Indonesia-capetown.org

SOCIAL, CULTURE & TOURISM>> ABOUT INDONESIA

THE PLACE TO VISIT

There are almost as many ways of traveling around Indonesia as there are islands. Each region offers something a little different. There are over 30 International airlines flying into Indonesia including Garuda Indonesia. Flying between the main cities is also fast and convenient. Frequent boats connect most of the islands. The train travel through Java.

NORTH SUMATRA

North Sumatra is a large province stretching from the Indian Ocean in the west to the Straits of Malaka in the East and the Aceh in the north to West Sumatra in the south. It is thick with virgin forests, lush vegetation and jungle covered hills, terraced, rice fields, cool mountain streams, strong rivers, beautiful waterfalls, peaceful white sandy beaches and large ancient lakes.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WEST SUMATRA

Dominated by jungles, volcano's, canyons and lakes, the Province of West Sumatra could be an enormous and magnificent nature park. It is the home of the Minangkabau, one of Indonesia's most interesting and influential ethnic groups. The Minangkabua are versatile and intelligent people who lead a community and family life based on a matrilineal system which gathers around mosque and traditional adat houses.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOUTH SUMATRA

One of the greatest kingdoms in Indonesian history, the Buddhist Empire of Sriwijaya,prospered and grew along the banks of the Musi River in South Sumatra over a thousand years ago. Located on the southern-most rim of the South China Sea, close to one of the world's busiest shipping lanes linking the Far East with Europe, the region's historical background is rich and colorful.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JAKARTA

The enormous city has humble roots, starting as a small harbor town called Sunda Kelapa, but its actual founding dates back to the June 22, 1527 when it was named Jayakarta by Fatahillah of the neighboring Sulaten of Banten.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WEST JAVA

The enchanting and beautiful land of Parahiyangan or Sunda stretches form 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 surrounded the capital of the province, Bandung. The Sundanese people of this region - the Sundanese - are soft-spoken and colorful, with a rich and fascinating history.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CENTRAL JAVA

History has left its footprints everywhere in Central Java, an area rich in a culture and tradition accumulated from a powerful Hindu and Buddhist past and more recent Islamic influences. Under the Saliendra and Old Mataram kings, the Hindu-Javanese culture flourished between the 18th and 10th centuries and was during this pinnacle of power that Java's most remarkable religious monuments were built; Borobudur, the biggest and most magnificent monument top Mahayana Buddhism in the world; enormous Hindu temple complex of Prambanan, dedicated to Shiva and built by the rulers of the Sanjaya Dynasty, and the ancient site of the oldest Hindu temples in Java on the Magnificent, ethereal heights of the Dieng Plateau; all of these and more are testimony to the ancient power and influence of the region.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EAST JAVA

As power in Central Java declined in the 10th century, powerful kingdoms rose in East Java to fill the power vacuum. Between 1055 and 1222, the kingdom of Kediri prospered and expanded. During the reign of King Erlangga both East Java and Bali enjoyed a lucrative trade with the surrounding islands, directly relating to a period of artistic advancement and mastery. Parts of the Mahabarta epic were translated and re-interpreted to conform closer to an East Javanese philosophy and view of life, and it was from this era that East Java inherited much of its treasure of temple art.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IRIAN JAYA

Irian Jaya is a hot, humid island rising from the sea with some of the impenetrable jungles in the world and yet also has snow caps covering 5,000b meter-high mountain peaks, towering over glacier lakes. Irian Jaya is Indonesia's largest and easternmost province and covers the western half of the world's second largest island. It is a land of exceptional natural grandeur, with beautiful scenic beaches, immense stretches of marshlands, cool grassy meadows and powerful rivers carving gorges and tunnels through dark and dense primeval forests.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EAST KALIMANTAN

As a major producer of oil and timber, East Kalimantan is at present the most industrially advanced province of the island and the second largest province in Indonesia. It is also the home of the original inhabitants of Kalimantan, The Orang Gunung or mountain people. The tribes are collectively called Dayak, although this name is not embraced by many tribes people themselves, who prefer to be known by separate tribal names such as Iban, Punan, and bunuaq.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WEST KALIMANTAN

Lying directly across the equator and the main gateway into the province of West Kalimantan is the provincial capital of Pontianak. The rapidly developing and surprisingly large city was founded in 1771 by Syarif Abdul Rahman Al-Kadri of Saudi Arabia and is now a bustling economic hub as well as home to a sizeable university and a giant indoor sports stadium. Canals crisscross the city and one of Indonesia's longest rivers, the Kapuas 1143 Km long, divides the town in two, providing an essential and historical communications link.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOUTH KALIMANTAN

The Meratus mountains stride through the center of the province, effectively dividing South Kalimantan into two distinct regions. The eastern part of the province is mountainous and lush with dense tropical rain forests and is the home of the " Orang Gunung" or mountain people. Collectively called Dayak, they form the minority of the region's population.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CENTRAL KALIMANTAN

Central Kalimantan is the biggest Province of the island. It occupies a surface of 153,800 square Kilometers, most of it is jungle(80%), swamps, rivers and agricultural land.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOUTH SULAWESI

Situated on the crossroads of historical and strategic sea lanes, the province of South Sulawesi constitutes the narrow south western peninsula of this mountainous, orchid-shaped island.The capital and chief trading port of the province, Ujung Padang, is still the gateway to eastern Indonesia.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOUTH EAST SULAWESI

South East Sulawesi covers South East Sulawesi peninsula, Buton Island, Muna Island and small islands spread out at south and South East of the peninsula. It is located length wise - west to south east. It borders to the north by South Sulawesi Province and Central Sulawesi Province, to the south by the Flores sea, to the east by the Banda sea and to the west by Bone Bay.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WEST NUSA TENGGARA

The Province of West Nusa Tenggara, also known as part of the Lesser Sunda Islands, comprise Bali and eastward through Timor.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EAST NUSA TENGGARA

East Nusa Tenggara is , in many ways different from the rest of Indonesia.
It is geographically, ethnically and culturally a border area where the transition from Asia to Australia and Micronesia takes places.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BALI

A friendly and remarkably artistic people, living amid breathtaking panoramas, have created a dynamic society with unique arts and ceremonies, making Bali an island almost unreal in today's hectic and changing world. Terraced ricefields dominate the landscape, with rivers and small irrigation streams disecting a luscious green landscape filling the air with the enchanting sounds of running water.