Brief information about Indonesia. Indonesian rivers Volcanoes and eruptions in Indonesia

• barito
  River in the Indonesian territory of the island of Kalimantan. It flows mainly in the province of Central Kalimantan, in the lower reaches also in the province of South Kalimantan, serving in some areas as a natural border between the two provinces. It flows into the Java Sea near the city of Banjarmasin, forming a common delta with several smaller rivers. Length - about 900 km.
• Digul
  A river in the south of the island of New Guinea, in the province of Papua (Indonesia). The length is about 600 km, the basin area is about 23 thousand km². It originates in the Jayawijaya Mountains (one of the ranges of the Maoke Mountains), flows mainly through a vast, mostly marshy lowland in a very winding channel; flows into the Arafura Sea. Full-flowing throughout the year, strongly overflows after rains in the mountains. The average water consumption is about 1600 m³/s. Navigable from the upper reaches.
• Capuas
  River in the Indonesian territory of the island of Kalimantan. It flows in the province of Central Kalimantan (the central and southern parts of the island). It flows into the Barito River (Javan Sea basin). The length is about 600 km.
• Mamberamo
  River in the northwest New Guinea, in the Indonesian province of Papua. It is the widest river in Indonesia. It flows into the Pacific Ocean. Has many channels. Navigable for 240 km from the mouth. River valley Mamberamo is home to many of the indigenous peoples of New Guinea, including those who had no previous contact with Western civilization. It is also known for its enormous biodiversity.
• Mahakam
  River in the Indonesian territory of the island of Kalimantan. It flows in the province of East Kalimantan. It flows into the Makassar Strait east of the city of Samarinda, forming a branched delta. Historical names - Kutai, Banjar. The length is about 920 km, the basin area is about 80 thousand km².
• Ok Tedi
  
• Ok Tedi
  River on the island of New Guinea. For the most part, it flows through the territory of Papua New Guinea and only in a section about 1 km long crosses the border with Indonesia. At the source of the river there is a large deposit of copper and gold. On the banks of the river is the largest city of the Western Province - Tabubil.
• Sepik
  the longest river of the island of New Guinea and at the same time the state of Papua New Guinea. Most of the river flows through the provinces of Sandaun and East Sepik; only a small part is located on the territory of the Indonesian province of Papua. The Sepik belongs to one of the largest river systems in the world, having a large river basin area. The landscapes through which the river flows are very diverse: from swampy areas to mountainous areas covered with dense tropical forests. From an ecological point of view, Sepik is probably the largest wetland in the Asia-Pacific region that has not been subjected to detrimental anthropogenic impact.
• Solo
  A river in Indonesia, the largest river on the island of Java. The length of the river is 548 km, the catchment area is 16100 km². It originates on the slopes of Lavu and Meshali volcanoes, flows mainly in a wide, often swampy valley, strongly meanders in the lower reaches. It flows into the Java Sea. The river is navigable for 200 km. In the lower reaches, the riverbed is straightened and canalized.
• Tabalong
  The river in the Tabalong district of the same name in the province of South Kalimantan (Indonesia), has a length of 45 km and is a tributary of the Negara River, which in turn flows into the Barito River.
• Fly
  River on the island of New Guinea. Most of the river flows through the territory of the Western province of Papua New Guinea (Fly is the second longest, after the Sepik, the river of this country); only a small part of the river serves as the state border with Indonesia.
• chilivung
  A river in Indonesia, on the island of Java. It originates on the northern slope of the Pangrango volcano, south of the city of Bogor. In a significant part of the lower reaches, up to the confluence with the Java Sea, it passes through the territory of the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, being the largest river of this city. At the beginning of the Dutch colonization of Java, this river was important as a transport artery and a source of fresh water. Currently, the water in the river is heavily polluted by industrial and domestic discharges.
• Chitarum
  A river in West Java, Indonesia. The river plays an important role in the lives of people from West Java as it is used to support agriculture, water supply, industry, sewerage, etc. The river is currently heavily polluted by human activity; about five million people live near the river basin.

Indonesia is located between Southeast Asia and Australia and borders the Indian and Pacific oceans. The extreme points of Indonesia have the following coordinates: 6o08" N, 11o15" S, 94o45" and 141o05" E. The "linear" dimensions of Indonesia are 5120 km. from east to west and 1760 km. from North to South. The land area occupied by Indonesia is 1919317 sq. km., the maritime spaces of Indonesia are 7.9 million square meters. km, or 81% of the total area of ​​the country (in the official papers of the Indonesian government). The name "Indonesia" comes from the Greek word "Indos" meaning "Indian" and "nesos" meaning "islands". The group of islands that make up Indonesia is the largest in the world with approximately 17,500 islands (other sources say 13,667 islands).

Information

• Date of Independence: 17 August 1945 (from the Netherlands)
• Official languages: Indonesian
• Capital: Jakarta
• Largest cities: Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Bekasi, Medan, Tangerang, Depok, Semarang, Palembang, Makassar, Tangerang Selatan
• Form of government: Presidential Republic
• Territory: 1,919,440 km²
• Population: 257,563,000 (4th)
• Currency: Indonesian Rupiah
• Internet domain: .id
• Telephone code: +62
• Time zones: +7…+9

The five largest islands in Indonesia are:

• New Guinea (the area of ​​\u200b\u200bIrian Jaya - the Indonesian part of the island - is 421,981 sq. Km.)
• Kalimantan (539,000 sq. km - the Indonesian part of the island)
• Sumatra (435,000 sq km)
• Sulawesi (170,000 sq km)
• Java (126,000 km2)

Indonesia shares three islands with other states (Kalimantan with Malaysia and Brunei, New Guinea with Papua New Guinea, Timor with East Timor).

Relief

The territory of the country is predominantly mountainous. Indonesia's highest peak - Puncak Jaya, 5039 m (Mandala?) - is located on the island of New Guinea (Irian Jaya) in the Sudirman Mountains. Other peaks with a height of 4700 to 5000 m are located in the Jayawijaya mountain range. The "highest" islands besides New Guinea: Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, Sulawesi and Seram. The highest peaks in Indonesia (other than Puncak Jaya):

• Leuser and Kerinci (Sumatra)
• Gede, Tangkubanperau, Chiremai, Kavi, Kelud, Semeru, Raung (Java Island)
• Lampobatang and Rantekombala (Sulawesi Island)
• Batur and Agung (Bali)
• Rinjani (Lombok Island)
• Tambora (Sumbawa Island)

Rivers and lakes

Indonesia has many rivers. The largest of them: Musi, Batangari, Indragiri, Kampar (on the island of Sumatra), Kapuas, Barito, Mahakam, Rejang (on the island of Kalimantan), Memberamo, Digul (on the island of New Guinea). In Java, rivers play a big role in irrigation - Bengawan Solo, Chitarum, Brantas.
The largest and most famous lakes in Indonesia: Toba, Maninjau, Singkarak (Sumatra Island), Tempe, Tovuti, Sidenreng, Poso, Limboto, Tondano, Matana (Sulawesi Island), Paniai, Sentani (Irian Jaya).

