Indonesia

Balmy breezes, silky sand and the occasional Komodo Dragon.

Adventure looms large in this vast and steamy archipelago, where the best of southeast Asia's spicy melange simmers tantalisingly. Heady scents, vivid colours, dramatic vistas and diverse cultures spin and multiply, their potent brew leaving your senses reeling.

Indonesia's cities are in a constant state of urban evolution, where dense populations, technology and construction live in hectic symbiosis. But most of the archipelago's territory remains unexplored, concealing a wealth of cultures and a myriad of landscapes.

On 25 November, an earthquake measuring 6.7 in magnitude struck the island of Sumbawa. Three people were killed and at least 45 injured, and hundreds of buildings were destroyed or damaged. Travellers to the area should expect disruptions and monitor local news for updates.

High level terrorism-related warnings have been issued by Western governments concerning travel in Indonesia. Travellers are advised to check their local consular information and monitor the situation in Indonesia closely before making travel plans.

Indonesia has suffered several natural disasters in recent years. Areas of Aceh and Northern Sumatra continue to recover from the Dec 2004 tsunami. An earthquake of around magnitude 8.0 struck 130km (80mi) off the west coast of Sumatra on 12 September. Deaths and extensive damage were reported in the Mentawai Islands, Bengkulu and Padang areas. Recovery and rebuilding efforts are ongoing. The area around Yogjakarta in Central Java was struck by a major earthquake in May 2006, while Pangaradan in southern Java was devastated by an tsunami in July 2006. Travellers visiting these areas should be aware that they are still rebuilding and transport and infrastructure may be affected.

Mt Merapi in Central Java, Mt Kelud in East Java and Mt Karangetang on Siau Island, north of Sulawesi, are highly active volcanoes. Mt Kelud is currently on an eruption warning and nearby villages have been evacuated. Travellers should check news sources for any heightened activity before visiting these areas.

Areas of Central Sulawesi, Aceh, Papua and Maluku are experiencing unrest; however, safe travel to some parts of these areas is still possible. There are also heightened security risks in parts of Kalimantan and West Timor. Monitor news if travelling extensively in Indonesia, especially relating to the volatile situation in Aceh.

Check out Safe Travel for updated government warnings or the Thorn Tree travel forum for some good advice from travellers.

The Coconut Revolution

Asia - Indonesia

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Raising West Papua.

Adocumentary about the fight of the people of Bougainville against New Guinea and imperialistic mining corporations that only want to exploit Bougainville and its people leaving the environment of the island totally devastated. I wish I could help these outstanding people in the fight for their culture and nature anyhow! This is the modern-day story of a native peoples' remarkable victory over Western Colonial power. A Pacific island rose up in arms against giant mining corporation Rio Tinto Zinc (RTZ) - and won despite a military occupation and blockade. When RTZ decided to step up production at the Panguna Mine on the island of Bougainville, they got more than they bargained for. The island's people had enough of seeing their environment ruined and being treated as pawns by RTZ. RTZ refused to compensate them, so the people decided it was time to put an end to outside interference in the island's affairs. To do this they forcibly closed down the mine. The Papua New Guinea Army (PNGDF) were mobilised in an attempt to put down the rebellion. The newly formed Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) began the fight with bows & arrows, and sticks & stones. Against a heavily armed adversary they still managed to retain control of most of their island. Realising they were beaten on the ground, the PNGDF imposed a gunboat blockade around Bougainville, in an attempt to strangle the BRA into submission. But the blockade seemed to of had little or no effect. With no shipments getting in or out of the island, how did new electricity networks spring up in BRA held territory? How were BRA troops able to drive around the island without any source of petrol or diesel? What was happening within the blockade was an environmental and spiritual revolution. The ruins of the old Panguna mine where being recycled to supply the raw materials for the world's first eco-revolution.

About Papua.

Map Papua

Papua, easternmost province of Indonesia, occupying the western half of the island of New Guinea. The province became part of Indonesia in 1969. It was known as Irian Jaya (Victorious Irian) from 1973 to 2002, when it changed its name to Papua. Papua is bounded on the north by the Pacific Ocean, on the west by the Ceram Sea and the Banda Sea, on the south by the Arafura Sea, and on the east by the country of Papua New Guinea, which occupies the eastern half of New Guinea. The province has an area of 421,981 sq km (162,928 sq mi), more than one-fifth of Indonesia's total land area.

Papua lies south of the equator and is predominantly mountainous. The Maoke Mountains run from west to east and contain the province's highest peak, Puncak Jaya (5,030 m/16,503 ft), which is also the highest peak in Indonesia. The second highest peak in the province is Puncak Trikora at 4,750 m (15,584 ft). Rivers in the province include the Baliem, Mamberamo, Taritatu, and the Tariku. The climate of Papua is tropical and wet, although a relatively dry period occurs between June and August. Precipitation totals as much as 5,500 mm (200 in) annually. The mountain peaks are snow-capped throughout the year.

