The largest island nation is Indonesia on the world map. Brief information about indonesia

Indonesia - one of the largest countries in the world and the largest among the countries of Southeast Asia, lies on both sides of the equator. In terms of area, it is the fourteenth in the world, and in terms of population it is second only to China, India and the United States.

A detailed map of Indonesia shows the validity of its name - "Indian Islands". The territory of the country is made up of more than 17 thousand islands of the Malay Archipelago (formerly the Indian Archipelago), located between the Indochina Peninsula of Eurasia and Australia. Indonesia also includes the western part of the island of New Guinea. It is the world's largest island nation.

Indonesia on the world map: geography, nature and climate

The territory of Indonesia is more than 1.9 million km2. The largest islands - Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan (Borneo) - belong to the Greater Sunda Islands. The rest of the islands mostly belong to the Lesser Sunda Islands, except for New Guinea. The shores are washed by the waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Despite being an island, Indonesia has land borders. As the map of Indonesia in Russian shows, these are the borders with Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor. There are also maritime borders with countries such as India, Australia, Singapore, and the Philippines.

The position of Indonesia on the world map is very convenient, since the sea routes from the Indian to the Pacific Ocean pass through the Straits of Malacca and Sunda, connecting the countries of Asia with China, Japan and the US west coast.

Relief

The islands are mostly mountainous; this is the area of ​​modern mountain building. In the west of New Guinea is the highest point in Indonesia - Mount Punchak Jaya, reaching 4884 m. Only in Kalimantan there are vast flat areas.

The Malay Archipelago is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, there are many active volcanoes (Merapi, Tambora, Semeru, etc.), the most famous of them is Krakatoa. Earthquakes often occur, which are dangerous not only in themselves, but also by the tsunami waves they cause (for example, during the 2004 Sumatran earthquake, when up to 170 thousand people died in Indonesia itself).

Hydrography

The rivers are numerous and full-flowing. The largest of them are Kaluas, Mahakam, Barito (Kalimantan Island). There are many rapids and waterfalls on the rivers. The largest lake - Toba (Sumatra), is the largest volcanic lake in the world.

Flora and fauna

60% of Indonesia's territory is covered with equatorial forests with very rich flora and fauna. In terms of species diversity of flora and fauna, the country is second only to Brazil. Unfortunately, active deforestation poses a danger to wildlife. Endangered are such rare species as the orangutan, the Sumatran tiger, and the Javan rhinoceros.

Climate

The climate is equatorial and subequatorial. In most of the territory, dry and wet seasons are clearly distinguished. There is a lot of precipitation, from 1800-3200 mm on the plains and up to 6100 mm in the mountains. Average temperatures during the year fluctuate around 26°, seasonal fluctuations do not exceed 3°. In mountainous areas with altitudes of more than 1.5 km, there are frosts.

Map of Indonesia with cities. Administrative division of the country

The map of Indonesia with cities in Russian shows the administrative division - the country is divided into 32 provinces and 2 special districts (the capital district of Jakarta and the special district of Yogyakarta). Of the provinces, a special status is defined for Papua, West Papua and Aceh, whose authorities are endowed with additional powers in certain areas of life (cultural, social, etc.).

• capital of indonesia Jakarta city(about 10 million inhabitants). It is located in the northeast of Java, at the mouth of the Chilivung River. This is the largest economic center of the country, the official residence of the President is located here. There are many tourism facilities in the city: museums, the national gallery, the Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature park, the Thousand Islands district, etc.
• Surabaya- the second most populated city (3.5 million people), located in the east of Java, at the confluence of the branch of the Brantas River into the Madura Strait. Large industrial center, international port. Here is the base of the Eastern Fleet of the country and the Naval Academy. The city is known for its football team and fans.
• Denpasar(0.5 million inhabitants) - a city in the southern part of the island of Bali, the center of the province of the same name. Known for its historical monuments. The largest cultural event, the Bali Arts Festival, takes place here every summer. At other times, the city is a solid market with low prices. The name "Benpasar" is translated as "near the market". This city serves as a transit base for tourists arriving in Bali.

The Republic of Indonesia with a total area of ​​1919.5 thousand square kilometers is the largest state in Southeast Asia, as well as the largest island state in the world. The extreme points of the country in the west and east are located at a distance of 5150 km from each other. The country is located on both sides of the equator on the islands of the Sunda or Malay archipelago and consists of 17 thousand islands, the number of which varies slightly in accordance with natural changes in climate and ocean levels. Only 7870 islands have their own names, while the rest are unnamed.

The largest islands of Indonesia are New Guinea, Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi (Celebes) and Java. Also in the country there are a huge number of single rocks and coral islands. Indonesia is located between the Pacific Ocean in the northeast and the Indian Ocean in the west. The country's borders are mostly maritime. The length of the coastline of Indonesia is 54,716 km. On the northwest side, Indonesia is separated from Malaysia and Singapore by the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea, in the northeast from the Philippines by the Sulu Sea, from Palau by the Pacific Ocean, from Australia by the Timor and Arafura Seas. The length of the land border of Indonesia is 2830 km. On the island of Kalimantan, Indonesia borders on Malaysia, located in the north of the island. East of the island of New Guinea belongs to the state of Papua New Guinea, and on the eastern part of the island of Timor is the state of East Timor.

The main territory of Indonesia is flat. But due to their location at the junction of two tectonic zones, most of the large islands have mountain formations with many volcanoes. There are more than 500 of them, 220 of which are active. Geologists call this area the Pacific Belt of Fire. On the largest island of Java, there are 38 volcanoes, the most famous of which are Seven (3776 m), Merapi (2891 m), Kawa Ijen (2386 m), Bromo (2329 m), Papandayan (1800), Anak Krakatau (813 m). On the island of Bali, the volcano Agung (3142 m), Batur (1717 m). The island of Sumatra is famous for the volcano Kerinchi (3800 m). The highest point in the country is Mount Jaya (5040 m) on the island of New Guinea. Thanks to abundant seasonal rainfall, Indonesia has a large number of rivers, many of which serve as sources of electricity. The largest river in Indonesia is located on the island of Kalimantan and is called Kapuas, its length is 1040 km and the basin area is 97 thousand square meters. km.

Indonesia's coastline is quite diverse, from coral reefs to sandy beaches. The outer shores, washed by the Indian Ocean, are high and rocky, while the inner ones are located in lowlands with mangroves and rice fields.

Visa

Citizens of the Russian Federation have the right to obtain a tourist visa upon arrival in Indonesia for a period of 30 days in the presence of a foreign passport. The only condition is that the passport must be valid for at least 6 months. You also need to have return tickets with you or $ 1,000 in cash or on a credit card. A tourist visa will cost Russian tourists $25 and take up an entire page in their passport. The visa fee can also be paid in local currency - Indonesian rupiah. It is also necessary to fill out a migration card, which consists of two parts. The first part is presented when passing through passport control, the second must be kept until the moment of departure from the country. Children under 9 years old who are inscribed in the parents' passport receive a visa free of charge. A tourist visa can be extended for another 30 days. To do this, you need to contact the Indonesian Migration Service and pay another 25 dollars. You must have tickets with you confirming your departure from the country no later than the expiration date of your renewable new visa. It is better to start this procedure 10 days before the expiration of the visa. After 60 days, you must leave the country, otherwise you are subject to fines for each day of delay in the amount of $ 20, with a possible ban on further visits to Indonesia.

customs control

After passing through passport control and obtaining a visa, you need to fill out a customs declaration and go through customs control. When entering Indonesia, it is forbidden to carry drugs, weapons, pornographic publications, televisions and radios, Chinese medicines and Chinese-language publications. You can import 1 liter of spirits, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars into the country duty-free.

