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Indonesia
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The floating emerald islands of the Indonesian archipelago have for centuries lured everyone from missionaries to pirates, mining companies and backpackers to their sandalwood and spice breezes, their Bali Hai lifestyle and their magnificent beaches, mountains and volcanoes. However, the myth of paradise is often marred by deep racial divides, religious warring, high-handed autocracy, government corruption, economic mismanagment and natural disasters. The latest rounds of violence have made Indonesia a problematic destination for Western travelers. Refreshingly though, much of the country remains barely touched by mass tourism. Despite great improvements in communications and transport connections, Indonesia's thousands of islands and multitude of cultures still offer adventure that is hard to find in the developed world. And despite the hammering Bali tourism has taken due to the tragic 2002 bombing of the Sari nightclub, all of Indonesia's remarkable sights remain to be explored and enjoyed. WarningIndonesian officials are estimating the death toll to be around 80,000, following a devastating tsunami that hit early on 26 December. The epicenter of the quake was off the northern coast of Sumatra, with the tsunami gaining in strength as it moved along the Straits of Malaka. The worst-hit area was the troubled province of Aceh, on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra, with the regional capital of Banda Aceh reporting widespread damage. The coastline south of the city also bore the full brunt of the surge of water, reported by some as 10 metres (33 ft) high. US and Australian travel advisories recommend that Travelers defer non-essential travel to Jakarta. A bomb exploded outside the Australian Embassy on 9 September, 2004, and prior to the tsunami there was evidence pointing to an imminent terrorist attack on a target representing Western interests. Travelers have been advised by government advisories to avoid staying in identifiably western hotels. Keep an eye on media reports, and check the safety situation with embassies in Jakarta, or the travel advisory on their websites. Indonesia has suffered great upheaval since 1998, resulting in everything from peaceful demonstrations to armed conflict. Nevertheless, the situation in Indonesia can be misrepresented, making it seem like the whole nation is in turmoil. At the time of writing, areas of Central Sulawesi, Aceh, Papua and Maluku were experiencing unrest; however, safe travel to some parts of these areas was still possible. There were also heightened security risks in parts of Kalimantan and West Timor. It pays to keep abreast of the news if traveling extensively in Indonesia, especially relating to the volatile situation in Aceh. Full country name: Republic of Indonesia GDP: US$173 billion back to top |