Whenever I think of Indonesia, the first thing that comes to mind is diversity. This is a country that has been shaped by years of interactions with the sea-faring world, and thus it has absorbed some interesting characteristics that cannot be found anywhere in the world.
But first, a word about the geography of Indonesia. It is an archipelago consisting of thousands of islands and 34 provinces. Yup, you read it right, thousands of islands. And within all these islands, there are noticeable differences with regards to language, culture and society. For example, in the 'mainstream' Indonesia, you could be enjoying a relaxing holiday on the beaches of Java but if you venture to the Special Autonomous Regions of Indonesia, you can find them being governed by historic royal lineages among other very exciting features of the Regions. This is what revs me up about Indonesia, a chance to witness all this diversity in action.
Similarly, the ethnic makeup of Indonesia is also very exciting. You can find ethnic Chinese, Indians, Javanese and many others all sharing the same land. As explained previously, this has happened as a result of interactions with the wider world as a result of maritime trade. A good example would be the case of Muslims in Indonesia. Islam came to Indonesia through spice traders, and today Indonesia boasts the largest Muslim population in the entire world! This shows that Indonesia is a land that accepts, assimilates and makes the guests one of their own. Happy to be going there in a few weeks!
But first, a word about the geography of Indonesia. It is an archipelago consisting of thousands of islands and 34 provinces. Yup, you read it right, thousands of islands. And within all these islands, there are noticeable differences with regards to language, culture and society. For example, in the 'mainstream' Indonesia, you could be enjoying a relaxing holiday on the beaches of Java but if you venture to the Special Autonomous Regions of Indonesia, you can find them being governed by historic royal lineages among other very exciting features of the Regions. This is what revs me up about Indonesia, a chance to witness all this diversity in action.
Similarly, the ethnic makeup of Indonesia is also very exciting. You can find ethnic Chinese, Indians, Javanese and many others all sharing the same land. As explained previously, this has happened as a result of interactions with the wider world as a result of maritime trade. A good example would be the case of Muslims in Indonesia. Islam came to Indonesia through spice traders, and today Indonesia boasts the largest Muslim population in the entire world! This shows that Indonesia is a land that accepts, assimilates and makes the guests one of their own. Happy to be going there in a few weeks!
It'll be most interesting to see how all these different groups interact. Not just people, but also plants and animals and their own internal ecosystems. Sustainable diversity also means a certain level of harmony kept and I am particularly curious about how that harmony can be achieved and maintained over time.
ReplyDeleteThousands of islands, wow. The idea of exploring even a tiny percentage of this vast, wonderful land is so exciting. I am so convinced that we have much more to learn from our hosts in Bayat than we can ever hope to teach them.
ReplyDelete