The breathtaking Buddhist Borobudur Temple in central Java

An intense blend of teeming cities, smoking volcanoes, dense jungle and ancient monuments, Java condenses everything Indonesia has to offer into one island.

The big ticket item for tourists is the Borobudur Temple, a colossal stone structure built 1,200 years ago. The monument is 3D model of the cosmos as interpreted by its Buddhist architects, and it never fails to take one's breath away.

Central Java is home to Yogyakarta, a soulful city of half a million people that retains a low-key atmosphere. The main reason to visit is to experience Javanese culture; theatrical performances, including dance and theatre, are staged almost daily somewhere in the city. If you want to stay a while, there are courses in batik and gamelan.

Lastly, it would be almost impossible to visit Java and not get a taste of the nation's capital, Jakarta (the big durian). A sprawling city of nine million people, the throbbing heart of the country is jam-packed with museums and monuments. Don't miss Jakarta's nightlife, some of the wildest that Southeast Asia has to offer.