Volcanoes and eruptions

In tectonic terms, Indonesia is a very unstable territory. However, volcanic eruptions bring their benefits - volcanic ash makes the soil fertile. There are about 400 volcanoes in Indonesia, of which 100 are active. Between 1972 and 1991 29 volcanic eruptions have been recorded, mostly in Java. The most powerful volcanic eruptions in Indonesia over the past 200 years are as follows. In 1815, Tambora Volcano erupted on the north coast of Sumbawa, killing 92,000 people and changing the climate in many places on the globe (it was a "no summer" year). In 1883, the famous volcanic eruption of Krakatoa in the Sunda Strait occurred, 36,000 inhabitants of West Java died from the rising wave. The sound from the eruption was said to have been heard over a vast territory - as far as Turkey and Japan (hard to believe). Krakatau erupted again two more times - in the late 1970s.

Flora and fauna of Indonesia

The vegetation of Indonesia is extremely rich. One of the most famous plants is rafflesia. Rafflesia arnoldi (Rafflesia arnoldi) is the largest flower in the world, its diameter is about 1 m. This type of rafflesia can be found in some places in Sumatra. The inflorescence of the amorphophallus plant (Amorphophallus tatinum), which also grows in Sumatra, also reaches gigantic proportions. The carnivorous plants of the Nepenthes, with many species, are characteristic of the western islands of Indonesia. The forests are home to many types of orchids, from the giant tiger orchid Grammatophyllum speciosum to the tiny leafless Taeniophyllum, which is used by the locals to make medicines. The rainforest is also favorable for a huge number of mushrooms, some of which surprise with unusual properties (for example, they glow in the dark). The Indonesian flora is replete with woody plants.
The fauna of Indonesia is no less rich. The Wallace Line divides Indonesia into two different faunal areas. Animals of Asian origin live in the western part, Australian ones live in the eastern part. The largest and most remarkable animals of Indonesia: orangutans (found in Sumatra and Kalimantan), tigers (Sumatra), elephants (Sumatra and Kalimantan), rhinos (Sumatra and Java), babirusses (Sulawesi), proboscis monkeys (Sulawesi), hornbills. New Guinea and adjacent islands are home to marsupials, birds of paradise, cockatoos and other interesting animals. In Indonesia, measures are being taken to preserve animals and plants, and national parks have been created. November 5 of each year is National Flora and Fauna Day in Indonesia. The Komodo giant monitor lizard (Varanus komodoensis) has been declared the national animal.

Climate

The climate of Indonesia is tropical, which is determined by the position of the country near the equator. The temperature at low altitudes is almost constant and ranges from 21 to 33 degrees, mainly depending on the time of day. Temperatures are lower in the mountains. But the main indicator of Indonesia's climate is not temperature, but precipitation. Theoretically, two periods are distinguished in the year - dry and wet, depending on the influence of the two main monsoons (prevailing wind directions). However, in many places it is difficult to distinguish seasons, dry and wet weather alternate spontaneously. In general, for most of the country, from November-December to March-April, the wet season lasts (the monsoon blows from the northwest), from May-June to September-October it is dry (the monsoon comes from the south and east, i.e. from side of Australia). However, for North Sumatra and for the northern and central parts of the Moluccas (Seram, Ambon, Buru), the picture is directly opposite. The picture is even more complicated if we take into account the many local microclimates that are characteristic of a particular area in Indonesia.
The height above sea level has a great influence on the distribution of temperatures. In general, the temperature drops by about 1 deg. for every 100 m of ascent. The highest peaks in Indonesia are subject to night frosts, and some mountains of Irian Jai are permanently covered with snow.
The least amount of precipitation falls on the islands of the Nusa Tenggara group, located between Australia and Java.
The air in Indonesia is humid, with relative humidity fluctuating between 70 and 90%. Typhoons and severe storms are not typical for the Indonesian seas.
The length of daylight hours in Indonesia is almost the same throughout the year. The difference between the shortest and longest day is 48 minutes.

Religion

Muslims - 87%, Christians - 9% (6% Catholics, mainly in East Timor, 3% Protestants), Hindus - 2% (mainly in Bali), Buddhists - less than 1% (mainly Chinese).

Language

There are over 300 languages ​​in Indonesia. The official language is Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia), very similar to Malay.

Population

Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world. It is home to 240 million people, comprising more than 300 ethnic groups, the largest of which is the Javanese. In addition to indigenous peoples, the country is also home to Chinese, Arabs (mostly descendants of people from the Yemeni province of Hadhramaut), Indo-Pakistani and other nationalities. More than 700 languages ​​are spoken in Indonesia, but the official language is Indonesian. Indonesia is the largest Muslim country. Muslims make up almost 90% of the population.

The capital of Indonesia is Jakarta. It is the largest city in the country with a population of 10 million people. It is located on the island of Java and is a colossal modern metropolis with an intense financial and economic life. Other major cities in Indonesia: Surabaya, Bandung, Bekasi, Medan, Tangerang, Depok, Semarang.

Kitchen

Indonesian cuisine is rather a mixture of culinary traditions from different regions of the country. Stewed or fried food seasoned with colorful and spicy spices is a special feature of this cuisine. The cuisine of Indonesia is closely related to the national cuisine of the countries of Southeast Asia, and in particular to the cuisine of India. Foreign conquerors also brought their traditions. Chili pepper came here from Mexico, peanuts and potatoes - from South America, soybeans and pasta were brought from China. In general, Indonesian cuisine is distinguished by a variety of meat and fish dishes, seafood in different variations, a huge selection of rice and corn dishes, breadfruit dishes and spicy sauces and seasonings that are present in almost every dish. In many ways, Indonesian cuisine resembles Chinese, but has its own unique flavor. Traditional Indonesian dishes are: sate (skewers of any type of meat except pork, generously seasoned with various spices), gado-gado salad (vegetable salad with peanut sauce), pisang goreng (fried banana), nasi goreng (fried rice with various fillings). ) and bakmi goreng (fried pasta with sauce). Among the drinks, these are bajitur (coconut milk drink with rice and palm sugar), es kachang (ice with sugar syrup and beans) and calamus tebu (sugar cane drink). tea is also quite traditional drinks. coffee and beer. In any restaurant you can order dishes of European cuisine without any problems.

The Republic of Indonesia is a state in Southeast Asia, on the islands of the Malay Archipelago and the western part of the island of New Guinea. The first state formations arose in the coastal regions in the II-V centuries. Indonesian sailors and merchants became one of the main trading intermediary groups in the East. By the middle of the 7th century the powerful Sumatran empire of Srivijaya arose. In Central Java in the first half of the 8th century. the state of Mataram arose, where the Shaivist dynasty ruled.
Ninth - tenth centuries - the heyday of the Srivijaya empire. In 1025, she was defeated in the struggle with the Hindu state of the Cholas for control of the trade routes in Southeast Asia. By the middle of the XI century. the state of Mataram in Java united the trading cities under its rule. From the 11th century Java has become the economic, cultural and political center of Indonesia.
During the unification of Indonesia around Java, Gaja Madi, the de facto ruler of Majapahit in 1328-64, came to the fore. In the XIV century. the penetration of Islam into Indonesia (from India and Malacca) intensified. At the beginning of the XVI century. The Majapahit empire broke up into a number of Muslim principalities. At the beginning of the XVII century. The Dutch East India Company ousted the Portuguese from the Moluccas. The city of Batavia became the capital of the Dutch colonial empire. The company ensured the export of goods from Indonesia, primarily spices. In the XVIII century. the company began to decline. During the Anglo-Dutch War of 1780-84. liquidation of the company followed. Her possessions passed to the Dutch state.
By the end of the Second World War, under the conditions of the occupation of Indonesia by Japanese troops, the rise of the liberation movement began. On August 17, 1945, the independence of Indonesia was proclaimed, which the Netherlands recognized in 1949. President Sukarno (since 1945), one of the leaders of the National Party of Indonesia, in 1950 declared Indonesia a unitary republic. After the failure in 1965 of a coup by a group of army officers, prepared by the Communist Party of Indonesia, Sukarno remained a nominal president. In 1976, Indonesia claimed the province of East Timor (a former Portuguese colony) as its own. The rise of the influence of Islamic fundamentalists in the 1980s led to their open clashes with the authorities, as a result of which the regime of General Suharto (president since 1968) fell in 1998.

