Hotels
in Indonesia - Choose Your
Destination below
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Introduction
The name Indonesia was derived
from "indos nesos", meaning islands near India,
The country is in fact the largest archipelago
in the world with a thousand islands, 17,508 to
be precise, spread in an area between the Asian
continent and Australia, and between the Pacific
and the Indian oceans. The islands are inhabited
by many tribes with diverse culture and languages,
although there is a national language spoken throughout
the country, namely Bahasa Indonesia. It is thus
appropriate, that the country's motto is Bhinneka
Tunggal Ika, which means: Unity in Diversity.
Our state philosophy is Pancasila, or the Five
Principles. This year is the country's fiftieth
anniversary of independence.
Climate and
Weather
The climate and weather of Indonesia
is characterized by two tropical seasons, which
vary with the equatorial air circulation and the
meridian air circulation. The dry season (June
to September) is influences by the Australian
continental air masses; while the rainy season
(December to March) is the result of the Asian
and Pacific Ocean air masses.
Volcanoes
The country is predominantly
mountainous with some 400 volcanoes of which 100
are active. Mountains higher than 9,000 feet are
found on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi,
Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa. The highest mountain
is the perpetually snow-capped Mandala Top (15,300
feet) in the Jaya Wijaya mountain range of Irian
Jaya.
Rivers and
Lakes
Many rivers flow throughout
the country. They serve as useful transportation
routes on certain islands, for example the Musi,
Batanghari, Indagiri and Kamper rivers in Sumatra;
the Kapuas, Barito, Mahakam and Rejang rivers
in Kalimantan; and the Memberano and Digul rivers
in Irian Jaya. On Java rivers are important for
irrigation purposes, i.e. the Bengawan Solo, Citarum
and Brantas rivers. A number of islands are dotted
with scenic lakes, like the Toba, Maninjau and
Singkawang lakes on Sumatra; the Tempe, Tawuti,
Sidenreng, Poso, Limboto, Tondano, and Matana
lakes on Sulawesi; the Paniai and Sentani lakes
on Irian Jaya.
Standard Time
Indonesia's three time zones
have been changed :
- Western Indonesia Standard
Time equals GMT plus 7 hours (meridian 105 East),
covering all provinces in Sumatra and Java, and
the provinces of West and Central Kalimantan.
- Central Indonesia Standard
Time equals GMT plus 8 hours (meridian 120 East),
covering the provinces of East and South Kalimantan,
all provinces in Sulawesi, and the provinces of
Bali, West and East Nusa Tenggara and East Timor.
- Eastern Indonesia Standard
Time equals GMT plus 9 hours (meridian 135 East),
covering the provinces of Maluku and Irian Jaya.
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Indonesia
