The Indonesian Islands are extraordinarily rich in unique scenic beauty and variety. There are 210 million people, having very different cultures and speaking 250 languages and 300 dialects, living in this extremely spread out country which is composed of about 17.000 islands and has a total length of 5.120 km.
Thus, the Indonesian motto is most appropriate: Bhinneka Tunggal Ika - Unity in its Diversity. Not only are the ethnic groups diverse but also the cultural styles. Indonesia is unique in that the cultural elements which appear in ceremonies, rituals and daily life are fused with the various religions. The cultural components are still very much alive and vibrant, expressed through the arts and appearing in daily ceremonies and to punctuate special occasions.
The Indonesian Archipelago is the largest Islamic country in the world: 87 % of the population follow the Islamic doctrine more or less strictly. The rest of the population is Christian, Hindu and Buddhist, often combining with animistic religions.
The problems of population density are not yet solved.People on Java live in one of the most densely populated areas in the world while the primary forests of Borneo and Papua are uninhabited. In order to reach a more even distribution on each island a transmigration program has been developed.
Indonesia lies on the "Ring of the Fire", one of the most active volcanic zones of the world. The eruptions have caused disaster amd destruction, but on the other hand the islands of Java and Bali owe their extraordinay fertility to this danger, while the soil on the islands of Papua and Kalimantan is overgrown with dense tropical rain forests and is less productive.
Effected by destructive lumbering more and more forests vanish and are being replaced mainly by plantations. The Small Sunda Islands in East Indonesia are situated in a dry zone and the landscape is often made up of savannas.
Because of the geographical arrangement of Indonesia, which is spread out and spans several different climatic zones it houses a most diversified range of flora and fauna. The last “dinosaurs” on earth, the komodo live in the Eastern part of the country.
Many of our spices such as cloves and pepper grow in this luscious country. The world's largest flower, Rafflesia, can grow up to 1 meter in diameter.
The Indian influence is visible in architecture and plastic arts. Hindu as well as Buddhist monuments give evidence of the extraordinary creative capacity of their ancestors.
Rapid technological development and western influenced thinking enters this traditional society and often implies new ways of life. Indonesia is a country bridging traditions and modernization with all the positive and negative implications.
EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTAND JAVA
Java, means:
- Fascinating landscapes, rich in variety, with lush, evergreen ricefields and smoldering volcanoes
- Endless sandy beaches and steep cliffs at the wild, roaring Indian Ocean
- Unspoiled nature in National Parks with tropical and savanna-like flora and fauna
- Ancient monuments of Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic cultures
- Melodious Gamelan music and courtly dances at the Sultan’s palaces of Solo and Yogyakarta
- Hospitality and the enchanting smile of the gentle Javanese
- Continuation of traditions, mythological beliefs and rites
- A wide variety of home industries creating many different handicrafts, bustling markets and interesting museums
- A sometimes surreal, sometimes harmonious mix of the traditional and modern
Let yourself go for the ADVENTURE JAVA