Resorts

Despite the fact that the country has a huge number of islands, not all of them are considered touristic. Three Indonesian islands are recognized as the most popular among tourists: Bali, Sumatra and Lombok. Here the most developed sphere of tourist services and the most developed infrastructure. What attracts millions of tourists here? Of course, a bright combination of beautiful nature, clean white sand beaches and amazingly clear azure sea.

Bali

The most famous and popular island of Indonesia. Despite the fact that this is the smallest of all the islands of the archipelago, it is in great demand among tourists from all countries. What attracts millions of tourists here? Of course, a bright combination of beautiful nature, clean beaches with white and unique black sand, azure sea and bustling life, including night life. This island is famous among surfers and divers as an ideal place to practice these sports. Bali is called the island of the gods, and this is no coincidence, because Bali is a kind of paradise in miniature: the views and landscapes are simply breathtaking! You should definitely visit all the temples located on the island, the botanical garden located near the Batur volcano, and modern attractions such as a water park, souvenir shops, markets and traditional restaurants. Bali is famous for its tourist resorts, which have everything you need for a first-class holiday.

Kuta

The most developed of all resorts in Bali, the central and busiest beach of the island. This resort positions itself as a youth resort. It flocks to surfers, nightlife lovers and just wanting to have a blast. Here, many clubs, very inexpensive hotels, amusement parks, water parks, bars and restaurants are in harmony with the pristine nature of the island. There are hotels of all types and categories, you can also rent an apartment or apartment.

Nusa Dua

A completely different beach from Kuta. This is a place for a luxurious and relaxing holiday. It is often chosen by families with children and young couples who want to relax in seclusion. Here are the most famous and luxurious hotels, such as Sheraton, Hilton, Four seasons and others. Each hotel has its own beach, developed infrastructure and provides all the conditions for a perfect holiday. Nusa Dua is a paradise for the most demanding guests.

Sanur

The oldest and most peaceful of all resorts on the island. The spirit of calm and tranquility reigns here in everything: cozy little cafes and restaurants, tropical gardens, quiet and calm beaches. The resort is also one of the main diving centers, and if you want to go snorkeling, this is the place for you.

Tanjung Benoa

A traditional fishing village, but at the same time a wonderful resort. Here is the international class thalassotherapy center Thalasso Bali. All kinds of sports, beautiful white sand beaches and clear sea are waiting for you here!

Lombok

Located to the east of Bali and is the quietest and most romantic of the tourist islands. A small strait separates these islands from each other, and you can get here by ferry, which runs from the island of Bali. There are much fewer noisy discos, clubs and there are no crowds of tourists typical of other resorts. Holidays on the island are positioned as calm and secluded. It is ideal for couples and honeymooners. It is much hotter and less humid here than on other islands of the archipelago. The island will meet you with its picturesque views, clean beaches and calm warm sea. Here you can find both very inexpensive hotel options, as well as expensive villas and deluxe hotels.

Sumatra

The westernmost of the islands in the archipelago. The island is of volcanic origin, which is clearly manifested in its natural diversity. A distinctive feature of the resort are beaches with rare black sand and many historical attractions: the ruins of ancient temples and palaces, royal graves, mosques, museums and nature reserves. There are also the purest mountain lakes, and mountain valleys, and volcanoes and local villages. You should definitely visit a crocodile farm and an interesting place - a rehabilitation center for orangutans, where you can watch the life of these animals in “real time”. The cleanest beaches, the azure clear sea and a wonderful unforgettable vacation await you on the island of Sumatra, a place where it seems that time has stopped!

Java island

One of the most famous islands in the archipelago; there are hundreds of volcanoes and picturesque landscapes, as well as many temples, shrines, mosques and palaces; among other things, the island is famous for its folk crafts: batik, silver and gold work, gunsmithing, which attracts thousands of tourists here.

Jakarta (until 1949 - Batavia)

The capital and largest city of Indonesia is located on the northwest coast of Java. It is a city of an original mixture of numerous buildings of the XVII-XVIII centuries, canals and many "national" quarters, each of which has its own unique look.

City of Bogor

The city close to the capital, which has long been considered one of the best mountain-climatic resorts in the country, is interesting here for the Sokarno summer presidential palace with the Zoological Museum, the former residence of the Governor-General of the Netherlands East Indies and the world-famous Kebun Rai botanical garden (80 hectares).

Bandung mountain resort (west of Java)

Famous for many museums, the Dago waterfall, the picturesque surroundings of the Tangkuban Praya volcano (Tangkuban Perahu) and Lake Situpatenngang, as well as the well-known Dago and Jalan Chihampelas (Jeans Street), where the offices and shops of the largest textile companies are located; in the vicinity of the city, the prestigious beaches of Anyer and Karang Bolong, the hot volcanic springs in Chiater, the tea plantations in Punchak, the mountain safari park, as well as the Kulon National Park and the hot springs of Maribaya, surrounded by majestic volcanic landscapes, are considered to be the best place for trekking in country.

Yogyakarta (Java)

The ancient city attracts attention with the huge palace complex of the Sultan Kraton (XVIII century) with the "water castle" Taman-Sari, the Jakarta Craft Center and the Agastya Art Institute, the Sono-Badoyo and Benteng-Vredeburg museums, as well as the exquisite temple complex Lara- Jonggrang ("slender maiden", early 10th century) in nearby Prambanan; in the dry season, under the full moon, Lara Jonggrang hosts performances of the Ramayana ballet.

Stupa Borobudur

"Monastery on the mountain" or "temple of a thousand Buddhas", 778 - 856, built in the form of a 10-tiered stone pyramid 34 m high; at the top there is a sanctuary with a diameter of 15 m, symbolizing the highest goal and spiritual freedom; it is the largest monument of Buddhism in the southern hemisphere.

Bali island

The most developed tourist area in Indonesia: pristine landscapes, tropical forests, the majestic volcanoes of Kintamini, Gunung Batur (1717 m) and Gunung Agung, as well as temples and excellent resorts with blue lagoons and dense tropical jungles around; the manners and customs of the locals are softer and more tolerant of the way of life of foreigners, which is incomprehensible to them, which makes this island a wonderful place for a relaxing holiday.

Bali Barat

The only national park in Bali - spread over 20 thousand hectares, known for its variety of plants and animals. But in completely free conditions, all possible combinations of local flora and fauna can also be seen in the vast forest areas near Danau Bratan.

Sulawesi Island (Celebes)

A real "reserve of cultures" and traditions. The intermountain valleys are inhabited by many disparate tribes, which attracts ethnology lovers, is also popular due to cave burials, exotic nature and beautiful coral reefs.

