Indonesia Overview
The Republic of Indonesia is the world's fourth largest country with a population of over 200 million people. Indonesia's 13,600 islands make up the world's largest archipelago, stretching for over 4,000 miles from west to east. Indonesia is the world's largest Islamic country with almost 90% of the population being Muslim. The primary language of Indonesia is Bahasa Indonesia, however many areas have their own distinct dialects, and over 400 languages are spoken throughout the islands. Though much of the population of Indonesia lives at or below the poverty level, it is a country rich with natural resources. Oil, timber, agriculture, mining, and manufacturing are major industries. Indonesia is a Republic and is ruled by an elected president and a parliament. For most of the past fifty years, Indonesia was ruled by President Suharto. In the late 90's, there was a popular uprising that began a succession of new presidents and a move towards modernization in Indonesia. The current leader is President Joko Widodo.
From a surfer's standpoint, Indonesia is a paradise. Thousands of miles of island coastline receive consistent, powerful, swells from the huge storms of the Southern Indian Ocean. With no major landmass to block or alter these swells, they arrive on the reefs and shores of Indonesia as pumping, long lines. Indonesia has some of the best and most consistent waves on the planet. By the mid 70's stories of idyllic beach breaks and long, barrelling reef breaks on the island of Bali were beginning to appear in surf magazines, and the classic 70's surf film 'The Morning of the Earth' brought the Indonesian surf experience back to wide eyed surfers in communities all over the world. Indonesia gradually became a major surf destination. The beaches of Kuta and the nearby reefs were surfed regularly and gradually adventurers started to explore the rest of the coastline of Bali and beyond.
From a surfer's standpoint, Indonesia is a paradise. Thousands of miles of island coastline receive consistent, powerful, swells from the huge storms of the Southern Indian Ocean. With no major landmass to block or alter these swells, they arrive on the reefs and shores of Indonesia as pumping, long lines. Indonesia has some of the best and most consistent waves on the planet. By the mid 70's stories of idyllic beach breaks and long, barrelling reef breaks on the island of Bali were beginning to appear in surf magazines, and the classic 70's surf film 'The Morning of the Earth' brought the Indonesian surf experience back to wide eyed surfers in communities all over the world. Indonesia gradually became a major surf destination. The beaches of Kuta and the nearby reefs were surfed regularly and gradually adventurers started to explore the rest of the coastline of Bali and beyond.