Explore Indonesia
Indonesia is a beautiful country with diverse cultures and many natural wonders. It has ancient temples, beautiful beaches, hundreds of volcanoes, endangered wildlife and abundant natural resources. Indonesia has more than 240 million people with big hearts and bright smiles. It’s the fourth-largest country in the world.
Indonesia includes some of the largest and most exotic islands in the world, including Bali, Borneo, Java, Komodo, New Guinea, Sulawesi and Sumatra. Indonesia has more than 17,500 islands in all. The nation shares two of its largest islands with neighboring countries. The Indonesian state of Papua, formerly known as Irian Jaya, occupies the western half of New Guinea—the world’s second largest island.
Indonesia includes part of the island of Borneo, which is the third-largest island in the world. Indonesia shares the island with the countries of Brunei and Malaysia. Indonesia’s share of Borneo is called Kalimantan.
Indonesia includes all of Sumatra, Sulawesi and Java, which are among the largest islands in the world. Java is the most populous of the Indonesian islands. More than 60 percent of all Indonesians live on Java, which makes it the most populated island in the world. Java is home to the capital city of Jakarta, where about 25 million people live.
The beauty of Indonesia is found in the eyes and smiles of its people. Taking time to learn some simple Indonesian words and phrases will help you unveil more of these wonderful treasures.
Indonesia has a fascinating history, which includes some of the earliest human civilizations. The archeological discovery of Java Man was unearthed on this island in the 19th Century. Java Man is the name given to fossils discovered in 1891 at Trinil on the banks of the Bengawan Solo River in East Java, one of the first known specimens of Homo erectus. Its discoverer, Eugène Dubois, gave it the scientific name Pithecanthropus erectus, a name derived from Greek and Latin roots meaning upright ape-man. For more than a century, these were the earliest known human fossils, which unleashed speculation that this region of the world could have spawned human civilization.
Archaeologists made another significant discovery in Indonesia in 2003, when the remains of hobbit-sized humans were found on the remote island of Flores. This human relative, dubbed Flores Man, dates back about 18,000 years, which makes it a more modern skeleton than Java Man or Solo Man. It’s called hobbit because the stature of the newly discovered species is about three feet tall. These people walked upright and had a brain about the size of a chimpanzee.
Indonesia also will play an influential role in the future of human civilization, due to its enormous population and valuable resources. With more than 230 million people, Indonesia is already the fourth most-populous country in the world, behind China, India, and the United States.
Indonesia is home to the world’s second-largest rainforest and hosts many endangered species, including the Sumatran tiger, Javan rhinoceros, orangutan, Komodo dragon, and many others.
The Indonesian archipelago stretches more than 3,200 miles across the Equator. Its islands form a massive dotted line that helps separate the Indian Ocean from the Pacific Ocean. Although the country does not have an official religion, Islam is the dominant religion and Indonesia is the largest Islamic country in the world. It has a diverse religious history, including animism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. It also has a varied religious climate today that includes virtually every faith in the world.
Most Indonesians are happy, friendly, and curious. Most are willing, if not eager, to speak to you as you cross paths. The locals typically will ask where you are from and where you are going. When you have the opportunity, try to converse with them. It can be educational, informative, and rewarding. Most Indonesians know at least a few English words and are eager to learn more. Many Indonesians are very articulate in English, especially those involved in tourism, retail, and international business.
The Language and Travel Guide to Indonesia by Gary R. Chandler has valuable information about Indonesia. Learn what to say, where to go and what to do to get the most from your trip. Just a few simple words go a very long way in Indonesia, but pronunciation is the key. All profits from these books benefit wildlife conservation causes in Indonesia.
These books will help you get the most from your trip. They will help you find the right Indonesian words when you need them most.
Taking time to study the Language and Travel Guide to Indonesia will pay dividends. Study the chapter on Essential Phrases until you are comfortable with many basic Indonesian words and phrases. The ability to manage a basic vocabulary will help you get the most out of your time in Indonesia. This book will help you handle almost any situation. When you find yourself at a loss for the right Indonesian words, body language, hand gestures, writing and drawings can be helpful. In many situations, you can find someone nearby who can interpret. You also can hand the other person this book and they can look up the English word to communicate with you. You will find the experience rewarding.
Thousands Of Islands. Hundreds Of Cultures. One Book.
