Culture of Indonesia

The culture of Indonesia has been shaped by a long process of interaction and acculturation between original indigenous customs and myriads of foreign influences. As Indonesia is located in the middle of ancient sea trading routes between Far East and Middle East, much of daily practices and art forms have been influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Islam, especially in many trading cities. Sometimes the cultural mixture is very complex and has to be distinguished from the original. Examples include the denomination of Hinduism, which is now practised by 93% of Balinese, known as Agama Hindu Dharma, the fusion of Islam with Hindu in Javanese Abangan belief, the fusion of Hinduism, Buddhism and animism in Bodha, the fusion of Hinduism and animism in Kaharingan, and many others.

In art forms, the cultural mixture is also noticeable. Puppet shows, known as wayang, are a traditional theather show that were used to spread Hinduism and Islam among villagers in Java. Javanese and Balinese dances have stories about old Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms when they ruled Indonesia. Islamic art forms and architectures are prominently present in Sumatra, especially in the Minangkabau and Aceh regions. Furthermore, traditional art, music and sport is mixed into a martial art form of Pencak Silat, formerly used as a self defence.

Western culture also influences that of Indonesia, but mostly in modern arts, such as in television shows, movies and songs. A notable influence on Indonesian songs and movies is from India. A popular type of song is the Indian-rhytmical dangdut, which is oftenly mixed with Arab and Malay folk music.

Despite these high influences of foreign cultures, some remote Indonesia regions still preserve uniquely indigenous culture. Indigenous ethnic groups of Mentawai, Asmat, Dani, Dayak, Toraja and many others are still practising their ethnical rituals, customs and wearing their traditional clothes. With more than 300 ethnic groups and a long history of foreign cultural mixtures, Indonesia has a rich cultural diversity.

Yogya Furniture

Yogyakarta is in the heart of Indonesia's furniture industry, located in Central Java this is where Indonesia makes its furniture. Yogya has always been a center for handmade home wares and handicrafts, and is now, increasingly, becoming a major furniture production center. With many major manufacturers located within a comparitively small area. It is located 65 km from Solo and 40 km from Klaten, two cities known for the production of classic rustic mahogany and teak furniture. It is also 100 km from Semarang, a major industrial center with large furniture factories, and 165 km from Jepara, the traditional center for the production of carved and antique reproduction furniture. Jogjakarta has the best of both worlds, a large pool of creative labour, infinite locally available resources and the support of the local government in promoting exports of solid wood furniture and an excellent community of fascinating artisans working in handicrafts both innovative and traditional

Beautiful Indonesia

Straddling the Equator, and stretching across 3,500 miles of Pacific Ocean from East to West, Indonesia is a country of more than 17,000 islands. Many of these outposts are so remote that they support little or no human habitation. As a result, Indonesia is home to many of the world's absolutely finest diving locales, with new sites still to be discovered. Indonesia's unique location places it at the epicenter of our planet's marine biodiversity. Its waters are home to everything from great whale sharks to the world's tiniest seahorses. Because Indonesia's water temperatures are typically a bit cooler than other Pacific regions, the effects of global warming have not yet taken their toll. Indonesia's coral reefs are still rich and vibrant, and its waters home to some of the most amazing marine creatures you will ever see.