When leaving Indonesia, it is forbidden to transport animals listed in the Red Book and handicrafts without a certificate. Import and export of foreign currency is not limited, amounts above $11 are declared.

Current time in Jakarta:
(UTC+7)

Search tours to Indonesia

How to get to Indonesia

Please make sure your passport is valid for half a year before arriving in Indonesia. The most convenient way to get to the country is by plane. A huge number of airlines have flights to Indonesia from almost anywhere in the world. The main and largest airports are the Jakarta Suekarno-Hatta International Airport and the Bali Ngurah Rai Airport, which is located 15 km from Denpasar.

To Jakarta

There are no direct flights from Moscow to the Indonesian capital Jakarta, connecting flights from Russia are offered by the airlines listed below.

• To Bali (Denpasar Airport) Korean Air with a transfer in Seoul (flights are operated from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok and Irkutsk).
• Japan Airlines with a transfer in Tokyo (flights are operated from Moscow).
• Emirates with a transfer in Dubai (flights are operated from Moscow).
• KLM with a transfer in Amsterdam (flights are operated from Moscow and St. Petersburg).
• Cathay Pacific with a transfer in Hong Kong (flights are operated from Moscow).
• Qatar Airways with a transfer in Doha (flights are operated from Moscow).
• Lufthansa with a transfer in Frankfurt (flights are operated from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Kazan and Samara).
• Singapore Airlines with a change in Singapore (flights are operated from Moscow).
• China Airlines with a change in Beijing (flights are operated from Moscow).

• There are direct charter flights in the winter season from major Russian cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok). By KLM with a transfer in Amsterdam (flights are operated from Moscow and St. Petersburg).
• Korean Air with a change in Seoul (flights are operated from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok and Irkutsk).
• Hong Kong Airlines with a transfer in Hong Kong (flights are operated from Moscow).

There are also many domestic low cost airlines such as Air Asia, Lion Air, Garuda, Mandala and others. The airport fee exists only for those departing and varies from 50 to 150 thousand rupees, depending on the city. Indonesia is located in the center of Southeast Asia, which is very convenient for those who want to visit Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand and other nearby countries. The flight to all these countries will take you a maximum of 2.5 hours. Indonesia is also the closest to Australia. When traveling by plane, be prepared for flight delays in Indonesia to be the norm rather than the exception. In such cases, all passengers are given boxes of national food as an apology.

There are three ways to enter the country by land, in these cases you must have a visa in advance.

Regular buses run from Pantianak and Kuching, which are located on the territory of Malaysia on the island of Kalimantan and cross the border in the city of Entikong. The journey will take 10 hours. At the border, you will have to get off the bus to go through customs control.

Crossing the border on the territory of the island of Timor in the city of Motoain. A visa is required when crossing the border from East to West Timor.

On the way to the cities of Jaipur or Sentani from the city of Vanima on the island of Papua New Guinea.

By sea you can get to Indonesia from Singapore, East Timor and Malaysia. You can also travel by sea within the country itself. Many ferries and ships of state-owned companies serve a huge number of passengers every day. Also, moving over short distances, you can hire small motor boats of various quality and prices in the ports, which you negotiate in advance.

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Climate and weather in Indonesia

Cities and regions

Indonesia is made up of 5 major islands.

Kalimantan Island (Borneo)

This is the third largest island in the world with an area of ​​743,330 square kilometers, divided between three countries - Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The majority of the population of Kalimantan professes Christianity. The island is divided into two almost equal parts by the equator line in the city of Pontianak, which is famous for houseboats and water channels. In the western part of Kalimantan, the ancient Dayak tribes live, which have not been touched by civilization. "Headhunters" live according to the laws of the Stone Age, hunting animals with ancient tools and wearing jewelry made from the teeth of slain animals.

In the center of the island is a rehabilitation center for orangutans. Its goal is to conserve and increase the number of endangered monkey species. The mountain rivers of Kalimantan are recognized as the best in Indonesia for rafting. In the Bako National Park, you can see the nosed kahau monkey, which lives exclusively on this island. Males of this breed have a long movable nose. The smallest monkey in the world, the tarsier, also lives in Kalimantan. Its height is only 9-16 cm and weight 80-150 grams. A distinctive feature of these animals is their large round eyes with a diameter of 16 mm. The village of Melak will attract flower lovers with its famous orchid garden. Kinabalu National Park is famous for the world's largest rafflesia flower and a variety of wildlife. The reserve has Mount Kinabalu with a height of 4095 m, which is the fourth highest mountain in Southeast Asia, hot springs, Kipungit and Langanan waterfalls. The Kota Kinabalu Mosque is a prime example of Islamic architecture

Sumatra island

It is the largest island in Indonesia, located in the western part of the country. Its area is 435 thousand square kilometers, it is the sixth largest island in the world. There are about 10 active volcanoes in and around Sumatra, which explains the high seismic activity of the area.

Of the attractions of the island, one can single out Lake Toba in the north of Sumatra, on the site of which the huge volcano Toba exploded 75 thousand years ago, forming a funnel with a diameter of about 100 km. Royal graves and a palace have been preserved on the lake.

Also of interest is the country's largest national reserve, Gunung Leser. It has preserved and maintains the natural flora and fauna of the island. Also in Sumatra there are about 10 national parks of various sizes, where you can plunge into the atmosphere of primevalness. Here you can also see the rarest Rafflesia flower, which reaches one meter in diameter. The city of Medan is home to the Bukit Barisan War Museum and the Mesjid Raya Mosque. The west coast of Sumatra is famous for its waves and is very popular with surfers. Nias Island is interesting for its ancient tradition. The men perform the ritual by jumping over a large stone.

Sulawesi Island (Celebes)

This is an island with an area of ​​174,600 sq. km., It has a very unusual shape, similar to a starfish.

In the southern part of the island, in the lands of Tana Toraja, one can observe an ancient ritual of burial in a sheer cliff above the ocean. For the burial of adults, caves are cut down, children are buried in hollows of trees. The ritual is accompanied by the sacrifice of buffaloes.

North Sulawesi and Bunaken Island are very popular with divers and snorkelers. Huge vertical coral walls extending far into the depths amaze diving enthusiasts. In the capital of the island, the city of Makassar, there is an interesting large fort of Rotterdam and monuments of colonial architecture. Here you can also visit the waterfalls in Tonsea Lama.

Java island

This island with an area of ​​​​132 thousand square kilometers. is the most populous island in the world. There are 120 volcanoes on the island, 30 of which are active. Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is located in the western part of Java. The island produces a popular and expensive type of coffee - luwak.

Sights of the island: the ancient Buddhist temple of Borobudur and Prambanan, the cultural capital of the country Yogyakarta, the volcanoes Bromo and Merapi, the white volcanic lake Kawa Way, the mountainous regions of Bogor and Bandung with natural hot springs and a cool climate, the Ujung Kulong National Reserve with the rare endangered Javanese rhinoceros, Dieng Plateau with volcanic lakes and mountain ranges, Green Canyon with caves and green mountain rivers, colorful and singing caves.

