation's unique and vibrant culture, wondrous tourist attractions and much, much more. Indonesia's beaches are also a very popular attraction on these fun-filled islands, and when one thinks of pristine tropical beaches in Indonesia, the first destination that crosses their mind is Bali. While Bali is truly a beautiful place, for an enjoyable beach excursion out of the norm in Indonesia, the Belitung Islands offer pristine stretches of sand and surf where anyone can relax, a host of museums offering a glimpse of Indonesia's rich history, and intriguing souvenir shops from which tourists can take a part of these beautiful islands home with them.
While on the Belitung Islands, an ideal way to relax is plunging into the turquoise waters framing these landmasses, as the water is warm and clear, and there are enough activities to keep you busy for days! One of the most popular things to do is snorkeling within the beautiful coral reefs that are dotted around the islands. Thousands of species of marine life inhabit the warm water here, and appreciating them in their own home is an experience that no aquarium can quite match. Other than for snorkeling, the beaches are a great place to simply relax and unwind with a refreshing fruit cocktail.
The islands also have a rich history, and a short trip downtown will take you to a part of the island that will take you back in time, as most of the buildings reflect the Dutch Colonial influence in their architecture. Visitors can see the process of tin mining on the island, or visit a Buddhist temple with a strong Chinese influence. There are hundreds of shops and boutiques on the Belitung Islands that offer fodder for souvenir junkies; the perfect way to bring part of the island to your home and the memories of time spent here to life.
One of the most popular souvenirs is jewelry made from a unique black stone, believed to have been brought to the island by an asteroid thousands of years ago. This stone, known as Satam stone, looks exquisite set within jewelry pieces, and is made even more beautiful by the randomly occurring patterns on the surface. In addition to Satam stone jewelry, you will discover shell handicrafts, various types of food and many more interesting souvenirs as well.