Kalimantan Island (Borneo)

The place of residence of the famous "headhunters" - the Dayaks, one of the last "wild" tribes of the planet, living according to the laws of the Stone Age.

Flores Island

One of the few places in the world where whaling is allowed; also here at an altitude of about 1600 m, there is a unique "tricolor" lake Keli-Matu, whose waters are colored with various mineral salts coming from volcanic craters at its bottom.

Komodo and Rinca Islands

Famous reserves, habitats of the "Komodoro dragon" (monitor lizard) - the largest reptile on the planet; on the small volcanic island of Moyo is located "the most secluded hotel in the world" - the Amanwana complex, built right in the jungle.

Traveling in Indonesia (video)

Source. equator.ru, tripforme.ru, saga.ua, icstrvl.ru

Indonesia is a country located on many tropical islands. Each Indonesian island has its own unique culture, architecture, people and traditions. Indonesia has it all - jungles, rainforests, lakes, active volcanoes and, of course, paradise beaches. In Indonesia, you will meet friendly people, and you will also be able to see the sunrise over the most beautiful Buddhist temples.

Geography of Indonesia

Indonesia is located in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago that includes more than 17.5 thousand islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, including Kalimantan, Sumatra, Java, and New Guinea (only 6 thousand of them are inhabited). Indonesia shares borders with Malaysia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea. Other nearby countries are Singapore, Philippines, Palau and Australia. The total area of ​​this country is 1,919,440 sq. km.

A significant part of the territory of the islands that make up Indonesia is occupied by mountains. The largest local peak is Mount Punchak Jaya on the island of New Guinea, which reaches a height of 4,884 meters.

The geographical position of Indonesia determines that this country has very strong seismic and volcanic activity. those. Indonesia often experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. However, special services can already predict all these cataclysms. In general, there are now about 150 active volcanoes in Indonesia, including the "famous" Krakatoa and Tambora.

On the island of Kalimantanu there are three largest rivers in Indonesia - Mahakam, Barito and Kapuas.

Capital

The capital of Indonesia is Jakarta, which is now home to more than 9.7 million people. Archaeologists claim that a human settlement on the site of modern Jakarta existed already in the 1st century AD. However, the city itself was officially founded in 1527.

Official language

The official language in Indonesia is Indonesian, which belongs to the Austronesian language family.

Religion

More than 88% of Indonesia's population is Muslim (mostly Sunni Muslim). About 8% of the population of this country identify themselves as Christians.

State structure of Indonesia

Under the current Constitution of 1945, Indonesia is a parliamentary republic. Its head is the President, elected for 5 years.

The parliament in Indonesia is bicameral - the People's Consultative Congress, consisting of the Council of People's Representatives (560 deputies) and the Council of Representatives of the Regions (132 deputies). The country's parliament has the right to impeach the president.

The main political parties in Indonesia are the Democratic Party, the Golkar Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, the Justice and Welfare Party, and the National Mandate Party.

Climate and weather in Indonesia

The climate in Indonesia is equatorial with elements of subequatorial. In general, Indonesia is very hot and humid. The average annual air temperature is +27.7C. The average annual rainfall is 1,755 mm. The rainy season in this country is from October to April. However, there are also rains in the so-called. "dry season".

Some travelers like to relax in Indonesia during the rainy season (October-April). At this time, it usually rains in Indonesia in the evening for no more than 2 hours. The rest of the time, Indonesia is very hospitable. During this season, as a rule, hotel prices in Indonesia are much lower than during the dry season.

In Sumatra and Java, the rainy season lasts from November to March (rain falls in the afternoon). The best time to travel to Java or Sumatra is May-September.

In Bali, the rainy season is from October to March. However, in Bali, there is a lot of sun and bright blue skies between the rain shower. Therefore, in Bali you can relax in the rainy season. The best months to visit Bali are from May to August.

Sulawesi Island, an amazing place for a beach holiday, has two opposite climatic zones. In the southwest of this island, the monsoon period lasts from October to March, and in the north - from June to July. On the coast of Sulawesi, the air temperature can reach + 34C, and in the middle of the island, on a hill - + 24C.

Average air temperature in Bali:

January - +26C
- February - +26C
- March - +27C
- April - +27C
- May - +28C
- June - +27С
- July - +27C
- August - +27С
- September - +27C
- October - +27C
- November - +27С
- December - +27С

Ocean in Indonesia

The shores of the Indonesian islands are washed by the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Average sea temperature near Bali island:

January - +29C
- February - +29C
- March - +29С
- April - +28C
- May - +28C
- June - +28C
- July - +27C
- August - +27С
- September - +27C
- October - +27C
- November - +27С
- December - +27С

Rivers and lakes

Some of the Indonesian islands have many rivers. The largest rivers flow through the island of Kalimantan (these are the Mahakam, Barito and Kapuas rivers). On the island of Sumatra is the largest volcanic lake in the world - Lake Toba.

History of Indonesia

On the territory of Indonesia, the ancestors of modern people lived already during the Lower Paleolithic (Javanese ape-man and Flores man). Approximately 45 thousand years ago, Homo sapiens appeared on the territory of modern Indonesia. Moreover, Indonesia was inhabited by representatives of the Negroid and Mongoloid races.

The first states in Indonesia already existed in the 4th century AD. - Kutai and Taruma, and later - Srivijaya. All these states were greatly influenced by India and Buddhism.

In the 13th century, the Majapahit empire reached its peak. At the same time, Islam began to spread in Indonesia.

Europeans arrived in Indonesia at the beginning of the 16th century. They were Portuguese sailors. Then the Dutch began to claim Indonesia, who formed the Netherlands East India Company in 1602. At that time, several states existed on the territory of modern Indonesia, among which the Sultanate of Mataram should be distinguished. Gradually, these states became colonies of the Netherlands.

Indonesia became a British colony in 1811. However, after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Great Britain returned Indonesia to the Netherlands.

In the first half of the 20th century, Indonesians formed several political parties (for example, the Communist Party of Indonesia and the National Party).

In the spring of 1942, Indonesia (Netherlands East Indies) was captured by Japanese troops. The Japanese occupation of Indonesia continued until August 1945. It was in August 1945 that the independence of Indonesia was proclaimed. However, the Netherlands did not want to part with their colony, and unleashed hostilities. The fighting ended only in 1950. Sukarno was elected president of the country.

In March 1968, the People's Consultative Congress elected Sukarto, who had previously commanded the ground forces, as president of Indonesia.

Since 2004, the President of Indonesia has been elected by direct universal suffrage.

culture

The modern culture of Indonesia is the result of the interaction of the traditions of different peoples who live in this country. In addition, Portuguese traders and Dutch colonists had a noticeable impact on Indonesian culture.

In everyday life, Indonesians are guided by the principles of mutual assistance ("gotong royong") and exchange of opinion ("musyawarah"), which helps to come to an agreement ("mufakat").

Indonesian art is under a very strong religious influence. The traditions of the famous dance dramas of Java and Bali date back to Hindu mythology (influence of the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata can be seen in them).

In Indonesia, we recommend that tourists definitely see the local festivals, which are held everywhere and almost every month. The largest of them are the Galungan festival in Bali, performances of the Ramayana ballet in Java, the Feast of Silence in Bali, the Vesak Buddhist festival in Borobudur, and the Easter Parade on Larantuka Island.