New Guinea Island

The western part of the island belongs to the Indonesian province of Papua, formed relatively recently - in 2003. Until now, the local population is trying to fight for the independence of Papua from Indonesia. This place is the most isolated from the rest of the world, there are practically no roads and air links. In combination with natural mountainous terrain and wetlands, parts of Papua remain isolated from each other. Among the eternal jungle is Jayawijaya, the only mountain in Indonesia whose top is covered with snow.

The Baliem Valley is home to the indigenous Dani tribe. Civilization and external factors did not touch these people, so they retained their ancient traditions and customs. The male part of this nationality wears an interesting traditional outfit - koteka.

Jakarta

It is the political, cultural and economic capital of Indonesia. Among the sights you can highlight the Old Town. In this area is the old port of Sunda Kelapa, known since the 12th century. Moored in a row, brightly colored sailing ships give a special charm. There are three museums near the port: the Jakarta Museum of History, the Falakhillah Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics.

Yogyakarta

If Jakarta is considered the financial and industrial center of Indonesia, then Yogyakarta takes the place of the soul of the country. This city is located in the center of Java island. It mixed the old traditions of Javanese life with the latest technology. The city is still ruled by the Sultan, whose palace is located in the center of Yogyakarta. But, despite this, on its streets you can find a huge number of Internet cafes, bars and restaurants. The city has become a haven for many talented artists of the country, and thanks to this, exhibitions of painting, cinematography, photography and other arts are organized in exhibition halls, in parks and on the streets of the city.

Bali island

Where to go in Indonesia

Attractions

Museums and galleries

Entertainment

Parks and recreation areas

Transport

Private guides in Indonesia

Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with Indonesia in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.

Movement around the country

bus + ferry

The main public transport are buses that connect all corners of this vast country. Given that Indonesia is an island nation, ferry crossings are included in the bus travel. The cost depends on the region and road conditions. The cheapest are daytime buses that transport chickens, pigs and cattle in addition to people. Be prepared for the fact that in such budget options, passengers smoke right on the bus. Security in this type of transport leaves much to be desired, so the likelihood of being robbed is very high. Under the next category in terms of cost, eight-hour buses are suitable, which cost from 50 to 100 thousand rupees. The most expensive are night buses that travel long distances and cost from 150 to 200 rupees. Sometimes they are equipped with air conditioning and TVs. Also quite popular are mini-buses or fixed-route taxis, which are called ancots. They travel short distances and are very cheap. In Yogyakarta, cycle rickshaws and horse-drawn carts are still preserved, which, for a bargain price, will take you for a short ride with the breeze. For a more comfortable journey, you can use a taxi. In large cities, the choice of companies is huge, from budget to prestigious. Every taxi has a taximeter, which must be turned on when transporting passengers. Thus, fraud and overpayment can be avoided. When traveling by taxi, it is better to have banknotes of various denominations with you, as drivers often do not return the change, referring to the fact that they simply do not have it.

A train

You can also travel by train in Indonesia. The main populous cities on the islands of Java and Sumatra are connected by rail lines. In first and business class carriages there is air conditioning, meals and soft seats like in airplanes. Coupes and berths are not provided on Indonesian trains. Third-class carriages have wooden seats, no air conditioning, and in most cases the windows are open. Passengers often smoke right in the car.

Automobile

Car rent. The cost of renting a car varies from 300 to 500 thousand rupees per day, depending on its condition and brand. You must have an international or local Indonesian driver's license with you. Before you sign a rental agreement, carefully read all the terms and conditions and inspect the car for any visible damage. Renting a motorbike will cost from 50 to 200 thousand rupees per day. It is advisable to have a motorbike driving license with you.

Communication

Language

In terms of the number of languages, Indonesia ranks second in the world. More than 700 languages ​​and dialects are spoken here, which belong to the Malayo-Polynesian language family. Sometimes different tribes can hardly understand each other. The main national language is Bahasa Indonesia, which does not differ much from the Malay language. It is spoken by the majority of the population of the country. Bahasa Indonesia is one of the world's simplest languages, with no tenses, genders, plurals, cases or declensions. The language is very easy to pronounce. Indonesians really appreciate it when tourists speak to them in their native language, hearing a few phrases in Bahasi, they will assure you that you are an expert in linguistics. In addition, knowledge of the Indonesian language helps a lot to bargain, sellers treat you more respectfully. Indonesians use Latin letters to write and pronounce words, and as a rule, what is said is exactly the same as what is written. In tourist areas, English is widely spoken and Bahasa is rarely used. If you want to thank someone while in Bali, say suksime, in other islands it will sound like trimakashi.

culture

Population

One of the main features that usually surprises all tourists is the questions that any unfamiliar passer-by on the street can ask you: “Where are you from, where are you going, are you traveling alone, are you married (married) and for how long , do you have children?”, which is usually alarming. But this is just a harmless display of politeness and interest. If you want to continue the conversation and show reciprocal interest, you can also ask the interlocutor similar questions.

As you travel around the country, you will find that the local people are very fond of taking pictures and posing. But still, before you take a picture, ask permission. Do not take pictures of people in the mosque during prayer.

Indonesians are very smiling people. There is an opinion that for every emotion they have their own smile. This helps them to cope with controversial situations and solve them not by force, but by compromise. Their state of aggression and anger is considered a weak trait of character. Also, one should not point the finger at people and show loving feelings between a man and a woman in society. Do not touch anyone's head, especially a child's head, with the left hand, because the head is considered holy in Indonesia, and the left hand is dirty because it is intended for washing. Visiting most temples involves putting on a cape called a suron over the clothes. At the entrance to many temples, you can rent one for a nominal fee.

Religion

The Indonesian constitution states that every person has the right to choose their own religion. In practice, six religious directions prevail in this country - Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism. The dominant religion is Islam, whose adherents make up 86% of the population.

Islam was brought to Indonesia by Muslim traders in the 7th century. Officially, in the 13th century, the rulers of the northern regions of the island of Sumatra adopted Islam as the main religion, which in the next 200 years spread to most of the rest of the islands of Indonesia. Today, Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world.

Christianity is 9%. In the 16th century A.D. e. The Portuguese instilled Catholicism in eastern Indonesia, mainly on the island of Timor, Flores and the Maluku Islands. Not without the Dutch, who in turn brought Protestantism to the country.

Hinduism and Buddhism originated in the country in the 5th century and prevailed in Indonesia until the 15th century. They were then driven out by hostile Muslim attacks from the island of Sumatra. Nowadays, the main share of believers (5%) lives on the island of Bali. On the island of Java, only a few references to these religions remain in the form of the temples of Borobudur and Prambanan.

Kitchen

Indonesian cuisine is quite diverse. The main reasons for this are the variety of regions and variety of products. Of course, the Chinese, Portuguese and Dutch, who have been in this country for a long time, had a huge impact on the formation of the national cuisine of Indonesia.

The daily diet of Indonesians is quite simple, only on holidays you can see a wide variety of dishes. Most housewives cook clean rice in the morning, prepare 2-3 sauces for it and always traditional sambal (spicy chili sauce). Sauces are on the table throughout the day.

Rice is the main ingredient in most meals, usually because it is cheap and widely available. It is mostly cooked fresh and white as a side dish. Also, Indonesians are very fond of rice-based chips, pastries and noodles.

