Indonesia has many cultures on many islands, and this Balinese dancer gives a taste of the exotic flavour of Indonesia.
Many things to see, wonderful shopping for Batik cloth and silver jewellery and Wajang puppets or whatever else takes your fancy.
Amazing Indonesia in it's many aspects
The mighty Hindu temple of Prambanan near Jogja in Central Java.
Many other smaller Hindu temples can be found in Java and others are often found under the soil of centuries.
Many other smaller Hindu temples can be found in Java and others are often found under the soil of centuries.
Borobodur above is a massive Buddhist temple from the 9th century under the Sailendra dynasy, also in Central Java near Jogjakarta.
Borobodur was buried by a volcano centuries ago but after the Dutch found it they reconstructed it.
One of the biggest of all Buddhist monuments it's friezes show ordinary life slowly growing towards enlightenment as you ascend the monument.
Borobodur was buried by a volcano centuries ago but after the Dutch found it they reconstructed it.
One of the biggest of all Buddhist monuments it's friezes show ordinary life slowly growing towards enlightenment as you ascend the monument.
Lake Toba in North Sumatra formed after a
supervolcano erupted around 70,000 years ago with worldwide climatic effects.
Some scientists think it may have nearly wiped out mankind at that time from the climatic effects, although so far no evidence that the whole globe was so drastically affected has been agreed upon by scientists.
The belief in near total extinction of humans at that time has come from a DNA bottleneck at that time, but apparently these bottlenecks can happen for other reasons too.
The Toba lake is 100 kilometres long and 30 kms wide and in some places 500 metres deep. There are boat trips on the lake and it is a beautiful area.
supervolcano erupted around 70,000 years ago with worldwide climatic effects.
Some scientists think it may have nearly wiped out mankind at that time from the climatic effects, although so far no evidence that the whole globe was so drastically affected has been agreed upon by scientists.
The belief in near total extinction of humans at that time has come from a DNA bottleneck at that time, but apparently these bottlenecks can happen for other reasons too.
The Toba lake is 100 kilometres long and 30 kms wide and in some places 500 metres deep. There are boat trips on the lake and it is a beautiful area.
- Astonishing Indonesia
- The country of Indonesia is often compared to a kaleidoscope because it has so many different cultures, landscapes and amazing sights on so many islands.
Infact there are literally thousands of islands in the world’s biggest archipelago, many small but some very big.
Things to see include the giant temples of Borobodur and Prambanan in Java, spectacular volcanoes in several islands, exotic dances and artwork particularly in Bali but also in many other places, and traditional clothes and houses from various ethnic groups.
Surfing beaches also exist and one can spend hours shopping for beautiful silver jewellery, batik clothes and handicrafts.
The capital city Jakarta is a big smoky city which you either love or hate but there are some interesting things to see there including the harbour (Pelabuhan), the old Dutch Stadthuis and some good museums.
Tjikini also has a famous cultural centre, including avant garde modern productions.
Jakarta has of course rich and poor suburbs, with Menteng and Kebajoran Baru being the two richest areas at least in my day.
Cultural shows can also be found and the city itself is interesting even if not so convenient to get around and quite polluted. Taxis are relatively cheap and often the best option to get around in Jakarta.
Express buses are also not too bad to get to some places. Make sure you wear a money belt under your clothes as pickpockets are everywhere and very brazen.
Taman Mini in the suburb of Ancol in East Jakarta takes a while to get to but it is one of the more interesting funparks of the world I think, where you can see traditional architecture and clothes and implements from all of Indonesia’s major islands and ethnic groups, as well as many other things including various live shows.
Indonesian variety TV shows are regularly broadcast from Taman Mini. Also there is a nice dolphin show at Taman Mini which is worth watching, complete with pretty girls using scuba equipment to swim with the dolphins in a giant tank.
Animals in Indonesia include orang-utans in Sumatra, water buffaloes in many places, Komodo dragons (giant lizards) on Komodo island and lots and lots of dogs who never stop barking as you walk past their houses. If you walk around Bali in the evening you will see what I mean.
The huge population of Indonesia is mainly down to the climate which is generally lush and warm, allowing two or three rice crops in a season. Even so the country is desperately overcrowded and the environment is under great stress.
Thus the landscape in Indonesia can be breathtakingly beautiful and something you never quite forget. Just see the rice terraces of Bali or Tanah Toradja in Sulwesi ( Celebes) and you will see what I mean. Incidentally Balinese painting captured this lush bounty very cleverly, bring back at least one painting if you can.
The orangutan (man of the forest) is a peaceful animal but illegal logging is destroying it's habitat.
There are some sanctuaries for orangutans but it's future is not assured.
There are some sanctuaries for orangutans but it's future is not assured.
Batik is a type of cloth dyed by covering one part with wax and colouring the rest. Then waxing a different part of the design and dipping it again. It can be done by hand (Batik Tulis) or by stamp (BatiK Cjap).
There are traditional and modern Batik designs and it is also now made in Africa and other places.
The best Batik in modern times usually came from Pekalongan on the north coast of Java. Batik making is still a significant employer in Indonesia.
There are traditional and modern Batik designs and it is also now made in Africa and other places.
The best Batik in modern times usually came from Pekalongan on the north coast of Java. Batik making is still a significant employer in Indonesia.
The Wajang Kulit puppet show goes on all night and the characters are mostly from the Mahabharata story from India.
Humour and social and political comment are thrown in and the Dalang or puppeteer has to have a strong constitution to carry on through most of the night. A light throws the shadows onto a screen where the action takes place. The Dalang used to be seen as being a sort of magician in his own right.
The basis of everything is the tropical climate with plenty of rain, this abundance has allowed often three rice crops in a year.
Of course the population has exploded in the past two centuries threatening the survival of everything.
Of course the population has exploded in the past two centuries threatening the survival of everything.
The capital Jakarta is not everyone's cup of tea but it does have a fair bit to see including Taman Mini in Ancol, the Museum, the harbour, cultural centre in Tjikini and just it's chaotic jumble of villages which are certainly different anyway.
Jogjakarta or just Jogja is smaller, slower and more cultural than Jakarta.
It is close to the big temples and a centre of Indonesian painting and University study.
It is close to the big temples and a centre of Indonesian painting and University study.
Indonesia is the land of volcanoes, such as Krakatoa, Toba, Bromo, Galunggan and dozens of others.
Some eruptions in Indonesia have changed the course of history and remain a potent reminder of the power of nature.
Other pages on this site cover many topics on Indonesia including health, security, culture, plants and animals and regions.
If you are interested in other Asian countries please see my other travel sites below
Australia complete travel http://australiacompletetravel.weebly.com
Burma complete travel http://burmacompletetravel.weebly.com
Complete Thailand http://completethailand.weebly.com
Korea and Japan complete travel
http://koreacompletetravel.weebly.com
Vietnam and Cambodia http://vietnamcomplete.weebly.com
New Zealand and the Pacific Islands travel
http://newzealandpacificislandstravel.weebly.com
Some eruptions in Indonesia have changed the course of history and remain a potent reminder of the power of nature.
Other pages on this site cover many topics on Indonesia including health, security, culture, plants and animals and regions.
If you are interested in other Asian countries please see my other travel sites below
Australia complete travel http://australiacompletetravel.weebly.com
Burma complete travel http://burmacompletetravel.weebly.com
Complete Thailand http://completethailand.weebly.com
Korea and Japan complete travel
http://koreacompletetravel.weebly.com
Vietnam and Cambodia http://vietnamcomplete.weebly.com
New Zealand and the Pacific Islands travel
http://newzealandpacificislandstravel.weebly.com