Indonesiapersonal experience...My first big overseas trip, over 20 years ago, was backpacking through Indonesia. I have returned to parts of this huge country since, and will continue to do so for the next few years, for research for the upcoming ecosystem guides book "Tropical Rainforest of south-east Asia". travelling...Travelling through Indonesia is both easy and hard. There is a distinct 'backpacker' trail through the country. Transport, food and accomodation is very cheap. However, if you are travelling by yourself you will get approached, talked to and hassled a lot. For the nature enthusiast who wants to do some birding, getting immersed in nature can be a challenge with so many people and noise around. Also, as a fairly poor country, much of the wildlife is hunted/caught/sold/traded/eaten, so subsquently the observant naturalist will definitely notice wildlife is much shyer and harder to see than in similar situations in nearby Malayasia. where to go for nature and wildlife...Indonesia is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world. It is one of the few countries, (along with Mexico and China), that is spread across two different biological zones. In the north it comprises much of the island of Borneo. In the west the island of Sumatra stretches along the Malayan peninsula. The island of Java is more or less central, both geographically and politically, with the capital of Java. Here, you walk across an ash plain and up the slopes of a volcano called Gunung Bromo. East of Java is Bali, and next over is to The islands of Indonesia stretch across the Indo-Pacific to the include the western half of the island of New Guinea. |