Palm trees, sun shined ocean beaches, tropical fruits, coffee, smily people – these images flash in for us, Hungarians hearing the country name: Indonesia. But the truth is much more than this: the world’s bigges muslim country is modern with modern fleets of vehicles, giant malls, developed economy.

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We Hungarians probably have an incorrect view about Indonesia. We imagine the country as a classical tropical country living int he golden colonial times on the other hand we mainly identify it with the Balinese culture. Indonesia, however, long ago stepped out of those times and of those roles – owning the world’s 12th strongest economy, while the Dutch colonizers tamed tourists. The country is called the country of thousand islands – and so is the culture and its nature, so amazingly colourful.

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Arriving into Indonesia is shocking experience: Jakarta, the capital is so grandiose that I found myself lost leaving the airport even when travelled in the town the following days. As the level of the sea here is high, there are not metro lines so everyone tries to reach his office, home by motor cycles, cars so the previously received news about the huge traffic jams were more than true, I myself could experience it. I was impressed by the towering skyscrapers,  with little houses at their foot. I was impressed by the tourist attractions, just like the National Museum which owns the richest colleciton of South-East Asia, the amazing national monument, Monas which is a 132 meter tall tower, the second greatest mosque of the world, the Istiqlal Mosque which is unusually modern, made of white marbel and German steel.

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Most impressed I was, however in Jakarta by „Little Indonesia” a collection of buildings in all nationalities’ folk styles of Indonesia constructed on a territory of a half town here in Hungary giving a whole day program for me. It was an enthralling cultural shock for me.

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My next place of visit was the town of flowers, Bandung, which is only two hours driving – and same time waiting in traffic jam – far from the capital the town where the people of Jakarta also spend their spare time with pleasure. Here is the colonial parliament-styled building of Gedung Sate, „heritage” of Dutch occupation. Inside cultural treasures, mineral and folk dress exhibitions.

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I was an enthralling adventure to visit and climb a vulcano at the nearby Tangkuban Parahu National Park, one of the ten active vulcanos. We saw immediately Kawah Ratu from the parking place, as arrived. To Kawah Domas we had to walk, even climb 1200 meters, but well worth it because its 980 degrees water we can boil eggs if want, we could foot soak in its not so hot little lakes or can cover our tired leg sin its healing mud. Amazing tour, amazing adventure to be int he middle of a working vulcano. /to be continued/