• Traveller
• In: Indonesia

You need to know Indonesia

With 17,000 islands across the nation, Indonesia is richly endowed with natural resources, such as rubber, rattan and wood plantation. Forests dominate 80% of the entire area, leaving the rest of the area with 25% of primary rainforests. In 2007 palm tree plantation reached 700,000 hectares.

Indonesia is also home to the second country of wealthy biodiversity in the world, boasting a wide variety of species ranging from the protected orangutans, Sumatran tigers, Cendrawasih birds to the giant komodos as well the infamous giant Rafflesia flower.

With an estimated population of over 230 million, Indonesia is home to 6 recognized religions, consisting of the largest Islamic population. It also comprises of 300 ethnic groups, each ethnicity rich with their own traditional cultures, clothing and unique housing, not to mention a large variety of spice induced cuisines.

Indonesia suffered the hardest hit of the East Asian financial crisis of 1997 to 1998, although it’s come a long way since then. With its economy revived, Indonesia is a successful democratic nation. Indonesia is now a major holiday destination for tourists all over the world ranging from surfing the coasts of Bali, to diving in the Bunaken waters, Indonesia offers a most naturalist experience. Indonesians believe and preserve traditions, which has been inherited and passed down for hundreds of years in the same old way.

Their cuisines can be savored in numerous ways, from uptown restaurants or congregations of food stalls in food courts – serving various traditional as well as international cuisines, to street vendors, traditional meals are prepared in various techniques that leave little to the imagination.

Although Indonesians enjoy their traditional home cookery, at night-time the streets are packed with street vendors ready to serve their culture for street-snacking. Kiosks are virtually set-up in every corner. Tents are assembled by the side of the road, serving up an array of popular night-time dishes – fried rice, sweet pancakes, barbequed chicken even seafood. Crabs, clams, cockle shells – the society is spoilt for choice and it makes for the perfect exotic asian food culture experience.