As spices, the local population uses coriander, chili, lemongrass, coconut, soy and ginger sauces, cumin, nutmeg, cloves, palm sugar, but sambal is still the key seasoning.

Much attention is paid to seafood. Throughout the country you will find a huge selection of lobsters, crabs, oysters, shrimp and fish. Many restaurants offer a variety of fresh seafood dishes, one of the popular dishes is shark fin soup and fish baked in a banana leaf.

The most famous national dish is sate (small skewers of chicken, beef, rabbit and other meats). The male part of the Indonesian population believes that sate from the testicles of a bull gives male power. Also only in Indonesia you can try nasi goreng (fried rice), gado-gado (vegetable salad with peanut sauce), mi goreng (fried noodles).

In addition, there are a huge number of small snacks that are prepared from peanuts, coconut, bananas, sweet potatoes. And, as a rule, they are sold by street vendors, who in the local language are called kaki lima, which means "five legs". This spectacle is a cart on two wheels, which the seller carries in front of him. This type of food on the streets is quite common and inexpensive. Indonesia is rich in a variety of tropical fruits, mostly unfamiliar to Europeans. It affects many varieties of bananas - from very small to huge, which are used mainly for frying. Indonesians have a big sweet tooth, so in addition to all kinds of desserts and sweets, you will get acquainted with dishes that, according to a foreigner, are too cloying.

There are very unexpected and even shocking dishes. So, in the northern part of the island of Sulawesi and in Sumatra in the Batak region, dogs are eaten. One of the favorite delicacies of the Indonesians is the durian fruit, the skin of which resembles an instrument of torture. Love for this fruit can only arise over time, because at the first try, its smell and taste can cause disgust. The Siobak dish is eaten exclusively in Bali and the main ingredients for it are pork head, stomach, tongue and skin cooked in seasonings. Avocado juice, whipped with ice with the addition of condensed milk or chocolate syrup. Indonesians don't think it's weird, they think of avocados like other sweet fruits. Also in Indonesian stores you can find a fragment of the core of a banana palm trunk.

The drinks

One of the favorite and most common drinks in Indonesia is tea. The most popular is black tea with a lot of sugar. If you do not want sweet, then just ask "Tae smells." Ginger teas are also popular, the main variety of which is bandrek - ginger tea with coconut and pepper.

Indonesia is one of the world's main exporters of coffee, which is grown predominantly in Sulawesi. In many establishments, you can order black coffee with condensed milk - save susu. You can also try luwak coffee, which is made with the eponymous animal. Thanks to his keen sense of smell, he feeds exclusively on the best coffee beans. But his stomach is not able to digest the grain, which comes out naturally unharmed. Luwak coffee is highly valued in Indonesia, which is reflected in its price.

Indonesian cold fruit soft drinks are not only refreshing, but also very nutritious, due to the addition of syrups, fruits and jams. Many establishments offer a huge selection of juices with ice, but before you buy, be sure that the ice is made from drinking purified water. The juice of a young coconut, which has healing and cleansing properties, is very useful and tasty. An interesting fact is known that during the war against Holland, due to the lack of medicines, instead of saline in droppers, the Indonesians used the milk of young coconuts.

Alcoholic drinks

Despite the fact that Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, there are several hard liquors. The main ones are tuak (palm wine), arak (rice wine) and Balinese Brem (rice wine).

As for low-alcohol drinks, there are about three types of beer in the country, the most popular of which is Bintang, which means star. You will hardly find imported spirits in small towns, and in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, you can only buy them in duty-free shops with a diplomatic ID. There are no problems with their choice in bars and restaurants.

Purchases

In pursuit of souvenirs in the capital of Indonesia (Jakarta), take a look at Surabaya Street. This is an example of the last traditional market in the center of Jakarta. Here, in small open-air shops, you can find anything: goods from Indonesian textiles and batik, ancient coins from around the world, Javanese statues and masks, porcelain and clay products, all kinds of wood carvings. Prices in these shops are not fixed, so feel free to bargain.

On the main street of Yogyakarta, whose name is Malioboro, there are many shops and shops selling a huge number of Javanese masks, handicrafts made of stone, silver, clay and wood. Here you will find all kinds of clothes made of batik, the national fabric. The location of the city is the most convenient for visiting the greatest temples of Borobudur and Parambanan.

Currency

The national currency of the country is the Indonesian rupiah. In circulation there are paper banknotes worth 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 and coins with a face value of 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, 500 and 1000 rupees. Beginning in 1993, Indonesian banks began issuing 50,000 and 100,000 polymer banknotes. It was believed that polymer banknotes would be stronger than paper ones and much less prone to counterfeiting. However, in 2004, banks returned to issuing regular paper notes, as electronic calculators were having problems counting polymer money.

The exchange rate of the rupee against the dollar is constantly changing, at the end of October 2010 it was 8900 rupees per 1 US dollar. Indonesia has a very high inflation rate, so don't be surprised if you find big differences in the exchange rate in different places. In large cities, hotels, shops and restaurants accept plastic cards for payment. In the tourist places of Bali, you can pay with dollars. But when visiting places that are not popular with tourists, it is simply necessary to have a sufficient amount of rupees with you. Interestingly, some tribes in Indonesia still use barter. Indonesians are often careless with their banknotes, for example, in banks they are simply pierced with a stapler.

You can exchange foreign currency for local at the airport, at banks, at hotels, at specialized exchange offices. The most favorable exchange rate is of course in banks. Be careful when exchanging money in street exchangers, tourists are often deceived in them.

Prices

As for prices, they vary greatly depending on the place where you rest. But in general, Indonesia is considered an inexpensive resort country. As a rule, the main expenses are for accommodation and special entertainment, such as excursions, diving, learning to surf and more. As for food, you can spend as little as three dollars at a time if you wish, at local street food outlets called warungs. In a simple restaurant, it will cost about 10 dollars. The bottom line is that the more you stick to the lifestyle and diet of a local person, the less you spend. If you are staying in a simple hotel or guesthouse, then your budget may be around $20. If you prefer to live in an air-conditioned room with a hot shower, then get ready to spend about $50 a day. Luxurious five-star hotels cost from $100 per night.

Connection

There are no problems with telephone communication in Indonesia, both international and domestic. Many hotels allow international calls from their phones in the rooms. Also, an international call can be made in special call centers. During the conversation, you can see the amount of payment on the phone display, which then will need to be paid at the cashier. The most profitable call center is Vartel Telecom, the cheapest calls can be made on Sundays and on weekdays after 2300. An internal call can be made from pay phones by paying for the call with a card. Payment for such calls is made taking into account the time of the conversation. To call from Russia to Indonesia, dial 8-10-62-city code-subscriber number. Codes of some cities: Jakarta - 6221, Bali (Denpasar) - 361, Yogyakarta - 274, Lombok - 370.

Useful Phones

Cellular communication in Indonesia is at a fairly good level and is constantly developing. International roaming is available in almost any part of the country, but it will be more profitable to use a local SIM card. All incoming calls with a local SIM card will be free for you, no documents are required for the purchase. In tourist areas, SIM cards can cost 10 times more than in places intended for local residents. On average, the normal cost of a SIM card is about 10,000 rupees, often 5,000 of which is already credited to your account. Balance cards are sold in supermarkets, shops and cigarette kiosks.