Local

Papua is a naturalist's paradise. The range of habitats includes alpine, heath, swamp, marsh, and several types of forests. Dense rain forest north of the mountains gives way to pine forests in the higher elevations. The mountains' southern fringe is bordered by extensive mangrove swamps and tidal forests. About 60 percent of Papua is forested. The different habitats support an immense variety of plant life, with many species unique to New Guinea. The island is home to nearly 3,000 species of orchid. Other unusual plants include the pitcher plant, the giant anthouse plant, the sago palm, the screw pine, ferns, and rattan. Animal life in the province includes many species of marsupials, such as tree kangaroos, wallabies, bandicoots, opossums, and cuscuses; flying foxes; and monotremes. Crocodiles, snakes, and lizards inhabit coastal areas. There are more than 200 species of frogs and as many as 100,000 species of insects, including many beetles and spiders. Papua is especially noted for its flying fauna. Birdwing butterflies are found in many areas, and more than 600 species of birds have been identified, including the brush turkey, the bowerbird, the cassowary, and the spectacular bird of paradise.

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Indonesia

Asia - Indonesia

About Indonesia.

map Indonesia

Republic of Indonesia, island republic of Southeast Asia, constituting most of the Malay Archipelago. Indonesia is the worldâs fourth most populous country after China, India, and the United States. More than half the people live on Java, where Jakarta, Indonesiaâs capital and largest city, is located. Although the islands are home to more than 100 ethnic groups, most Indonesians are of mixed Malay origins and practice Islam. Several of Indonesiaâs islands hosted powerful trading kingdoms between the 5th and 16th centuries ad. The Dutch took control of the islands in the early 1600s and for three centuries profited from Indonesiaâs economy, largely at the expense of the local population. Dutch authority over the islands peaked in the early 20th century. But growing Indonesian nationalism led to a declaration of independence in 1945, and the Dutch finally transferred sovereignty in 1949. The country enjoyed tremendous economic growth in the 1980s and much of the 1990s, partly due to Indonesiaâs abundant natural resources and increases in the manufacturing and services sectors. As a result, Indonesiaâs middle class grew considerably, but poverty remained widespread. Indonesia plunged into an economic crisis in 1997 that led to significant political changes, including the resignation of President Suharto, who had been in office for more than 30 years. Democratic elections held in 1999 installed a new government. The Javanese, who live mainly in central and eastern Java, are the largest ethnic group, constituting 45 percent of Indonesiaâs population. On the western end of Java are the Sundanese, who make up 14 percent of the population and are the second largest group. Other significant ethnic groups include the Madurese, who hail from Madura, off the northeast coast of Java, and make up 8 percent of the population; and the ethnic Malay, who are dispersed throughout several areas, and make up 7 percent of the population. Among the ethnic groups on Sumatra are the Bataks, who cluster around Lake Toba; the Minangkabau, from the western highlands; the Acehnese, from the far north; and the Lampungese, who live in the south. On Sulawesi, the Minahasans live in the north, the Bugis and Makassarese cluster around the coasts in the south, and the Toraja inhabit much of the interior. Kalimantan is populated by more than 200 groups; most of these are tribes of the Dayak ethnic group in the interior or are ethnic Malay living on the coast. The people of Papua are of Melanesian descent, as are some residents from smaller eastern islands. Several million Indonesians of Chinese descent are concentrated in urban areas. Smaller numbers of Indians, Arabs, and Europeans are scattered around the archipelago.

Ethnic tensions simmer in Indonesia. The movement of many Javanese to Papua under the transmigration program has created tensions with native residents there. Many Indonesians have also come into conflict with residents of Chinese origin, who have been historically successful in business ventures and generally enjoy a higher standard of living than Indonesians of Malay descent. Frustration over the actual or perceived wealth of the Chinese has led to riots in towns and cities on Java and other parts of Indonesia, particularly in 1997 and 1998 when the Chinese were blamed for Indonesiaâs economic problems. Many Chinese Indonesians fled the country at that time.

About East Timor

Map East Timor

East Timor or Timor-Leste, independent republic in Southeast Asia, forming the eastern half of the island of Timor. It is bordered by the Wetar Strait to the north and the Timor Sea to the south. The western half of the island belongs to the Republic of Indonesia and is part of East Nusa Tengarra province. East Timor was a Portuguese colony from the early 16th century until 1975 and was claimed as a province of Indonesia from 1976 to 1999. In August 1999 the East Timorese population voted to become an independent nation, and the territory was subsequently placed under the administration of the United Nations (UN) as it transitioned to complete independence. It became a fully independent republic in May 2002 officially named the RepÃºblica DemocrÃ¡tica de Timor-Leste (Portuguese for Democratic Republic of East Timor). The national capital is Dili, a small port city located on the northern coast. East Timor had an estimated population of 859,700 in 1996, when it was still under Indonesian control. Following the vote for independence in August 1999, violent rampages by Indonesian militia groups forced many East Timorese to flee their homes. UN peacekeeping forces arrived to restore order later that year, and many East Timorese refugees subsequently returned. The estimated population of East Timor in 2006 was 1,062,777. Dili has a population of 48,731 (2003 estimate). Some 93 percent of the population lives in rural areas. Many East Timorese people are descendants of the Tetum, who traditionally inhabited the south central area of the island. These people speak the Tetum language, a Malayo-Polynesian language of the Austronesian language family. Other smaller ethnic groups, many with their own languages, live in small, scattered communities.

