Indonesian Beauty

Yogyakarta (part 2)

2009-04-22T08:00:00.002+07:00

Malioboro, Nostalgia in Souvenirs Paradise

Stretching on imaginary poles connecting Yogyakarta Sultan Palace, Tugu and the peak of Merapi Mountain, this street forms trading locality after Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I developed means of trading through traditional market since 1758. After 248 years, the place still persists as a trading area; it even becomes the icon of Yogyakarta, known as Malioboro.

Located around 800 meters from Yogyakarta Sultan Palace, this place was always crowded with flowers each time the Palace held ceremonies. Malioboro that in Sanskrit means bouquet serves as a basis for naming this street.

Framed by shops, offices, restaurants, star hotels and historical buildings, the street that once functioned as struggling center during the second Dutch military aggression in 1948 was once a place of wandering for the artists joining together in Persada Studi Klub (PSK) community led by Umbul Landu Paranggi since 1970s to around the end of 1990s.
Souvenirs Paradise

Enjoying shopping experience, hunting exclusive souvenirs of Jogja, tourists may walk on foot along the arcades of Malioboro Street. There are many vendors selling their merchandises, ranging from such local handicrafts as batik, rattan ornament, leather puppet, bamboo handicrafts (key holder, ornament lamp, and others) as well as blangkon (Javanese / Jogjanese traditional cap) and silver goods to general little things that you may find in other trading places. Along the arcade, tourists will not only enjoy shopping peacefully on sunny or rainy days but they also enjoy bargaining prices. If they are good at bargaining and have good luck, they will end up buying at third quarter or even half of the prices offered.

Do not forget to save energy. There is still one big traditional market tourists must visit. Well known as Pasar Beringharjo, this market provides complete traditional products in addition to similar goods sold along the arcade of Malioboro Street. In addition to local products of Jogja, products from neighboring areas such as Pekalongan batik and Solo batik are available. There are many choices of hand made batik, printed batik, window curtain with unique motifs and batik bed sheet. This place will satisfy the desire of buying unique goods at reasonable price.

Please make sure that you are not cheated by the offered prices. Usually, the vendors will increase the prices for tourists.

Vredeburg Fort and Gedung Agung

At the end of this "bouquet" street, tourists can drop by at Vredeburg Fort that is located across Gedung Agung. This fort was the Dutch protection basis from possible attacks by Yogyakarta Kingdom troops. Similar to other forts, this place built in 1765 is high, square walls confining the area inside with one monitoring tower in each of the four corners for patrolling purpose. From the tower at the southern part, YogYES took the opportunity to enjoy sceneries of the Sultan Palace and other historical buildings.
Malioboro Cross-Legged Food Vendors (Lesehan, Javanese Language)

When the sun sets in the west and at the same time the lights along the street and the arcade add more beauty to Malioboro, food sellers begin to set the cross-legged eating place. Special menu of Jogja such as Gudeg and Pecel Lele are served in addition to oriental cuisines and sea food as well as Padang cuisine of West Sumatra. The street singers will sing hit songs and memory songs for some small change.

For tourists who are going to try menus served along Malioboro Street, please do not hesitate to check the price list and confirm it to the seller to prevent illogical charge.

Visiting Yogyakarta, the city known as "The Javanese Culture Living Museum" will not be complete unless you pay a visit to the street that keeps various stories of Indonesian Nation struggle and crowded with various souvenirs. It is paradise for history lovers and souvenirs hunters.

Yogyakarta (part 1)

2009-04-21T01:44:00.003+07:00

Yogyakarta (some people call it Jogja, Jogjakarta, or Yogya) is a city with outstanding historical and cultural heritage. Yogyakarta was the centre of the Mataram Dynasty (1575-1640), and until now the kraton (the sultan's palace) exists in its real functions. Also, Yogyakarta has numerous thousand-year-old temples as inheritances of the great ancient kingdoms, such as Borobudur temple established in the ninth century by the dynasty of Syailendra.

It stretches from the slopes of mighty Mount Merapi in the north to the wave-swept beaches of the powerful Indian Ocean to the south. It was the mighty Javanese Empire of Mataram, Ngayogyakarto Hadiningrat. Yogyakarta (Yogya) came into being in 1755, when a land dispute split the power of Mataram into the Sultanates of Yogyakarta and Surakarta (Solo). Prince Mangkubumi built Kraton of Yogyakarta and created one of the most powerful Javanese states ever.

