Country Guides: Indonesia

Ranked as the world’s largest archipelago with over 17,000 islands, Indonesia is sprawled across the Indian Ocean like pieces of an unfinished jigsaw. It’s ripe for exploration with only a handful of its islands, including Sumatra, Java and Bali, significantly populated. The key to its creation as one of the most diverse countries in South East Asia lies with the multitude of settlers, explorers and traders who flocked to its shores for centuries.

Buddhism, Hindu and Islam have all reigned supreme in the country at one time or another, while European and Japanese colonists have all laid claim to the land. This has culminated in a mega mix of cultures, beliefs, and also languages and dialects which tot up to around 500.