LOMBOK ISLAND – GENERAL INFORMATION

Geography & Climate
Lombok island is located east of Bali. Lombok geographically is almost the same size as Bali and, just as there are popular tourist areas on Bali, so Lombok offers a variety of destinations to suit different holidaymakers’ tastes.

Tropical climate with warm and humid weather all year round. Temperature range from 21 Celsius to 32 Celsius. Wet season starts from November to May and dry season start from May-October.

The best time to come is in the month of May when the weather is just perfect with bright daylight and green scenery.

People & Religion
Population is about 2,5 million. The local inhabitants of Lombok are called Sasaks who make up 70% of the population are the predominant group with Balinese, Chinese, Arabian, and Javanese and other ethnics groups making up the rest. Bahasa Indonesia is the National Language, but English is widely spoken.

Lombok has three main districts with three capital cities: Mataram in the west, Praya in central and Selong in east Lombok. The majority of commerce is in the capital city of Mataram in west Lombok.

Islam is the majority religion, but all other religions are practiced freely. Every Friday around 12.30 noon, Muslims go to the mosques just like Christians go to church on Sunday.

If you are planning on traveling around the island and visiting small villages it is more respectable to wear slacks or knee length shorts, a shirt with sleeves or a sarong. If you happened to be here during Ramadan, which is the Muslim month of fasting from sunrise to sunset, please do not to eat, drink or smoke out in the open public during this month long fast. Even though the people don’t seem bothered in the common tourist areas like, Senggigi and the Gili islands, it is better to respect the people and not eat or smoke openly.

Wetu Telu
Wetu telu is an unique religion that that blends Islam – Animism and is only found in north Lombok.
It roots stem from the village of Bayan in the north. The people who practice this still consider themselves Muslims but they have their own rituals in addition to the normal Muslim ones. One such ceremony is Nyiu, that takes place 1000 days after someone dies. The relatives of the deceased offer material things like clothing, toothbrushes, food, dishes, mattresses, etc. so the deceased will be pleased in heaven.

Money & Local Currencies
When changing money there are many money changers in Lombok. The best rates are usually in Senggigi. Money changers prefer new, clean large bills and will accept smaller denominations at a lower rate.

If you have traveler’s checks the rate will be less than bank notes.

Be sure to count your money before you leave money changers.

You can also check local banks but the rate is slightly lower than outside. Re-count the money in front of the money changer reception is a must, as usually there’s a quick tricky way how they can steal your money. A suggestion when changing money. If you plan on making small purchases be sure to carry small denominations with you because many sellers do not have change. The Rupiah come in denominations of 100,000, 50,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000, and 500, 100 in coin.

Vehicle Rentals:
Don’t miss Lombok’s beautiful scenery. If you choose to rent a car or motorcycles and drive yourself, you must have an International Driving License.

Renting a car is a good alternative to get around Lombok, either self driving or with driver so you can relax and enjoy the view. (Tip driver pocket money for meals if you stop for lunch or dinner). If you are pleased with service, tip ( Rp. 20,000 minimum). If you collide with anything, or it collides with you, you are responsible for all cost.
Motorcycles are a convenient and inexpensive way to get around the Island, but Tourists are frequently injured in motorbike accident. If you rent a bike, drive slowly and very defensively. Helmets are required by law but those provided by rental agencies offer little protection.

Business Hours
Indonesian work in the morning to avoid the heat of the day. If you need to visit a government office, arrive between 08 AM and 11:30 AM. This also apply to banks and private businesses. Government offices close early on Fridays and Saturdays. Generally offices are open 07:30AM – 3 PM Monday – Thursday, 07:00AM – noon on Friday. Banks and Government Offices are closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Cell Phone
Cellular phone in Indonesia is GSM. If you have brought your cellular hand phone, you can purchase prepaid calling cards to make outgoing calls at lower cost than calling on your home SIM. Shops which sell these cards are prolific. Major service providers are: Telkomsel, Satelindo and XL Ritel. Look for signs and banners with those markings.

Health and Medical Info
Most hotels have on call doctors. For what it is known by Australian as “Bali Belly”, Iomotil and Imodium eliminate Symptoms, but not infections. A fever along with the symptoms requires doctor prescribed antibiotics. Drink as much as liquid as possible. For discomfort, diarrhea, and cramping, drink strong, hot tea; avoid fruits and spicy food. Drink only bottled water or boiled water (air putih).

Peel the fruit before eating; avoid raw vegetables except at reputable restaurants. Ice in restaurants is safe. Protect yourself from the intense equatorial sun. Use sun block and hat. Sexually transmitted diseases are increasing in Indonesia. Local sex workers have multiple partners from all over the world. Act responsibly and use condoms, available over the counter at pharmacies.

Things To Take Back Home
Wanting to take back something from Lombok? Lombok has great woven textiles like songkets and ikats that can be used as a sarong, wall hanging, table cloth and more. The design woven is special to each weaver and it is passed down through the generations before. There is a traditional hand weaving village in Puyung, central Lombok. You can even try on a traditional Sasak costume.

Banyumulek (West Lombok), Penujak (Central Lombok) and Masbagik (East Lombok) are famous villages in Lombok for making pottery. Lombok pottery has gained popularity and is shipped throughout the world. There is a wide range of selections and it can custom made to your liking. We hope to develop the economy of the area by directly meet them with serious buyer from all over the world.

There are many traditional handicrafts you could take back as a souvenir i.e. wooden masks, baskets made out of ketak grass, wooden boxes designed with bits of shells, or other things made from bamboo or rattan.

International flight:
From Singapore Silk Air, three times a week on Saturday, Monday and Thursday 2, 5 hours flying.