Kitchen

The staple food in Indonesia is rice, but potatoes, corn, sago and cassava are common in the eastern part of the country. Naturally, a very large part in Indonesian cuisine is occupied by fish and various seafood (oysters, shrimps, lobsters, crabs, squids). In addition, Indonesian cuisine cannot be imagined without coconut (oil is made from it, and the pulp is added to many dishes).

As for meat, beef and poultry are popular in Indonesia. Pork is only found in Chinese restaurants or in areas where few Muslims live.

Traditional Indonesian dishes are nasi goring (fried rice), mie goring (fried noodles), and gado-gado (vegetables with eggs in peanut sauce).

Indonesia has a wide variety of exotic fruits (jackfruit, durian, papaya, pineapple and mango).

The traditional alcoholic drink in Indonesia is tuak wine, which is made from palm red sugar. However, most Indonesians drink black tea because Islam forbids alcohol.

Sights of Indonesia

Rest assured that travelers in Indonesia are not bored. Of course, relaxing on the beaches under the Indonesian sky is a great pleasure. But sometimes you want to visit interesting places. There are a lot of such interesting sights in Indonesia. The top ten Indonesian attractions, in our opinion, may include the following:

1. Jine Yuan Temple in Jakarta
2. Museum of Puppets and Ritual Supplies Wayang in Jakarta
3. Botanical garden Kebun-Ray in Bogor
4. Sultan Kraton palace complex in Yogyakarta
5. Pura Besakih temple complex in Bali
6. Royal Tombs and Palace of Samosir Island
7. Istiklal Mosque in Jakarta
8. Orchid garden in Melak village, Kalimantan
9. The royal tomb of Gunung Kawi in Bali
10. Temple of a Thousand Buddhas in Yogyakarta

Cities and resorts

The largest Indonesian cities are Surabaya, Bandung, Medan, Tangerang, Bekasi, Depok, Palembang, Semarang, Makassar, and, of course, Jakarta.

Due to its geographical position, Indonesia has excellent conditions for recreation. Tourists have long appreciated such islands in Indonesia as, for example, Bali and Lombok. However, some of the other Indonesian islands offer just as great a holiday opportunity. We advise you to pay attention to the islands of Papua, Lembongan, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java.

Almost every hotel in Indonesia offers spa services. In general, many argue that the best spa treatments are done in Indonesia. Spa programs on the island of Bali are especially diverse.

Traditional Indonesian spa services include a milk bath ("Mandi susu"), which is considered the beauty bath of the princesses of Java, "Mandi luhur", "flower baths" (jasmine, gardenia, hibiscus, magnolia petals are added to warm water), which, as a rule, are the final stage of the spa session.

In addition, Indonesian spas include herbal wraps (used to remove impurities from the body and heal skin blemishes) as well as traditional massages.

Souvenirs/Shopping

Bamboo and coconut products (for example, baskets, rugs), wooden spoons, bowls, figurines, painted ceremonial masks, batik and ikat fabrics (as well as, for example, tablecloths made from these fabrics) are usually brought from Indonesia as souvenirs. , Wayang dolls, traditional Indonesian musical instruments ("gamelan", drums, bamboo flutes), tea.

Office Hours

Government agencies:
Mon-Fri: 08:00-16:00

Indonesia has a tropical and subtropical climate, so there is a rainy season. Due to this climate and the peculiarities of the terrain, quite full-flowing rivers are formed there in large numbers. Rivers are full-flowing in the mountainous regions of the country, where they are also useful in terms of a source of electricity.

In general, there are many reservoirs, lakes and rivers in Indonesia. There are often floods that can bring large amounts of silt. There are a lot of fish in the lakes, by the way, some lakes are of volcanic origin.

A lot of beautiful rivers are located on the island of Kalimantan. The largest rivers of Indonesia flow there - this is the Kapusa River in the West of Kalimantan, its basin area is about 97 thousand square kilometers. The Mahakam River flows in the east of Kalimantan, there are also the Martapura and Barito rivers. Many of them start in a mountain range, some flow through swamps, their channels change direction. Rivers here often play the role of transport links between settlements. Often a new settlement is formed along a river.

Now I will talk about the rivers of Sumatra.

The largest rivers flow into the Malacca Strait or the South China Sea. The most full-flowing rivers of Sumatra are Harri, Musi, Kampar, Rokan and Siak. By the way, here, in Sumatra, there is the world's largest tropical swamp, the area of ​​​​which is more than 155 thousand square kilometers.

Ships sail along the rivers of Sumatra, there are also ports on the Harri River - the port of Jambi, on the Musi River - the port of Palembang. On the island of Sumatra there is a beautiful lake Toba - the largest lake on this island. It is located right in the crater in the north of Sumatra, and there is a small island in the middle of the island. Resorts are open on the lake, the water in the lake is considered very useful and has healing properties. People of all ages come here to swim and everyone likes it here. There are other equally beautiful large lakes here - this is Lake Maninjau, Kerinchi and Singkarak.

On the island of New Guinea, in its Indonesian part, there are also many large full-flowing rivers, there are about 30 of them. Basically, many of them flow down from the Maoke Mountains and flow north, pouring into the Pacific Ocean, and if they flow south, then they flow into the Arafura Sea. Here the largest lakes are Paniai and Sentani.

I also want to talk about the rivers of the island of Java, the largest of them are Tarum and Manuk, they originate near the southern coast in the west of the island, the river in the central part of Java is the Serang. Two rivers flow into the Java Sea in the eastern part of the island - these are Solo and Brantas. In the northern part of the island on the coast around the swamp.

I want to talk about some of the rivers in Indonesia that flow on the island of Kalimantan, and are considered the largest and most full-flowing.

Mahakan River, it flows in East Kalimantan and flows into the Makassar Strait, near the city of Samarinda. The length of the river is almost a thousand kilometers, and the area of ​​its basin is approximately 80 thousand square kilometers.

The Mahakan River basin has a very diverse natural abundance, although many species of flora and fauna are already on the verge of extinction, and very rare specimens are also found there. It is noteworthy that this river of Indonesia is full of water throughout the year. During the rainy season - in April and November - the river overflows its banks and floods the coastal areas, at which time it is very full-flowing.

There are also waterfalls on the river, in the part where it flows through mountain slopes or among many mountain gorges, in these places the river has many rapids and winding turns. All this is predominantly found in the upper part of the river. After the mountainous area, the river flows through the plains, often even through swampy areas. During the season, the river can change its course due to full flow.

A very branched delta is formed by the Mahakan River when it flows into the Makassar Strait. The area of ​​the delta is not less than 1800 square kilometers. In places, the delta is very swampy; three main "sleeves" are distinguished in it. The river divides into branches not so far from the city of Samarinda. This river is very beautiful, in its basin there are about 80 beautiful lakes of different sizes, many of which flow into the river.

And the second river of Indonesia, which I would like to mention, is the Barito River, which also flows on the island of Kalimanton. It flows in the provinces of Central and South Kalimantan. In places, the river plays the role of a border between provinces. The length of the river is about 900 kilometers, and the basin area reaches 100,000 square kilometers. The river flows into the Java Sea, forms a delta with small rivers.