More than the cultural heritages, Yogyakarta has beautiful natural panorama. The green rice fields cover the suburban areas with a background of the Merapi Mountain. The natural beaches can be easily found to the south of Yogyakarta.

Here the society lives in peace and has typical Javanese hospitality. Just try to go around the city by bike, pedicab, or horse cart; and you will find sincere smiles and warm greeting in every corner of the city.

Transportations to Yogyakarta:

* Train
You may reach Yogyakarta by train from Jakarta, Bandung, or Surabaya
* Bus
Yogyakarta is reachable by bus from Sumatra Island, Bali Island, and most cities of Java Island.
* Plane
Recently, international direct flights from Kuala Lumpur are established to Yogyakarta. In addition, domestic flights to Yogyakarta from Jakarta, Denpasar, Balikpapan, and many others, are available now.

Borobudur

This Buddhist temple has 1460 relief panels and 504 Buddha effigies in its complex. Borobudur was built by King Samaratungga, one of the kings of Old Mataram Kingdom, the descendant of Sailendra dynasty. Based on Kayumwungan inscription, an Indonesian named Hudaya Kandahjaya revealed that Borobudur was a place for praying that was completed to be built on 26 May 824, almost one hundred years from the time the construction was begun. The name of Borobudur, as some people say, means a mountain having terraces (budhara), while other says that Borobudur means monastery on the high place.

Borobudur is constructed as a ten-terraces building. The height before being renovated was 42 meters and 34.5 meters after the renovation because the lowest level was used as supporting base. The first six terraces are in square form, two upper terraces are in circular form, and on top of them is the terrace where Buddha statue is located facing westward. Each terrace symbolizes the stage of human life. In line with of Buddha Mahayana, anyone who intends to reach the level of Buddha's must go through each of those life stages.

Each terrace has beautiful relief panels showing how skillful the sculptors were. In order to understand the sequence of the stories on the relief panels, you have to walk clockwise from the entrance of the temple. The relief panels tell the legendary story of Ramayana. Besides, there are relief panels describing the condition of the society by that time; for example, relief of farmers' activity reflecting the advance of agriculture system and relief of sailing boat representing the advance of navigation in Bergotta (Semarang).

We suggests that you walk through each narrow passage in Borobudur in order for you to know the philosophy of Buddhism. Atisha, a Buddhist from India in the tenth century once visited this temple that was built 3 centuries before Angkor Wat in Cambodia and 4 centuries before the Grand Cathedrals in Europe.

Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam

2009-04-19T02:49:00.009+07:00

Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam

Aceh is a special territory (daerah istimewa) of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Naggroe Aceh Darussalam. It is thought to have been in Aceh where Islam was first established in Southeast Asia. In the early sevententh century the Sultanate of Aceh was the most wealthy, powerful and cultivated state in the Malacca Straits region. Aceh has a history of political independence and fierce resistance to control by outsiders, including the former Dutch colonists and the Indonesian goverment. Aceh has substantial natural resources, including oil and gas - some estimates put Aceh gas reserves as being the largest in the world. Relatively, to most Indonesia, it is a religiously conservative area.

Aceh is one of the region archipelago where has multi ethnic community. There are 8 ethnics that live in Aceh, such as Aceh, Alas, Gayo, Aneuk Jamee, Kluet, Kluet, Simeulue, Singkil dan Tamiang. They have different historical of original and cuture. Example, Aneuk Jamee was visitor from from west Sumatera (Minangkabau ethnic). Thats way, the culture of Aneuk Jamee ethnic similar with Minangkabau ethnic.

Calang
Calang is the capital city of Aceh Jaya, which is amazing greenery and schenery along the way. Especially, the view in Geureute. But in this occasion we can show you just a glance shcenery of Calang.