Garuda and Lion Air, Batavia Air schedules to Lombok from Jakarta attached

Fast Boat from Denpasar to Lombok 2, 5 hours sailing

* Bounty Cruise three times a week from Benoa to Teluk Kodek
* Gili Cat from Padang Bay to Teluk Kodek every Day
* Blue water safari from Benoa to Teluk Kodek every Day

Slow Ferry from Padang bay to Lombok 5 hours sailing
Perama Boat every day from Padang bay to Senggigi harbor

Flight from Denpasar To Lombok :

Merpati Airline schedule as follows :

* AMI to DPS  MZ 6601 at 09.00 – 09.30
DPS to AMI MZ 6600 at 08.00 – 08.30

* AMI to DPS  MZ 6603 at 12.40 – 13.10
DPS to AMI MZ 6602 at 13.40. – 14.10

* AMI to DPS  MZ 6621 at 16.00 – 16.30
DPS to AMI  MZ 6620 at 15.00 – 15.30

* AMI to DPS  MZ 6605 at 18.00 – 18.30
DPS to AMI  MZ 6604 at 17.00 – 17.30

IAT airline schedules:

* AMI to DPS IT02 at 09.00 – 09.30
DPS to AMI IT01 at 08.00 – 08.30

* AMI to DPS IT06 at 16.30 – 17.00
DPS to AMI IT05 at 15.30 – 16.00

Direct flight from Jakarta :
* By Garuda Airlines, has 2 times flight to Lombok for reservation contact to         www.garuda-indonesia.com
* By Lion air, has 1 times flight to Lombok for reservation contact to www.lionair.co.id

Flight Schedule Tabel By Garuda Airlines

Route         Departure time     Arrival time     Flight No

Jkt – Ami     10.50 am             13.40 pm           GA 430

Jkt – Ami     19.00 pm             21.50 pm           GA 432

Ami – Jkt     06.45 am             07.30 am           GA 431

Ami – Jkt     14.20 pm              15.05 pm           GA 433

Flight Schedule Tabel By Lion Air

Route             Departure Time     Arrival Time     Flight No

Jkt – Ami          18.40 pm                 21.35 pm         JT 650

Ami – Jkt          06.00 am                06.55 am         JT 651

Mount Rinjani, the highest mountain in this island (3,736 m), is visible from Bali island. From the top you can see all of Lombok, Bali and Sumba Islands. Senggigi beach offers you a virgin beach with great waves for suffers while Gili isles are well known for their “underwater colorful world”, and is one of the best snorkeling places on this island.
Access to Lombok from Bali has become easier and faster in recent years. You can enjoy a sightseeing adventure by sea when you choose to visit Lombok by high-speed ferry. Or you can catch a 20 minutes flight from Ngurah Rai airport to Selaparang Airport.
For your convenience you can choose an international standard service in many hotels here or just a local home stay to ease your budget. There are lots of hotels and losmens along tourist’s destination in this island. Rental cars and international restaurants can be found here, too.

HOTEL NAME	STAR	AREA	PUBLISH RATE	OUR RATE	REMARKS
Sheraton Senggigi Beach	*****	Senggigi Beach	TBA
The Oberoi,	*****	Medana Beach,Tanjung	TBA
Pool Villa Club	*****	Senggigi Beach	TBA
Hotel Tugu	*****	Teluknarat,Tanjung	TBA
Medana Resort	****	Tanjung,Senggigi	TBA
Senggigi Beach Hotel	****	Senggigi Beach	TBA
Kebun Villa Resort	****	Senggigi Beach	TBA
Holiday Resort	****	Senggigi Beach,Mangsit	TBA
The Santosa Villas & Resort	****	Senggigi Beach	TBA
Jayakarta Hotel	****	Meninting Beach ,Senggigi	TBA
Cocotinos Sekotong	****	Pelangan,Sekotong	TBA
Villa Sayang Boutique Hotel & Spa	****	Lingsar	TBA
Puri Saron Hotel	***	Krandangan,Senggigi	TBA
Puri Mas Boutique Resort & Spa	***	Mangsit Beach,Senggigi	TBA
Puri Bunga Beach Cottages	***	Teluknarat, Senggigi	TBA
Lombok WINE Villa	Villa	Senggigi	TBA
Qunci Pool Villa	Villa	Mangsit	TBA
The Bukit Villa Bel Air	Villa	Batu Layar,Senggigi	TBA
Hotel Alang-Alang	Boutique	Mangsit	TBA
Jevaa Klui Resort	Resort	Mangsit	TBA
Villa Ombak	Villa****	Gili Terawangan	TBA
Tir Na Nog	Villa***	Gili Terawangan	TBA
Villa Gracia Resort & Spa	Villa***	Gili Terawangan	TBA
Gili Eco Villas	Villas***	Gili Terawangan	TBA
Sunrise Resort	Cottages	Gili Air	TBA
Gili Air Hotel	Cottages	Gili Air	TBA
Hotel Nautilus	Cottages	Gili Meno	TBA
Gazebo Meno	Cottages	Gili Meno	TBA
Hotel Casablanca	Cottages	Gili Meno	TBA
Hotel Malias	Cottages	Gili Meno	TBA

REMARK lease note we are often able to offer better rates and packages at this hotel than the prices shown above. Send Inquiry and your holiday date to obtain our best rates for you.

Indonesia is an archipelago of over 17,000 islands with a population of more than 200 million, scatterd over a land area of some 2.02 million square kilometers. Lying across a region of immense volcanic activity, Indonesia has some 400 volcanoes, with at least 70 still active.

Bahasa Indonesia is the official language. English is frequently used in commerce. The people are predominantly Muslim, minority religious groups being Christians, Hindus and Buddhists.

Useful Information

General Information

Climate
A tropical country, with humidity ranging from 69% – 95%, there are two seasons: Dry Season, from May to October and Wet Season, from November to April. It should be noted that occasional showers do occur during the dry season; similarly, during the “rainy” season it is more likely that heavy tropical down-pours are interspersed with sunshine. Average temperatures range from 68° to 86° or 20° to 30°C

Airport Tax and Transport
Passengers departing on international and domestic flights have to pay Rp. 50,000 and Rp. 11,000 airport tax respectively.

Metered taxis are available only at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta. At other major Indonesian airports, taxis operate on a fixed rate basis.

From Jakarta airport, all taxi fares include a surcharge of Rp. 2,300 and a highway toll of at least Rp. 4,000, depending on destination. The surcharge does not apply to trips to the airport, though the highway toll does.

Health Certificates
International certificates for smallpox and cholera are not required and yellow fever vaccination are necessary only for visitors coming from infected areas.

Customs
Each adult is permitted to bring, on entry, a maximum of two litres of alcoholic beverages, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 grams of tobacco and a reasonable quantity of perfume. Photographic equipment and typewriters must be declared and are admitted provided they are taken out on departure. Prohibited from entry are the fol lowing items: narcotics, arms and ammunition, TV sets, radio and radio casette recorders, pornography, fresh fruit, printed matters in Chinese characters and Chinese medicine. All movie films and video casettes will have to be deposited for review by the Film Censor Board. There is no restriction on import and export of foreign currencies and travellers cheque; however, import or export Indonesia currency exceeding Rp 50,000,- is prohibited.

