BALI ISLAND

Welcome to the tropical paradise of Bali, Indonesia and marvel at the enchanting beauty of this tropical island in the Indonesian archipelago. Its picturesque setting is so immaculate and stunning, that it appears to be a painted backdrop, only, that such beauty can be perpetuated only by the masterstroke of God himself.

Bali, Indonesia is a picture perfect holiday destination for one and all. Marked by rice paddies tripping down hillsides like giant steps, volcanoes soaring up through the clouds, lush tropical jungle, charming stretches of soft sandy beaches, glittering turquoise water, crashing surf and warm and friendly people who don't just have a culture but actually live it. Bali is where life is a celebration, every occasion is an excuse for revelry and where good times never stop, not even in a funeral. Golden sunshine or silvery moonlight, Bali is where fun never ends.

Bali Island, Indonesia has something for all ages, offering something for everyone. This tropical paradise while retaining its rustic charm and rich past and heritage has extended modern tourist facilities combined with wonderful shopping opportunities to its guests. The Balinese people are proud of having preserved their unique Hindu culture against the advance of Islam, the dominant religion throughout Indonesia. 

Shopping in Bali, Indonesia

If you are a shopoholic, there is no missing the Bali Island, as it is one stop destination to satiate all your desires, be it casual and tailored clothing, locally made jewellery, handicrafts, antiques and artifacts. Leather products are available at a steal here. These range from handbags through to tailor made leather jackets and coats, all at unbelievable prices. In fact, with the bargains available, you will surely need to buy a suitcase well to carry back all that you have shopped in Bali, Indonesia. Do not forget to bargain at the street markets of Kuta, Sanur of Nusa Dua. Denpasar department – a fixed price store is a popular shopping destination as well. 

eight of the best smaller island in indonesia

With over 17,000 islands in the archipelago, both large and small, the tourism possibilities seem endless. Each island virtually has its own culture and traditions, some dating back centuries. The larger islands like Sumatraand Java attract their fair share of foreign visitors as does the smaller island of Bali that is totally drenched in tourists. However, there are a great proportion of smaller islands in the archipelago that are rarely visited by your normal tourist and it these islands that are the most interesting with all manner of activity available such as surfing, diving and snorkelling, relaxing on isolated beaches, and fishing. But it’s not only these activities that draw the out-of-the-norm tourist to these smaller islands it is also the culture and the people of the respective island. So, I have put together seven of the islands that I consider to be the best in the archipelago. These eight islands doesn’t mean that the other islands in the archipelago aren’t worth visiting. On the contrary, they are, and each has its own uniqueness and each one just as attractive in its own right.

Nias Islands: The majority of visitors to this island are surfers who revel in the superb swells. Nias is the largest of the islands off Sumatra. The island was once part of the famous Hippie trail of the 1960s and particularly travelled by surfers, After Nias they went on to Bali. Nias is best known for its unique diversity of festivals and celebrations. The most famous events are the War Dances that are performed regularly and mainly for the benefit of tourists. Nias is also known for Stone Jumping, a manhood ritual that sees young men leaping over two meter stone towers to their fate. It is a beautiful island with super-friendly people and sweeping bays with white-sand beaches.

Bangka Island: Bangka is an island province together with Belitung Island and lies just east of Sumatra and separated by the Bangka Strait. To the north lies the South China Sea. To the east, across the Gaspar Strait, is the island of Belitung, and to the south is the Java Sea. Most of the island consists of lower plains, swamps, small hills, beautiful beaches as well as white pepper fields and tin mines. Basically, the majority of the inhabitants on the island are Malay Indonesians and Chinese, mostly Hakkas. The population is split between those who work the pepper farms and those who work on the tin mines. There are only a few isolated pockets of forest on the island and this doesn’t give much scope for exploring but the scenery is beautiful.

