my-indonesia's blog

The Wallace Line, named after 19th century naturalist, Alfred Russell Wallace, marks a point of transition between the flora and fauna of Western and Eastern Indonesia and acts as the Western boundary of West Nusa Tenggara, which includes the islands of Lombok and Sumbawa. 

Lombok is noticeably different than its close neighbour, Bali. The northern part of the island is mountainous and lush with tall trees and shrubs. The south, on the other hand is arid and covered by savannas. Large Asian mammals are absent and replaced instead by marsupials, lizards, cockatoos and parrots. The difference becomes more pronounced as one moves further east, where dry seasons are more prolonged and corn and sago are the staple food, instead of rice.

The enchanting land of Sunda stretches from the Sunda Strait in the West to the borders of Central Java in the east. The region is primarily mountainous, with rich green valleys hugging lofty volcanic peaks, many of which surround the capital of the province, Bandung. 

The history of West Java is a story of trade, spices, and the rise and fall of powerful kingdoms. In the late 1500’s the region was ruled from mighty Cirebon, which still survives as a sultanate today, although a shadow of its former glory. Banten, once a powerful maritime capital rivaling the vast Javanese Mataram empire, is today a fishing village with an illustrious past. West Java was one of the first contact points in Indonesia for Indian traders and their cultural influences, and it was here that the Dutch and British first set foot in the archipelago.

Lying in the shadow of the aptly named “Fire Mountain” (2914 meter-high active volcano, Mt. Merapi) is the seat of the once 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. The Kraton is still the hub of Yogyakarta’s traditional life and despite the advances of the 20th century, it still radiates the spirit of refinement which has been the hallmark of its art and people for centures.

Jakarta has been called a study in contrasts: traditional and modern; rich and poor; spiritual and wordly stand side by side in this bustling metropolis. Among the 12 million people who call Jakarta home, one finds representatives of the many diverse ethnic and cultural groups which shape Indonesia, a reminder of the nation’s motto: ’‘Unity and Diversity’. 

You may have to search high and low in this multi-cultural collage to find one of the proud ethnic Jakartans, called ‘Orang Betawi’. Their language, Betawi Malay, spoken by older people born and bred in Jakarta, and modern Jakarta Malay, a slang form spoken by the younger generation and migrants.

Indonesia General Information Part 3: The Performing Arts, Theatre and Dance, Javanese Classical Court Dances, Javanese Ballet, Wayang Wong, Ketoprak, Music, Gamelan, Bali, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Taman Mini, Ancol Art Market

 (You miss the Part 2. Just click here!)

The Performing Arts

From graceful court and temple dances to charming folk dances and boisterous play, the performing arts of Indonesia offer an astounding range of types and styles for the visitor to study or enjoy, reflecting, as they do, the soul and traditions of the various ethnic groups who support them.

Music, dance and drama are very often interwined, such as the ludruk transvestite theatre of East Java and the lenong folk theatre of Jakarta, both known also for their slapstick humour and early Shakespearean simplicity on their stage settings. 

Indonesia General Information Part 2:  Art and Culture, Flora and Fauna, Cuisine, Monuments, Livelihood, Economy, Mining, Social Welfare....

(You miss the Part 1, just click here!)

Art and Culture

Indonesia is rich in art and culture which are intertwined with religion and age-old traditions from the time of early migrants with Western throughts brought by Portuguese traders and Dutch colonists.

The basic principles which guide life include the concepts of mutual assistance or “gotong royong” and consultations or “musyawarah” to arrive at a consensus or “mufakat” . Derived from rural life, this system is still very much in use in community life throughout the country.

Indonesia General Information Part 1: The Indonesia, History, The Capital, Climate, Religion, Language and Dialects

Indonesia is the largest archipelago and the fourth most populous country in the world. The name Indonesia is composed of two Greek words: “Indos” which means Indian and “nesos” meaning islands.

Consisting of five main islands and 30 smaller archipelagos, it has a total of 17,508 islands of which about 6,000 are inhabited. It stretches 5,150 km between the Australian and Asian continental mainlands and divides the Pacific and Indian Oceans at the Equator.

Central Kalimantan is the biggest province on the island, covering 153,800 square kilometers, most of which is jungle. The northern area is mountainous and difficult to reach. The central area is dense tropical forest. The southern area is swampy and has many rivers. The climate is hot and humid.

The tree Dayak sub-tribes who inhabit this province are the Ngaju, Ot Danum, and Ma’anyan Ot Siang.

The Nagju are nomadic, adhering to old Kaharingan religion, which is a form of ancestorworship mixed with elements of animism. With approximately 6,000 people, the Ot Danum is the largest among the tree subtribes. The Ot Danum live in longhouses which sometimes have as many as 50 rooms. The women are known for their skill in plaiting rattan, palm leaves, and bamboo. Like other Dayaks, the men are good hunters, using simple tools. The art of Central