Tipping
Major hotels add a 10% service charge to bills. Where it is not included a tip of between 5% to 10% of the bill would be appropriate if service is satisfactory. Airport poterage is Rp 500,- for a small bag and Rp 1,000,- if weighing more than 20 kg. Tipping taxi and hire-car drivers is not mandatory, but Rp 500,would be sufficient for a taxi driver, but more for a hire-car driver.

Food
The main staple food of the majority of the population is rice. Coconut milk and hot chili peppers are popular cooking ingredients nationwide. Tastes range from very spicy dishes of meat; fish and vegetables to those that are quite sweet. The most popular dishes are “nasi goreng” (fried rice) which is otten served for breakfast, lunch or dinner, “satay” barbequed meat or chicken on skewers and “gado-gado”, a vegetable salad with a pean ut sauce.All are most compatible with internationaltastes. Inthemaintouristcenters and cities, restaurants catering to international visitors are many, from fine continental grill rooms to Japanese specialty restaurants. Chinese restaurants are found in all towns throughout Indonesia. Tropical and subtropical fruits are available yearround. Bottled drinking water can be purchased everywhere.

Shopping
Many of Indonesia’s main cities have department stores, supermarkets and large shopping complexes, open generally from 9 am to 8 pm, where fixed prices prevail. In local markets and small shops bargaining is the rule.

Time
Indonesia streches across three time zones: Western Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, West and Cen tral Kalimantan) + 7 GMT Central Indonesia (Bali, South and East Kalimantan, Sula wesi, Nusa Teng gara) + 8 GMT East Indonesia (Maluku and Irian Jaya) , +9 GMT

Electricity
Most hotels use 220 volts 50 cycles and two-pronged plugs. However it is not uncommon to find some hotels using 110 volts, particularly in the provinces. Check before using an appliance. Some hotels supply adaptors on request.

Communication
Long distance calls within Indonesia may be made by direct dialing through International Direct Dial (IDD) in major cities or through operator-assisted calls. Telex and fax services are readily available in major hotels and larger cities.

Business Related

Office Hours
Business offices are usually open either from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm or 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, with a break for lunch between 12.00 noon and 1.00 pm. but on Saturday many business offices are closed.
Government office hours are from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm from Monday to Friday and on Saturday many Government offices are close.

Banking
Normal banking hours are from 8.00 am to 2.30 pm from Monday to Friday. Some bank branches in hotels, however, keep longer hours.
Indonesia has several international banks but money can also be changed at hotel cashiers, and authorized money changers. Daily exchange rates are published in newspapers.
The US dollar is the most readily accepted currency.
Most major tourist destination areas have foreign exchange facilities, but for travel to remote areas, it is advisable to change money and travelers cheques in advance. Credit cards are acceptable only at major hotels, restaurants and travel agencies

Currency
The local currency is the Rupiah (comes in denominations of 100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5000, 500 and 100 in bank notes, and 1000, 500, 100, 50 and 25 in coins). Foreign currencies, either bank notes or travellers cheques, are easily exchanged at banks and money changers in major tourist destinations. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels and restaurants in main cities. It is advisable to carry sufficient amounts of Rupiah when travelling to smaller towns or outer provinces.

POST OFFICE
Open from 8.00am to 4.00pm daily except Sundays and public holidays. Post offices are closed and public holidays.

Do and Don’t

When visiting Indonesia, visitors should observe local customs and practices. Some common courtesies and customs are as follows :

Although handshakes are generally acceptable for both men and women, some Muslim ladies may acknowledge introductions to gentlemen by merely nodding and smiling.

A handshake should only be initiated by ladies. The traditional greeting or salam resembles a handshake with both hands but without the grasp.

The man offers both hands, lightly touches his friends outstretched hands, and then brings his hands to his chest to mean, “I greet you from my heart”. The visitor should reciprocate the salam.

It is polite to call before visiting a home.Shoes must always be removed when entering a home. Drinks are generally offered to guests. It is polite to accept.

The right hand is always used when eating with one’s hand or giving and receiving objects. The right forefinger is not used to point at places, objects or persons. Instead, the thumb of the right hand with four fingers folded under is the preferred usage.

Shoes must be removed when entering places of worship such as mosques and temples. Some mosques provide robes and scarves for female visitors.

Taking photographs at places of worship is usually permitted but always ask permission beforehand.

Toasting is not a common practice in. The country’s large Muslim population does not drink alcohol.

East Java (Jawa Timur)  covers the eastern third of the island of Java, Indonesia, as well as the island of Madura and several small offshore islands.

Understand

The spine of East Java is dominated by a series of rugged, spectacular volcanic peaks. The most famous of these are in the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park and Semeru and Bromo together make up one of the great iconic images of Indonesia. There are four volcanic peaks higher than 3,000 metres in the region. This volcanic activity has created a largely fertile area and verdant agriculture is a prominent feature of the area.

Both the north and south coasts offer some beautiful, deep, fine sand beaches and these are another key attraction of the region.

The two large southern national parks of Alas Purwo and Meru Betiri are remote and sparsely populated and represent the nearest thing to a wilderness experience that you will find on Java. In the north-east, Baluran National Park recalls African Savannah plains.

The island of Madura sits off the north eastern coast of the region and is as off-the-beaten-track as you can get in this part of Indonesia. That may be changing though as the road bridge linking Surabaya to Madura opened in mid-2009.

Surabaya is the capital city and Indonesia’s second largest. It is though largely bereft of attractions, over-crowded, polluted and supports sprawling industry. Few visitors stay in Surabaya for reasons of tourism. Malang is the second city of the region and a bigger contrast to Surabaya could not be imagined. It is a clean, airy city with an important and interesting history.

Cities

* Surabaya — capital of the region; Indonesia’s second-largest city and a huge industrial sprawl
* Banyuwangi — the Ijen Crater, famous Java arabica coffee plantations and ferries to Bali
* Batu — charming old hill town that was formerly a Dutch colonial playground
* Bojonegoro — teak plantations and the unique Samin culture
* Jember — large city with verdant hills to the north and beautiful beaches to the south
* Kediri — Mount Wilis, waterfalls and significant archeological sites
* Madiun — verdant agriculture and Mount Lawu
* Malang — cool, clean air and the ancient seat of the Mataram kingdom
* Probolinggo — gateway to the Bromo-Tengger-Semuru National Park
* Trowulan
* Bondowoso – THE LOST ANCIENT,Prehistoric stones scattered in the region and almost forgotten.the Ijen Crater west Gateway

Other destinations

* Baluran National Park — large forest and coastal park. Relatively easy access to and from Bali
* Blitar — birthplace of Indonesia’s first president and independence hero, Sukarno
* Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park — popular hiking destination featuring the still-rumbling Mount Bromo. The star attraction in the region
* Pacitan
* Pulau Sempu
* Madura — a dry and crowded island very much off the beaten path for visitors
* Sukamade — turtle conservation beach
* Trenggalek — beautiful white sand beaches
* Madakaripura — most popular waterfall in east java
* Kalianyar Village;Beautiful scenery and quiet place

Talk

People in East Java speak Indonesian as well as Javanese which they mix together at times. A significant minority also speak Madurese. English will be understood and spoken at large city hotels and at obvious tourist destinations.

