People if Indonesia were very friendly. They never had a problem with having their pictures taken, on the contrary, they very often asked me to have their picture taken with me. Especially the kids liked to pose for pictures
Traffic was fairly chaotic in the cities, but not as bad as in some African countries. Motorcycles are the preferred mode of transportation, especially in the cities. I ended up on the back of a motorcycle a couple of times with my guide bringing me to some event.
Markets are, as always, very colorful. I love to walk through markets and watch how the wares are displayed.
Agriculture is very important, both for daily consumption and for income generation. Unfortunately, oil palm plantations have taken over large areas of original forest. This severely reduces habitat for wildlife.
Children taking a bath. (1108k) Women doing laundry in the canal. (1089k) Woman showing off her baby. (1020k) Woman and child of the Dani tribe on Papua. (1245k) School girls. (830k) Kids. (956k) Kids. (1010k) Kid. (491k) Kid. (583k)
Traffic
Some of the roads where pretty bad. (742k) On Java I saw quite a few bicycle rickshaws. (866k) Bicycle rickshaws in Wamena on Papua. (810k) Traffic in Medan during rain storm. The motorcycle rickshaws are popular in Indonesia as taxis. They are different from rickshaws in other countries, where the motorcycle is in front. (818k) Yet another style of motorcycle rickshaw. (822k) Around all the larger cities the traffic was very heavy. (667k) In Yogyakarta they had separate lanes for motorcycles on some of the major roads. (875k) The horse cart was for tourists, not for actual work. (891k) Lots of motorcycles. They weave through the car traffic to get to the front of at the traffic lights. (707k) Loaded motorcycle. (914k) Typical city traffic. (796k) Some of the public buses where very colorful. (978k) Car ferry on Lake Toba. (682k) Almost done loading the ferry. The cars back onto the ferry so they can get off easier. (780k) Ferry on Lake Toba. (530k) Fishing boats. (1000k) Fishing boats in Jayapura. (806k) Local boat parked on the bank of the Puteh River on Sulawesi. (1272k) Local boat on the Puteh River on Sulawesi. (983k)
Markets
Selling gasoline by the bottle for motorcycles. (892k) Market vendors. (953k) Flower market. (1130k) Vegetable market. (1055k) Vegetable market. (1003k) Vegetable market. (1002k) Vegetable market. (926k) Various peppers. (879k) Vegetable market. (1108k) Vegetable market. (1155k) Coconuts. (922k) Coconuts. (838k) Grinding coconut meat. (965k) Watermelons for sale. (1015k) Durian for sale. (954k) Fish market. (1043k) Fish market. (890k) Fish market in Jayapura. (1040k) Large swordfish in the Jayapura fish market. (1222k) US businesses are in Indonesia, in Yogyakarta I saw a Circle-K. (782k) Store front. (965k) Cigarette advertising was everywhere. Almost everybody smokes in Indonesia. (783k)
Agriculture
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum, german: Zuckerrohr, french: Canne à sucre). (1205k) Papaya (Carica papaya, german: Papaya, french: Papayer). (1159k) Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera, german: Kokospalme, french: Cocotier). (901k) Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu, german: Sagopalme, french: Sagoutier). It is an important food staple in the lowlands of Papua. (1354k) Oil palm plantation as far as you can see. (866k) African Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis, german: Ölpalme, french: Palmier à huile). (1213k) African Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis, german: Ölpalme, french: Palmier à huile) with fruit stands. (1411k) Harvested oil palm fruit stand. (1146k) Individual oil palm fruits. (1014k) Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus, german: Jackfruchtbaum, french: Jacquier). (730k) Durian (Durio zibethinus, german: Durian, french: Durian). (954k) Banana. (1083k) Coffee tree. (1341k) Rubber Tree plantation (Hevea brasiliensis, german: Kautschukbaum, french: Hévéa). (1086k) Rubber Tree (Hevea brasiliensis, german: Kautschukbaum, french: Hévéa). (1379k) Catching rubber flow from rubber tree. (765k) Tea plantation. (731k) Rice fields. (1202k) Close-up of rice field. (1.5M) Rice terraces with scattered banana plants. (1217k) Rice fields with netting and fluttering tarps to deter birds. (1129k) Scarecrows. (892k) Rice harvest. (1141k) Fish farms on Lake Toba. (795k) Fish trap on the Puteh River. (1128k)
Domestic animals
Chicken with babies. (988k) Cats were everywhere. (1004k) There were lots of dogs around. (1.6M) Pig and chickens. (1336k) Pig with piglets. (1312k) Sumatran Elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus, german: Sumatra-Elefant, french: Éléphant de Sumatra) on their way to the river for their bath. (1312k) Baby elephant on the way to the river for their bath. (1339k) Elephants at the river. (1085k) Domesticated elephant. (1318k) Domesticated elephant. (1144k) Elephant carrying their food to the feeding area. (1230k)
Recreation and Accommodations
Lodge in Malino. It was a very nice lodge with great cabins and a nice restaurant. (777k) Lodge near Berua village. (835k) Tubing on the many rivers was popular. (873k) Recreation on Lake Toba. (1211k)