Security

It should be noted that Indonesia is considered a fairly safe country, but some precautions should not be forgotten. The possession and use of drugs throughout Indonesia is punishable by death, for tourists the measure has been relaxed to 20 years in prison. Indonesia is one of the leading producers of ecstasy in the world, both for export and for domestic distribution. In this regard, law enforcement agencies very often arrange raids in nightclubs and parties in Jakarta and Bali, followed by coercion to give urine tests to persons who were found to have narcotic psychotropic substances. Also, hotel owners are required to report to the authorities about the presence and use of drugs by their guests. The 20-year prison sentence applies to anyone found in possession of drugs, whether they found you in possession of a bag of 10 kilos of heroin or one tablet of ecstasy.

Also, be prepared to violate your personal space. Most often this happens in places not often visited by tourists. A large crowd of observers can gather around you, even when you are lying and relaxing on the beach. Do not be alarmed, this is just a manifestation of harmless curiosity. It is also worth saying that the Indonesians are an unusual people, often using physical contact when communicating. They may hold your hand during a conversation, which is considered a sign of great respect. Do not be offended if they shamelessly lean on you in a minibus or bus - that's how it is with them.

As in any poor country, there are people in Indonesia who are trying to cash in on the deception of naive visitors. The largest number of cases of fraud is observed in Bali, where there is a huge influx of tourists. One of the most common methods is cheating when exchanging money in unofficial street exchange offices.

In Indonesia, there are often conflicts between Christians and Muslims, sometimes accompanied by violence and loss of life.

Medicines and vaccinations

Take any medication you may need before you travel. If you take medication regularly, take double the amount in case it is lost or stolen. In Indonesia, you can buy almost any medicine without a prescription, but keep in mind that it will be quite difficult to find medicines that have appeared on the market relatively recently (antidepressants, blood pressure medicines and contraceptives). You should also take an antifungal cream for skin infections, insect repellants, antiseptics (Betadine), aspirin or paracetamol, bandages, plasters, cold and cough tablets.

Don't forget to bring your sunscreen, as the Indonesian sun is merciless on white people's skin. Even in cloudy weather, you can get sunburn, which will negatively affect your future vacation. You should also wear hats to prevent sunstroke and sunglasses, as the eyes of a white person are not adapted to such a bright sun that it can subsequently affect your vision.

Before traveling, it is recommended to be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B, and the world medical community also advises vaccination against yellow fever. Medical facilities in Indonesia are at a good level, but get ready for the fact that in small towns and villages medicine is not developed and local treatment does not meet international standards. Unfortunately, foreign doctors are prohibited from working in Indonesia. Virtually all Indonesian doctors are required to work during the day in government offices. They work part-time in private clinics at night, so it is likely that there will be an insufficiently qualified specialist in a private clinic during the day. In case of serious illnesses, it is advisable to go to neighboring countries (Australia and Singapore).

Most often, tourists get sick with Dengue fever, which is very common in Asia and occurs when bitten by infected mosquitoes. Symptoms are high fever, severe headache, severe joint and muscle pain, indigestion. There is no cure for it, it must be overcome. In the hospital, you can only prescribe vitamins and antipyretics.

Where to stay

You can stay in Indonesia almost everywhere, in every corner of this country there are hotels, guesthouses, villas. Resort areas abound with expensive and prestigious hotels that can satisfy the most demanding visitors. Often, expensive hotels are located in breathtaking places or on the shores of the Indian Ocean. Rooms in such hotels should be booked in advance, as the demand for them is high.

Also in Indonesia there is a large selection of detached villas with a kitchen and a bathroom. Many villas are located on the ocean, which makes staying in them unforgettable. For the most economical travelers, there will also be a large selection of inexpensive hotels and guesthouses, the prices of which may not correspond to the quality in the good sense of the word. So, for example, a good room with a shower on the little-visited coast of the island of Sumatra can be rented for only $ 15 per day. But often cheap hotels are made in the national style - they do not have a shower. Instead, you will find kamar mandi, which means a bathing room. It is a room with a small square bath, into which water flows from a tap. Locals scoop this water with a ladle and take a shower in this way. Also, in budget options, the air conditioner can be replaced by a fan. The cleanliness of some cheap hotels leaves much to be desired, but there are always exceptions to the rule. Traveling to little-visited places, you can find quite decent hotels at an incredibly low price.

- a state in Southeast Asia, on the islands of the Malay Archipelago and the western part of the island of New Guinea.

Official name of Indonesia:
Republic of Indonesia.

Territory of Indonesia:
The area of ​​the state of the Republic of Indonesia is 1919440 km².

Indonesian population:
The population of Indonesia is more than 241 million inhabitants (241973879 people).

Ethnic groups of Indonesia:
The ethnic composition of the population of Indonesia is Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, Badui, Tenggers, Indonesian Malays, Balinese, Minangkabau, Ache, Banjars, Dayaks, Makassars, Boogies, Minahasans, Galelas and others.

Average life expectancy in Indonesia:
The average life expectancy in Indonesia is - 68.94 years (see Ranking of countries in the world by average life expectancy).

Capital of Indonesia:
Jakarta.

Major cities in Indonesia:
Jakarta - 8410 thousand inhabitants, Bandang - 2900 thousand, Surabaya - 2700 thousand, Medan - 2050 thousand, Polenbang - 1500 thousand, Tanjungkarang - 1400 thousand, Ujungpandang - 1170 thousand, Semarang - 1135 thousand.

State language of Indonesia:
Indonesian. Indonesian belongs to the Indonesian branch of the Austronesian family of languages. Developed from the Malay language. Writing based on the Latin alphabet.

Religion in Indonesia:
The majority of believers in Indonesia are Muslims (about 90%).

Geographic location of Indonesia:
The Republic of Indonesia is a state in Southeast Asia, on the islands of the Malay Archipelago and the western part of about. New Guinea (Irian Jaya). It borders Malaysia to the north and Papua New Guinea to the east. Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago. It includes more than 13676 islands: 5 main and 30 small archipelagos. The largest islands are New Guinea, Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi (Celebes) and Java. The rest of the islands are much smaller. Indonesia stretches for 5120 km between the Asian mainland and Australia. The equator separates the Pacific and Indian Oceans here.

Indonesian rivers:
Features of the climate and relief of Indonesia favor the formation of a dense river network. Due to the abundance of precipitation, the rivers of Indonesia are full-flowing almost all year round and play an important role in the country's irrigation system. In mountainous regions, rivers represent a potential source of electricity. However, floods are not uncommon in the region, and rivers carry a significant amount of silty material that makes navigation difficult and is deposited in the coastal zone.

The largest rivers of Indonesia on the island of Kalimantan are the Kapuas River, or Kapuas Besar (1040 km, basin area - 97 thousand km²) in West Kalimantan, Mahakam (715 km) in East Kalimantan, Martapura and Barito (650 km) in South Kalimantan. Most of the rivers originate in the central mountain range; on the plains, closer to the coast, they flow through vast swamps; channels change frequently. Along many rivers, which also serve as transport arteries, settlements are formed.

The largest rivers in Sumatra originate on the slopes of the Bukit Barisan ridge and flow into the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea.
Among them are Hari (Jambi) (800 km), Musi (553 km), Kampar (285 km), Rokan (265 km) and Siak (260 km). To the east, along the coast, stretches the world's largest tropical swamp. Its area is about 155 thousand km². Most of the rivers in Sumatra are navigable. In the southeast, upstream, there are river ports - Jambi on the Hari River and Palembang on the Musi River.