For all place names, beware that in the local East Javanese accent, “A” and “O” are largely interchangable: often the official spelling uses “A”, but the locals pronounce it “O”. Hence a resident of Surabaya is locally an arek Suroboyo and eg. Cemoro Lawang and Cemara Lawang are the same place.

Get in

By plane

Surabaya’s Juanda Airport (IATA: SUB) [2] is one of the busiest in Indonesia, with very frequent flights from Jakarta, Bali and other major Indonesian destinations. There are some direct international flights from destinations including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Bandar Seri Begawan.

Malang’s Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport (IATA: MLG) is a small airport with a few flights everyday from Jakarta.

By train

Surabaya is connected by rail from Jakarta, Semarang and Yogyakarta with many stop points in between [3]. It is possible to travel to the region from Bali with an all-in “train” ticket that also covers the necessary bus and ferry portions.

The popular star tourist attraction of Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park is sadly not part of the Indonesian rail network.

By ferry

Ferries ply the route between Gilimanuk, Bali and Banyuwangi every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day. The crossing itself takes about 30 minutes, although embarking and disembarking can take much longer.

Surabaya is a major port city and virtually every major coastal city in Indonesia is connected in some way. Check the national passenger ship operator Pelni for detailed information

By bus

Frequent buses travel across Java and this is a reliable, if not always comfortable, method of travel. All of the the major cities and towns in the region can be reached by bus.

Get around

By car

Driving anywhere is Java is a hazardous business for visitors not used to Indonesian driving habits. East Java is no exception and visitors are advised to rent a car with a driver if this is your chosen method of getting around in the region.

By train

The region is well served by the national rail network which connects all major cities and towns .

See

Sunrise at the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park

The Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park is the main attraction in East Java and accounts for a large percentage of overseas tourists who visit the region. The national park is named after its two mountains, Mount Semeru (the highest in Java at 3,676 metres), Mount Bromo (the most popular) and the Tengger people who inhabit the area. Mount Semeru also known as Mahameru (Great Mountain), is one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes. Semeru is often closed due to its highly active nature. There are many opportunities for trekking in the park to suite all levels of physical fitness. One of the most popular activities (especially for the less energetic!) is to stay in one of the simple lodges in the park, then drive up to the top of Mount Penanjakan (2,770m) in a 4 x 4 jeep pre-dawn and wait for a truly spectacular sunrise. Later in the day, a slightly more arduous 90 minute climb up to the rim of the Mount Bromo caldera to view the bubbling active crater is very worthwhile. You can also make this ascent seated atop one of the local ponies.

The Ijen Crater in East Java

The Ijen Plateau near Banyuwangi and Bondowoso is a less well known but in its own way equally spectacular area of volcanic activity. The Ijen Plateau is the centrepoint of the large mountain range west of Banyuwangi and which abutts the Baluran National Park to the north. For the adventurous traveller a visit to the Ijen Crater (Kawah Ijen) whilst in the region is a must. The crater can be approached from Bondowoso in the west or Banyuwangi in the east. The Bondowoso route is recommended as the road is relatively better (although that is not saying much) and the 90 minute foot climb much easier. When you arrive the colour of the water in the lake is scarcely believable being an extraordinary vivid aqua blue. Evidence of volcanic activity is everywhere with steaming water and brilliant yellow crystaline sulphur deposits. The Ijen Crater is one of the great natural wonders of Indonesia.

Malang is a city of great historical significance. It was a seat of major power in Java’s Hindu past and the Dutch took a great liking to its relatively cool, fresh climate in the colonial period. Modern day Malang, although significantly urbanised, has retained much of its historical character and a few days looking around this lovely city and visiting nearby places of interest, will be time well spent. In the city centre a great first stop is Ijen Boulevard. This is a quite beautiful street lined with tropical trees against a backdrop of old colonial structures. The street houses a number of interesting buildings including the Brawijaya Army Museum, Immanual Catholic Church and the city library. Nearby Jalan Tugu is home of the city hall (Balai Kota Malang), the Tugu Monument, Aloon-Aloon Bunder (park) and the wonderful Tugu Hotel. The latter houses a magnificent collection of Javanese antiques and is a great place to stop by for lunch or tea.

About 30 km south of Malang there are three lovely beaches close together: Balekambang, Ngliyep and Sendangbiru. It is best to visit on weekdays as this is a very popular weekend escape and it can get get crowded. It is not safe to swim here but these are great relaxation beaches which offer some stunning coastal scenery. There is a offshore island called Pulau Simpu which can be visited by chartering a boat from Sedangbiru beach. At Balekambang beach there are three little islets just offshore which are attached to the beach by walkways. Of the three beaches, Balekambang itself is the most attractive. The beaches are easily day-tripped from Malang in a car. bondowosothe lost ancient city, the region has many ancient stones and spread in several districts, such as kenong stone, grave stones, sarkofag, and others. Alun – alun city is the main place to gather people (the crowd), to the north stood the Regent Hall, which is an old building, and there are also Dutch heritage building that is now a Junior High School 1 Bondowoso. there are many more Dutch heritage buildings in this city. about 10 kilometers east of Bondowoso no brass handicraft center (Cindogo). the food is very typical in this city is a tape, made from cassava on fermentation with a sweet taste, this meal can get almost the entire city, especially in the Chinatown shop, east of the Alun – alun City. KALIANYAR VILLAGE, 15 Kilometers south of Bondowoso. if you want to enjoy the countryside with the cool air, still quiet and feel the friendliness of its people, visiting this place is a very amazing experience. look at the lives of villagers and also interact with them, the process of rice farming can be viewed from the rainy season and dry season they started to plant tobacco (normally at the start in May or June) and the processing process is an activity that deserves to be seen(specially last August or early September). on weekends, there are performances of traditional music once a month and there are also traditional dances named Tari Aduan Sapi(Dance Bullfight)

Do

* Ride in a jeep up Mount Penanjakan in the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park and experience one of the world’s great sunrises.