Rubiah Sea Garden

Rubiah Sea Garden is situated about 23.5 km west of Sabang by road, or about 7 km by boat, adjacent to Iboih village. The Indonesian Government has established this water area of 2600 hectares around Rubiah Island as a special nature reserve. Being located in Sabang bay the waters here are calm and crystal clear too (25 m visibility) the sea here abounds with an incredible variety of colorful tropical fish and coral reefs. We can find gigantic clams, angelfish, school of parrotfish, lionfish, sea fans, and much more.
For experienced snorkeling, Octopus and Stingrays (not dangerous to observer) are sure sightings here. Try viewing the coral from glass bottom boat.
Sunbathe or stroll on the remote white sand beaches of the adjacent shores. Undoubtedly, one of the best-kept secrets in the world of tourism is a paradise for snorkeling and scuba diving. The distance to the coral is only 5 m from the shore. For those who just cannot get themselves to leave this spot, accommodation and meals are available from the villagers of Iboih upon request.

Mount Leuser National Park

Mount Leuser National Park is one of the largest national parks in the world, containing over 800,000 hectares of virgin rainforest. The park is home to orangutans, gibbons, monkeys, elephants, tigers, and among the last of the Sumatran rhinoceros. There are research facilities for the study of primates, birds and insects, the Orangutans rehabilitation center at Bukit Lawang being the most popular with tourists. It is possible to raft Alas River from Ketambe to the Indian Ocean on a 4 - 5 day expedition. The journey takes us through exciting white-water rapids to the calmer, crocodile-infested waters of the lowlands. Basic accommodation is available at Ketambe.

The Leuser National Park of Gunung Leuser is probably the wildest in Indonesia, located in Southeast Aceh, can be reached from either Kutacane, or Takengon. This magnificent national park has a wealth of flora and fauna. The Leuser Ecosystem is an outstanding wilderness in Aceh northern Sumatra. It is one of the richest expanses of tropical rain forest in Southeast Asia. More than 2.5 million hectares in size, it is the last place on earth where elephants, rhinos, tigers, clouded leopards, and orangutans are found within one area.

The first official statement of intent to protect the Leuser Ecosystem was signed in 1934. The Leuser International Foundation (a non-profit non-government organization) was established in the late 1990's when the ecosystem was seriously under threat from illegal logging and wildlife poaching.
Geographically, the Leuser Ecosystem lies between 3-4.5° North and 96.5-98° East. It covers approximately 2.6 million hectares of tropical rain forest, encompassing 890,000 hectares of designated national park, as well as extensive areas of protection and production forests. The ecosystem contains two major volcanoes, three lakes, and nine major river systems that flow to the east and west coasts of the island.

The Leuser Ecosystem has an enormous level of biodiversity. It contains at least 127 mammal species, including the Sumatran elephant, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran rhinoceros, and Sumatran orangutan. About 8,500 different plant species grow in the beach, swamp, lowland, mountain and alpine ecosystems of the Leuser Ecosystem. Of the 10,000 plant species recorded in the West Indo-Malayan Region, 45% are found in the Leuser Ecosystem. Spectacular plants such as Rafflesia (the largest flower in the world) and Amorphophallus (the tallest flower in the world) are among the plants protected there.

Mount Leuser National Park is one of the biggest national parks in Indonesia (950,000 hectare). Actually, it's a collection of various nature reserves and forests: Nature Reserve Mount Leuser, Nature Reserve Kappi, Nature Reserve Kluet, Sikundur Langkat Wildlife Reserve, Ketambe Research Station, Singkil Barat and Dolok Sembilin. Most parts of the national park lie in the region Aceh Tenggara (SE Aceh). Other parts are situated in the region east Aceh, south Aceh, and Langkat.

Mount Leuser National Park comprises more than 100 kilometers of the Bukit Barisan Mountains. Because of that, the park consists of steep, almost inaccessible mountainous terrain. The altitude ranges from 0 meter, in Kluet (South Aceh), to 3,381 meter, on top of the mount Leuser (Southeast Aceh). The Alas River cuts the park into an eastern and western half. Apart from mountains we find several other ecosystems: beach forest, swamp areas, lowland rainforest, alpine and mountain forest. In Bukit Lawang is the Orang Utan Rehabilitation Station and in Ketambe stands the Ketambe research station.