In the Indonesian part of the island of New Guinea, there are more than 30 large rivers flowing from the Maoke Mountains north into the Pacific Ocean, like the Mamberamo River (over 500 km), or south, into the Arafura Sea. The rivers are navigable in the lower reaches. One of the most significant is the Digul River (400 km), which originates in the Jayavijaya mountains and flows into the Arafura Sea. The rivers of Sulawesi are short and turbulent. The main rivers of Java - Tarum and Manuk, originating near the southern coast in West Java, Serang in Central Java, Solo and Brantas in East Java - flow into the Java Sea. The coastal zones in the north are swampy.

Administrative-territorial division of Indonesia:
Indonesia is located on many islands scattered over many thousands of kilometers. The country is divided into 33 provinces (including two metropolitan areas), which are classified into six administrative regions. Indonesia's provinces are governed by a governor who, since 2005, is directly elected by the people. Two metropolises - Jakarta and Yogyakarta - have a special status, which is also equated to a province.

State structure of Indonesia:
Indonesia's highest legislative body is the People's Consultative Congress (meets once every five years). Current legislative issues are dealt with by the parliament - the Council of People's Representatives (550 seats). The deputies of the People's Consultative Congress are all deputies of the Council of People's Representatives, as well as another 195 deputies elected by indirect voting. The deputies of the Council of People's Representatives are elected for 5 years on a proportional-list system in multi-member constituencies. The head of state and government is the president.

Indonesia is a country of contrasts, here modern buildings made of glass and concrete border on equatorial forests and villages of primitive tribes. Near the Catholic churches are Hindu temples. It is located on both sides of the equator and is the largest island state, for which it received the title of the country of a thousand islands. In fact, there are over 13,700 large and miniature pieces of sushi. Local guides proudly say that the island of Bali has long been the exclusive haven of the gods, and only recently they deigned to allow people to their lands.

Rest here, although it is quite an expensive pleasure, really resembles an excursion to paradise. Even sophisticated tourists will not be left indifferent by virgin nature with outlandish representatives of flora and fauna in combination with original culture and beliefs. In Indonesia, a comfortable beach holiday is combined with the study of spiritual culture and educational excursions.

Geographic characteristics

The area of ​​the Republic of Indonesia is 1,919.44 thousand square meters. km, its capital is located in Jakarta. The state is very densely populated, the number of inhabitants exceeds 228 million people. Therefore, the government is pursuing a strict demographic policy. The closest neighbors are Malaysia, East Timor, Brunei and Papua New Guinea.

The official language is Indonesian (Bahasa). More than 700 different dialects can be heard in different parts of the state. Islam is predominant in religion, which should be taken into account when choosing a wardrobe and demeanor. Christians, Buddhists and Hindus are also present.

Indonesia has a picturesque landscape. Volcanoes are located on large islands, often rocks or more gentle slopes rise directly from the water abyss. The foothills of the mountains are in the lowlands and are often flooded during high tide. The largest and most famous islands are Java, Bali, Sumatra, Borneo, Celebes, Timor, Seram, Buru.

Mountains and volcanoes

One gets the impression that the islands consist entirely of mountains and plateaus. The average height of the massifs is about 3 km. The highest point is Jaya (5,029 km). The territory of the state is located at the junction of tectonic plates, therefore it is often subject to seismic activity. It has more than 400 volcanoes, of which more than a hundred periodically erupt.

Tambora Volcano (Sumbawa Island) is famous for its strongest eruptions. No less famous are Krakatau, Gamkunoro, Kerinchi. The most "fire-breathing" is recognized Fr. Java, on which there are as many as 38 volcanoes. The volcanoes of Indonesia are infamous for tens of thousands of lost lives and many destroyed villages. Ash emissions have repeatedly led to climate change and significant cooling. But these same volcanoes give rise to new islands, so in 1929 about. Anak Krakatoa.

Major rivers and lakes

Due to the island structure, the rivers of Indonesia do not differ in length. These mountain streams start high among the hills and rapidly descend to the shores of the islands. The longest channels are:

• Kapuas (West Kalimantan) - 1040 km;
• Barito (South Kalimantan) - 880 km;
• Mahakam (East Kalimantan) - 715 km.

Numerous streams and channels gather in a dense network and abundantly feed the humid equatorial forests. Many large rivers serve as transport routes, on the banks of which large cities are formed.

Rich in land and lakes. Most of them arose as a result of earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. Freshwater reservoirs abound with fish and other inhabitants. The largest lake is located on about. Sumatra, its area with a small island inside is 1.145 square meters. km.

Climatic features

Almost all of Indonesia is in an equatorial climate. The only exception is the Lesser Sunda Islands, located in the subequatorial zone. The temperature here is stable at +27…+28°C. On hills from 1.5 km frosts periodically occur. Forests and plains are characterized by high humidity, up to 80%.

The area is subject to monsoons, which bring heavy rainfall. Although some months are rainier than others, there is no long period of drought. The average annual precipitation in different parts of the country ranges from 3 to 6 thousand mm.

National currency

The official currency is the Indonesian rupiah, the approximate exchange rate to the dollar is 1:13,000. You can exchange money at the airport or small exchange offices in the city center and tourist areas. The rate in them is not very profitable, so it is better to use the services of large banks, where they accept US dollars or euros. On the route of tourists in shops and even small shops, you can pay with a credit card or traveller's checks. In remote settlements, you will have to pay in rupees.

You should take care of cash in advance, since the working hours of banks are not convenient for everyone:

• Monday-Thursday - from 8:00 to 15:00;
• Friday - from 8:00 to 11:30;
• Saturday and Sunday are days off.

Historical facts

The ancient culture of Indonesia begins around the 3rd millennium BC. It is assumed that the first settlers were immigrants from China. By the I-II centuries. AD the first Indian merchants appeared here. With them, Buddhist and Hindu preachers went to the ancient tribes to spread their beliefs. A younger Islam penetrated the islands only in the XII-XIII centuries, but already after 2 centuries this religion took a dominant place.

From the beginning of the XVI century. European travelers begin to arrive in Indonesia. Initially, they were engaged in trade, but gradually an aggressive company unfolded in relation to the country. As a result, Indonesia became a Dutch colony in 1781. In this status, it was until the end of World War II, when the independence of the Republic of Indonesia was declared, in which a military dictatorship ruled. Unfortunately, all Indonesian rulers cared little about the well-being of the republic, so by the end of the 20th century. She found herself in a deep economic crisis. Not all citizens have coped with its consequences so far.

The economy is now much more stable than a few decades ago. Inflation and unemployment are practically reduced to zero. However, overpopulation remains a big problem, as well as Islamic extremism.

Multifaceted culture

The culture of Indonesia is very diverse, because its formation was influenced by neighboring states and former colonists. Local tribes, along with their own beliefs, adopted the customs of the Indian and Chinese peoples, as well as Islamic customs. The most striking examples are the majestic Buddhist and Hindu temples where the locals worship deities.

Here the Arabic language and traditions are closely intertwined with European customs. The mass of adverbs and local dialects created a serious problem in mutual understanding, so it was decided to choose one of the languages ​​as the main one. On the basis of Riau Malay (Malay dialect), with the addition of vocabulary from Javanese and Dutch, the modern Indonesian language arose.

How to get there?