Moyo Island: Moyo Island is located at the mouth of Saleh Bay. It is a nature reserve with wild oxen, deer, wild boars and a great variety bird species. Visiting the island is best during the dry season from June through August. A few kilometres off the north coast ofSumbawa, the national park island of Moyo Island is probably the most rewarding as it is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs. It’s relatively easy to get to Moyo. Take a bemo from beside Seketang Market in Sumbawa Besar to Air Bari , a small port settlement to the northeast. From Air Bari, you can charter a boat to Moyo. There are basic private rooms at the PHPA post at Tanjung Pasir on the south coast, where most boats from the mainland arrive. It is quite a stunning place to visit. There is limited accommodation and camping outside is not such a good idea.

Rinca Island: Rinca, is a small island near Komodo island in the East Nusa Tenggara chain of islands. The island is famous for komodo dragons but not as much as the island namesake. Being the lesser known island and less visited than Komodo, it is an ideal place to see the Komodo Dragon in its natural environment with fewer people to disturb them. Day trips can be arranged from Labuanbajo on mainland Flores by small boat.

Bunaken Island: Bunaken is part of the Bunaken National Marine Park, which has some of the highest levels of marine biodiversity in the world. Scuba diving is the main attraction on this island. Bunaken is located at the north of the island of Sulawesi. Biologists believe that the abundance of hard corals is crucial in maintaining the high levels of diversity in the park. Although there are inevitable conflicts between resource protection and use by people, the Indonesian government is taking a fairly unusual and pragmatic approach to park management. Bunaken Marine Park has become an important example of how Sulawesi, and the rest of Indonesia, can work to protect its natural resources. Bunaken Island would rate, in my opinion, as the second best dive site in Indonesia.

Bacan Island: The island is to the north are the islands of Kayoa , Makian, Ternate and Tidore in the Maluku Island chain. The interior of the island is relatively uninhabited and none of the dwellers on the coast are indigenous. The most significant town on the island is Labuha situated on the west side of the island. Nearby is the town of Amasing once a significant settlement on the island. The island is in part of volcanic formation, and the existence of hot springs points to volcanic activity. There are, however, especially in the southern portion, ancient and non-volcanic rocks. Bacan is of interest to zoologists as the island is very rich in birds and insects.

Ambon Island: the island lies off the south-west coast of the much larger Seram island. It is on the north side of the Banda Sea, part of a chain of volcanic isles that form a circle around the sea. Wild areas of Ambon Island are covered by tropical rainforest and are part of the Seram rain forests eco-region. It is mountainous, well watered, and fertile. Ambon has few indigenous mammals and birds are more abundant. The insect diversity of the island, however, is rich, particularly in butterflies. Seashells are obtained in great numbers and variety here. Tortoise-shell is also exported. Corn and sago are produced, and hunting and fishing supplement the diet. Nutmeg and cloves, once grown in abundance, are produced in limited quantities. Ambon is another popular dive-island in Indonesia although the currents are strong and swift.

Raja Ampat Islands: This island group is located off the northwest tip of Bird’s Head Peninsula on the island of New Guinea. Raja Ampat is an archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands, bays and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo. It encompasses more than 9.8 million acres of land and sea that also contains Cenderawasih Bay, the largest marine national park in Indonesia. Raja Ampat’s coral diversity, resilience, and ability to replenish reefs make it a global priority for marine protection, as human activity here has the potential to be catastrophic. Over 1,070 fish species, 537 coral species (a remarkable 96% of all scleratinia recorded from Indonesia are likely to occur in these islands), and 699 mollusc species, the variety of marine life is staggering. Raja Ampat is the ultimate in diving with its crystal clear waters. If you are not a diver, then revel in the bays views and the white-sandy beaches.

GEOGRAPHY OF INDONESIA

The largest archipelago in the world, Indonesia is home to over 13,000 islands. This shows the huge area of the country that it covers. Geography of Indonesia is punctuated by the islands and the different landscapes it is blessed with. One can easily find the various types of natural splendors covering Indonesia.

Situated in the Southeast Asian region, Indonesia lies between the Malay Archipelago and the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The location of the country is considered to be very strategic as it connects to the different parts of the hemispheres quite easily. The complex physical environment of Indonesia has even played an important role in shaping up of the local culture. The Geographical coordinates of the country are 5°00?S to 120°00?E.