Flora
Because of the great differences in altitude and the diversity in soil, mount Leuser National Park has an enormous wealth of plant species. About 8,500 different species grow in the beach, swamp, lowland, mountain and alpine woods of the park. In the beach and swamp forest we can find Casuarinas trees (Casuarinas sp.), Wild Nutmeg (Myristica sp.), Camphor (Drybalancops aromatica), Nibung palms, Rotan (Calamus sp.), Mangrove trees (Avicennia sp.) and Pandan (Pandanus sp.). Along the rivers grows Pometia pinnata. In the lowland forest, trees like Meranti (Shorea sp.), Keruing (Dipterocarpus sp.), Camphor and Damar (Hopea sp.) and several wild fruit trees like Durian (Durio zibethinus), Mango (Mangifera indica), Wild Banana, citrus fruit and wild jack fruit grow in abundance. In the mountain and alpine woods, several species of moss and wild flowers: Gentians, Primula's, Strawberry, herbs, and wild orchids are found. The Rafflesia Arnoldi (Rafflesia sp.) grows here also.

Fauna
About 700 different species of animals (320 birds, 176 mammals and 194 reptiles and amphibians) live in Mount Leuser National Park. In Ket lies lake Banko, the last place in North Sumatra where the Swamp Crocodile lives.
Mammals: Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus sumatrana), Otters (Lutra sp.), Wild Boar, Red Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista petaurista), Malayan Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus), Wild Dog (Cuon alpinus), Hog Badger (Arctonyx collaris), Lesser Mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus), Large Mouse deer (Tragulus napu), Barking Deer (Muntiacus muntjak), Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor), Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), Flat- headed Cat (Prionailurus planiceps), Temminck's Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii), Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), Flying Lemur (Cynocephalus variegatus), Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus abelii), Thomas's Leaf Monkey (Presbytis thomasi), Banded Leaf Monkey (Presbytis femoralis), Silvered Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus cristatus), Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Pig tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina), White-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar), Siamang (Hylobates syndactylus), Sumatran Serow (Capricornis sumatraensis).
Reptiles: Swamp Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), Flying Frog (Rhacaphorus pardalis), Flying Snake (Crysopelea), Common Flying Lizard (Draco volans), Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), Water Monitor (Varanus salvator).
Birds: Argus Pheasant (Argusianus argus), Asian Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris), Rhinoceros Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros), White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot (Loriculus galgulus), Osprey (Pandion haliaetus).

Jakarta Tourism Spot

2009-04-14T09:14:00.007+07:00

Taman Impian Jaya Ancol

This is a recreational park that most crowded and most people familiar with the city of Jakarta and other cities around. Park on the sea coast of Jakarta is often called Ancol only. Many forms of entertainment for both children and parents included in this 522 hectares. Ancol park including recreational park it in Asia. Not far from the entrance there are many options including: Dufan, which contains various types of gaming facilities; Gelanggang Samudra is a natural open atmosphere, and to see a behavior of the animals, the water animals, birds or other forest animals that enjoyed in the arena and artificial forest; Gelanggang Pool; Beach, Art Market, Fishing Spot and more.

Ragunan Zoo

The Zoo is to keep the animals and breed almost extinct. So not only a showcase of animals. More than that, save and multiply the animals that will be extinct if not maintained.

Taman Ismail Marzuki

Is the center of arts and culture of Indonesia in Jakarta. Here regularly shows events arts and culture, including the staging drama, dance, puppets, music, poetry, painting exhibitions and film shows. TIM is to be the arts we can find many kinds of traditional arts contemporer, which is a good tradition and the speaker of Indonesia's overseas.

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah

TMII is a recreational park and museum culture of Indonesia. In this Park is introduced, and developed various forms of culture of Indonesia. This park was built in 1972 and inaugurated by President Soeharto on 7 April 1975. TMII have a wide display of 120 hectares of greatness in the form of a mini culture. TMII Park as a museum is not silent, which only exhibit the full anjuangan area. But directly overlooking the object and make a spectacle of life that integrates as a visitor and are in the middle of cultural life. It also Tourism Village, Museum, military and others.

Pulau Seribu

Pulau Seribu group entry area of North Jakarta. According to the notes, Kepulauan Seribu have about 342 islands, including islands coral reefs and sand islands. Clean air, go with full marine sponge gardens. For fishing and also the right to strike as well as water sports. In addition to recreational and nautical tourism, this island is a National Park Sea of research site oceanologi archeology and to learn sea plants and rare animal sea.

How to Get in Indonesia

2009-04-12T20:47:00.002+07:00

Indonesia is one of the popular tourist destinations in South East Asia and attracts travelers from all across the globe. How to get there to Indonesia is not difficult to answer as there are several modes of transport making it all easy.

