ABOUT INDONESIA

Indonesia - a nation of extremes in size, scale and diversity. Over 17,000 islands string out from Southeast Asia, straddling the equator for 5,200 tcm from the Indian to the Pacific Oceans. Stark contrasts abound ...tropical rainforests and deserts ...coral reefs and snow-capped mountains, fertile volcanic soils and dry savannas.

It is home to 220 million people (2005), the fourth most populous in the world. Over half of them live on the island of Java. On the other 6,000 inhabited islands, people from over 300 distinct ethnic groups each speak their own language, but are unified through the national language of Bahasa Indonesia. Indonesia's motto, "Unity in Diversity" describes it well.

The nation's rich natural resources and exports - oil, natural gas, timber, minerals, rubber, plywood, coffee, tea, textiles and palm oil, to name a few - made these lands a magnet for trade throughout the centuries.

• JAKARTA
  Jakarta is the brash, sprawling capital city of the Republic of Indonesia, looking north to the Java Sea. on the northwest edge of Java. Designeted as a special province, it is the "brain" of Indonesia, the center of commerce, government, industry, publishing, communications and home to over 10 million inhabitants.
  
  People from rural Java and other islands flock here in search of jobs and a better life. They bring their languages, traditional foods and customs. A large international population adds their flavor to the mix, working in embassies, business and schools. The original descendents from 18th centry Batavia(Jakarta) are known as Betawi and have their own laguange and culture.
  
  A city of immense contrasts...billionaries and street peddlers, squatters slums, old Dutch architecture and flashy glass skyscrapers, traffic jams and leafy green neighborhood parks, the traditional and modern...all rub shoulders with each other in constant edgy excitement, tension and charm.
  
  
• BANDUNG
  Known as the "Paris of Java" in colonial times, Bandung was developed by the Dutch as a resort town in the mid-19th century - a cool escape from the heat of Jakarta. Wealthy tea plantation owners from the surrounding areas and people from Jakarta came on weekends to enjoy the clubs, restaurants and shops. Hundreds of Art Deco buildings added to the city's charm. Many can still be seen, most notably the old Savoy Homann Hotel. Bandung, cradled by surrounding volcanic peaks, stays pleasantly cool throughout the year.The capital of West Java, it is Indonesia's third largest city. The Sundanese people who live throughout West Java are known for being relaxed, friendly and even a bit bawdy, always ready with a joke or two.
  
  Today a lively atmosphere is evident with many restaurants, bars, shops and a wide range of cultural events to tempt visitors. A trip to Bandung is not complete without an excursion to "Jeans Street;' the center of the city's garment district where shoes, clothing, denims and textiles are in stylish, plentiful supply.
  
  For the younger crowd distro - distribution outlet - shops are a must-see.There are more than 200 young independent clothing and accessories designers creating and selling their own brand names along with'indie' record labels and other fashion products.
  
  In 1955, delegates from 29 countries gathered in Bandung to establish the Nonaligned Movement block at the first Asian -African Conference.The building, called theAsia¬Afrika or Liberty building has a small museum inside.
  
  The lush beauty of the countryside around Bandung is one of its main attractions. Driving up the pine forested mountain road to the Tangkuban Prahu volcano, you'll pass many small villages along the way. In season, stop for grilled corn along the roadside. Hope for a clear day at the mountain-top so you can look down into the craters.
  
  
• YOGYAKARTA
  Rising majestically to the north of Yogyakarta is highly volatile Mt. Merapi, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes. To the south lies the wild, rugged coast of the Indian Ocean, 27km away.The rich volcanic soil supports hundreds of small farming villages circling the mountain and spreading out across the broad plain to the south. Sparkling green rice fields fringed by palm trees tell of Java's agricultural roots.
  
  Yogyakarta, or Jogja as it's known, is one of Indonesia's most popular destinations. At first glance, modern shopping malls, billboards and motorbikes are taking over this royal court city. But they are only a thin veneer layering over deeply held traditions and values. The spiritual and traditional cultural center of Yogya is the royal palace or kraton, presided over by the current Sultan, Hamengkubuwono X.
  
  Known as the cultural capital of Java: Yogya is home to hundreds of artists - both contemporary and traditional - musicians from gamelon to punk, royal court dancers, internationally recognized contemporary painters/performance artists - both foreign and Indonesian, videographers and designers.
  
  For centuries the Javanese have perfected handcrafted traditions of batik cloth, wayang .... kulit leather puppets, silver jewelry, terracotta pottery, copper and brassware.Any number of shops along the main Malioboro street or in the Prawirotaman area carry nice selections of handmade goods.
  
  Yogya is the perfect base for several different trips outside the city.Two on the `must see', list are the magnificent temples of Borobudur and Prambanan.
  
  The massive temple of Borobudur, the largest Buddhist stupa in the world, has entranced pilgrims for over I I centuries. Representing the Buddhist cosmic mountain of Meru, pilgrims circle the terraces clockwise, meditating on the Buddha's life and teachings through 3,000 carved reliefs, eventually reaching nirvana at the highest level of the monument.
  
  To the east of the city, three towering black andesite stone temples rise up from the flat plains.The intricately carved temples of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu make up the Hindu temple complex at Prambanan, dating from 856AD. Carved reliefs tell stories from the Ramayana epic and the life of Krishna. In the evening a spectacular performance of the Ramayana classical dance is held in the open-air theater, with the temples silhouetted in the background.
  

• BALI
  The 'island of the gods' holds a special place in the hearts and minds of Indonesians and foreigners alike. Its frangipani perfumed air creates a magic atmosphere where Hindu gods and demons compete for attention on a daily basis. It's a sensual overload of splashy, bright colors piled high on ritual offerings and worn by the Balinese ... of fast-paced Balinese style gamelon music ... of young dancers keeping up to the rhythm ... of flashing smiles and warm greetings.
  
  Miles of white-sand beaches along the south coast lure visitors from around the world. The Kuta, Legian, Seminyak strip plays host to an amazing assortment of hotels from exclusive beachfront properties to simple home-stays, fashion boutiques, souvenir shops, restaurants serving world-wide cuisines, surf shops, bars, clubs, travel agencies, spas ...you name it, you can find it along here.The atmosphere is relaxed and easy, people want to come and have a good time.
  
  Be sure to travel inland to the charm of Ubud, the cultural center of Bali.The mix of long-term foreign residents and local Balinese has created a wonderful oasis in the heart of Bali. Ubud is still a small village, but one with a wide variety of restaurants, hotels, home-stays and tasteful handicraft shops. Several art museums, galleries, drop-in sketching classes, along with temple ceremonies and traditional cultural dance performances from the lovely young girl's Legong dance to the wild Kecak or monkey dance, make this a very enjoyable place to stay.