Nusa Tenggara is divided into two provinces – East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara. Most people in West Nusa Tenggara are Muslim, while the majority of those who live in East Nusa Tenggara are either Christian or Animistic. West Nusa Tenggara is made up of Lombok and Sumbawa, with a few other small islands. Lombok is known as a popular tourist destination that is similar to Bali, but is much less crowded and more peaceful. Sumbawa is much more remote. The Sasak kingdom dominated until … [Read more...]

  The region of Papua is formerly known as Irian Jaya and is half of an island shared with Papua New Guinea. Papua is one of the most remote parts of Indonesia, with many people who still live in the remote jungle without electricity or running water. The province is the farthest east in Indonesia, with the Maluku islands to the west. Papua became a part of Indonesia in 1969, when Indonesian security forces coerced a small number of tribal elders to vote to join Indonesia. Conflict began … [Read more...]

The Maluku Islands are the islands between Sulawesi and Papua. They are also known as the “Spice Islands” and are the reason why traders started going to Indonesia. These islands used to be the only source for mace and nutmeg, which are still grown there, along with cinnamon, cloves, and many other spices. Most of the islands are mountainous and some have active volcanoes. At one point, rainforest covered most of the islands in northern and central Maluku. Many of those forests have been … [Read more...]

Sulawesi is the most uniquely shaped island in the Indonesian archipelago, with four large, narrow peninsulas. Many people describe the island as either crab-shaped or orchid-shaped. Sulawesi is between Borneo and the Maluku Islands, with the Philippines to the north and Java to the south. Sulawesi has six provinces: North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Central Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, and South East Sulawesi. The central part of the island is very mountainous, making the peninsulas remote … [Read more...]

Bali is the center of tourism for Indonesia. Java is to the west and Lombok to the east. To the south is the Indian Ocean, and to the north is the Java Sea. Bali has world famous beaches, including Kuta Beach, Nusa Dua, and Sanur. In addition to the beaches, Bali is known for its arts, including traditional dance and music, painting, metalworking, and batik. Bali is unique in that over 93% of the population is Hindu. Bali is called “the Island of the gods.” In ancient Bali, there were nine … [Read more...]

Sumatra is the westernmost island in Indonesia. It is the largest island that is not shared with another country. Just north of Sumatra is the Malay Peninsula, and Java is to the east of the island. It has a population of just over 50 million, making it the world’s fourth most populous island (World Wildlife). Sumatra became well-known because of the tsunami that hit its northern tip on December 26, 2004. This area, Aceh, is still recovering from the tsunami. Aceh is often called “The Veranda of … [Read more...]

Kalimantan covers about three-fourths of the island of Borneo. Borneo is the largest island in Southeast Asia. Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra are to the west, the Philippines to the north, Sulawesi to the east, and Java to the south. The rest of the island of Borneo is owned by Malaysia and Brunei. There are four provinces in Kalimantan: West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and East Kalimantan. Borneo’s population is “one of the most varied of human social groups.” … [Read more...]

Java is the center of government and commerce for Indonesia. Most Indonesians live on this island, making it the most populated island in the world, even though it is far from being the biggest! 138 million people call this island home, with 2,756 people per square mile. In the archipelago, Java, at 49,535 square miles, lies between Sumatra to the west and Bali to the east. Borneo is north of Java. (Wikipedia) Java is made up of four provinces: Banten, West Java, Central Java, and East Java. … [Read more...]