Indonesia

Full country name: The Republic of Indonesia
Area: 1,919,440 sq km (735,355 sq mi)
Population: 240,271,522 (2009 est)
Capital city: Jakarta
People: Javanese (45%), Sundanese (14%), Madurese (7.5%), coastal Malays (7.5%), other (26%)
Language: Bahasa Indonesia (official modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects (the most widely spoken of which is Javanese)
Religion: 88% Muslim, 8% Christian, 2% Hindu
Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) check www.xe.com
Time zone: UTC +7 (western Indonesia) to +9 (eastern Indonesia)
Climate: Tropical climate, high humidity, average daily temperature 26-30C (79-86F)
Alcohol availability: Available

Those of us who are geographically-challenged (myself included) think of Indonesia as a single place, but it's actually a country made up of over 17,000 islands! The main islands are Java, Sumatra, Bali, Kalimantan (Borneo), Sulawesi (Celebes), Papua, Halmahera, and Seram and many of the islands are actually still uninhabited.

Poor Indonesia has not had an easy time of it, in recent history, first conquered by Muslim invaders in the 13th century, then by the Portuguese, Dutch, British, French and Japanese before gaining independence after the Second World War. Most recently, President Suharto's 32-year authoritarian rule culminated in a corruption trial where he was accused of embezzling over 400 million US dollars (the UN called him the most corrupt leader in recent history and undoubtedly the competition was fierce) and without strong, democratic leadership there was tension between religious factions and the Bali nightclub bombings were the result of this infighting. Politically more stable now, with the Bali perpetrators found and executed, President Yudhoyono's Democratic party has gained political power, signalling to the west that Indonesia is now embracing democracy and stepping away from Islamic extremists. We are seeing the results of this stability with a number of new international schools opening to serve both internationally-minded Indonesians and the influx of western expatriates.

The Lonely Planet says, "Adventure looms large in this vast and steamy archipelago, where the best of southeast Asia's spicy melange simmers tantalisingly." The cost of living is *extremely* low, widely known as the cheapest travel destination in Asia. Indonesia is a melting pot with 300 ethnic groups, each with cultural differences developed over centuries, and influenced by Indian, Arabic, Chinese, Malay, and European sources. Traditional Javanese and Balinese dances, for example, contain aspects of Hindu culture and mythology, and religious freedom is a constitutional right.

Jakarta is a main tourist attraction, with its colonial-style buildings and monuments reminiscent of its Dutch and British periods. Additionally within the city, points of interest include the Central Museum; historic Portuguese Church; Istiqlal Mosque, and the many antique markets, shopping bazaars and ethnic restaurants that cover the streets. Outside of Jakarta, other destinations include the islands of Sulawesi (Orchid Island), Sumatra, with its volcanic mountains and hot springs, and of course the beach resort islands of Bali and Lombok. Scuba diving, snorkelling and eco-tourism are popular throughout the country.

Food

The cuisines from neighbouring countries, as well as other parts of the world, are available in Indonesia.

Rice is a staple food and often served with vegetables, soybean, meat and fish. Fish is eaten fresh, preserved (salted, dried) and made into a paste. Spices, chili paste, peanut sauce and coconut milk are used in a number of Indonesian recipes. Fruit and vegetables are available in Indonesia throughout the year. Drinks include tea, coffee, local beer and rice wine.

Arts

Indonesia is known for its combined drama and dance. Performances are often based on Indonesian versions of the epic Hindu poems, the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Gamelan orchestras consisting mainly of percussion instruments accompany performances of traditional dancing and shadow puppet theatre.

Indonesia is famous for textiles, batik and wooden carvings. Traditional cloth paintings can be seen in the temples and shrines of Bali. Hangings show scenes of stories set out in consecutive boxes, often with themes from the Sanskrit epics.

Sport

The coral reefs of Indonesia's coastline are a great attraction for divers. The archipelago is also very popular with surfers. Boat racing is a traditional sport. Other traditional sports include kite flying, pencak silat (a form of martial arts) and sepak takraw, a ball game in which a ball made of rattan has to be kept in the air using any part of the body except the hands. Sports such as football, tennis, badminton and archery are played. There is a National Sports Day in September.

Places to See

Bali is so picturesque that you could be fooled into thinking it was a painted backdrop: rice paddies trip down hillsides like giant steps, volcanoes soar through the clouds, the forests are lush and tropical, and the beaches are lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Places to visit include the capital, Denpasar, with its pleasant tree-lined streets, the volcanic cone of Gunung Batur and the lake that fills half of the surrounding caldera forming one of Bali's spectacular landscapes, and Kuta Bay the major travel drawcard of the last 25 years which offers cheap accommodation, western food, great shopping, surf, sunsets and riotous nightlife.

Jakarta is one of the region's most exciting metropolises with attractions such as the Jakarta History Museum, the Museum Bahari and the old port of Sundkelapa.

Lombok is less developed than Bali but has better beaches, a bigger volcano and more varied landscapes. Tourism is still low key, and many visitors are independent travellers drawn by the island's intoxicating diving and snorkelling, hiking and surf spots, as well as Lombok's intriguing endemic culture.

Articles and Resources

www.xe.com (currency converter)
http://www.worldinfozone.com/country.php?country=Indonesia
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/indonesia