INDONESIA - THE 15000 ISLE ARCHIPELAGO

Indonesia is a very large country, as large as Europe. It is a five thousand island archipelago; their names lead to dreaming. Sumatra, Java, Bali, Sulawesi, Moluccas Islands, and Western Papua: how to not feel being an adventurer or discoverer when earring these destinations? They evoke spices, sun, and welcoming populations with so astonishing cultural practices.

Indonesian culture is strongly supported by Indian influence. As from the beginning of our era in Sumatra and Java, and around the VI and VII centuries in the other islands, Indian traders came, accompanied by priests and clerks, who brought their cultural, religious and arts models. This culture reaches its golden age in the fourteenth century during the Majaphit Empire rule.

At that time, Islam already began spreading in Asia, up to the Chinese Sea. The Javanese Mataram Empire built itself in federating small Muslim states, on the ruins of the Majaphit Empire. Java and Bali became enemies. Thousands of Hindu priests, soldiers and workers flew to Bali to escape the Muslim conquerors. Bali federated the close islands of Lombok and Sumbawan.

But the first “orang putih” (“white men” in Indonesian) arrived from Europe in the same time. First came some Portuguese and Spaniards. Next were the Dutch. They felt Bali so charming that they named it “Jonck Holland” – Young Holland. Batavia (the future Jakarta) was established in northern Java. The whole conquest of the archipelago lasted quite long. Bali resisted up to the beginning of the 20^th century.

Dutch colonization lasted only short time. As from the beginning of the Second World War, Japanese troops occupied Indonesia for its oil and raw material resources. Indonesians became conscious Europeans were not that powerful any longer. From 1945 to 1948, they successfully fought against Dutch attempts to take over the territory. Netherlands accepted Indonesia independence in 1949.

The beginnings of the new country were hard. In 1965, a communist coup d’état attempt failed. The reaction and the control by conservative moderated Muslims led to huge massacres among the civilians. After some black years, economic development became real, but it must be said that corruption also widely expanded. Indonesia had to wait for the 90’s and the end of the crisis of Aceh (separatism attempt) and Western Timor (fail in annexing the only territory in the archipelago that was a former Portuguese colony) to reach a real democratic situation.

To-day, Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world, with more than 300 million inhabitants … with the very exception of Bali, which remained deeply Hinduist. Bur Muslim Indonesians are widely tolerant; they always keep a place inside of them for the Hinduist values concerning the respect of the Nature. And all do love the Ramayana: this is the story of Rama and Sita. They know perfectly, and they are capable to listen again and again to it during nights and nights.

Take time to discover Indonesia and its tourisms: a deep culture, which is so present everywhere in the archipelago through architecture and handicrafts; nice shores in perfectly equipped hotels and resorts; more authentic tourism in remote isles where one still can meet ancient customs of tribal life; trekking up to the top of active volcanoes; and among all, Indonesian people themselves, who are so sympathetic and nice to speak with.