In Denpasar on about. Bali has an international airport. Most often, they get here by regular flights. Charters run only during the high season. Aeroflot offers direct flights from Moscow. There are also offers from other companies:

• Singapore Airlines (Moscow-Singapore-Denpasar);
• Turkish Airlines with transfers in Istanbul and Singapore;
• Qatar Airways with a transfer in Doha;
• HongKongAirlines - a flight with a connection in Hong Kong.

Visa application

Russian citizens can visit Indonesia only after obtaining a visa. You can issue it in advance in Moscow (50 USD) or upon arrival in Denpasar (25 USD). To obtain a visa, you must provide the following documents:

• international passport with an expiration date of at least 6 months after the end of the trip;
• 2 color photographs 3x4 cm;
• a questionnaire indicating the full name, place of work, address and contact details;
• hotel reservation for the entire period of the trip;
• air ticket booking.

For children, you must provide:

• birth certificate;
• 2 photographs 3x4 cm;
• questionnaire indicating the educational or educational institution.

If you are planning to visit Fr. Bintan, you should additionally obtain a Singapore visa.

Current time in Indonesia, Bali:

Indonesia, the largest state in Southeast Asia and the largest island state in the world. Its entire territory is spread over thousands of islands.

The nature of Indonesia is rich and varied. Tropical rainforests, amazing flora and fauna, majestic volcanoes and blue lagoons, long beaches and tropical gardens.

Traveling through Indonesia gives you the opportunity to see several historical eras. Some of the islands of Indonesia are inhabited by tribes that have not been known to scientists so far. With all this, Jakarta - the capital of Indonesia - is a modern city.

This country will not leave you indifferent. Indonesia surprises with its national color: an endless number of flowers, warm smells of oriental spices, folk rituals and rituals - all of this is woven into an amazing atmosphere on its islands.

Indonesia has one of the best beaches on earth, and hotels meet both world quality standards and simple consumer requirements for quality service. You can also stay in a cozy cottage.

State structure

Indonesia is a unitary republic consisting of 27 provinces. The state philosophy of Indonesia - Panchashila - consists of five basic principles: faith in the one God, in the unity of Indonesia, in humanity, democracy and social justice. The coat of arms of the country is Garuda Panchashila, a mythical bird carrying the symbols of the state ideology, Panchashila, and the motto of Indonesia: "Unity in Diversity."

The capital of Indonesia - Jakarta is a modern metropolis with an active political and economic life.

Population

Indonesia is not just a country, but a whole world, similar and different at the same time. More than 190 million people, representing more than 300 ethnic groups, live on its territory.

The inhabitants of the islands are very friendly and treat tourists well.

Language

The population of the country speaks 500 languages ​​and dialects. However, there is one national language, Indonesian, which is understood throughout the country, from North Sumatra to Irian Jaya. Most Indonesians come from the Malay peoples with the addition of Melanesians and the Negroid race. Traveling in Indonesia, you can feel like you are in several historical eras at once. Prehistoric rites and rituals have been preserved here, on some islands there are tribes whose languages ​​have not yet been studied by scientists.

Religion

Indonesia is called the maritime crossroads of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. Almost 90% of the population are Muslims. The remaining 10% is distributed between Christians and Buddhists. Although Islam is the most widely practiced religion, Islam has not become the state religion in Indonesia. The Pancasila National Philosophy presupposes a single God and guarantees freedom to practice any religion.

Geographical position

The Republic of Indonesia is located on the largest archipelago in the world and consists of 17508 islands, more than 5120 kilometers on both sides of the equator. Indonesia's land borders separate it from Malaysia and Papua New Guinea, but the country's borders are mostly maritime. Water separates Indonesia from Singapore and Malaysia to the northwest. From the Philippines in the north and from Australia in the southeast.

Climate

The climate in Indonesia is equatorial (the equator crosses the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi and the Moluccas) and subtropical monsoon. But these climatic characteristics are softened by the influence of the sea.

Indonesia has almost as many types of climate as there are islands. On the same island, on one slope there may be a rainy season, on another at the same time a dry season. The situation may change if the wind changes direction. The ideal time to visit Indonesia is our northern summer, but, for example, the Mollukki Islands have the worst weather (storms and storms) at this time of the year.

In addition, the amount of rainfall depends on the forests. The larger the area of ​​forests, as in Sumatra and Borneo, the more often it rains. 4 m of precipitation per year - this is the record for Pontianak and Padang.

In the lowlands, the temperature stays within 26-27 C for most of the year, in the mountainous areas it is somewhat cooler. In the southern and eastern regions it is hotter and the climate has quite pronounced seasons - rainy (September-May) and relatively dry (May-October). Sunny weather persists almost the entire year, since most of the precipitation falls in mountainous areas, mostly early in the morning or at night. The total precipitation is more than 3000 mm. in year.

Difference in time

There are several time zones in Indonesia: in Sumatra and Java, time is ahead of Moscow by 4 hours in winter (by 3 in summer), Bali and Sulawesi are ahead of Moscow by 5 hours (by 4 in summer).

Currency

Indonesian rupiah, 9.5 RUP = 1 USD, exchange rate is subject to change.

Visa

To enter Indonesia for citizens of the Russian Federation for up to 30 days, a visa is issued at the airport upon arrival.

Customs

The import of drugs, weapons, pornographic products, Chinese-language publications and Chinese medicines is prohibited. The import of alcohol and cigarettes is limited (no more than 2 liters of alcohol and 200 cigarettes). The export of antiques, rare plants and animals is prohibited.

Main Attractions

Indonesia has many attractions. Each of the islands included in its composition is interesting in its own way.

The main attraction of the town Bangli- a very highly revered temple Pura Keneh. Large and imposing, it rises in terraces on a steep slope above the road.

Gianyar is famous for the production of elegant endek fabrics, which are sold directly from factories in the western part of the city. The factories of Cap Cili and Cap Togog are almost completely focused on serving tourists, where you can watch the entire process of making fabric from start to finish and purchase the fabric itself or finished products.

Denpasar- the passionate southern heart of Bali. From here all the roads to the mysterious and romantic world of the island begin. The name of the city itself means "located next to the market", and the main market is called "Pasar Budung". They say that it is the largest and noisiest on the island.

Jakarta- the capital of Indonesia, a city that serves as a home for almost 9 million Indonesians. Jakarta plays a leading role in the country. Jakarta is located on the northwestern coast of Java, at the mouth of the Chi-livung River, where in the 16th century there was a prosperous port, the center of the spice trade Jayakerta.

Yogyakarta (Yogya) on the southern slope of Mount Merapi, where many cultural monuments have been preserved, because there were two Central Javanese Mataram empires (one in ancient times, the other in modern times).

Klungkung- a restless trading city, with many curious sights. The most significant of these are the ruins of the royal palace, known as Taman Gili ("Garden Island"), with an ancient ceiling painting in the courtroom of Kerta Gosa. These frescoes are the only surviving examples of classical painting in Bali.

Main Treasury Pezheng, the State Archaeological Museum Museum Purbakala consists of four small pavilions that house an eclectic array of items found in Pezheng.

Singaraja, the second largest city in Bali after Denpasar. The city's most famous attraction is Gedong Kirtya, the world's only library of lontar manuscripts. These are ancient texts printed on specially processed lontar palm leaves.

