Indonesia

I have actually returned home to Australia. Indonesia was such a head space.

Jakarta we simply hated, It is big, polluted, overcrowded and utterly bereft of both charm and urban planning. Jakarta, fortunately, is NOT Indonesia.

Indonesia is a place of dramatic landscapes and people. We visited Java and Bali and neither one of them is Indonesia. I had the view before my visit, that Indonesia is an idea rather than a nation. I still think this is true. Indonesia is such an incredibly diverse place that no single place or idea defines itself as "Indonesia". Even Bahasa Indonesia is a construct....there are enough words borrowed from elsewhere to keep anyone happy and the borrowing is ongoing. Indonesia is a collective agreement.

The landscapes are just breath taking. The train station at Banyuwangibaru has two volcanoes as a backdrop. Endless emerald rice paddies and then straight up out of the ground volcanoes. Mosques scattered like confetti through the landscape.

The people are amazing. The Javanese is very different from the Balinese. No dogs on Java due to Islam and on Bali, they're every where. The Javanese are quieter and more disciplined, the Balinese louder and more passionate. Both are deeply musical. Both seriously attractive.

Jet lagged at the moment. More time to reflect is needed.