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Map of Indonesia
 Indonesia is home to more than 100 different ethnic groups and is one of the world’s most highly populated countries with over 500 different languages and dialects. It was a Dutch colony for 300 years until it gained independence in 1945. Although there is a wealth of natural resources, many of which have led to considerable economic growth, there is still an enormous rich-poor divide. There are almost 13,700 islands in the Indian and Pacific oceans, but only around half of these are inhabited. The islands occupy nearly an eighth of the world’s circumference. More than half the population live on Java, where Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, is situated. Jakarta itself is a rather frenetic city but the beaches of Pangandaran in West Java are more attractive to most tourists. Another of Java’s cities is Yogyakarta, set in one of the most fertile areas of the island. Nearby Mount Merapi is an active volcano and the ruins of an 8th century Buddhist temple in Borobudur are not far away.
 Perhaps the best-known and one of the most beautiful of the Indonesian islands is Bali. Beautiful beaches abound on this and the neighbouring islands. Perhaps the best known of the island's resorts is Kuta Beach. In addition to the attractions of sun, surf and scenery, there are also the cultural attractions of the numerous tiny temples and the traditional crafts of the area. Komodo is home to the Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard. Flores is where the best surfing is found and each of the neighbouring islands has its own particular attractions. Lombok is of particular interest because of its mountains of volcanic origin, rising to heights of more than 12,000 feet.
Medan, on the northeast coast of Sumatra, is an ideal centre from which to visit the orang-utan sanctuary at Bukit Lawang. It is also the starting points for those wishing to visit the resorts of Danau Toba and one of the best-known surfing centres at Pulau Nias. Much of the north east coast of the island is low and swampy with extensive mangrove forests.
Sulawesi is another of the major islands of Indonesia, fascinating for the strange rites of the ancient Torajans. It is close to the Malaysian districts of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo.
 Perhaps one of the most attractive aspects of the islands is the wealth and diversity of plant and animal life. There are 5000 species of orchid, tropical rain forests, nipa palms in some areas, whilst the more temperate zones on the hills have forests of oak and chestnut. Animal life includes wild oxen and Proboscis monkeys in Kalimantan, elephants, tigers and tapirs in Sumatra, and the large cassowary bird in Irian Jaya. All the Indonesian islands are tropical, with temperatures rarely dropping below 21ºC, except in the mountain areas. It can be as hot as 33ºC at sea level. The best time to visit is between May and October, avoiding the rainy season in most of the islands. Christmas and New Year are also popular dates for tourists to this area.
Map of Indonesia
map courtesey of CIA World Factbook - Indonesia
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