what is so amazing about ... Indonesia?

When I was still in junior high school, I had always dreamed of leaving Indonesia, continuing my study somewhere else, and pursuing career overseas. However now, that dream has now changed. I want to go back to Indonesia in the near future! I believe, nationalism came into one's soul through many factors. One of those, I believe, came when someone lived outside their home country for a period of time, and through that period, one started to realise how beautiful their home-country is, and how things are so much different in the country ones resided in with their home country. The same thing happened to me as well.

I have been to so many countries in Europe, I have been to Thailand and Vietnam, but when someone asked me, where have you been in Indonesia? I can only mention several places: Java Island, Palembang, Padang. Even I haven't been to my dad's birthplace in Banjarmasin! There are so many places in Indonesia that I really want to see. Hopefully I can fulfill this dream one day:

Bunaken (1)
Bunaken National Marine Park in North Sulawesi has one of the clearest water in Indonesia. From the boat, you can see the corals, plus all the fishes and other biota living there. But, just looking at them from the surface without going into the water will be totally a waste. Diving there is highly recommended. The good thing is that diving requires swimming skill, and one of a few sports that I can do quite well is swimming :P. I'll just need to find a time in which I can get a diving license.


Mount Bromo (2)
Bromo is one of the most active volcano in Java Island, located in the Tenger region in East java. Its last eruption occurred in 2007. Mount Semeru, another active volcano, is found nearby, and together they form Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park. Hiking is a must! Some of my friends are going to Mount Kinabalu in the middle of this year and they have been practicing a lot! I think I need to start practicing soon >.<


Sumba Island (3)
Sumba Island produces one of the best breed of horses in Indonesia (Kuda Sumba). The Sumbanese are all natural horse-riders and one of their long lasting tradition is a Pasola game. in which teams of horse-riders fight with spears. Sumba is also one of the few places in the world in which megalithic burial are still practiced.


Kelimutu (4)
Located in the island of Flores, Kelimutu volcano is famous for its three summit crater lakes with varying colors. Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People) is usually blue and is the westernmost of the three lakes. The other two lakes, Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched or Enchanted Lake) are separated by a shared crater wall and are typically green or red in color, respectively. This phenomenon is something that I will not miss!


Tana Toraja (5)
Tana Toraja, or the Land of Toraja, in South Sulawesi, is famous for its traditional Tongkonan house, spectacular burial rites and its burial places. After a person's death, the body is kept — often for several years — while money is saved to pay for the actual funeral ceremony, known as tomate. During the festival, which may last up to a week, ritual dances and buffalo fights are held, and buffaloes and pigs are slaughtered to ferry the soul of the deceased to the afterlife (puya). The deceased is then finally buried either in a small cave, often with a tau-tau effigy placed in front, inside a hollow tree or even left exposed to the elements in a bamboo frame hanging from a cliff.


Komodo Island (6)
Komodo Island, the natural habitat of Komodo dragon, the largest living species of lizard in the world! This is something that shouldn't be missed as well!


Bangka Island (7)
Bangka has some of the most beautiful beaches in Indonesia. Its fame has been over-shadowed by the more popular Bali and Lombok island. If you are looking for a nice beach far from the crowds, Bangka Island is probably a good choice ;)


Lake Toba (8)
Lake Toba is what is left from a supervolcano. It was the site of a massive eruption occurred 69,000-77,000 years ago, an event which changed the world's climate. This eruption is believed to have been the largest anywhere on Earth in the last 25 million years!


Borneo Island (9)
Borneo (Kalimantan), is the second biggest island in the Malay archipelago, and the third largest island in the world! It is very rich in biodiversity and a home to 15,000 species of flowering plants with 3,000 species of trees, 221 species of terrestrial mammals and 420 species of birds. It's also a home to Orangutan which is now endangered. My dad's ancestor came from Fujian region in China and settled in Banjarmasin (South Kalimantan) before moving to Jakarta in 1960s.


Nias Island (10)
Devastated by a severe earthquake which caused tsunamis in December 2004, and again in March 2005 it was hit by another strong earthquake, Nias is now rebuilding itself. Nias is an internationally famous surfing destination. Nias best known for its remarkable diversity of festivals and celebration: War Dances, and Stone Jumping, a manhood ritual that sees young men leaping over two meter stone towers to their fate.