* Surf at G-Land near Banyuwangi.

* Birdwatch in the Baluran National Park.

* Collect some sulphur crystals at the Ijen Crater near Banyuwangi.

* Get off the beaten track and drive over the new bridge to the island of Madura.

* Watch a turtle laying eggs at Sukamade beach. A once in a lifetime experience.

* Experience whitewater rafting at Pekalen river, Probolinggo.

Eat

Eating is an extremely important part of life in East Java and there is an extraordinary range of options.

High quality western food is available in the large cities of Surabaya and Malang but there are so many local delights that any visitor is surely better off concentrating on these. Indonesian cuisine from all corners of this vast nation is widely available. As elsewhere in Indonesia, the best bet is often simple warungs and road-side stalls and the rule is to follow the local crowds.

Specific East Javanese specialities include:

* Rujak cingur, a salad with spicy sauce and cingur (slices of cooked cow nose).
* Sate kelopo, satay with coconut rasp.
* Sate Madura, spicy goat satay.

Drink

There is a local type of fermented palm tree alcohol, called tuak.

Stay safe

When visiting any of the volcanic areas, understand and be respectful of their active nature. Never take unneccesary risks.

Temperatures in the high parts of the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park can get close to 0 °C at night – come prepared.
[edit] Get out

* Bali – next stop east is The Island of the Gods.
* Yogyakarta and the stunning temples of Borobudur and Prambanan.

History

The earliest written records of Javanese history make mention of the land of Sunda, that is, West Java. Somewhere on the banks of a river east of Jakarta was the capital of the kingdom called Tarumanagara, and in the 5th century A.D. King Purnawarman was its ruler. He apparently initiated the construction of an irrigation canal for rice fields and left stone inscriptions for later generations. One of these inscriptions was discovered on a boulder in a riverbed near Bogor; a replica of it is on display in the West Java Provincial Museum in Bandung. Chinese and Indian sources indicate that there were commercial relations between Tarumanagara and China at that time.
Evidence of this is in records about Java and its kingdoms compiled by the Buddhist monk Fa Xian, who traveled from Sri Lanka to China in 413 A.D. Also, a number of envoys traveled between China and a Javanese kingdom called He Luo Dan, which may have been identical with Tarumanagara. Like many other Southeast Asian kingdoms of that era, Tarumanagara drew heavily upon Indian elements of culture, literature, and philosophy, blending them with local elements into a unique synthesis. We do not know what finally happened to Tarumanagara kingdom, only that within the next three centuries it disappeared, perhaps because of the rise of Sriwijaya Empire in south Sumatra. Among the smaller kingdoms that succeeded it were those of Kuningan, northeast of Bandung; Galuh, whose capital was southeast of Bandung near Ciamis; and Pajajaran, whose capital was near Bogor. These kingdoms eventually united under the banner of Pajajaran.

Indonesia is an archipelago of over 17,000 islands with a population of more than 200 million, scatterd over a land area of some 2.02 million square kilometers. Lying across a region of immense volcanic activity, Indonesia has some 400 volcanoes, with at least 70 still active.

Bahasa Indonesia is the official language. English is frequently used in commerce. The people are predominantly Muslim, minority religious groups being Christians, Hindus and Buddhists.

Useful Information

General Information

Climate
A tropical country, with humidity ranging from 69% – 95%, there are two seasons: Dry Season, from May to October and Wet Season, from November to April. It should be noted that occasional showers do occur during the dry season; similarly, during the “rainy” season it is more likely that heavy tropical down-pours are interspersed with sunshine. Average temperatures range from 68° to 86° or 20° to 30°C

Airport Tax and Transport
Passengers departing on international and domestic flights have to pay Rp. 50,000 and Rp. 11,000 airport tax respectively.

Metered taxis are available only at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta. At other major Indonesian airports, taxis operate on a fixed rate basis.

From Jakarta airport, all taxi fares include a surcharge of Rp. 2,300 and a highway toll of at least Rp. 4,000, depending on destination. The surcharge does not apply to trips to the airport, though the highway toll does.

Health Certificates
International certificates for smallpox and cholera are not required and yellow fever vaccination are necessary only for visitors coming from infected areas.

Customs
Each adult is permitted to bring, on entry, a maximum of two litres of alcoholic beverages, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 grams of tobacco and a reasonable quantity of perfume. Photographic equipment and typewriters must be declared and are admitted provided they are taken out on departure. Prohibited from entry are the fol lowing items: narcotics, arms and ammunition, TV sets, radio and radio casette recorders, pornography, fresh fruit, printed matters in Chinese characters and Chinese medicine. All movie films and video casettes will have to be deposited for review by the Film Censor Board. There is no restriction on import and export of foreign currencies and travellers cheque; however, import or export Indonesia currency exceeding Rp 50,000,- is prohibited.

Tipping
Major hotels add a 10% service charge to bills. Where it is not included a tip of between 5% to 10% of the bill would be appropriate if service is satisfactory. Airport poterage is Rp 500,- for a small bag and Rp 1,000,- if weighing more than 20 kg. Tipping taxi and hire-car drivers is not mandatory, but Rp 500,would be sufficient for a taxi driver, but more for a hire-car driver.

Food
The main staple food of the majority of the population is rice. Coconut milk and hot chili peppers are popular cooking ingredients nationwide. Tastes range from very spicy dishes of meat; fish and vegetables to those that are quite sweet. The most popular dishes are “nasi goreng” (fried rice) which is otten served for breakfast, lunch or dinner, “satay” barbequed meat or chicken on skewers and “gado-gado”, a vegetable salad with a pean ut sauce.All are most compatible with internationaltastes. Inthemaintouristcenters and cities, restaurants catering to international visitors are many, from fine continental grill rooms to Japanese specialty restaurants. Chinese restaurants are found in all towns throughout Indonesia. Tropical and subtropical fruits are available yearround. Bottled drinking water can be purchased everywhere.

Shopping
Many of Indonesia’s main cities have department stores, supermarkets and large shopping complexes, open generally from 9 am to 8 pm, where fixed prices prevail. In local markets and small shops bargaining is the rule.