The river also floods - in April and November, sometimes it is very full-flowing and it turns into a natural disaster for others. Sometimes even the settlements closest to the river are destroyed, it happens that the population is evacuated.

The Barito River has large tributaries - these are Kapuas, and a tributary of Martapura. The river in its upper part flows through very narrow valleys, there are rapids and waterfalls, in this part it winds a lot. Further, in its middle and lower parts, it flows through flat terrain, and even through swampy.

The third largest island in the world, divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The equator line passes through the city of Pontianake, dividing the island in half. Guests can take a souvenir photo at the Equator sign. In addition, the Abdurrahman Mosque of the 18th century, the Sultan's Kadriah Palace, the City Museum with collections of ceramics and Chinese porcelain are located in Pontianak.

In the west of the island, primitive Dayak tribes live, rejecting civilization and preserving the way of the Stone Age. Tourists have the opportunity to take part in an excursion to the Dayak settlement, spend the night in a traditional hut and admire the original Aboriginal dances.

A rehabilitation center for orangutans has been established. The island is the habitat of the touching tarsier - the smallest monkey in the world with large round eyes.

In the city of Banjarmasin, floating markets and the Sabilal-Mukhtadin mosque are worthy of attention. Kinabalu National Park is famous for its hot springs, magnificent Kipungit and Langanan waterfalls, as well as the world's largest flower - rafflesia.

Every guest of the capital of Indonesia strives to visit the Orchid Garden, famous for its collection of exotic flowers, the most beautiful and rare of which is the black orchid. The Istiklal Mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia, was built in 1945 in honor of the country's independence from the Netherlands. During prayer, tourists are strictly prohibited from entering the mosque. The 17th century Vihara Dharma Bhakti Buddhist Temple is dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy Kuan Yin.

The Sea World Jakarta Oceanarium, with a water volume of 500 million liters, introduces visitors to 4,000 species of fish, which can be admired while walking through an 80-meter tunnel. There are 120 volcanoes in Java, 30 of which are active.

All sights Indonesia

culture

The culture of the people is a history embodied in stone, feelings expressed by music and dance, thoughts and images that lay on the canvas and pages of books.

The culture of Indonesia is colorful and discordant like bird chirping in the jungle. Its "creators" are Buddhism, Hinduism, Christian influences brought from Europe, Muslim traders and preachers, as well as local beliefs and ideas about beauty.

Traditional architecture is receding under the onslaught of glass and concrete, but the feast of its forms can still be observed today.

The wooden houses of the Batak and Minang Kabao, with high saddle roofs, decorated with buffalo horns, are puzzling. Maybe there, among the rafters and columns going into the sky, spirits gather?

The temple complexes erected at the dawn of the Middle Ages are amazing. Borobudur and Prambanan in Java, Besaki in Bali, Padang Levas in Sumatra - it seems that the gods themselves erected these monuments to glorify man, decorated them with carvings and sculptures.

Colonial buildings and entire neighborhoods built by Europeans make you get lost in space and time. Dutch forts in Bukittinggi and Bengkulu, magnificent Empire-style palaces in Jakarta and Bogor, modern buildings of the Institute of Technology in Bandung and the Stavia School in Jakarta - you are in Europe, but why is it so hot and palm trees around ?!

Strict domes of mosques and spiers of minarets pacify and subdue. All of them, from the oldest wooden one in De Makak to the gigantic size of the Istiklal mosque in the center of Jakarta, make the motley public bow their heads in reverence, because 94% of the locals are Muslims. Bow your head and you before the majestic walls of "Raya Baturrahman" in the city of Banda Ache, and may Allah forgive you your sins.

But what are stone and wood before the inexorability of millennia? Only music is eternal, and the leisurely tune of the traditional gamelan orchestra will outlive the most enduring strongholds. Its numerous bodangs, baluzhans, rebabs, blindems and chelempungs induce trance with their names alone, so what can we say about hearing? Often performances are accompanied by kris and kechak dances, especially popular in Bali, which depict stories from the Indian epic Ramayana and fights between all kinds of evil spirits. By the way, "Ramayana" and another epic, "Mahabharata", became the basis of national literature and the famous shadow theater Wayang kulit. The performances of this theater last all night, serve not only as entertainment, but also as a kind of ritual. The puppeteer, called "dalang", skillfully manipulates puppets made of buffalo skin, the shadows from them fall on a white screen illuminated by a lamp. A good dalang makes one believe that there are at least a few people involved in the performance. This art is especially developed in Bali and Yogyakarta.

And yet the most recognizable and sought-after hypostasis of the national cultural heritage has been and remains painting, including batik, and wood carving. Not without reason, in the 50-60s of the last century, higher educational institutions were opened in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, graduating famous abstract and realist artists, and in Ubud (Bali) there is a whole academy of painting and carving. The results of her creations can be appreciated and purchased in the countless art shops of this artist's village.

Batik painting as an art object arose in the second half of the 20th century and reached special heights in Jokyakarta, where there are galleries and exhibitions dedicated exclusively to it. The growing demand from foreign tourists only spurs the painting and carving industry, although it makes it more standardized and primitive. But even among the countless outright consumer goods offered for sale, you can, if you wish, find real pearls at a completely bargain price - this is what makes the search process fascinating.

Speaking of local culture and customs, it is impossible not to mention kris daggers, which occupy a special place in the life of every man in Java and Bali. Their history goes back 2,000 years. The dagger protects its owner and his family from evil spirits and has magical powers.

The process of making real kris takes from several years to a whole human life. There were masters who made only one dagger, and its cost exceeded all reasonable limits. The blade was forged from meteoric iron in several layers and could hit the enemy even at a distance. Of course, the vast majority of kris are deprived of such strength and are made of ordinary steel, but they enjoy no less love and respect from their masters. At the entrance to the house there is always a shelf with a scabbard, where a wave-shaped blade with a carved handle carries out its honorable service.

Calendars

In Indonesia, calendars of various systems and eras are used. The most widespread is the modern solar Gregorian calendar.

Along with it, the lunar hijra is used, the month in which is the period between two new moons. There are twelve months in the Muslim calendar, as in the European one. Their names are the same as in the ancient solar-lunar Arabic calendar. Duration of the months: Muharram - 29 days, Safar - 30 days, Rabi Awwal - 29 days, Rabi Sani - 29 days, Jumada Awwal - 29 days, Jumada Sani - 30 days, Rajab - 29 days, Shaban - 30 days, Ramadan - 30 days, Shawwal - 30 days, Dhul-Qa'ada - 29 days, Dhul-Hijjah - 30 days. 12 months form a lunar year (354 days). Every third year is a leap year (355 days). 33 Hijri years are approximately equal to 32 solar years. There are special tables for converting Hijri dates to the European solar calendar.

Among the Javanese, the lunisolar Javanese calendar, created on the basis of the lunisolar calendar of ancient India of the Shaka era (chronology from 78 AD) retains its significance, especially in ritual practice, with a correlation with the Hijra. This calendar was introduced by Sultan Agung in 1633. The beginning of the year coincides with the beginning of the Hijri year. The months received the following names: suro/sura, sapar, mulud, bakdomulud, jumadil aval, jumadil akhir, rejeb, ruvah, pasa, saveal, hapit, rayagung, and the days of the week - minggu (Sunday), senin (Monday), selasa (Tuesday). ), rebo (Wednesday), kemis (Thursday), jamuah (Friday), setu (Saturday). The usual names of the days of the week are combined with the "bazaar" ones: klivon, legs, paing, pon, vage. These combinations (neptu) are of great importance, since they determine favorable or unfavorable days. For example, the following are considered bad for traveling: Sunday-Paing, Saturday-Mon, Friday-Wage, Tuesday-Clivon, Monday-Leg, Thursday-Wage. Eight years form the Windu calendar cycle.

