Indonesia, Know It and You Will Love It

The 1,200-year-old Borobudur temple is home to hundreds of Buddhist statues. Photograph by Marcel Malherbe The world’s largest Buddhist monument draws pilgrims from around Southeast Asia to a remote hilltop in central Java, surrounded by lush green vegetation and ringed by volcanoes—one of which remains active. Some 1,200 years ago builders carted two million stones from local rivers and streams and fit them tightly together without the aid of mortar to create a 95-foot-high (29-meter-high) step pyramid. More than 500 Buddha statues are perched around the temple. Its lower terraces include a balustrade that blocks out views of the outside world and replaces them with nearly 3,000 bas-relief sculptures illustrating the life and teachings of the Buddha. Together they make up the greatest assemblage of such Buddhist sculpture in the world.

A villager uses an old mechanical plow to prepare rice fields for the next planting north of Ubud on the island of Bali in Indonesia. Photograph by  Bruce Kingston

It was a five-day hike to Mount Rinjani in Lombok, Indonesia. It is an active volcano and its "new mountain" is progressively growing due to its ongoing eruption. Photograph by  ishmael78

An aerial photo taken with a tethered balloon from a 100-meter altitude in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. It shows the houses of sea gypsies next to a channel close to Wakatobi. Photograph by  Sascha Romatzki

This shot was photographed in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, on a small island where I was diving on a wall. I came across a lionfish and photographed him vertically. I spent quite some time waiting for him to turn around. Lionfish are notorious for keeping their backs and poisonous spines toward their adversaries. Photograph by  Tay Tousey

Taken at a lake named Situ Gunung, Indonesia The cottony trees, the glassy river, the lone boater, tranquility, sheer indescribable beauty.. Really....really.....peace....the "dialogue" between human and nature... Why we are exploring moon, jupiter... waste of time... see here is true paradise on earth.....!!! Photograph by  Hardi Budi

Central Java Grand Mosque (MAJT=Masjid Agung Jawa Tengah) which is located in Gajah Raya Street, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia opened at 11 November 2006, now become Moslem pride because the world has known its existence. Not only recognized by Indonesia Moslem but also have been recognized by Moslem in the world. Not a few Islams States Diplomats and Worlds Moslem paying a visit to Central Javas use opportunity intentionally x'self visit MAJT. They confess got stuck with pride of MAJT, the development need time of 5 year, and become place of religious service, education center, public service, activity syiar Islam center, and alternative of religi tour. Photograph by  Aditya Aji Nugraha

In East Java, a young Muslim Indonesian schoolgirl looks back at the traffic behind her as her friend sits sidesaddle on a bike they share on their way to school in Surabaya, Indonesia. Photograph by  Anthony Behar

Bali, an Indonesian island, is a popular tourist attraction because of it’s beautiful beaches and resorts as well as its strong culture and traditions in art, dance, music, and more. Photograph by  didiz rushdi

Tanah Lot, one of the most popular places of interest in Bali, is located on the coast of West Bali, at the village of Beraban in the Tabanan Regency. Taken from  Baby N Me

This famous Buddhist temple, dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, is located in central Java. It was built in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,500 m2. Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. The monument was restored with UNESCO's help in the 1970s. Photograph by  Charuhas Deshpande

The national park is named after its two mountains, Mount Semeru (the highest in Java) and Mount Bromo (the most popular), and the Tengger people who inhabit the area. The park also includes large areas, which are very lush, fed by rivers from the high tops. The medium elevations are clad with much thinner forest before this gives way to the barren plateau and peaks. Photograph by  Jessy Eykendorp