Introduction to Indonesia

Several times in recent years it seemed that things couldn't get much worse for Indonesia. But each time, things have gotten worse. Most recently, in May 2006, a powerful earthquake on the island of Java rocked the densely populated area around Yogyakarta, one of the country's largest cities. Reports of the 6.3-magnitude quake listed more than 4,200 dead and 10,000 injured. Around the same time, a mud volcano erupted near Indonesia's second largest city, Surabaya -- the eruption could continue for years, and the mud has submerged many villages.

In December 2004, a tsunami caused by a massive earthquake off the coast of Sumatra struck the north and west coasts of that island, delivering massive devastation. At least 168,000 people died, and resorts and cities were destroyed. The province of Aceh, including the regional capital of Banda Aceh, was especially hard-hit, suffering the worst damage and loss of life. Recovery in these areas has been very slow. Tourist destinations in Bali and eastern Indonesia were not affected, however. Another, smaller tsunami hit the southern Javan coast in 2006, and although the damage was not as severe as the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004, it did leave an estimated 1.5 million people homeless.

From 2002 to 2005, Bali and Jakarta were hit by a series of terrorist bombings that killed more than 230 people -- both tourists and locals -- and prompted many Western governments to warn their citizens to stay out of the country. However, as the world has readjusted to the reality of terrorism's universal presence, tourism arrivals have rebounded somewhat -- particularly to the Hindu enclave of Bali -- proving many people are choosing travel over terror. However, because of the slow recovery from the tsunami damage -- as well as bloody civil conflicts in other parts of the country -- nonessential travel to some areas of Indonesia should be considered very carefully.

A decade ago, Indonesia was one of Southeast Asia's bright spots for business and, to a certain extent, travel. Bali, in particular, was (and still is) an easy and enjoyable place to visit, offering comfortable amenities as well as stunning sights, interesting Hindu culture and friendly people. Even as the rest of the nation struggled with economic troubles, political crises, and violent ethnic and religious conflicts, Bali remained mostly unaffected by the turmoil.

In many ways it's not surprising that Indonesia has become a troubled land. It's the fourth most populous country in the world, with about 240 million people. Some 350 cultures and many languages are scattered across its far-flung islands. All that diversity strains the government's ability to meet the needs of the populace. We think it's also one of the best reasons to visit Indonesia.