In addition to astronomical, there are priestly calendars based on observations of the cycles of natural phenomena. These include, for example, the Javanese wuku calendar. The year in it consists of 30 seven-day weeks, or 210 days. Years are combined into cycles of 7, 8, 12 and 32 years. The years of the 12-year cycle bear the names of animals borrowed from the Hindu calendar, and the 7-year cycle bears the names of the day on which the year begins. The priests count the days, alternating in parallel weeks of a different number of days.

The Balinese also have a similar calendar called pavukon. With its help, the dates of temple holidays, other celebrations, various works, as well as days favorable or unfavorable for any undertakings are determined. The year consists of 30 weeks (wuku) of 7 days each. There are 6 special seven-day cycles (ingkel) in a year, repeating every 54 days. Along with the seven-day week, weeks are used in calculations, consisting of a different number of days (from one to ten). Dates are flexible and are set depending on the intersection of these weeks. A day is considered auspicious when, for example, the day "Kliwon" from the five-day week coincides with the day "Kajeng" from the week of the three-day cycle. But the most successful day is the one that is at the intersection of favorable days of three different weeks. Mastering the calendar with its favorable and unfavorable intersections requires special knowledge, which, as a rule, only priests possess.

Official holidays

Only three official holidays have a fixed date in Indonesia:

• New Year (January 1),
• Independence Day (August 17),
• Christmas (December 25).

The remaining holidays in Indonesia are religious, and their dates are determined according to the lunar calendars: Muslim - according to the Hijri, and Hindu-Buddhist - according to the Shaka calendar. These include:

• Night of the miraculous ascension of the Prophet Muhammad to Allah, Mikraj (27 Rajab);
• Nyepi is one of the main festivals in Balinese Hinduism (agama tirtha). It is celebrated on the island of Bali annually in March for two days and falls on the New Year according to the Shaka calendar;
• Death of the Prophet Isa - Good Friday (March-April);
• Idul Fitri, or Lebaran - a holiday of breaking the fast after the end of the fast (Turkic - Eid al-Fitr) (1 Shavval);
• Vesak - Thrice Holy Day, the celebration of the anniversary of the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. It falls on the full moon of the 6th lunar month (May). It is celebrated by the followers of Buddhism by making a pilgrimage to the temple of Borobudur;
• Ascension of Isa (April - May);
• Idul Adha - the feast of sacrifice (Turkic - kurban-bayram) in memory of the sacrifice of Ibrahim (10 dhul-hijja);
• Muslim New Year (1 Muharram) coinciding with Javanese New Year (1 Suro);
• The birthday of the Prophet Muhammad is Mawlid al-Nabi (12 Rabi Avwal).

The Muslim fast (puasa) falls on the month of Ramadan. During this month, during the daytime, before dark, eating and smoking are not allowed, as well as gambling, all kinds of entertainment and intimate relationships between spouses. The fast of Ramadan is established as a reminder that it was in this month that Muhammad was first overshadowed by Divine Revelation. He heard sayings, the meaning of which is the greatness of Allah.

In addition, national holidays (working days) are widely celebrated:

• Kartini Day - Enlightener, National Hero of Indonesia (April 21),
• Pancasil Day (October 1),
• Armed Forces Day (October 5),
• Youth Pledge Day (October 28),
• Heroes Day (November 10), etc.

Among the traditional holidays:

• Diwali (Deepavali) is the festival of lights. One of the most important holidays of the Indian community. It personifies the triumph of good and light over evil, darkness and ignorance.
• Galungan is one of the main festivals in Balinese Hinduism. It is celebrated on the island of Bali annually - every 210 days, lasts ten days. It personifies the victory of virtue "dharma" over evil "adharma", the glorification of the main deity Sanghyang Vidi Vasa. The last day of the holiday is called kuningan - from kuning - yellow, because. the main treat on this day is yellow, saffron rice.
• Chinese New Year (Tahun Baru Imlek) is a holiday of the Chinese community (January - February).
• Mantran - the ceremony of welcoming the New Year according to the Javanese calendar on the eve of the first day of the month of Suro in Yogyakarta.
• Sadrapan is a traditional festival of Javanese fishermen. It is held at the end of the year and aims to "propitiate" the guardian of the seas baurekso. The head of a buffalo is offered as a sacrifice to the sea monster.
• Saparan is a traditional ceremony in Java in the Yogyakarta region, designed to ward off misfortunes and misfortunes from people. Dolls made of rice and stuffed with coconut molasses (“blood”), representing a married couple (bekakak), are sacrificed.

Kitchen

The national cuisine combines the variety of regional traditions of the numerous peoples of Indonesia. Local cuisine has a specific taste, unfamiliar to Europeans. Local fragrant spices give unusualness to the dishes: tamarind, pepper (black, red, white and green), nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, garlic.

Rice occupies an honorable place in the diet of Indonesians, there are many cooking options for it here - cereals are boiled, fried, mixed with vegetables, seafood, eggs, meat.

It should be noted that pork is not eaten in Indonesia, as the vast majority of the population is Muslim.

Equally important in the Indonesian menu is fish, served salted, smoked, fried, boiled and dried.

A frequent ingredient in island cuisine is milk and coconut pulp.

An indispensable accompaniment of each meal is sauces: sweet and sour, nutty, soy, which add piquancy and originality to dishes.

Legumes, sago and sweet potatoes are no less popular in the country. The main courses are complemented by bamboo sprouts, palm heart, pickled mango and breadfruit.

Island cuisine offers delicacies such as shark fin soup, baked frog legs, fried swallow nests, cuttlefish with vegetables.

To extinguish the fire in the mouth from hot spices and sauces, local fruits, which in Indonesia are assigned the role of dessert, will help. In addition to exotic fruits, for sweets, Indonesians prepare pastries based on rice flour with a variety of fillings.

Food is traditionally laid out on a leaf of a banana palm and eaten only with the right hand. Before meals and after - obligatory washing of hands with lemon water. Tourists are served cutlery, except for a knife, which is considered by the locals as a sign of aggression.

Popular drinks are freshly squeezed fruit juices, tea, rice wines, arak palm vodka. Local beer has good taste.

The famous Kopi Luwak coffee is the most expensive in the world. They produce it in a very extravagant way - they take out overcooked coffee beans from the excrement of the palm marten.

Tourism

The development of tourism in Indonesia is characterized by high rates. The number of local residents traveling around the country reaches 160 million people a year. Particular attention is paid to guests from abroad as an important source of replenishment of foreign exchange reserves. Thus, in 2012, 7.2 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia. The material and technical base for receiving and servicing travelers is being strengthened, the hotel and restaurant industry is being improved, historical and cultural monuments are being restored, the network of national parks and reserves, resort areas is expanding.

Information support includes the publication of guides, maps, brochures in foreign languages, the opening of travel agencies abroad, participation in international and regional conferences and meetings on tourism issues. Seven tourism development centers have been opened abroad (Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Singapore, Sydney, London, Taipei).

