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Located off Southeastern Asia, between Malaysia and
Australia, Indonesia consists of more than
13,600 islands, stretching across some 5,150 km in the South China
Sea, the Celebes Sea, the Pacific
Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. Numerous active volcanoes have left the
soil rich in nutrients,
making it ideal for growing crops, particularly rice.
Indonesia is a very old civilization, and remains
of some of the earliest forms of human life (Java Man)
have been found in its river valleys. It is also a mixture of many
diverse civilizations, from Indian and
Chinese to the Dutch, who came in the 17th century when the Dutch
East India Company took an interest
in its abundance of spices such as cloves and nutmeg. When the company
collapsed in 1798, the Dutch
government assumed control of its East Indian possessions, including
Indonesia. The country finally
proclaimed its independence from the Netherlands in 1945.
Throughout the centuries, music and dance have maintained an important
role in the culture of Indonesians.
Despite its many regional differences, certain common musical traditions
are found throughout Indonesia.
Everywhere, some form of ensemble exists that is made up of small
tuned gongs and two or three drums.
In fact, the country has more varieties of ensembles of gongs and
drums than any other country in the world.
To keep these traditions alive, the government has established a number
of schools for the study of music.
Indonesia is an interesting blend of cultures and traditions, offering
a beautiful landscape,
and warm and friendly people.
Orangutans in the Wild
National Geographic Magazine Aug.1998, Foto©
Tim Laman
The wildlife of Indonesia shows a tremendous diversity.
The bigger ones are the
orangutans, rhinoceros, tigers, tapir and elephants. As in Australia,
you can also find
several marsupials, then snakes in the jungles and, of course, birds
of all kinds.
Indonesia's Plague of Fire
National Geographic Magazine Aug.1998, Foto©
Michael Yamashita
60% of the people are engaged in agriculture.
As about two thirds (67%) of the land
area is covered by forests, it is obvious that the farmers need more
of the land for their seed.
So, every year, Indonesia is on fire. That is the easiest way to get
rid of the forest.
The problem is that they don't always know how to stop a fire.....
However, they also still do have a large export of wood.
rhinoseros hornbill eating Strangler Figs
'Borneo's Stranger Fig Trees', National Geographic
Magazine April.1997, Foto© Tim Laman
They don't actually squeeze the trees on which they piggyback. Rather,
their roots form rigid rings
around the host's trunkrestricting further growth. Over the time the
supporting tree begin to die.
That do not always be the best way to preserve the rainforest....
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Iran Jaya's People of the Trees
Foto George Steinmetz
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more to come....
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