Time
Indonesia streches across three time zones: Western Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, West and Cen tral Kalimantan) + 7 GMT Central Indonesia (Bali, South and East Kalimantan, Sula wesi, Nusa Teng gara) + 8 GMT East Indonesia (Maluku and Irian Jaya) , +9 GMT

Electricity
Most hotels use 220 volts 50 cycles and two-pronged plugs. However it is not uncommon to find some hotels using 110 volts, particularly in the provinces. Check before using an appliance. Some hotels supply adaptors on request.

Communication
Long distance calls within Indonesia may be made by direct dialing through International Direct Dial (IDD) in major cities or through operator-assisted calls. Telex and fax services are readily available in major hotels and larger cities.

Business Related

Office Hours
Business offices are usually open either from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm or 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, with a break for lunch between 12.00 noon and 1.00 pm. but on Saturday many business offices are closed.
Government office hours are from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm from Monday to Friday and on Saturday many Government offices are close.

Banking
Normal banking hours are from 8.00 am to 2.30 pm from Monday to Friday. Some bank branches in hotels, however, keep longer hours.
Indonesia has several international banks but money can also be changed at hotel cashiers, and authorized money changers. Daily exchange rates are published in newspapers.
The US dollar is the most readily accepted currency.
Most major tourist destination areas have foreign exchange facilities, but for travel to remote areas, it is advisable to change money and travelers cheques in advance. Credit cards are acceptable only at major hotels, restaurants and travel agencies

Currency
The local currency is the Rupiah (comes in denominations of 100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5000, 500 and 100 in bank notes, and 1000, 500, 100, 50 and 25 in coins). Foreign currencies, either bank notes or travellers cheques, are easily exchanged at banks and money changers in major tourist destinations. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels and restaurants in main cities. It is advisable to carry sufficient amounts of Rupiah when travelling to smaller towns or outer provinces.

POST OFFICE
Open from 8.00am to 4.00pm daily except Sundays and public holidays. Post offices are closed and public holidays.

Do and Don’t

When visiting Indonesia, visitors should observe local customs and practices. Some common courtesies and customs are as follows :

Although handshakes are generally acceptable for both men and women, some Muslim ladies may acknowledge introductions to gentlemen by merely nodding and smiling.

A handshake should only be initiated by ladies. The traditional greeting or salam resembles a handshake with both hands but without the grasp.

The man offers both hands, lightly touches his friends outstretched hands, and then brings his hands to his chest to mean, “I greet you from my heart”. The visitor should reciprocate the salam.

It is polite to call before visiting a home.Shoes must always be removed when entering a home. Drinks are generally offered to guests. It is polite to accept.

The right hand is always used when eating with one’s hand or giving and receiving objects. The right forefinger is not used to point at places, objects or persons. Instead, the thumb of the right hand with four fingers folded under is the preferred usage.

Shoes must be removed when entering places of worship such as mosques and temples. Some mosques provide robes and scarves for female visitors.

Taking photographs at places of worship is usually permitted but always ask permission beforehand.

Toasting is not a common practice in. The country’s large Muslim population does not drink alcohol.

Java (Indonesian: Jawa) is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 136 million, it is the world’s most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia’s population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java. Much of Indonesian history took place on Java; it was the center of powerful Hindu-Buddhist empires, Islamic sultanates, the core of the colonial Dutch East Indies, and was at the center of Indonesia’s campaign for independence. The island dominates Indonesian social, political and economic life.

Formed mostly as the result of volcanic events, Java is the 13th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in Indonesia. A chain of volcanic mountains forms an east-west spine along the island. It has three main languages, though Javanese is dominant and is the native language of 60 million people in Indonesia, most of whom live on Java. Most residents are bilingual, with Indonesian as their first or second language. While the majority of the people of Java are Muslim, Java has a diverse mixture of religious beliefs, ethnicities and cultures.

The island is divided into four provinces, West Java, Central Java, East Java, and Banten, and two special districts, Jakarta and Yogyakarta.

Etymology

The origins of the name ‘Java’ are not clear. One possibility is that the island was named after the jáwa-wut plant, which was said to be common in the island during the time, and that prior to Indianization the island had different names.There are other possible sources: the word jaú and its variations mean “beyond” or “distant”. And, in Sanskrit yava means barley, a plant for which the island was famous. It was hence referred to in Indian, specifically Tamil literature by the Sanskrit name “yāvaka dvīpa” (dvīpa = island). Another source states that the “Java” word is derived from a Proto-Austronesian root word, meaning ‘home’.

Geography

See also: Volcanoes of Java
Mount Semeru and Mount Bromo in East Java

Java lies between Sumatra to the west and Bali to the east. Borneo lies to the north and Christmas Island to the south. It is the world’s 13th largest island.

Java is almost entirely of volcanic origin; it contains thirty-eight mountains forming an east-west spine which have at one time or another been active volcanoes. The highest volcano in Java is Mount Semeru (3,676 m). The most active volcano in Java and also in Indonesia is Mount Merapi (2,968 m). See Volcanoes of Java. Further mountains and highlands help to split the interior into a series of relatively isolated regions suitable for wet-rice cultivation; the rice lands of Java are among the richest in the world.[4] Java was the first place where Indonesian coffee was grown, starting in 1699. Today, Coffea arabica is grown on the Ijen Plateau by small-holders and larger plantations.

The area of Java is approximately 139,000 km2.[5] The island’s longest river is the 600 km long Solo River.[6] The river rises from its source in central Java at the Lawu volcano, then flows north and eastward to its mouth in the Java Sea near the city of Surabaya. The island is administratively divided into four provinces (Banten, West Java, Central Java, and East Java), one special region (Yogyakarta), and one special capital district (Jakarta).

Temperatures throughout the year average 22°C to 29°C and humidity average 75%. The northern coastal plains are normally hotter averaging 34°C during the day in the dry season. The south coast is generally cooler than the north, and highland areas inland are cooler again. The wet season begins in October ending in April during which rain falls most afternoons and intermittently during other parts of the year. The wettest months are January and February. West Java is wetter than East Java and mountainous regions receive much higher rainfall. The highlands of West Java receive over 4,000 mm annually, while the north coast of East Java receives 900 mm annually.

History

Mount Merbabu surrounded by rice fields. Java’s volcanic topography and rich agricultural lands are the fundamental factor in its history

Fossilised remains of Homo erectus, popularly known as the “Java Man”, dating back 1.7 million years were found along the banks of the Bengawan Solo River.