Indonesia covers an expansive area stretching up to 5,120 kilometers from east to west and 1,760 kilometers from north to south directions. Out of the staggering over 13,000 islands in the archipelago only 6000 of them are inhabited and as many are named. But out of them all only five are considered to be important as they contain the basic facilities of life sustenance. They are Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Irian Jaya. Other constituents of Indonesia are the two major archipelagos of Nusa Tenggara and the Maluku Islands along with sixty smaller archipelagos. Among them three islands are shared by different neighboring countries.

The topography of the country is dominated by the bays, plain lands, natural forests and many more. The variation in the topography has led to the presence of a varied flora and fauna in the country. Indonesia is home to a combined animal and plant life common to Asian and Australian origin.

The flora life of Indonesia ranges from the tiny orchid to the huge "Rafflesia" plant which blooms a flower with a diameter of 3.2 feet, the largest flower in the world. It also includes various other species of plant life.

The animal kingdom in Indonesia is famous for the Komodo dragon, the last living species of Dragons on earth and various other animals. 

rafflesia

komodo dragon

INDONESIA ETIQUETTE

Before embarking on a trip to Indonesia, it will be helpful to browse through some information on Indonesian Etiquette, so that you do not hurt the sensibilities of the people, even by mistake, while on a trip there. Further more learning about the Indonesian Etiquette will help you blend in better with the locals and even surprise your host with some pleasant gestures.

Like any other place in the world, when visiting Indonesia, visitors should observe the local customs and practices, which are held very dear by the Indonesian people. Some common courtesies and customs are as follows:

Although handshakes are generally acceptable for both men and women, some Muslim women may acknowledge introductions to gentlemen by merely nodding and smiling. A handshake should only be initiated by ladies.

There is no grasping in Salam, in this form of greeting, the man offers both hands, lightly touches his friends outstretched hands, and then brings his hands to his chest to mean, "I greet you from my heart". The visitor should reciprocate the salam.

It is considered polite to call before visiting a home. Unannounced visits are not expected. Always remove your shoes before entering someone’s home. It is a common practice to offer drinks to guests, so if offered it is polite to accept.

Always use your right hand while eating or giving and receiving objects. Do not point at places, objects or persons with the right forefinger. Instead, the thumb of the right hand with four fingers folded under is the preferred usage for the purpose.

Always remove your shoes before entering places of worship such as mosques and temples. Some mosques provide robes and scarves for female visitors to cover there heads before entering the place of worship.

It is usually permitted to take photographs at places of worship. However, always ask permission beforehand.

As over 85% of the Indonesian population is Muslim, drinking is not a common practice and hence toasting is not a common practice in here.

ARTS AND CRAFTS IN INDONESIA

Any connoisseur is bound to be fascinated by the rich variety of Arts and Crafts in Indonesia that has been a legacy of a myriad of influences. Talking of visual arts in Indonesia, the country is not generally known as a treasure trove for exquisite or timeless paintings, but it is known more for its inimitable works of art, which are exclusive to the country.

To begin with, there are the often intricate and expressive traditional and modern Balinese paintings. These paintings mostly concentrate on depicting the beauty of nature, marvelous landscapes or illustrate themes from the traditional dances. Apart from the traditional paintings, Indonesia has proved to be a fertile ground for many internationally known painters either Indonesians or Europeans who settled in Indonesia to pursue their creative endeavors.

Most of these are big names in the Art market and their works often fetch very high prices. Today, Modern Indonesian painters use a wide variety of styles and themes. Calligraphy, mostly based on the Qur'An is decorative in its special way.

When it comes to Indonesian crafts as one of the art products, one can choose among the various styles, patterns and designs that are employed in preparing them, mostly inherited as a cultural legacy from their ancestors. In many ways, the colors and forms of these crafts depict the traditional or spiritual values of a particular tribes from certain regions. In some cases these display various meanings related to the ethnic or particular region of origin.

Some of the popular forms of Arts and Crafts in Indonesia are batik, ikat and songket cloth. With the popularity of batik today, it is difficult to imagine that it was once on the brink of disappearance along with ikat, but thanks to the efforts of former President Soeharto, who ingeniously promoted the craft by wearing batik shirts on official occasions.

calligraphy QUR'AN

painting

batik

culture of indonesia

The culture of Indonesia has took its current shape molded by several influences that have been prevalent in the land, as a result of the long process of interaction and acculturation between original indigenous customs and a multitude of foreign influences.