East Timor refugees

Tetum and Portuguese are the official languages of East Timor. Only a small minority of the population speaks Portuguese, which was introduced when East Timor was a colony of Portugal. However, a variant of Tetum called Tetum Prasa incorporates many Portuguese loan words; it is widely spoken in and around Dili. Bahasa Indonesia and English are also spoken in the country. Literacy is relatively low in East Timor; only 43 percent of individuals aged 15 and older can read and write. Roman Catholicism is the religion of about 90 percent of the population. Many East Timorese continue to follow traditional animist beliefs. Although Islam and Hinduism have significant followings in many parts of the Malay Archipelago, including Indonesia, neither religion is well established in East Timor. East Timor covers 14,874 sq km (5,743 sq mi) and includes the main eastern side of Timor, the enclave of Ocussi (Ambeno) in the western portion of Timor, and some small islands. It has a mountainous terrain; Tata Mailau (2,950 m/9,679 ft), in the west, is the highest peak. Many rivers flow from the mountains through the coastal plains. The climate is hot with monsoon rains falling between December and March. Daily temperatures range from highs of 30Â° to 34Â°C (86Â° to 93Â°F) to lows of 20Â° to 23Â°C (68Â° to 73Â°F). October to December is the hottest period. In the south, the foothills of the mountains are covered in acacia and eucalyptus, but the north coast is arid, with a severe dry season.

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Stealing a Nation - Chagos Islands

Asia - Indonesia

About the Chagos Archipelago.

Map Chagos Archipel

The Chagos Archipelago is a group of seven atolls with more than 60 individual tropical islands in the Indian Ocean, that lies about 500 km (300 miles) due south of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, and 1600 km (1000 miles) southwest of India, halfway between Africa and Indonesia. They are the most isolated group of islands in the world. They are part of the British Indian Ocean Territory and were home to the Ilois for more than a century until their forced expulsion in the 1960s by the UK and USA. The entire land area of the islands is a mere 63.17 kmÂ², with the largest island, Diego GarcÃa, having an area of 27.20 kmÂ². The total area, including lagoons within atolls, however, is about 15,000 kmÂ², of which 13,000 kmÂ² are accounted by the Great Chagos Bank, one of the largest atoll structures of the world. The shelf area is 20,607 kmÂ², and the Exclusive Economic Zone, which borders to the corresponding zone of the Maldive Islands in the north, has an area of 636,600 kmÂ² (including territorial waters). The archipelago consists of seven atoll formations of all sizes which have islands or cays permanently over water, including the largest atoll structure of the world, the Great Chagos bank with a total area (mostly water) of 13,000 kmÂ². The islands were discovered by Vasco da Gama in the early 16th century, then claimed in the 18th century by France as a possession of Mauritius. On 27 April 1786 the Chagos Isands and Diego Garcia were claimed for Britain. The territory was ceded to the United Kingdom by treaty in 1814 and on 31 August 1903 the Chagos Archipelago was administratively separated from the Seychelles and attached to Mauritius. The islands were retained as part of the British Indian Ocean Territory when Mauritius gained independence. Since 1976, the archipelago has been coterminous with the British Indian Ocean Territory, but it is also claimed by Mauritius and Seychelles. The archipelago's first inhabitants arrived in the late 18th century. By the mid-20th century they numbered almost 2,000, of mixed African and South Asian descent. The entire population, known as the Ilois (French for islanders), was expelled from the islands and sent to Mauritius by the British Government between 1967 and 1971 to make way for a joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia. Currently, the only habitation is a joint US-UK defence and naval support facility on Diego Garcia. Other uninhabited islands, especially in the Salomon group, are common stopping points for long-distance sailors travelling from Southeast Asia to the Red Sea or the coast of Africa. The largest individual islands are Diego GarcÃa (27.20 kmÂ²), Eagle (Great Chagos Bank, 2.45 kmÂ²), Ile Pierre (Peros Banhos, 1.50 kmÂ²), Eastern Egmont (Egmont Islands, 1.50 kmÂ²), Ile de Coin (Peros Banhos, 1.28 kmÂ²) and Ile Boddam (Salomon Islands, 1.08 kmÂ²). The number of atolls in the Chagos Islands is given as four or five in most sources, plus two island groups and two single islands, mainly because it is not recognized that the Great Chagos Bank is a huge atoll structure (including those two island groups and two single islands), and because it is not recognized that Blenheim Reef and Speakers Bank have islets or cays above or just reaching the high water mark. In addition to the seven atolls with dry land reaching at least the high water mark, there are about seven to nine banks, most of which can be considered permanently submerged atoll structures.

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