The island’s exceptional fertility and rainfall allowed the development of wet-field rice cultivation, which required sophisticated levels of cooperation between villages. Out of these village alliances, small kingdoms developed. The chain of volcanic mountains and associated highlands running the length of Java kept its interior regions and peoples separate and relatively isolated.[8] Before the advent of Islamic states and European colonialism, the rivers provided the main means of communication, although Java’s many rivers are mostly short. Only the Brantas and Sala rivers could provide long-distance communication, and thus their valleys supported the centres of major kingdoms. A system of roads, permanent bridges and toll gates is thought to have been established in Java by at least the mid-seventeenth century. Local powers could disrupt the routes as could the wet season and road use was highly dependent on constant maintenance. Subsequently, communication between Java’s population was difficult.

Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms era

The Taruma and Sunda kingdoms of western Java appeared in the fourth and seventh centuries respectively. However, the first major principality was the Medang Kingdom which was founded in central Java at the beginning of the eight century. Medang’s religion centred on the Hindu god Shiva, and the kingdom produced some of Java’s earliest Hindu temples on the Dieng Plateau. Around 8th century the Sailendra dynasty rose in Kedu Plain and become the patron of Mahayana Buddhism. This ancient kingdom built monuments such as 9th century Borobudur and Prambanan in central Java.
The 9th century Borobudur buddhist stupa in Central Java.

Around 10th century the center of power shifted from central to eastern Java. The eastern Javanese kingdoms of Kediri, Singhasari and Majapahit were mainly dependent on rice agriculture, yet also pursued trade within the Indonesian archipelago with China and India.

Majapahit was established by Wijaya and by the end of the reign of Hayam Wuruk (r. 1350-89) it claimed sovereignty over the entire Indonesian archipelago, although control was likely limited to Java, Bali and Madura. Hayam Wuruk’s prime minster, Gajah Mada, led many of the kingdom’s territorial conquests. Previous Javanese kingdoms had their power based in agriculture, however, Majapahit took control of ports and shipping lanes and became Java’s first commercial empire. With the death of Hayam Wuruk and the coming of Islam to Indonesia, Majapahit went into decline.

Spread of Islam and rise of Islamic sultanates

By the end of the 16th century, Islam, through conversion firstly amongst the island’s elite, had surpassed Hinduism and Buddhism as the dominant religion in Java. During this era, the Islamic kingdoms of Demak, Cirebon, and Banten were ascendant. The Mataram Sultanate became the dominant power of central and eastern Java at the end of the 16th century. The principalities of Surabaya and Cirebon were eventually subjugated such that only Mataram and Banten were left to face the Dutch in the 17th century.

Colonial periods

Painting of a village in Java during colonial period, 1883-1889.
Tea plantation in Java during Dutch colonial period. In/before 1926.

Java’s contact with the European colonial powers began in 1522 with a treaty between the Sunda kingdom and the Portugese in Malacca. After its failure the Portugese presence was confined to Malacca, and to the eastern islands. In 1596, a four-ship expedition led by Cornelis de Houtman was the first Dutch contact with Indonesia.By the end of the 18th century the Dutch had extended their influence over the sultanates of the interior (see Dutch East Indies). While the Javanese were great warriors, internal conflict prevented them forming effective alliances against the Dutch. Remnants of the Mataram survived as the Surakarta (Solo) and Yogyakarta principalities. Javanese kings claimed to rule with divine authority and the Dutch helped them to preserve remnants of a Javanese aristocracy by confirming them as regents or district officials within the colonial administration.

Java major role during early part of colonial period is as producer of rice. In spice producing islands like Banda, rice was regularly imported from Java, to supply the deficiency in means of subsistence.

In 1815, there may have been 5 million people in Java.In the second half of the eighteenth century, population spurts began in districts along the north-central coast of Java, and in the nineteenth century population grew rapidly across the island. Factors for the great population growth include the impact of Dutch colonial rule including the imposed end to civil war in Java, the increase in the area under rice cultivation, and the introduction of food plants such as casava and maize which could sustain populations that could not afford rice.Others attribute the growth to the taxation burdens and increased expansion of employment under the Cultivation System to which couples responded by having more children in the hope of increasing their families’ ability to pay tax and buy goods.

The advent of trucks and railways where there had previously only been buffalo and carts, telegraph systems, and more coordinated distribution systems under the colonial government all contributed to famine elimination in Java, and in turn, population growth. There were no significant famines in Java from the 1840s through to the Japanese occupation in the 1940s.Ethnological factors are also thought to have contributed to the increase in population. In Java, there was no absolute preference for boy babies which was significant in Java where agriculture depends on the labour of both men and women. Furthermore, the age of first marriage dropped during the nineteenth century thus increasing a women’s child bearing years.

Independence era

Indonesian nationalism first took hold in Java in the early twentieth century (see Indonesian National Awakening), and the struggle to secure the country’s independence following World War II was centred in Java. The abortive coup and the subsequent violent anti-communist purge in 1965/66 largely took place in Java. The island has dominated Indonesian social, political and economic life, which has been the source of resentment.

Demography

Central Jakarta

With a population of 136 million,Java it is the most populous island in the world and is home to 57% of Indonesia’s population.At 1,029 people per km², it is also one of the most densely-populated parts of the world. Approximately 45% of the population of Indonesia is ethnically Javanese.Despite this, the dense Western third of the island (West Java, Banten, and DKI Jakarta) has a population density exceeding 1,400 per km2 and is taking up the lion’s share of population growth of Java.

From the 1970s to the fall of the Suharto regime in 1998, the Indonesian government ran transmigration programs aimed at resettling the population of Java on other less-populated islands of Indonesia. This program has met with mixed results; sometimes causing conflicts between the locals and the recently arrived settlers. However, Java’s share of the nations population has fallen steadily.

Jakarta and its outskirts being the dominant metropolis is also home to people from all over the nation. East Java is also home to ethnic Balinese, as well as large numbers of Madurans due to their historic poverty.

Ethnicity and culture

See also: Culture of Indonesia and Music of Java
A teenager in Java wearing traditional Javanese attire: blangkon headgear, batik kilt and kris as accessory. 1913.

The Javanese kakawin Tantu Pagelaran explained the mythical origin of the island and its volcanic nature. Despite its large population and in contrast to the other larger islands of Indonesia, Java is comparatively homogeneous in ethnic composition. Only two ethnic groups are native to the island—the Javanese and Sundanese. A third group is the Madurese, who inhabit the island of Madura off the north east coast of Java, and have immigrated to East Java in large numbers since the 18th century.The Javanese comprise about two-thirds of the island’s population, while the Sundanese and Madurese account for 20% and 10% respectively.