Islands:

Bali- the most brilliant decoration among the amazing treasures of the Indonesian archipelago. This small island - part of a latitudinal volcanic mountain arc - is moistened by tropical downpours and literally flooded with bright sunlight. Bali is a green masterpiece of nature. The Balinese have done a lot to turn the blessings of nature to their advantage. Bali has earned itself the glory of an earthly paradise. In the southern part of the island there are three Bali resorts, an international airport and the main city - Denpasar.

Bintan is a short speedboat ride from Singapore. Bintan Island is a wonderful world filled with lush tropical vegetation with outlandish plants and amazing flowers, unprecedented exotic animals and birds.

Irian Jaya- this is the name of the western part of the island of New Guinea. This territory, formerly known as Netherlands New Guinea, was annexed to Indonesia in 1963 after a short but bitter military campaign by President Sukarno. To date, Irian Jaya is considered the most isolated region from the rest of the world. Mangrove swamps make large sections of the coast impassable, and dense jungles and high mountains (some snow-covered peaks reach a height of 5000 m) completely isolate separate parts of this territory from each other. There are almost no roads and extremely undeveloped air and sea communications.

kalimantan It is no longer the forgotten place it once was. Daily flights connect its main cities with the Indonesian capital. Thanks to the huge reserves of oil, gas, timber, diamonds (the word Kalimantan in Malay means "diamond river"), Kalimantan supplies a large amount of natural raw materials to other countries and to a large extent provides Indonesian needs for raw materials. Geologically, Kalimantan is one of the most ancient islands of the Malay Archipelago. There are no volcanoes on it, and it is a fold of the earth's crust - a mountain range that has undergone strong weathering.

On the Komodo the rarest and most mysterious animals have survived and live - the descendants of prehistoric predatory lizards that died out on earth 160 million years ago. These are the largest amphibious giant lizards - monitor lizards. Boars, deer, feral horses and even buffaloes become its prey. But they are by no means squeamish about carrion. Possessing a highly developed sense of smell, they find it very quickly and here again gather in large groups. The dragon has a difficult relationship with a man.

Krakatoa located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. The nearest international airport is located in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, and the volcano can be admired from the air or from the sea. Krakatau stands where two tectonic plates meet: the plate that forms the bottom of the Indian Ocean is moving under the Asian plate. Along the entire length (3218 km) of the border between the two plates there are volcanoes, of which the most famous is Krakatoa. We know that the eruption of this volcano caused the death of the local population in 416 AD. Century after century, Krakatoa continued to grumble, and by 1680 two new ones on the island of Rakata, with an area of ​​44 square meters, joined the main cone. km.

Lombok- a small island, one of the best resort islands in Indonesia, often described as "Bali yesterday", lying to the east of its more famous neighbor and separated from it only by a narrow strait. This is where the transition from western to eastern Indonesia begins, with its flora and fauna changing more and more as you move east. The northern part of the island is hilly and covered with greenery of tall trees and shrubs. The administrative center of the province of Mataram. The three main cities of Lombok - Ampenan, Mataram and Chakranegara - are located close to each other, within a six-kilometer strip stretching from the western coast of the island to the east.

Sumatra- the "backbone" of the country - is of great economic, strategic and political importance. In terms of population (over 30 million people), the island ranks second in Indonesia, in terms of exports (oil, natural gas, rubber, tin, palm oil, etc.) - first, and in terms of attractiveness for tourists - third (after Bali and Me you). The richest in natural resources and at the same time the least developed south of Sumatra. In the forests of Lampung province, which provides the state with 40% of the income from the sale of oil and rubber abroad, man-eating tigers still roam - literally next to major highways. A large developing city of the south of Sumatra, Palembang is located on the Musi River.

Java- a paradise for hardcore individualists who enjoy the search for ancient temples or breathtaking views from the ledge at the very mouth of the volcano. For five centuries since 930, the Brangas Valley has been the center of power and civilization on the island, and the principalities of that era have left a rich heritage in architecture, literature, music and theatre. The island's volcanic eastern promontory has many secluded nature reserves, and the mountains are of unparalleled beauty. The north coast, once the busiest and richest trading ports in Java, is now one of the centers of crafts and the focus of many attractions.

Kitchen and its features

Indonesians consider rice to be the food of the gods. Rice (nasi) is steamed, without salt or oil, and served separately. Nasi is the basis for other dishes, of which the most famous is fried rice seasoned with vegetables, small pieces of meat, fish, shrimp.

Noodles - originally a Chinese dish - has firmly established itself in Indonesia. Sauces and seasonings give it a peculiar taste. Here, just like in China, they believe that noodles are a symbol of a long and happy life.

Various spices are popular. Black and white pepper, tamarind, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, hot red or green peppers, peanuts, ginger, soybeans, garlic are essential components of hot spices.

Among meat dishes, Indonesian kebabs (sate) made from lamb, beef or chicken are the most popular. Indonesian men adore bovine testis sate because they are sure that they support male potency. Sate can be tasted not only in the restaurant, but also right on the street. They are prepared in roasters specially equipped on a bicycle or motorcycle. In the evenings, on the streets of Indonesian cities, the invocative cry of "sate!" is heard, and you just need to shout back, as numerous sellers of this delicious dish rush to you.

Frog legs fried in dough are also prepared. Very often in the evenings near the city ditches you can see boys with flashlights in their hands - they catch frogs. But the most delicious frogs, of course, are grown specifically for the kitchen. They are sold alive, tied in several pieces, at local bazaars.

A special place is occupied by swallow nests cooked in chicken broth. This is not only a delicacy, but also a medicine - for blood purification, asthma treatment, muscle tissue regeneration. Every year, hundreds of gatherers flock to the caves of Kalimantan, where swallows make nests from their saliva. Risking their lives, they climb long, rickety bamboo ladders with flashlights in their mouths. Some fall from dizzying heights and are crushed to death. But the temptation is too great - swallow nests are fabulously expensive, their collection gives a decent income.

Bali's favorite dish is lavar. These are finely chopped vegetables seasoned with fresh chicken or pig blood. Turtle meat and blood lavar is considered a delicacy and at the same time a life-prolonging dish. Often crushed turtle shell is mixed with meat. Lemon juice is added to keep the blood fresh.

Spicy food is usually washed down with cold water with ice. Soft drinks are also consumed: coconut milk with rice and palm sugar “bajitur”, crushed ice with sugar syrup and beans, a drink from sugar cane juice “air tebu”, ginger tea. Coconut milk is served directly in the coconut with the top cut off. They drink through a straw, and with a long spoon they scrape out the delicious white pulp from the inside.

Most Indonesians are Muslims and therefore do not drink alcohol. Indonesia produces very good "Isabella" and rice wine "Brem", similar to port wine, the local wine is Hatten, it is produced in Bali. The local palm vodka is called "arak", served alone or with honey (as a liquor) and is well absorbed by the body. For the sake of exoticism, you should definitely try "tuak" - beer from the juice of palm flowers.

For dessert, fried banana "pisang goreng", biscuits made from rice flour, fruit and sugar "dolol", banana bread are prepared. A special place is occupied by a traditional Javanese cake made of white and yellow rice in the form of a truncated cone, symbolizing the well-being of the family. However, the best dessert, of course, is the numerous fresh fruits, ranging from bananas to exotic durian.

Food is served on a banana leaf. They eat with their right hand without cutlery. True, now they often use a spoon and fork, but never a knife! Before and after eating, the right hand is washed in a special vessel of water with a piece of lemon.

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