Indonesia

ASEAN member since August 1967

Capital: Jakarta
Head of State: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Languages: Bahasa Indonesia
Area (sq. km): 1,890,754
Population: 219,205,000
GDP (USD): 351.9 billion (2006 estimate)

The Indonesian archipelago, the largest in the world, consists of more than 5,000 islands and miles upon miles of coastline to explore. It is no surprising then, that Indonesia supports the world’s second highest level of biodiversity, including the critically endangered, friendly Sumatran Orangutan with beautiful ginger-colored coats. The extensive flora and fauna features a unique blend of Asian and Australian displayed in the complex ecosystems of coral reefs, estuaries, tropical rainforests and entire small islands. Nowhere is the more epitomized by the picturesque island of Bali. Here, fertile rice padi fields appear lush against the backdrop of extinct volcanoes, which now offer a buffet of nature walks and hiking trails.

Moving away from the island center, visitors relax after a long day on the pristine white sand beaches in the south, or the unique black sand beaches on the northern coast. Digging into the freshest seafood on the shore, everyone has a front-row seat to watch some of the most stunning sunsets in the world.

Just as Indonesia lies on the edges of three tectonic plates, making it a site of dynamic physical movements, this archipelago contains around 300 ethnic groups and is in a state of constant evolution, currently undergoing rapid industrialization and high population growth. Capitalism, however, sits side by side with Islam. As the most populous Muslim nation, Indonesia houses a wide range of beautiful mosques, some dating back to the 1850s, and each highlighting subtle but distinct architectural differences. The stately Istiqlal Mosque, in the capital city of Jakarta, is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. Alongside the strong Islamic influences, religious unity does bind the country together. A stone’s throw from the Istiqlal Mosque sits St. Mary’s Cathedral; its wooden spires rising up behind Merdeka (Freedom) Square. Discovering the rich melting pot of Arabic, Chinese, Dutch and Malay cultures that have developed over the centuries here would take several months.