Four major cultural areas exist on the island: the kejawen or Javanese heartland, the north coast of the pasisir region, the Sunda lands of West Java, and the eastern salient, also known as Blambangan. Madura makes up a fifth area having close cultural ties with coastal Java.The kejawen Javanese culture is the island’s most dominant. Java’s remaining aristocracy are based here, and it is the region from where the majority of Indonesia’s army, business, and political elite originate. Its language, arts, and etiquette are regarded as the island’s most refined and exemplary.The territory from Banyumas in the west through to Blitar in the east and encompasses Indonesia’s most fertile and densely populated agricultural land.

In the southwestern part of Central Java, which is usually named the Banyumasan region, a cultural mingling occurred; bringing together Javanese culture and Sundanese culture to create the Banyumasan culture.[citation needed] In the central Javanese court cities of Yogyakarta and Surakarta, contemporary kings trace their lineages back to the pre-colonial Islamic kingdoms that ruled the region, making those places especially strong repositories of classical Javanese culture. Classic arts of Java include gamelan music and wayang puppet shows.

Java was the site of many influential kingdoms in the Southeast Asian region,[19] and as a result, many literary works have been written by Javanese authors. These include Ken Arok and Ken Dedes, the story of the orphan who usurped his king, and married the queen of the ancient Javanese kingdom; and translations of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Pramoedya Ananta Toer is a famous contemporary Indonesian author, who has written many stories based on his own experiences of having grown up in Java, and takes many elements from Javanese folklore and historical legends.

Languages

The three major languages spoken on Java are Javanese, Sundanese and Madurese. Other languages spoken include Betawi (a Malay dialect local to the Jakarta region), Osing and Tenggerese (closely related to Javanese), Baduy (closely related to Sundanese), Kangeanese (closely related to Madurese), Balinese, and Banyumasan.The vast majority of the population also speaks Indonesian, often as a second language.

Religion

Mosque in Pati, Central Java during colonial period. The mosque combined traditional Javanese style (multi-tiered roof) with European architecture.

More than 90 percent of the people of Java are Muslims, on a broad continuum between abangan (more traditional) and santri (more modernist). Small Hindu enclaves are scattered throughout Java, but there is a large Hindu population along the eastern coast nearest Bali, especially around the town of Banyuwangi. There are also Christian communities, mostly in the larger cities, though some rural areas of south-central Java are strongly Roman Catholic. Roman Catholics and other Christian groups have been persecuted for their beliefs such as a ban on Christmas services.Buddhist communities also exist in the major cities, primarily among the Chinese Indonesian. The Indonesian constitution recognises six official religions.

Java has been a melting pot of religions and cultures, which has created a broad range of religious belief. Indian influences came first with Shaivism and Buddhism penetrating deeply into society, blending with indigenous tradition and culture.One conduit for this were the ascetics, called resi, who taught mystical practices. A resi lived surrounded by students, who took care of their master’s daily needs. Resi’s authorities were merely ceremonial. At the courts, Brahmin clerics and pudjangga (sacred literati) legitimised rulers and linked Hindu cosmology to their political needs.

Islam, which came after Hinduism, strengthened the status structure of this traditional religious pattern. The Muslim scholar of the writ (Kyai) became the new religious elite as Hindu influences receded. Islam recognises no hierarchy of religious leaders nor a formal priesthood, but the Dutch colonial government established an elaborate rank order for mosque and other Islamic preaching schools. In Javanese pesantren (Islamic schools), The Kyai perpetuated the tradition of the resi. Students around him provided his needs, even peasants around the school.

Pre-Islamic Javan traditions have encouraged Islam in a mystical direction. There emerged in Java a loosely structured society of religious leadership, revolving around kyais, possessing various degrees of proficiency in pre-Islamic and Islamic lore, belief and practice.The kyais are the principal intermediaries between the villages masses and the realm of the supernatural. However, this very looseneess of kyai leadership structure has promoted schism. There were often sharp divisions between orthodox kyais, who merely instructed in Islamic law, with those who taught mysticism and those who sought reformed Islam with modern scientific concepts. As a result, there is a division between santri, who believe that they are more orthodox in their Islamic belief and practice, with abangan, who have mixed pre-Islamic animistic and Hindu-Indian concepts with a superficial acceptance of Islamic belief.

A wider effect of this division is the number of sects. In the middle of 1956, the Department of Religious Affairs in Yogyakarta reported 63 religious sects in Java other than the official Indonesian religions. Of these, 35 were in Central Java, 22 in West Java and 6 in East Java.These include Kejawen, Sumarah, Subud, etc. Their total membership is difficult to estimate as many of their adherents identify themselves with one of the official religions.

Economy

Javanese women planting rice in a ricefield near Prambanan, Yogyakarta
Initially the economy of Java relied heavily on rice agriculture. Ancient kingdoms such as the Tarumanagara, Mataram, and Majapahit were dependent on rice yields and tax. Java was famous for rice surpluses and rice export since ancient times, and rice agriculture contributed to the population growth of the island. Trade with other parts of Asia such as India and China flourished as early as the 4th century, as evidenced by Chinese ceramics found on the island dated to that period. Java also took part in the global trade of Maluku spice from ancient times in the Majapahit era, until well into the VOC era.

Dutch East India Company set their foothold on Batavia in 17th century and successed by Netherlands East Indies in 18th century. During this colonial times the Dutch introduced commercial plants cultivation in Java, such as sugarcane, rubber, coffee, tea, and quinine. In 19th to early 20th century Javanese coffee gain global popularity, thus the name “Java” today has become the synonym of coffee.

Java transportation network

Java is the most developed island in Indonesia since the era of Netherland East Indies to modern Republic of Indonesia. The road transportation networks that have existed since ancient times were connected and perfected with the construction of Java Great Post Road by Daendels in early 19th century. The need to transport commercial produces such as coffee from plantations in the interior of the island to the harbour on the coast spurred the construction of railway networks in Java. Today the industry, business and trade, also services flourished in major cities of Java, such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Semarang, and Bandung; while some traditional Sultanate cities such as Yogyakarta, Surakarta, and Cirebon preserved its royal legacy and become the center of art, culture and tourism in Java. Industrial estates also growing in towns on northern coast of Java, especially around Cilegon, Tangerang, Bekasi, Karawang, Gresik and Sidoarjo. The toll road highway networks was built and expanded since Suharto era until now, connecting major urban centers and surrounding areas, such as in and around Jakarta and Bandung; also the ones in Cirebon, Semarang and Surabaya. In addition to these motor ways, Java has 16 national highways.