Measures are being taken to liberalize visa and customs regimes (in 1993, citizens of 45 countries received the right to visa-free entry for up to two months if they have at least one thousand dollars), new excursion routes are being developed. Along with recreational tourism, scientific, business, ecological, and health tourism is developing: Bali has the only thalassotherapy center in Southeast Asia (recovery using sea water, plankton and algae).

Targeted campaigns to attract travelers under the motto "Visit Indonesia!" are becoming regular. (the first campaign - in 1991, the last - in 2011). The government pins great hopes on the further development of tourism with the implementation of the plan adopted under the auspices of the UN to create a single transport system uniting all the countries of South and Southeast Asia. In accordance with it, the construction of the Trans-Sumatra highway has been completed, and roads in Java and other islands are being modernized. Indonesia is an active member of the World Tourism Organization.

Indonesia was named the best place to surf in the World's Top 100 Waves poll by the Australian magazine Tracks. In the list of a hundred beaches for surfing in the first place is Desert Point on about. Lombok. Followed by: Grajangan in Java (third place); Padang-Padang in Bali (10th); Hollow Trees (12), Macaronis (15), Nias (31) in Sumatra; Lakey Peak (33) on Sumbawa; One Palm Point (34) in Java; Periscopes (44) on Sumbawa; Asu (45), Bawa (59) in Sumatra; Canggu (68), Kuta Beach (93) in Bali; Lances Left (100) in Sumatra.

Several Indonesian hotels (including the Four Seasons Resort Bali and Amandari in Bali) are on the list of the 100 best hotels in the world, and Bali itself is the second largest tourist destination in the world ranking (after Sydney) and the first in Asia.

Currency

The national currency in Indonesia is the Indonesian rupiah. There are 100 sen in 1 rupee, however, due to high inflation, there are no sen in circulation. Banknotes are issued in denominations of 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000 rupees, and coins in 25, 50, 100, 500, 1000 rupees. Foreign currency can be easily exchanged at any bank or exchange office. Torn banknotes are accepted at a slightly reduced rate at an exchange office in the very center of Jakarta on the street. Durian (Jl. Durian). Course as of November 2014:

1 Russian ruble equals 300 rupees.
1 American dollar is equal to 12.290 rupees.

Avoid street changers, suspicious and unauthorized exchange offices (there are times when "left" exchangers themselves write under the sign that they are authorized). You may be slipped counterfeit money or "show trick" as a result of which you will receive less of a significant part of the money (from 10% to 50%), be careful!

shopping

Indonesia is distinguished by the high quality of goods - both souvenirs and clothing. Handicrafts are most valued: jewelry, leather, wickerwork and textiles; crafts made of wood, stone and silver; homespun carpets; painted porcelain; batik. Guests of the country are happy to buy local honey, Javanese jasmine tea and coffee.

The best fashion stores are located in Jakarta's major shopping malls - Taman Anggrek Mall and Plaza Indonesia, where goods from popular world brands are presented. But it will not be possible to save money in such stores, and budget shopping awaits tourists in traditional markets. Bargaining is appropriate here and allows you to reduce the initial price by 2 or even 3 times.

Shops are open daily from 09.00 to 18.00, in tourist places - until 21.00. In some Muslim areas, shops are closed on Fridays.

Accommodation

Indonesia has an excellent choice of modern hotels of any category that meet international standards and are distinguished by a high level of service. The hotels are neat and clean, guests are provided with free bottled drinking water.

It is recommended to book hotel rooms in advance during the dry season, after the holy month of Ramadan, on New Year and Christmas holidays, as well as at the end of March, when the New Year is celebrated in Indonesia for the third time (the first in October, the second in December, along with everything the world).

At the service of vacationers - hotels of almost all international hotel chains - Ramada, Holiday Inn, InterContinental. Accommodation options - bungalows, standard rooms, luxury villas. Hotels offer guests golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools, spa centers. Many Indonesian hotels charge tourists a deposit that is returned upon check-out - a guarantor in case of compensation for possible damage. Prices for a room in a 3 * hotel start at $ 50, in the "four" accommodation will cost $ 100-120 for two, in a five-star hotel rooms cost from $ 200.

It is easy to find more budget hotels in the country, usually located along noisy streets and providing a minimum set of amenities. A room in a boarding house, losmen or pengynapan (inexpensive hotels) can be rented for $10-20 per day.

Transport

Tourists usually travel as part of excursion groups, by taxi, or use the services of local guides with a car.

Public transport in Indonesia is poorly developed, but in large cities there are buses, minibuses "bemo", auto rickshaws, auto rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and horse-drawn carts. When calculating the fare, be careful - tourists can be asked for much more money than local residents.

Rail transport is only available in Java and Sumatra.

Driving a rental car is not the best way to get around the country. Traffic in Indonesia is left-handed, country roads are narrow and not of very high quality. Many roads are one-way at different times of the day, but you will not find any warning signs about when the passage is allowed. There are few road signs, and they often contain conflicting information.

For travel over long distances, it is more reasonable to use an airplane.

Helpful information

Safety

Indonesia is a Muslim country, therefore it is necessary to follow some rules of conduct: women should not sunbathe topless, do not wear short shorts or skirts, cover their shoulders and knees in mosques and institutions. Before visiting the temples, it is recommended to wear a sarong (a piece of fabric covering the legs), which can be rented in a shop next to the sanctuary. During religious rituals, one should not talk loudly and clap your hands. You can not touch the head of local residents and point your finger at them. It is considered offensive, sitting in a “foot to foot” position, to put the lower limb in one direction. Also avoid talking in raised tones and displays of tender feelings in public.

The left hand of the local peoples is considered “unclean”, so try not to take or give anything with it when communicating with the natives, and in no case touch your interlocutor.

In the rainy season, one should refuse to visit the mountainous regions of the country, since landslides are frequent at this time of the year, huge masses of which suddenly fall on settlements and destroy them.

In Indonesia, you must always wear a hat, sunglasses and use sunscreen, as the level of natural radiation is significantly exceeded here. Wear rubber slippers before swimming to avoid injury from corals or stepping on poisonous underwater inhabitants.

In no case do not touch local animals - wounds from their teeth and claws can become seriously infected.

Swim only in specially designated areas - there are strong undercurrents and high tidal waves around the islands.

Indonesia is a paradise for insects, many of which are disease carriers. Try not to leave sweet stains on your clothes while eating and shower as often as possible to avoid attracting insects with the smell of sweat. If you decide to visit the country during the wet season, then it would be useful to drink a course of antimalarial drugs, stock up on mosquito nets and repellents.

On Komodo Island, stay away from the famous monitor lizard, its attacks are unpredictable, and the poisonous saliva of a huge reptile will not allow the wound to heal for a long time.

Drink only bottled water. Pay attention to the fact that ice is prepared for you only from boiled water. Be careful when eating food from street stalls. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the fruits with running water and scald with boiling water.

Indonesia has a low crime rate, but thefts are not uncommon in tourist areas, so do not show large amounts of cash and valuables to others.

In Jakarta, for smoking in public places, the violator can be imprisoned for 6 months or fined about $6,000.

Distribution and use of narcotic substances are punishable by death, at best - 20 years in prison.

Due to the increased activity of Islamic fundamentalists, it is not recommended to visit West Timor and the province of Irian Jaya.