Java

Java is home to 60% of the Indonesian population - 120 million people in an area half the size of Great Britain.  A long, narrow island, Java is divided into five provinces - West, Central, Yogyakarta, East Java and most recently, Banten since 2001.  There are also two ‘special regions'in Java, Jakarta, the nation's capital, and Yogyakarta, the center of Javanese culture.  Also of note are the volcanoes that dot the island, the most famous of which is Krakatau, although Bromo in the south (accessible from Bali) is the most beautiful, the ascent of which can be made by mountain pony.

Jakarta is the political and economic hub of Indonesia and is the center for most businesses in the country as well as home to nightclubs, glitzy restaurants and international-style shopping malls.  You may either love it or hate it, but beneath the smog and busy streets, Jakarta has a particular character all of its own that makes it a memorable place to visit.  Visit the bird markets or learn the recent history of independence from the national monuments, landmarks and museums that all have stories to tell of this nation's path to freedom.