The quickest and comfortable way to get to Indonesia is by air and flights connect all the important cities of the Malaysia and also important cities of the world. In Indonesia there are airports present in every major city. These airports link the cities in Indonesia and the international airports link the important cities of the world. The important airports are Denpasar Airport in Bali (DPS) and Soekarno-Hatta Jakarta International Airport (CGK).

Indonesia is bordered by Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Malaysia. The travelers can get to Indonesia from Entikong- Tebedu crossing between West Kalimantan and Sarawak, Malaysia on Borneo. There are other crossings to enter Indonesia but are considered informal.

The other option to get to Indonesia is by boat and there are ferry connections with Singapore and Malaysia. Generally these connections are between the ports in Sumatra, ports in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore.

7 Wonders of Nature in Indonesia

2009-04-11T01:42:00.013+07:00

list of Indonesian 7 Wonders of Nature.. (on my opinion)

1. Lake Toba
Lake Toba
Lake Toba is the largest volcanic lake in the world. At 100 km long and 30 km wide, measuring 505 m at its deepest point, it is situated in the middle of the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Surrounded by tall mountains, it cradles the large island of Samosir in its middle.

2. Raja Ampat Islands
Raja Ampat islands
Located off the northwest tip of Bird’s Head Peninsula on the island of New Guinea, Raja Ampat, or the Four Kings, is an archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands, cays and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo. Over 1,070 fish species, 537 coral species, and 699 mollusca species, the variety of marine life is staggering.

3. Krakatau Volcanic Island

Krakatau Volcanic Islands
Nestled between the large Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra is the Krakatau Volcano National Park. In the fourth century, a single marine volcano stood at this site, but in 416 A.D., the caldera of the volcano collapsed. The remnants formed a new caldera, or volcanic feature formed by the collapse of land following an eruption, around 7 km in diameter, with the peak’s remnants becoming the three islands of Verlaten, Lang and Krakatau.

4. Komodo Island

Komodo Island
Indonesia’s Komodo National Park includes the three larger islands Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller ones, for a total area of 1,817 square kilometers (603 square kilometers of it land). The national park was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon.

5. Carstensz Pyramid

Carstensz Pyramid
Carstensz Pyramid, Indonesia, the highest peak in Oceania. Rising to over 5000 meters on the tropical island of New Guinea. It’s a steep granite wall with sharp good climbable rock.

6. Heart of Borneo Forest

Heart of Borneo Forest
The forests of the Heart of Borneo are some of the most biologically diverse habitats on Earth, possessing staggeringly high numbers of unique plant and flower. The Heart of Borneo’s forest area is 1 of the only 2 places on Earth where orang-utans, elephants and rhinoceros still co-exist and where forests are currently large enough to maintain viable populations.

7. Bromo Mountains

Bromo Mountain
The land is one of great variety and natural beauty. Inland, smouldering volcanic peaks soar upwards to heights of more than three thousand metres. The pre-dawn departure and trek across the mountain’s ’sand sea’ to watch the sun rise at the crater rim has become a daily ritual.

Travel Warning : 1ndONEsia Dangerously Beautiful..

Silat, The Martial Art Of Indonesia

2009-04-03T02:57:00.005+07:00

Overview:

Silat is a blanket term covering all the fighting arts of the Indonesian archipelago. It is used to describe both indigenous (Pentjak Silat and Poukilan Silat with around 900 estimated styles) and Hybrid arts (Kuntao Silat with around 400 estimated styles).

Origin:

Indonesian Archipelago

History:

Indonesia is a land of spice islands. Their history has always been that of competing tribes and peoples. They also have a history of invasion by foreign powers. The many Silat styles evolved under both. Most Poukilans are tribal arts intended for the entire village to use. Because of the nature of tribal warfare (and the prevalence of cannibalistic tribes), the Silats tend to be designed with weapons in mind and both as and against multiple armed opponents. Very little "sportsmanship" is applied when fighting someone you intend on eating.

Another group of events defining how the Silat fighting arts evolved is the tendency of everyone around to invade. Indonesia has been claimed by (among others) the Chinese, the Japanese, and the Dutch. In fact, the phrase "run Amok" refers to Indonesian warriors tying off pressure points, grabbing a knife, and walking down the street killing every foreigner they saw. Today in the west, many of the best known Silat players are Dutch-Indo.

