There are 262 million people in Indonesia with 340 ethnic groups represented, 96% are Muslim. Java Island host 65% of the total population. Indonesia has the honor of having 129 active volcanoes.
The currency is the rupiah, $1 = 12,234 rupiah. Average size of home is 100 meters. Homes near a major road or city would average $500 per square feet and homes outside of town and not on a major road average $60 per square feet.
Majority eat rice three times per day with most growing their own. Rice and tobacco are major exports for them.
Island of Bali
Things change dramatically when you discuss the island of Bali. Majority of the population on Bali are Hindu with each family having a temple at home. This creates over 10,000 Hindu temples on Bali. Interesting fact is that they eat beef.
Family compounds on Bali consist of four buildings surrounded by a low fence structure. One building is for the grandparents, one for mom, kids and dad, one for the kitchen and the other is for ceremony temple. Law to prevent any building from being over four stories high.
English is now required in secondary school, use to be high school. Rice is the main staple food item also main items in daily offerings in the temples. There are over 500,000 motor bikes on Bali. Saronge is still the dress code for both men and women through out the island.
There is a four level class system on Bali. Class was determined by the man's occupation when established and is passed down from the parent not the occupation. Anyone can move occupations but the class for the man does not change. Women can change class by marriage as they take the class of their husband. They keep the class according to my guide to keep the culture. At birth their first name is their class name first and then your given name. The last class (farmers/fishermen) have no class name so they are named by which birth number they are in the family. You will hear them introduce themselves as the second or fourth child, etc... I found this to be very interesting.
Indonesia is another place where the contrast from rich and poor is hard to miss. Majority of our crew on the ship are from Indonesia with contracts that take them away from home for nine months or more at a time. They are the hardest working people on the ship with most working in the cabin stewards or dining areas. They work 10 to 12 hours per day with no days off and always have a smile and perform their duties flawlessly. It was fun to see the families waiting at the ports with packages for them and to see them get a few hours to be with family.