Indonesia is located in Southeast Asia and borders the countries of Malaysia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea. With more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia is the largest island country in the world – including such wonderful islands as Bali, Sumatra or Bornea with their dream beaches and beautiful nature. However, natural disasters and terrorist attacks have somewhat spoiled the carefree enjoyment of travel in recent years. See ANDYEDUCATION for education in Indonesia.
| Capital City | jakarta |
| Size | 1,910,931 km² |
| Resident | 263,991,000 |
| Official Language | Indonesian |
| Currency | rupiah |
| Time Zone | UTC+7 to UTC-9 |
| Telephone Area Code | +62 |
Fast facts to know
- 80% of the population belongs to Islam.
- English as a language is widespread.
- Although Indonesia is considered a safe travel destination, natural disasters and terrorist attacks pose a serious risk.
- Germans need a passport that is valid for 6 months and a return flight ticket to enter the country.
- Indonesia has more than 17,000 islands.
- The most popular sport in the country is soccer.
- Indonesia is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can occur.
- Indonesia has more than 54,000 km of coastline.
- Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population in the world.
- There are around 20,000 temples in Bali.
Exciting cities in Indonesia
- Yogyakarta
- jakarta
- Ubud
- Bukittinggi
- Candy Dasa
- sanur
- sound
- Village Wae Rebo
History of Indonesia
- 200 BC BC Hindu kingdom on the islands of Java and Sumatra.
- 500 AD Beginnings of the Buddhist Srivijaya Empire (also Sri vijaya) on Sumatra.
- In the first millennium AD, Buddhism and Hinduism gained influence in Indonesia, and trading empires emerged.
- From the 11th century, the Srivijaya Empire collapsed.
- From the 15th century Arab traders trigger incipient conversion to Islam.
- 16th century Europeans advance into the Indonesian area.
- From 1600 Dutchmen become colonial rulers of “Dutch East Indies”.
- World War II: Dutch rule ends with Japanese occupation.
- 1945 Indonesian independence proclaimed.
- 1947/48 Dutch-Indonesian War.
- 1963 Formation of the neighboring state of Malaysia is rejected by Indonesia, which leads to conflict between the two states.
- 1975 Indonesian invasion of East Timor after proclaiming East Timor’s independence.
- 1965 After a failed coup attempt by the military, massacres of communists and the Chinese minority follow with a million deaths.
- 1998 economic crisis with ensuing protests.
- 2002 terrorist attack on Bali.
Climate & travel weather in Indonesia
- North: tropical, always humid climate.
- South: alternating humid, tropical monsoon climate (rainy season Oct-April, hot dry season July-September).
- Small, monthly temperature fluctuations.
- Very high humidity (over 90%).
- Recommended travel time:
- May until October.
- Better to avoid the rainy season.
Ideas for trips in Indonesia
- Beaches, rice fields and temples in Bali.
- Stratovolcano Bromo.
- Islands in the Raja Ampat archipelago.
- Temple complex Borobudur.
- Nyang Nyang Beach in Uluwatu.
- Komodo Island (among the 7 Natural Wonders).
- Snorkeling off the Gili Islands.
- Visit floating markets in Banjarmasin.
- Diving & enjoying the underwater world.
Food & Drink in Indonesia
- Influenced by the cuisine of neighboring Asian countries (mainly China & India).
- Dutch influences from the colonial era can also be felt (especially in the desserts).
- Most dishes are based on rice.
- Also cassava, yams, noodles often served as a side dish.
- Traditionally eaten a lot of fish and chicken and served with nasi (rice).
- Fish & seafood likes to be processed.
- Eating is traditionally done with the right hand and without cutlery.
- Lots of fresh vegetables are used.
- Dishes are seasoned well and strongly, e.g. B. with ginger, turmeric, galangal, coriander, chili.
- Coconut milk is used in many dishes.
- Usually little pork (Islam).
- Sweet desserts quite popular.
- Street food stalls widespread.
- Markets have wonderfully fresh fruit & co.
- National dish: fried chicken (ayam goreng).
- Cuisine on Bali and Lombok is fiery and varied.
- Food is usually lukewarm to cold.
- It is better to avoid unboiled water.
- Tea and coffee are drunk very sweet.
- Fruit juices are very tasty and widely available.
- You can get Storm Beer and other types of beer almost everywhere, but good wine is rare.
- Palm wine Tuak liked to drink.
- Typical dishes:
- Satè (meat skewers with chilli sauce).
- Rawon (black meat soup with Keluak spice).
- Pepesan ikan (Fish steamed with spices in banana leaf).
- Sate lilit (minced fish or seafood mixed with coconut and spices and grilled on bamboo skewers).
- Gado-Gado (half-cooked, half-raw salad with hot peanut sauce, egg, chips).
- Nasi Gudeg (rice with a jacob fruit curry).
- Nasi Goreng (Fried Rice).
- Pisang goreng (battered bananas).
- Ayam goreng (fried chicken).
- Ayam taliwang (crispy fried or grilled poussin with very hot chilli sauce).
- Babi guling (suckling pig stuffed with spice paste, grilled on an open fire).
- Balung nangka (braised pork ribs with boiled jackfruit).
- Bebek betutu (duck stuffed with spice paste).
- Ceramcam (clear soup with young papaya, fish, chicken or pork).
- Ketupat cantok (rice cooked in palm leaves with vegetables and peanut sauce).
- Kue lak-lak (small, round rice flour cakes with palm sugar and grated coconut).
- Lawar (offal with spice paste, jackfruit, young papaya, long beans and coconut).
- Nasi goreng (pre-cooked rice, vegetables, onions, meat).
- Ayam taliwang (crispy fried or grilled poussin with very hot chilli sauce).
- Babi guling (suckling pig stuffed with spice paste, grilled on an open fire).
- Pelecing kangkung (water spinach with bean sprouts and spicy chili tomato sauce).
- Longtong (pressed rice with different curry sauces and pink crab chips).
- Martabak (pancakes with sweet and savory fillings).
- Pelecingan (chicken or fish fried or steamed in very hot chilli paste).
- Soto ayam (chicken soup with coconut milk, lemongrass and turmeric).
Particularly scenic
- Tanjung Puting National Park
- Bunaken Marine National Park
- Komodo National Park
- Sekumpul Waterfall in Bali
- Kaleidoscopic lakes of Kelimutu volcanoes on Flores island
- Tropical rainforests of Sumatra
- The most beautiful islands:
- Balinese
- Java
- Komodo
- West Papua
- Sumatra
- Borneo