There is also in Indonesia a strong history of Immigration, and many Chinese have moved there. The Chinese Kung-Fu styles were blended with the native Silat styles and form the basis of the hybrid Kuntao Silat styles.

Most recently Islam is becoming the predominant religion of the region. And we are beginning to see it's influences on the arts still popular in Indonesia.

Description:

There is a tremendous amount of variety in Indonesian fighting methods. They range from sports styles, to purely combative styles, to a style designed for a ritualistic challenge of a bridegroom for the bride. So I will talk in generalities.

The Pentjak Silat styles are the indigenous styles which include cultural elements. Here is where you will find the wedding styles, the dance styles, and many of the sport styles. There are also quite a few fighting styles in here. The Pentjaks tend to prefer outside over inside fighting positions. They tend to go from open defensive postures to closed offensive postures. They will occasionally have mystical elements.

The Poukilan Silat styles tend to be pure fighting styles without cultural elements. They tend to be direct and to the point. They tend towards close fighting (Poukilan means "impact"). They also tend to prefer outside positions.

The Kuntao Silat styles are conglomerates of Indo and Chinese fighting methods. They tend more towards closed defensive postures that open to attack. They also tend more toward inside positions when fighting, preferring the availability of soft targets to the safety of outside positions.

The Silats do have animal styles (Harimau (tiger) and Madi (monkey) being two of the better known). They have few if any unarmed styles. They tend to adapt rapidly. There is a tendency to throw out whatever becomes obsolete and add whatever becomes relevant. This is why most modern Silat schools to teach firearm retention and counter-firearm strategies, as well as more traditional weapons (knife, stick, spear).

One noted difference between the Indo arts and the nearby Chinese arts is the tendency of the Indo arts to use already strong structures within the body (as opposed to the Chinese tradition of conditioning the body). This allowed the old, the young, the sick, and the wounded to effectively use these arts.

Training:

With so many arts, there is a great deal of variation in training methods. Some schools teach Silat in a very conceptual way. Some are similar to classical Chinese or Japanese schools. Some teach it around the sparring (like kickboxing). Feel sure that there is a Silat school somewhere that matches your preferred training method.

Definitions:

Silat - Silat means something close to "fighting applications". By itself it has little meaning, rather it modifies the word it is with.

Pentjak - Literally "forms, postures, and movements". Without Silat, Pentjak is useless, and without Pentjak, there is no Silat.

Poukilan - Literally "impact".

Indonesia "The wonderful Country"

2009-04-01T10:18:00.004+07:00

The largest archipelago in the world, Indonesia lies at the crossroads between the Indian and Pacific oceans and bridges the continental land masses of Asia and Australia. It is one of the most volcanic and the most seismically active regions in the world: of its more than 400 volcanoes, 128 are considered active and 75 had erupted in historic times with more or less disastrous effects to the surrounding populations. Even today eruptions of varying magnitude occur regularly, rejuvenating the soil to make it among the most fertile on earth.

Flanked by the tepid equatorial waters of two of the world's great oceans, the land rises from the darkest depths of some of the world's deepest oceans through to the towering peaks of the volcanoes and the realm of perennial snow of the Jayawijaya mountain range in Irian Jaya.

It seems natural that the migratory waves of peoples from the Asian mainland in search of new dwellings began millennia ago. They found these islands a most ideal place to settle down.

In the course of time, distinct ethnic groups evolved in the regions where they settled down. Each group nurturing its own heritage of culture and traditions within the large common ancestral frame. In view of the great diversity of Indonesia's physical and cultural make-up, a careful selection of the subjects of interest is recommended, as well as prior contact with the proper private or government organizations and agencies.

The Directorate General of Culture, for example, may provide the necessary guidance for special interest visits pertaining to culture or history.

The Indonesia Institute of Sciences (LIPI) is the overall organization in charge of scientific research. In some cases, special permits have to be obtained, such as from the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHPA) for visits to the nature reserves.

The Department of Industry, the Department of Trade, the Indonesian Foreign Investment Board and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN/CCI) are all concerned with trade and industry. In case of doubt, it is well advised to contact the nearest Indonesian Tourist Information Offices or Diplomatic Missions where special requirements may have to be me