Nestled between the ancient sea trading routes between Far East and Middle East, Indonesian culture, too a large extent has imbibed much of its daily practices and art forms from the Hindu, Buddhist, Confucianism and Islamic influences. These connections are clearly evident mostly in its many trading cities.

The kaleidoscopic cultural hue of Indonesia is largely cosmopolitan and need to be distinguished from the original. The complex nature of this culture can be easily gazed by various lines of faiths adopted by people here, for example: Agama Hindu Dharma, a denomination of Hinduism is now practiced by 93% of Balinese. Other examples are the fusion of Islam with Hindu in Javanese Abangan belief, the fusion of Hinduism, Buddhism and animism in Bodha, the fusion of Hinduism and animism in Kaharingan, and many others.

With the diverse influences, shaping up the perspective of the Indonesian people, their lifestyle and values, the impact of the cultural fusion is also noticeable in Indonesian art forms. For instances, wayang- a traditional form of theatre show performed with puppets was used to spread Hinduism and Islam among villagers in Java. Similarly, in various Javanese and Balinese dances, often stories about old Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms are told. In Sumatra, especially in its Minangkabau and Aceh regions, one can see direct architectural inspiration from the Islamic art forms and architectures.

As far as the westernization of culture of Indonesia is concerned, an imprint of it though cannot be ruled out, but it is mostly limited to modern entertainment, such as television shows, movies and songs. One of the major influences in this sphere are the Bollywood songs and movies.

ADVENTURE AND RECREATION IN INDONESIA

Adventure and recreation in Indonesia comprises of a wide range of activities such as Boating, Scuba diving, Surfing, Volcano Trekking, Island Hopping and Jungle trekking.

lombok

Surfing in Indonesia takes place in 9 regions. These include Sumatra, Java, East Bali, West Bali, Mentawai, Lombok, Sumbawa and East Indonesia. The surfing at Bingin beach is very famous. In fact, Indonesia, being the largest archipelago in the world, has many beaches to offer to the tourists as well as the local people for various activities related to adventure and recreation.

jungle trekking

semeru mountain

Volcano trekking is yet another type of sport in which you can get a complete package of satisfaction regarding adventure activities. The Semeru mountain in Java, is the largest volcano mountain in Java, and it provides you with loads of valuable experience which is, in fact a gem to treasure. But you must also be careful in safeguarding yourself against the common diseases like hepatitis A and B, diarrhea and frost bites. Ensuring safety against natural health problems, you can really enjoy a volcanic mountain trekking in Indonesia.

Scuba diving is yet another kind of adventure activity in Indonesia. Here, you are transported into an entirely different world where, you witness the ecstasies of the marine life. You can also see some of the most amazing animals of the underwaters like the sharks, blennies, tunas, mantas, frog fishes and many other beautiful creatures.

Boating in Indonesia gives an added color to your trip. You can opt for the tourist packages which are really very exciting. In any case, you would remain spellbound by the
trips that would lead you to exotic locations. The memories would in deed be cherished by you throughout your life.
In jungle trekking also, you can explore some of the beautiful forests of Indonesia

boating

trekking

surfing

where is INDONESIA?

Indonesia is located at the southeast part of Asia.  It has a hot, humid climate that stays around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It has around 13,000 islands along the equator between Asia and Australia. The larger islands have central mountains and fertile plains and lowlands. The climate is tropical, and October to April is the rainy season. It's a diverse nation with a lot of resources.

the coordinate is 6°10.5′S 106°49.7′E

in indonesia there are 5 largest island. they are :



java

sumatra

sulawesi

borneo

 but the most famous island is bali. everyone knows bali better than indonesia itself.

the 'neighbours' are malaysia, singapore, brunei, papua nuginea, and timor leste.

those are the closest neighbour. but not all of them has a good relationship with indonesia

Hey People

Umm so, my teacher ask me to make this blog thingy for my score. So yeah im going to post anything about Indonesia. Your comments really mean so much to me. And you know, follow me!