A Stopover Trip to Indonesia

By Line,

M.A.Moiz

              on the way to my home country few weeks back I was taken an officially brief stopover to Indonesia which is officially called as Republic of Indonesia is a nation in Southeast Asia comprising the very beautiful and natural 17,500 islands, it is the world's largest Archipelagic state. With a population of over 200 million, which I heard it’s the world's fourth most populous country, when I was on the way to my hotel in the capital city Jakarta  I have seen lots of culture in one roof.  Despite its large population and densely populated regions, they use to be very friendly and well mannered with the tourists, and guides them when ever need.

Since I was on official trip to Indonesia I came to know it has vast areas of wilderness that support the world's second highest level of biodiversity and the country which is richly endowed with natural resources, yet poverty is a defining feature of contemporary Indonesia. The nutmeg plant is native to Indonesia's Banda islands. Once one of the world's most valuable commodities.

Jakarta the capital of Indonesia and its largest commercial center, A  Minangkabau woman in traditional dress. Most Indonesians are descendant from Austronesian-speaking peoples, who originated from Taiwan. The other major grouping are Melanesians, who inhabit eastern Indonesia. There are around 300 distinct native ethnicities in Indonesia, and 742 different languages and dialects.

The official national language, Indonesian, is universally taught in schools, and is spoken by nearly every Indonesian. It is the language of business, politics, national media, education, and academia. It was originally a lingua franca for most of the region, Most Indonesians speak at least one of the several hundred local languages (bahasa daerah), often as their first language. Of these, Javanese is the most widely-spoken, the language of the largest ethnic group. On the other hand, Papua has 500 or more indigenous Papuan and Austronesian languages, in a region of just 2.7 million people.

Wayang kulit shadow puppet performance as seen by the audience

Indonesia has around 300 ethnic groups, each with cultural differences developed over centuries, and influenced by Arabic, Chinese, Malay, and European sources. Textiles such as Batik, Ikat and Sogket are created across Indonesia in styles that vary by region. The most dominant influences on Indonesian architecture have traditionally been Indian; however, Chinese, Arab, and European architectural influences have been significant. The most popular sports in Indonesia are badminton and football; Liga Indonesia is the country's premier football club league. Traditional sports include sepak takraw, and bull racing in Madura. In areas with a history of tribal warfare, mock fighting contests are held, such as, caci in Flores, and Pasola in Sumba. Pencak Silat is an Indonesian martial art. Sports in Indonesia are generally male-orientated and spectator sports are often associated with illegal gambling.

A selection of Indonesian food, including Soto Ayam (chicken noodle soup), sate kerang (shellfish kebabs), telor pindang (preserved eggs), perkedel (fritter), and es teh manis (iced tea)

Indonesian cuisine varies by region and is based on Chinese, European, Middle Eastern and Indian precedents. Rice is the main staple food and is served with side dishes of meat and vegetables. Spices (notably chili), coconut milk, fish and chicken are fundamental ingredients. Indonesian traditional music includes gamelan and keroncong. Dangdut is a popular contemporary genre of pop music that draws influence from Arabic, Indian, and Malay folk music. The Indonesian film Industry’s popularity peaked in the 1980s and dominated cinemas in Indonesia, although it declined significantly in the early 1990s. Between 2000 and 2005, the number of Indonesian films released each year has steadily increased.

Many of Indonesia's peoples have strongly-rooted oral traditions, which help to define and preserve their cultural identities.